Motion Sickness

                                                Bailey enjoying a fall car ride

We had just turned into our subdivision--the finish line of
a successful car ride and visit to Dr. B in sight. I looked at him in the

rearview mirror. He looked back with that familiar expression. 

We weren’t going to make it…

Motion sickness is more commonly seen in puppies than adult
dogs primarily because the ear structures used for balance are not fully
matured yet. There are many adult dogs that
still experience motion sickness long after the ear structures develop
though.

My Bailey is one of those dogs.

Whether puppy or adult there are a few things you can do to
make travel easier and more fun for you and your pooch.

First schedule an appointment with your pet’s veterinarian
for a physical and to discuss the issue.

Granted getting to those
first few appointments may be a little stressful so consider

crating your dog or placing several old towels or blankets down

to make clean up easy. It’s also often helpful if the pet faces
forward during travel to eliminate sickness.
A secure doggie seat belt will help with proper placement. 

If Sadie is riding in the front passenger seat please be aware that

passenger airbags can pose a danger to pets. And remember, your dog is not nauseous on
purpose (would you be?) so never punish or ridicule a pet with motion
sickness. A simple “That’s okay, we’ll
clean it up when we get home.” or “Does your tummy feel better now?” in a
soothing voice may make you & the dog feel a little better.

Teach Sadie that car rides are a wonderful experience. With the car parked

and engine off, lead Sadie close to it and offer a yummy treat.
Now open the car door and offer the yummy treat. Working slowly

over several days or weeks (at your dog’s comfort level) place Sadie in
the car or have her jump into the seat as yummy treats rain down. 

When your pooch learns that the car is a fun place, start the engine. 

You’ll slowly add backing down the driveway and touring your

neighborhood before venturing out for longer trips. Move at a pace
comfortable for Sadie and her tummy. If she does suffer nausea don’t

become frustrated, simply go back one step and
work forward from there.

Once your dog has the hang of things you may want to phase out

the yummy treats since an empty tummy is best for travel.

If it’s safe, crack or open the car windows slightly when
traveling. This will help equalize air pressure in the vehicle and allow

fresh air to circulate. Keeping the car cool will help, too.

Bailey and I once traveled two hours in 15 degree weather with

three windows open (we repeated the 2 hour trip the next day with 4 inches

of snow on the ground). Yes, all heat vents were pointed in my
direction and on full blast! Keeping fresh air moving is key to keeping

Bailey’s tummy happy—my toes can thaw out later.

Ginger has a calming effect on tummies, so you might try
offering one or two gingersnap cookies 15 minutes before your next car trip.

Try changing vehicles. Maybe your pooch has grown to associate

mom’s SUV with motion sickness but dad’s sedan makes a car trip

easier on her tummy.

I have a friend whose dog must ride in the family truck, on the

middle of the backseat, facing forward.

Making your destination a fun one will help build a positive
reinforcer that car travel equals fun trips to the dog park,

hiking and pet store for browsing for a new toy.

If you have more than one dog, try putting both dogs in the
car together. Some pooches feel more
secure if their playmate is with them on car trips.

If these suggestions do not relieve the problem then you may
want to discuss the option of medication with your vet. 

Never give Sadie any medication, even over-the-counter,
without first discussing it with your vet.
Anti-nausea drugs, antihistamines and phenothiazine all work to calm
nervous tummies and riders. But as with
any medication therapy, it should be an owner’s last option for treatment.

Bailey is in the small percentage of pooches for which the above classical
conditioning and natural remedies have not been effective. He
does require medication for even the shortest trips.

A little patience, practice, planning (car trips are not
spontaneous for Bailey) and a positive attitude can help both

pooch and owner overcome motion sickness.

***We should note that some dogs may have a learned fear of
travel. They may foul a vehicle through
no fault of their own but because of a previous traumatic experience. 

Maybe they were dumped onto a roadside from a
car? As with motion sickness, the animal
should never be punished for this behavior.
Please speak with your vet about this behavior, seek help from a
certified animal behaviorist and ask your local positive reinforcement trainer
for tips on classical conditioning.

Photo courtesy of Amy Callahan Photography http://amycallahan.com/

Sheila Rinks is the editor of Finding Fuzzybutt Four, producer of the Raising Indiana podcast and shares her home with her husband, 4 Great Pyrenees and 2 very well-fed kitties.

Can you count on your dog to perform?

Buzz doing his Dock Diving Thing!

Can I Count on the Dog to Perform?

Author, Jan Casey

For me, there is no greater pleasure than working with a dog and watching him catch on to what it is this silly human is asking him to do. Without a doubt, if my Buzz could talk, one of his most common questions would be "You want me to do what?" Trainers ask for bizarre behaviors – playing dead, weaving through legs, throwing rear feet on to a wall. As we start down the path of learning yet another ridiculous trick, Buzz usually gets quite vocal. I think I'm glad there is no such thing as a Doglish-to-English translator. Once learned, can I count on him to perform the behavior reliably?

What does it mean for a dog to have a behavior that is "reliable?" Basically, when you ask the dog to perform a behavior, he does so at least 80% of the time (or 8 out of 10 times for those who equate math to a foreign language). That means 20% of the time (2 out of 10 times), the behavior may not happen. What? You mean the dog doesn't do as asked every time? Is he rebelling? Doesn't he know who is boss? I mean, we are the superior beings who must be obeyed, right?

There's a saying in the training world that a behavior must be repeated 1000 times before a dog is considered to be proficient at that behavior. That means if you practice the behavior 10 times a day, it will only take 100 days before the dog performs that behavior reliably. Now think about the last time you tried to teach your dog something new. Did you practice that behavior 10 times a day, every day, for 100 days? Most likely not. You have a life and that life often includes other things like a job, eating, sleeping, and family. How many behaviors has your dog practiced 1000 times?

Perhaps one of the worst descriptions of dog behaviors I've heard is "He's blowing you off." Wow – you mean the dog is equating me to a leaf in the wind? Chances are, he's not. Dogs fail to respond to cues for a variety of reasons. One of the most common is the dog does not really know the behavior completely. Humans too often feel if they train the behavior in the living room at home, the dog will understand the behavior everywhere. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The behavior must be trained in a number of places with a variety of distractions. Try this simple experiment. Ask Princess to sit. Now ask her while your back is turned to her and then again as you are lying on the floor. Unfortunately, "sit" probably only happens when you are standing in front of her, with your hand lifting upward while you give the verbal instruction to sit. Continue the experiment in new places with distractions like tennis balls rolling by. How well does Princess really know the cue to sit?

If you've been a good owner, training your dog in the behaviors that are considered necessary for him to be well-mannered, perhaps the most frustrating experience you will have is when your dog backslides, he fails to perform a behavior that you know he knows, one you've practiced in all types of situations. Is he angry with you and trying to make you look foolish? Probably not. It is so important to initially rule out any kind of medical problem since a change in behavior is often the first sign that something is wrong with the dog physically. For instance, it makes no sense to try to fix a lapse in house training if the dog has a thyroid problem. He has no control over the need to urinate.

So what do you do when your dog stops being reliable and it's not physical? You back up. Yes, it's that simple. Make the behavior a little less challenging. Reduce the duration and the distractions and the distance. Bring the clicker back in to the picture, break the behavior into smaller steps, and increase the rewards when you get a response that shows the dog is headed back in the right direction. It's amazing how well dogs respond to something simple and familiar. The best part is it won't take long to regain the same excellent behavior you had previously.

Check your signals and communication to your dog. One of the great agility tee shirts states "Great dog. Shame about the handler." Double check your own body language, your cues. Have they changed? Is there something you are doing differently? Our dogs are so in tune with us that even slight changes in our cues can confuse them.

Retaining one's composure, accepting that the dog is not disrespecting you, can be far more challenging than it appears. I've seen experienced trainers lose their cool and incorporate physical punishment in an effort to correct a less-than-perfect behavior. A swift kick might get the dog back into alignment for a heel, but at what cost? When the pressure is on during a performance, will the dog associate that behavior with punishment or reward? What one gains in position may be lost in confident body language. I've never been willing to trade my dog's trust in me for a ribbon. Are 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.

BUYER BEWARE: There is no such thing as a certified animal behavioralist

Ginger and Opal

BUYER BEWARE: There is no such thing as a certified animal behavioralist!

Author, Cindy Ludwig

There is no such thing as a "Certified Animal Behavioralist." If someone claims to be a
behaviorist (not "behavioralist" - big telltale sign right there in the spelling), ask specifically what degree they have and what specific certification they have as well as the granting organization!

There are board-certified veterinary behaviorists (veterinarians with specialized training and

certification in behavior) and their credential is the DACVB (Diplomate of the American College

of Veterinary Behaviorists), applied animal behaviorists (CAAB) with the Animal Behavior Society (individuals with advanced degrees and professional certification) and now CCPDT

(Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) certified animal behaviorists (CBCC-KA -

certified behavior consultant canine - knowledge assessed) and Veterinary

Technician specialists (VTS) who specialize in and are certified in behavior by the AVBT

(Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians).

There are a few other organizations granting certification in canine behavior such as the

Association of Companion Animal Behavior Consultants (CBC - Certified Canine Behavior Consultant)

to individuals who have an advanced degree, at least 24 credit hours in behavior and additional

required coursework in psychology, counseling and statistics.

The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) certifies individuals

as a CABC (Certified Animal Behavior Consultant) with a minimum of a high school diploma

and at least 3 years and 1000 hours in animal behavior consulting plus 400 hours of education and training

The Association for the Study of Animal Behavior (ASAB) in the UK certifies animal behaviorists with advanced education and extensive clinical experience as Clinical Animal Behaviorists.

A real animal behaviorist will, I hope, know what they are - a behaviorist, not a "behavioralist." The
fact that someone purports to be a" behavioralist" suggests to me this person does not even know the correct terminology! Remember, anyone can call him or herself a "behaviorist." Check out the individual's credentials - and remember, not all certifying bodies have the same standards! Beware - there are people out there calling themselves "behaviorists"
who are giving out bad advice!

Cindy Ludwig, M.A., KPA-CTP

(Master of Arts in Education, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner)
Owner, Canine Connection LLC
Website: www.dubuquedogtraining.com

Cindy Ludwig is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and owner of Canine Connection
LLC in Dubuque, Iowa (www.dubuquedogtraining.com). She is a member of the Association of Pet

Dog Trainers and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Saga of Pupper vs. Kitty

Our home is never boring. Bailey makes certain of that.
Bailey is my three-year old Golden Retriever-Great Pyrenees mix. And from the moment he arrived at three months of age he has been a handful (more on that later).

If you will permit me the privilege of anthropomorphism the Saga of Pupper vs. Kitty will be
easier told.

We have a new behavioral problem in our home. Bailey has decided he no longer likes our two
cats, especially our four-year old tripawd, Jack-Jack.

While Bailey’s sudden dislike of the cats is new, his temperamental attitude is not—we have worked with Bailey on anger management, resource guarding and impulse control since the age of nine months when his first outburst occurred. So we are not new to this behavior, its trails, struggles or dangers. We’ve also witnessed improvements along the way that we are thankful for.

Life in a multi-pet household is all about management. I was told that I could never have four adult
male (neutered) Great Pyrenees living in harmony. They were too stubborn, independent and territorial. And while we’ve had our challenges; especially as our two youngest puppies matured and hit those all important growth markers at 9, 12, 18 and 24 months of age, we have all survived declaws intact.

After Bailey’s first outburst at nine months of age, I immersed myself in animal behavior.
Already friends with a wonderful positive trainer, Jan Casey, I
surrounded myself with every book, website and recommendation she offered. Jan successfully lives with a reactive dog so I knew she not only had the training to offer advice but that she knew first
hand what life would be like for Bailey & I.

I would estimate that half of all multi-pet households have some sort of relationship issue at one time or another. Human-Dog, Dog-Dog, Cat-Cat, Dog-Cat. So how do we maintain safety and work through the “problem behaviors” to live a happy life together? I don’t have all the answers but as Bailey, Jack-Jack & I work through our issue we’ll share what we are trying, what is
working and what isn’t.

Hopefully, it will give you some ideas to help your pets get along better with their housemates. As
always, I’m not an expert, professional, animal behaviorist or trainer. Just an owner looking for answers.

As we begin the Saga of Pupper vs. Kitty, our first requirement is to maintain safety in our
homes for all involved. If you have severe behavioral issues—growling, lunging, chasing, biting, or guarding—please separate your animals so they cannot reach one another. It may be an inconvenience to fill your home with baby gates and crates, or leave Spike in his fenced backyard but safety comes first. Second, schedule an appointment with your animal’s vet for a checkup. If the issue is an animal-animal issue it may be best to take both pets to the doctor (separately) for a physical. Discuss all behaviors and issues you are concerned about. Health problems can
lead to a pet acting out in a physical manner. And just as we have to maintain safety first, we must rule out any health issues second.

There’s homework involved in this journey. Lesson #1—Pick up a few books to get you
started.

The Other End Of the Leash, For The Love of a Dog
and Feeling Outnumbered? All by Dr. Patricia McConnell and available at http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/category/dog-training-books

Once we’ve accomplished those three things we’ll meet back here for the next installment of the Saga of Pupper vs. Kitty.

Sheila Rinks is the editor of Finding Fuzzybutt Four, producer of the Raising Indiana podcast and shares her home with her husband, 4 Great Pyrenees and 2 very well-fed kitties.

Barking Dog Got Ya Down?

What’s worse than living next to a barking dog? Living with a barking dog!

The still and calm of the early morning air is broken by the
unmistakable, earth-shaking booo-wooo-wooo-wooo that is Clarence’s wakeup call
to the entire neighborhood.

The bark of a Great Pyrenees is not easily ignored by owner,
neighbor or threat. Feet firmly planted,
tail curled high, head thrown skyward, warm up growl and he’s off to the races
of psychological distress to anyone within a two-mile radius. He goes from
sound asleep to sonic boom in 0.3 seconds.

So what is a neighbor or owner to do?

As a neighbor your choices are limited to lawful acts and
humane practices when it comes to dealing with Barkley’s barking.

Your first obligation is to calmly discuss the situation
with the dog’s owner. You can offer the
names of positive-reinforcement trainers in your area. To locate one visit: https://www.karenpryoracademy.com/find-a-trainer. Barkley can be taught rather easily to bark
on cue, and to be quite on cue. Animal
behaviorist and world-renowned trainer, Dr. Patricia McConnell, and Clicker-Training
Expert, Karen Pryor, both offer detailed instructions for teaching the “bark”
and “quiet” cues in their books and DVD series.

Dogs bark for a laundry list of reasons. Let us not forget that the modern dog had
beginnings with humans as part protector, part hunting mate. A defensive, alerting bark was a desirable trait and still remains so today.

The owner should be encouraged to take Barkley to the vet
for a checkup to rule out any health issues that may contribute to the barking. Is the dog uncomfortable and trying to communicate that to his owner? The vet
can check for common disorders and offer advice to deal with the barking. I should note that medication is sometimes prescribed for extreme vocalization cases, mostly due to anxiety. Medicating Barkley should be a last resort reserved for circumstances where other options—behavioral modifications and training--have been unsuccessful.

Does the neighborhood dog need more daily exercise? An unexercised dog will have a tendency to
bark out of frustration and boredom. Offer to help walk the dog or locate a dog walker for the owner. If Barkley is bored there are many fantastic toys on the market today to occupy dogs while owners are away from home. A Kong filled with softened kibble and frozen overnight will provide a distraction and mental stimulation when Barkley is alone.

Does Barkley have adequate shelter, food and water? A solid, warm dog house and a heated bowl
during cold weather may help. Some dogs are conditioned to happily pass the day outdoors while their owners are at work. Others suffer severe separation anxiety or simply crave being near their family at all times. If Barkley is the latter, offer to purchase a crate so he can stay safely indoors when his family is away or busy with chores such as cooking dinner. It would also be
wise to suggest that Barkley be pottied, exercised and trained on a leash to
avoid any self-reinforcing barking behaviors while outdoors.

Is the neighborhood dog, like Clarence, a Great Pyrenees? A breed that has a tendency to bark to
protect his flock & family. If so, you are working against genetics--years of ingrained behaviors, that where once or still are desirable. A working dog like a Great Pyrenees needs a job. The
Working Breed does well at cart pulling and backpacking, and it gives a sense of accomplishment and mental stimulation. And, the old adage a tired dog is a happy dog can translate to a tired
dog is a quiet dog.

I have found that barking may be prompted by growth and maturation in some dogs. Clarence did
not utter a woof for the first six months that we had him. But at nine months of age he found his voice! And it seems that another pyr in our family, Zeus, began barking almost to himself around the age of two. When Clarence hit the two year mark his barking ramped up and is still going strong at three. I’m hoping he follows Zeus’ path and begins to settle in to a more quiet way around his 4^th birthday.

With four dogs in a household, usually someone has something to woof about. And by this we can see some of the varied reasons dogs vocialize:

Zeus barks to tell me the “puppies”, Clarence and Bailey,
are doing something they are not allowed to do, like sitting on the couch. He also barks when he wants to walk by one of the other dogs to another location. Zeus
is a sweet teddybear who does not assert himself with his brothers. His barking signals us to “help” him walk past the other dog. Zeus also barks when outside to alert us that he wishes to come inside. All of these vocalizations from Zeus are distinct.

Bailey does not bark often. He chooses to communicate thru growling.
He and Supermax are my two alert barkers—if they are barking it’s time to check things out.

Supermax also barks when he is playful and happy—with his entire body wiggling those barks make me smile.

Clarence just simply barks for any reason.

I must admit that the work to control barking in my own home
is imperfect and ongoing. We are still working on putting bark and quiet on cue.
We work on physical and mental stimulation and eliminating self-reinforcing
barking behaviors. We remove a stimulus that contributes to barking when possible and reward for good behavior, never punishing for undesired behavior.

Since we live in a populated area with four Great Pyrenees who tend to be very vocal at night when critters are out, we insist they sleep inside and have supervised potty breaks to eliminate any late night barking that might disrupt a neighbor’s sleep.

We also try to handle and defuse the barking situation with humor toward our neighbors. Earplugs and apology notes have arrived in mailboxes. And we welcome their honest feedback.
It will not insult me to hear that my dog is bothering my neighbor—some
days he bothers me too.

As a neighbor, under absolutely no circumstances is it okay to give a dog any medication--over the counter, holistic or prescribed. You do not know Barkley’s medical history and what may seem like the perfect solution to a good night’s sleep could result in a severe adverse reaction or even death for the animal. Physical harm should never become an option either. If you are considering either of
these so called solutions it is best not to approach the dog’s owner until you have regained composure or contact your local animal control officer and calmly explain your situation. The officer is best equipped to visit the neighbor and pass on your concerns, and offer
solutions that will ease life on both sides of the fence.

There is no instant cure that will guarantee you a pleasant night’s sleep, no matter what the electric collar package promises. By using an electric correction in the form of a sound-emitting device or suggesting that your neighbor attach a shock collar or citrollena-spray collar to Barkley you will indeed have a behavioral modification. The modified behavior will not result in Barkley remaining quiet. Barkley will learn to bark “around” or through the annoyance or discomfort of such devices. If Barkley is a working dog such as a Great Pyrenees, prized for their protective attributes, he will bark no matter the pain level. Barkley may become fearful or aggressive because of such devices. If he does stop barking congratulations (sic). You have suppressed a natural behavior, a communication and a warning. The HSUS has proven that only 4 out of 8 dogs who were subjected to electric collars of all types stopped barking. Some dogs became servely fearful and aggressive, increasing the chances of a dog bite.

We should note that there is a medical procedure called “debarking” in which a dog’s vocal chords are removed or severed. This procedure has been deemed inhumane by many animal rights groups and animal advocates. By removing an animal’s vocal chords an owner may physically and
psychologically impair and harm the animal, causing more behavioral and health problems in the future. This is surgical abuse and not an option. Any vet that offers this procedure does not have the animal’s best interest at heart. Remember the veterinarian creed: Do No Harm.

A better and more humane solution to the above practices is to discuss rehoming the animal with his owner. I am certain that Barkley is a beloved member of the family but if the
owner cannot control the disruptive behavior and extreme, inhumane measures are
being considered it is best for Barkley that another loving home be located. There are many rescue organizations located through out the country. A quick internet search will locate a rescue that will safely rehome Barkley. Perhaps even a home with fenced acreage so nearby neighbors will not be bothered by his barking.

There are no quick fixes for barking dogs. It takes diligence and concern on the part of
the owner to continue training, provide exercise, mental stimulation and to
control self-reinforcing behaviors. It also takes patience on the part of neighbors and family members. Yes, we all have a right to peace of mind and a solid night’s sleep, but trying to place ourselves in the position of the frazzled dog owner may go a long way in neighborly relations and Barkley’s health.

Time to go now… Clarence is barking… again.

I am not a professional trainer or behaviorist, simply an owner (of a barking dog) who enjoys learning as much as possible about the animals I share my home with. If you are having issues with a barking dog please consult with a positive-reinforcement professional or your pet’s veterinarian.
For more information on behavioral issues such as barking please visit:

http://www.theotherendoftheleash.com/ Dr. Patricia McConnell
http://www.clickertraining.com/ Karen Pryor
http://www.jeandonaldson.com/ Jean Donaldson
http://www.turid-rugaas.no/UKFront.htm Turid Rugaas
http://www.stanleycoren.com/library.htm Dr. Stanley Coren

Sheila Rinks is the editor of Finding Fuzzybutt Four, producer of the Raising Indiana podcast and shares her home with her husband, 4 Great Pyrenees and 2 very well-fed kitties.

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.

Miko

Miko

Great Pyrenees/Husky Mix: An adoptable dog
in Utica, NY

Please
come visit me at the Stevens-Swan Humane Society or call to find out about me
at 738-4357.

More
about Miko

Spayed/Neutered
• Up-to-date with routine shots

Miko's
Contact Info

Stevens-Swan Humane
Society of Oneida County, Utica,
NY

• 315-738-4357
  begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 315-738-4357 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
• Email
  Stevens-Swan Humane Society of Oneida
  County
• See more pets
  from Stevens-Swan Humane Society of Oneida County
• For more information,
  visit Stevens-Swan Humane Society of Oneida County's Web site.

Amie

Amie

Great Pyrenees: An adoptable dog in Lee, MA

Amie is a pretty 10 year old
lady. She absolutely loves people and is a real sweet heart. She loves it when
you tell her how pretty she is and give her good ear rubs, and just shower her
with your love. We have found that Amie does NOT like other dogs or cats, so
she will need to be an only pet in your home. She walks well on a leash and
knows basic obedience. She will need a caring home where she can be your
companion and the center of your attention! The beauty of a Great Pyrenees can
take your breath away, but they are unique dogs which require dedicated owners
who have thoroughly researched the traits of the breed. Feel free to visit our
website at www.nepyresq.org for information to start your journey!

Northeast Pyrenees Rescue only sponsors dogs from New England and New York for placement
in homes in our region. If you are interested in meeting Amie, please complete
our application at http://www.nepyresq.org/adopapp.htm. Please include any
questions in the comments field of the application. Keep in mind that we are a
volunteer organization and encourage serious inquiries only.

More
about Amie

Spayed/Neutered
• Up-to-date with routine shots • House trained • Prefers a home without: cats,
dogs, young children

Amie's
Contact Info

Northeast Pyr Rescue
(NEPR),
Lee, MA

• 1-877-528-0637
  begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-877-528-0637 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
• Email
  Northeast Pyr Rescue (NEPR)
• See more pets
  from Northeast Pyr Rescue (NEPR)
• For more information,
  visit Northeast Pyr Rescue (NEPR)'s Web site.

Maximus

Maximus

Great Pyrenees: An adoptable dog in Aurora,
CO

Maximus is a 9 year old,
White, male Great Pyrenees. He is a great big, furry teddy bear and he will be
getting groomed soon so we'll update pics after his trip to the barber. He does
have a Thyroid condition but it is easily managed with inexpensive medication
given daily. Maximus and his brother, Paylar, were the victims of the economy
and have been well loved most of their lives until their owners fell on hard
times. He will be getting a refresher course on house training because he has
mostly been an outside dog but he is very smart and knows sit, stay, down,
wait, and let's go. He is a typical Pyr barker when outside and would be
happiest with a big yard to patrol, but he is quiet and a couch potato and well
behaved when inside the house. Maximus has a wonderful temperament and gets
along well with other dogs, cats, and kids. Maximus and Paylar are both seniors
and have been together their entire lives so we would love to keep them
together if possible and are willing to offer a reduced adoption fee. To see
the most up to date adoption status of this dog please visit www.bigdogshugepaws.com

More
about Maximus

Spayed/Neutered
• Up-to-date with routine shots • Primary color: White or Cream • Coat length:
Long

Maximus's
Contact Info

Big Dogs Huge Paws, inc, Aurora, CO

• 303-322-4336
  begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 303-322-4336 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
• Email
  Big Dogs Huge Paws, inc
• See more pets
  from Big Dogs Huge Paws, inc
• For more information,
  visit Big Dogs Huge Paws, inc's Web site.

Paylar

Paylar

Great Pyrenees: An adoptable dog in Aurora,
CO

Paylar is a 9 year old,
White, male Great Pyrenees. He is a great big, furry teddy bear and he will be
getting groomed soon so we'll update pics after his trip to the barber. He has
a very submissive personality. Paylar and his brother, Maximus, were the victims
of the economy and have been well loved most of their lives until their owners
fell on hard times. He will be getting a refresher course on house training
because he has mostly been an outside dog but he is very smart and knows sit,
stay, down, wait, and let's go. He is a typical Pyr barker when outside and
would be happiest with a big yard to patrol, but he is quiet and a couch potato
and well behaved when inside the house. Paylar has a wonderful temperament and
gets along well with other dogs, cats, and kids. Paylar and Maximus are both
seniors and have been together their entire lives so we would love to keep them
together if possible and are willing to offer a reduced adoption fee. To see
the most up to date adoption status of this dog please visit www.bigdogshugepaws.com

More
about Paylar

Spayed/Neutered
• Up-to-date with routine shots • Primary color: White or Cream • Coat length:
Long

Paylar's
Contact Info

Big Dogs Huge Paws, inc, Aurora, CO

• 303-322-4336
  begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 303-322-4336 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
• Email
  Big Dogs Huge Paws, inc
• See more pets
  from Big Dogs Huge Paws, inc
• For more information,
  visit Big Dogs Huge Paws, inc's Web site.