Q and A with Dog Trainer, Lon L. Flewelling

By Lon L. Flewelling For The Dog Files

Q and A No.2 with Lead Dog, Lon L. Flewelling of Lead Dog Services in Denver;
This month I address, 1.) Chewing woodwork 2.) Alpha dogs 3.) Dog attacking lawn mower and weed trimmer 4.) Introducing new puppy to household

Krystal:
Have you any ideas on how to treat an Australian stumpy-tailed Cattle dog who has ADHD??? I haven’t got much of my house left.

Lon L. Flewelling:
In my opinion I don’t believe that they actually have adhd. I believe it’s more that the active, pent up herding and working dog breeds exhibit the same symptoms as what we might think is ADHD.

I recommend LOTS of activity to drop the energy level, then add a great deal of short session training, i.e. making them use their brain in sit/stay, stop and automatic sit at stop signs, direction changes during walks, etc. I believe these will have successful results to alleviate the symptoms.

Also, some dogs react to preservatives in commercial foods that can interact with their chemistry to produce the same symptoms as well. So a higher quality, good blend of proteins and fiber.

I suggest that you slowly introduce any new food over a two week period starting with 3/4 of their current food, 1/4 of the new food to allow their systems to adjust to the change without adverse reactions. every couple of days adjust the quantity of old to new increasing the new slightly until you are feeding all new food.

I had a great and interesting question and answer conversation with Bob Mattice, a fellow trainer and president of The Doggie Door in Innisfall, AB, Canada;

Bob:
I have a client now that wants me to temperament test her dog. This big English mastiff got into it with an Alpaca, and ripped its ears off, and it wasn’t pretty. Now the farmers are suing her and trying to charge this dog as a dangerous breed. So i have a few friends that do this type of work also and we sort of consult each other. I tested this dog harshly and everything last night and couldn’t get him to show any signs of aggression. Next thing I plan with him is some exposure training with live stock. I have set her up with some strict obedience training, and serious energy draining exercise. What types of test would you test for with something like this???

Lon:
I usually start with a fence line test just to watch for the body language and posturing that come with general aggression whether livestock or other dogs and even humans. Obviously there can be fence aggression/territory issues that can throw off the ‘test’ but safety first. On lead walking passes within close proximity of the animals, if possible with the stock walking opposite direction getting closer each pass while watching for the same language and posture. These usually allow interception and correction should any issues arrive and gives and idea of what may be the trigger to the event as well. Does anybody know what lead up to the aggression? i.e. any actions from the alpaca, previous agitation from another source, etc?

Bob:
Yeah exactly. I did just that with all sorts of dogs going at him at the fence and he corrected out of any reaction so easily. He does show fear reaction tho, where he tries to bolt a couple of times but after walking him and working through that he was a million times better than when we first started the walk. He doesn’t pull on the leash for me one bit. He corrects extremely well for a dog that gets zero exercise or structure. Thats just it no one knows what set him off. the farmer just saw the end and chased him off.

Lon:
Given that they are generally a guard dog prone to warning and tend to hold an intruder at bay rather than attack I wonder if there is an outside reason or source that made it take action…

Bob:
With the way he seems fearful towards some things, do you think the Alpaca came after him maybe and he just reacted to its attack??

Lon:
I really do believe that’s a solid possibility as to what happened, ‘mouse in the corner’ reaction. The Alpaca being taller and if unshorn look much like a really big dog. They can be somewhat aggressive themselves and tend to spit, kick and brae at an intruder, all misconstrued as aggressive canine behavior to the uneducated dog.

Bob:
He was also with another dog that stayed outside the fence and usually runs up and down but never has he gone in before. So he may have gotten the Alpaca’s going before my guy went in the fenced area too.
I’m so glad that you seem to be on the exact same thinking mode as I am too with this case.

Lon:
Using the information available as ‘evidence’ if you will, it seems that the reason it happened is solid. That makes it workable as well. The strong, but gently assertive leadership approach coupled with much needed activity approach should bring good results.

Lon L. Flewelling was born the middle and most charming of three boys in rural Minnesota where he spent many formative hours on family farms directly interacting with animals nearly from day one. Since his youth he enjoyed the gift and magic of close communication abilities particularly with dogs. Lon followed his gift into the world of wolf studies to further develop my passion and abilities to understand canines and their communications with each other and humans. He is a perpetual student of canines and sees no end to the absorption of canine knowledge.

“Lon L. Flewelling is the human owner’s manual on how to operate your dog in Denver!”
-Shasta Michaels-

Dog Files Viewpoint: We, The American Dog People…

By KatyBeth Jensen For The Dog Files

A few weekends ago, I wanted to go to an indoor/outdoor flea market. Checking the website, I noticed the following announcement:

THIS IS A PET-FRIENDLY EVENT. For insurance purposes NO PIT BULLS OR DOBERMANS ALLOWED ON PREMISES. Sorry, your dog might be the sweetest in the world – but those are the exclusions to this event.

Really? Every dog is allowed except a Pit Bull or a Doberman. Really?!

The truth of the matter is, in most cases dogs would be better left at home for these kinds of events. Most dogs don’t enjoy shopping. If they knock something off a table, steal a cookie from a kid, sniff the baked goods, or lift their leg on a fire hydrant someone is calling art, the vendor is not going to be happy, you are not going to be happy, and your pup is not going to be happy. I support a No Pet rule at these kinds of events. Easy peasey. Post a two-word sign: No Pets. It’s equal discrimination.

However, discriminating against only two breeds? I wanted to snap a leash on Brutus, the 170 pound Rottie camping with me, and head over to this “Pet-Friendly” event, daring them to deny us entry. Brutus, however, declined. He hates confrontation, the big baby.

These kinds of bans are especially dangerous because they introduce or confirm fear about certain breeds that are unfounded. When all breeds of dogs except two are invited, their reputation as Bad Dogs is reinforced.

We could talk about breed bans and how really dumb they are, or we can work tirelessly to show our canine companions in a light so positive that it overshadows the negativity. The latter is exactly what Mr. Dog Files, Kenn Bell, accomplished this week.

Hero Dogs of 911, created by Kenn and showcased on Dog Files, is an amazing tribute to the search and rescue dogs who performed so heroically in the aftermath of September 11th. I have posted it far and wide, sent it to my near and dear and made sure it has traveled from dog forums to property management offices. This video is not only about 911, but it also showcases how important dogs are to our families, community, and to our country. It’s no small matter to be trivialized.

Let’s show our support of this video by sharing it, making a donation to the organization at the end of the video, or by contributing to Dog Files. There is a button on the Dog File website home page. Tell Mr. Dog Files you liked his video, “Hero Dogs of 9/11,” and you want more and more and more.

Dog Files, our fellow dog lovers, you, and I … we are the ones who can make a difference. We can educate, adopt, rescue, and breed responsibly. We are The American Dog People.

Okay now, get out there and sniff some butt! Did I just get a little carried away??

Pats for your pups,

Katybeth

Check out, Hero Dog Of 9/11 Tribute Video, right here!

KatyBeth & Rascal

Katybeth is a professional pet spoiler, living in the Chicagoland area, running her own business, Camp-Run-A-Pup. Camp Run-A-Pup spoils other people’s pups, and they do it really well. Katybeth lives with and loves three dogs of her own, Rascal, a Parson’s Terrier (AKC recognizers her as a Parson’s; you might recognize her as a Jack Russell), Skippy, a Schipperke with a personality disorder, and Scooby, a beagle that might belong to a neighbor. Katybeth’s newest family star is Soquel’s Last Souvenire, or as they like to call her, Trinket, a show-stopping Doberman pup. Katybeth co-owns Trinket with her mom because she likes being on the winning side of the dog show arena and wanted the rights to tell the real unabridged stories of the oddities of dog showing. the movie Dog Show did not even come close to telling. Katybeth also enjoys writing her blog — My Odd Family. Dogs, dog people, dog shows and owning a dog business combined with hearth, home and family never leaves her at a loss for material to write about.

Katybeth Jensen,PPS
Professional Pet Spoiler
http://www.camprunapup.com/
http://www.deerantlersforpups.com/
http://myoddfamily.com/

Dog Files Viewpoint: A Breed of Dog For Everyone!

By KatyBeth Jensen For The Dog Files

A few days ago, I was mingling with strangers when a heartless friend introduced me as “someone who knows a lot about dogs.”  Naturally, one of the strangers was thinking about getting a dog. I took a sip of my coke, looked at the inquiring face staring expectantly at me and thought, “Here we go again.”  

Smiling, I inquired what kind of dog he was thinking about. For the next twenty minutes, he talked about the family Lab that had been an integral part of his childhood. “I want my kids to have a dog like I grew up with. He was great. Of course, I’m divorced and only have the kids on the weekend.” I then casually asked if he remembered who took care of the family dog. He gave me a what-does-it-matter look and said, “My mom.”  I asked if his childhood dog was physical and active.

“Oh yeah!” he exclaimed. Our Lab would play ball for hours and hours and wanted to go everywhere we did.” 

Still smiling, I said, “Well then you want an active dog that loves to play ball and go on long walks.”

“Well, sure … on the weekends, with the kids.”

After countless conversation like this one, I have learned to cut to the chase. I looked right at him and said, “Well, if we can convince your mom to move in with you, and find a Lab that only wants to play ball on the weekend, we will have found the perfect dog for you and your children.”

I don’t think I offered the kind of help he was looking for, and yet, if he heard me at all, I offered the kind of help he needed to hear. 

The average life expectancy for a dog is 12.8 years. There is a big chance the dog you bring home will live with you longer than your kids will. One of the most important questions to consider when deciding what type of dog you want to bring into your home and heart is, “What is this dog bred to do?”

A Labrador Retriever lives happily-ever-after in a family that is prepared for a large, boisterous, energetic dog that retrieves everything that’s not nailed down. A Lab is not going to be happy only playing with the kids on the weekend and being left alone for long periods of time. A Lab is going to want to be your best friend even when you go to the bathroom.

An older couple shared with me that they were considering buying a  Portuguese Water Dog. Curious, I asked, “What do you like about a Portuguese Water Dog?”

“Well, our last dog shed a lot and we were looking for a dog that didn’t shed.” Okay, that makes sense, I thought, as I waited for them to continue. We stood looking at each other awkwardly for a few seconds before they added, “They shed hardly at all.” 

“What else do you know about the Portuguese Water Dog?” I inquired, having pretty good idea of the answer. 

“President Obama’s family has one.” Yeah, well rumor has it that the Obama family had to hire three staff members and a full-time trainer to provide Bo with enough training and exercise to turn him into first dog material. The Portuguese Water Dog is a working dog. Their historical purpose was to assist the Portuguese fisherman to do a day’s worth of work. This translates to, “If you don’t want a very active dog, consider a different breed.” The couple considering the Portie was more inclined towards cruises, car rides, and parking spots close to the entrance of the places they were driving to. I smiled and shared with them that a Bichon Frise is another breed that “sheds hardly at all” but needs a more moderate level of activity. Bichon Frises were bred to be companion dogs, and well, Barbara Streisand owns a Bichon Frise! 

Dog breeds are not interchangeable. Dogs are bred to do a specific job. Today, few dogs do the jobs they were bred to do, but they still harbor the skills that made them successful in their original careers. There is a right breed for every family, and making the right match is important.

Profiling before contracting to provide a forever-after-home for the pup of your dreams is encouraged. Take some time and research dog breeds.  If you are considering adopting from a shelter, you have a better chance of a good match if you have in mind “something like a Lab” or “some kind of terrier. “ 

There is a breed of dog for everyone. With a little effort, you can find the right breed of dog for your lifestyle, fall in love, and live happily ever after.

The End.

Pats for your pups,

Katybeth

KatyBeth & Rascal

Katybeth is a professional pet spoiler, living in the Chicagoland area, running her own business, Camp-Run-A-Pup. Camp Run-A-Pup spoils other people’s pups, and they do it really well. Katybeth lives with and loves three dogs of her own, Rascal, a Parson’s Terrier (AKC recognizers her as a Parson’s; you might recognize her as a Jack Russell), Skippy, a Schipperke with a personality disorder, and Scooby, a beagle that might belong to a neighbor. Katybeth’s newest family star is Soquel’s Last Souvenire, or as they like to call her, Trinket, a show-stopping Doberman pup. Katybeth co-owns Trinket with her mom because she likes being on the winning side of the dog show arena and wanted the rights to tell the real unabridged stories of the oddities of dog showing. the movie Dog Show did not even come close to telling. Katybeth also enjoys writing her blog — My Odd Family. Dogs, dog people, dog shows and owning a dog business combined with hearth, home and family never leaves her at a loss for material to write about.

Katybeth Jensen,PPS
Professional Pet Spoiler
http://www.camprunapup.com/
http://www.deerantlersforpups.com/
http://myoddfamily.com/

Dog Files Viewpoint: My Dog’s Better Than Your Dog!

By KatyBeth Jensen For The Dog Files

All sorts of pups will come to camp this summer.  Crash, my rescue poster pup, will gallop through our gates. Howard, a Labradoodle who has never known a sad moment will come to play. Maggie, a Pitbull, will shyly join us while her people travel. The Bouvier des Flandres will summer with me. And then, of course, there is Joey, George,  Dakota, Tucker, Theo, Lily, Buddy, Chelsea Chatham, Radda, Skelly, Sophie and, last but not least, Sullivan. Just to name a few…

Why do we insist that a rescue dog is more valuable or more loved than a purebred dog with a pedigree full of champions? On the other hand, why wouldn’t a mixed breed or a rescue pup be just as valuable as a purebred dog? 

The other day, I heard someone offer the opinion that people who bought purebred dogs were snobs. Really? Well maybe a little and it is true that people who show dogs are a bit on the crazy side. I know, because I co-own a champion Doberman and own an AKC-registered Parson Terrier that was ridiculously expensive.  I also own a Beagle that mostly isn’t, and a Schipperke rescued from a pet store. Who cares. What’s important is that my dogs are all loved and will live with me forever-after.  My clients who own the well-bred, pricey Bouviers, Vizslas and Boxers don’t love their dogs any more or any less than my clients who adopted mix-breed dogs from shelters. 

Whether you want to adopt a pup, rescue a pup, or buy a pup from a reputable breeder, what does it matter as long as you are willing to love them and give them a forever-after home? Helping to find forever-after homes for the abandoned, abused dogs that overpopulate and overwhelm our shelters and rescue groups is a noble thing to do. Adopting is a wonderful option. Preaching the value of spaying and neutering dogs that aren’t going on to the show arena is helping to grow responsible dog ownership, and if we can shut down pet stores that display puppies in the windows, I think we can count on a ticket to heaven.  On the other hand, judging each other or standing superior because you own one type of dog over the other is just silly.  
 
Stand proud for your dog. Declare them the best, the most perfect, and of course, the most loved, and let your fellow dog owners do the same. Putting someone else’s choice down or standing in judgment leaves you less time to brag about your wonder-pup! If you want to promote rescues or shelters, you can point to your dog’s strengths, challenges and how far they have come, without ever declaring EVERYONE SHOULD RESCUE. If you want to promote purebred dogs, you can talk about the strength and beauty of a thoughtfully-bred dog.  

Let’s all be dog snobs together! Of course, its’ going to be hard to outshine my Doberman that just walked out of the show ring with her championship, or my goofy Schipperke that spins like a top, but go ahead and give it a try.  What makes your pup the best? 

Pats for your pups,

Katybeth

KatyBeth & Rascal

Katybeth is a professional pet spoiler, living in the Chicagoland area, running her own business, Camp-Run-A-Pup. Camp Run-A-Pup spoils other people’s pups, and they do it really well. Katybeth lives with and loves three dogs of her own, Rascal, a Parson’s Terrier (AKC recognizers her as a Parson’s; you might recognize her as a Jack Russell), Skippy, a Schipperke with a personality disorder, and Scooby, a beagle that might belong to a neighbor. Katybeth’s newest family star is Soquel’s Last Souvenire, or as they like to call her, Trinket, a show-stopping Doberman pup. Katybeth co-owns Trinket with her mom because she likes being on the winning side of the dog show arena and wanted the rights to tell the real unabridged stories of the oddities of dog showing. the movie Dog Show did not even come close to telling. Katybeth also enjoys writing her blog — My Odd Family. Dogs, dog people, dog shows and owning a dog business combined with hearth, home and family never leaves her at a loss for material to write about.

Katybeth Jensen,PPS
Professional Pet Spoiler
http://www.camprunapup.com/
http://www.deerantlersforpups.com/
http://myoddfamily.com/

Also, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dogfiles

When Being a Rat is a Good Thing

By Nadine M. Rosin For The Dog Files

Many years ago I heard that the behavioral science department of a major university did the following study:

They built a rectangular maze that consisted of one straight pathway (we’ll call “A”) with six straight perpendicular pathways or rows leading off of it (rows one through six). At the end of row number six only, they placed a piece of cheese. Everyday they’d put a rat in the maze at the point in pathway A where it opened to row number one. Everyday the rat would run up and down rows one through six until he found the cheese.

Eventually, the rat learned that the cheese was always at the end of row six and when put in the maze, would ignore rows one through five and go directly to row number six. The researchers let this continue for thirty days and then they moved the cheese to the end of row number two. They put their rat in the maze. As usual, the rat ran immediately to and down row number six but this time- NO CHEESE! The rat kept running up and down row number six but of course, the cheese was not there.

The conclusion of the researchers? The difference between humans and rats is that eventually the rat will try going down a different row in search of the cheese.  We, on the other hand, are far more subject to being stubborn creatures of habit, even when we know it is not in our best interest.

Through the years, I’ve done my best to remind myself of this story. It’s my way of trying to keep my mind open to cutting edge information, new ways of thinking about things and new paradigms. It’s helped me in many ways: moving on from situations like jobs or relationships that were no longer healthy or growing, changing eating habits or products I used – basically anything I knew I could improve but for the most part, was also comfortable with or used to.

It is with that in mind that I encourage you to embrace change when it comes to the food and products you use for yourself and your dogs. Just because something has been sold in stores for years doesn’t mean it’s safe. It is more likely to mean that the manufacturer has a huge advertising budget. It really is up to us as consumers to take the time and do a little research of our own. It’s not difficult.

For instance: take a look at some of the ingredients listed on your moisturizer. Does it contain methylparaben, ethylparaben, or propylparaben? Now Google any one of those. You’ll find that parabens are commonly used preservatives included in countless products since the 1920′s. Recent studies have found that repeated exposure can cause cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies, endocrine disruption, and organ system toxicity. Bad enough to be rubbing into your own skin on a daily basis, but how many times a day does your dog lick that skin on your face or hands?

Same goes with perfumes and colognes that are alcohol-based- they are full of potentially toxic chemicals. Ever notice how some people seem to be marinated in scent? It’s because many of the ingredients in those scents actually create addictive pathways in the brain and the “user” can no longer smell it in small amounts. It’s comparable to an alcoholic or drug addict needing more and more to get off.

So what are some alternatives? (is there cheese down a different row?) Clean is sexy. Pure castile soap also comes in peppermint, lavender and almond. Essential oils are wonderful, though some in large doses can be toxic to birds and cats, so again, a quick Google can help you out there.

For moisturizer, I use pure shea butter on my face. I buy it in a small tub. It’s scent-free, effective (use a little and rub in well to avoid it being greasy), inexpensive, and natural (make sure you’re buying pure shea butter not one processed with additives. It will say on the label. If it doesn’t- don’t buy it). As far as body and hand moisturizer, once I started eating more fruits, vegetables and omega-3 rich foods, I no longer needed any other moisturizer (and I live in the desert!). All of these items can be found in most natural markets and health food stores.

I hope this has encouraged you to take a few simple steps to becoming more ingredient conscious for the sake of both you and your pet. And by the way… all metaphors aside, as delicious as it is, I would never feed cheese to my dog. It’s extremely mucous-forming which is hard on the immune system and is usually made with milk full of growth hormones (BST) and antibiotics. Carrot sticks are a much better treat.

Nadine M. Rosin, Holistic Pets/Toxic-free Living Consultant, Pet Bereavement Facilitator, author & speaker.

Available for phone consultations, your next function or fundraiser

The Healing Art Of Pet Parenthood
A book about the human-animal bond, healing cancer holistically, and a new take on pet loss.

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A blog with answers & information about natural healing, grief, and parenting our beloved pets.

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Q and A with Dog Trainer, Lon L. Flewelling

By Lon L. Flewelling For The Dog Files

Q and A with Lead Dog, Lon L. Flewelling of Lead Dog Services in Denver;
This month I address, 1.) Chewing woodwork 2.) Alpha dogs 3.) Dog attacking lawn mower and weed trimmer 4.) Introducing new puppy to household

1. Ashley asked:

Do you know how to get a dog to stop chewing on a door frame? My boy won’t stop, I need help. He is constantly chewing on things even though he has chew toys.

Lon L. Flewelling:

I have had success with a couple of methods/tools…One is a product called Grannick’s Bitter Apple, a few drops has the sour of about 10 Granny Smith Apples…VERY bitter. Some dogs, however have no problem with bitter, those often respond to hot, I steep some cayenne pepper powder and strain the liquid through cheesecloth. Either can be applied the spots where he chewed without staining, and should work. If and when you catch him doing it a stern, “AH! Leave it” will reprogram his thinking. Leave it can be used for anything, remotes, other dogs or cats, books, anything you don’t want him to get into. I also have a few squirt bottles around to get the attention before “Leave it!” When he stops reward with a “Good Leave It” and offer him one of his toys. Also reprograms his switches.

The result of this suggestion was that the hot wasn’t successful however the bitter did make Ashley’s dog avoid the woodwork, and her follow-up with the suggested commands improved the situation considerably.

2. Gina contacted me with the following:

Sherri of The Dog Examiner posted this. I was curious as to your thoughts about it.
　
“If you watch a pack of wolves move around in the wild; it is the Alpha who says where they are going. The top wolves decide which direction to go in but they don’t have to be out front; that is a fallacy. The members of the pack watch the Alpha and go where he goes but the lower members are all about, even out in front. When I take my… dogs for a walk in the woods and everyone is off leash they are following me; there is no doubt about it but they are like a pack of wolves, all around.

In my opinion having your dogs walk behind you is just not fun for me or my dogs. But keeping them back there to show them who’s boss defeats the purpose of why we are out for a walk.”

Lon L. Flewelling:

Having observed wolf and dog packs, I agree that the alpha wolves do guide the pack but not necessarily need to be physically in front of the pack. The members constantly check on the body posture and language of the leaders for their cues as to where to go. In fact, when they are relatively stationary or in a ‘camp’ so to speak, the alpha male often takes a high ground spot to watch for potential dangers, while the alpha female if in the middle of the pack and if all is calm and controlled she does nothing to interfere.

I have always felt that if there is a ‘problem child’ dog strong guidance like being in front, going through doors first, etc. will reset their mental switches but when they are truly following the alpha, and respond to commands they can go out front. Mine will listen when I call them back to me with a ‘check in’ so they are still in compliance with alpha leadership and the reward is being allowed to go ahead where I can watch and enjoy them, and use their protective nature to watch for possible problems. They trust me and I trust them.
　
　
3. Jeannine asked:

Why do dogs attack the mower? Buffy attacked my mower and her mom wants to eat my weed wacker.

Lon answered:

I’m certain it’s two things, one they only see/hear them after months of not having them present and two they are VERY irritating noise to dog’s sensitive ears. I have had a number of behavior clients contact me about just those things. I generally consult them to have the pups on lead at the very least, and away from the machines if at all possible.

4. Marni asked:

We’re getting a second dog to make our little Havanese happy as his companion just moved to Florida. Do you think we should lean towards a male or a female? (Our doggie is male, but seems to get along with almost all dogs we have around here). Also, any special tips on training a new puppy that has to be confined for housetraining, etc. when there’s already a grown dog in the house?

Lon responded:

Is your boy fixed? Often it doesn’t make too much difference which you get…some do better with opposite sex, but not too much of an issue. More important issue would be introducing them in a neutral place that is not his territory, like home. I have always had success meeting at a park, or green belt. I have started a ways away from each other and walking them on lead towards each other, making a few passes and making certain that they go to a calm and submissive mode before they actually meet nose to butt. They can then go home together and will likely just go into the home together without problems.

As far as the house training, very often the older dog will help train the newbie by the signals he puts off, i.e. whining, scratching at the door to go outside. He may have moments when he has accidents inside thinking he can get away with it also. I usually recommend two avenues, using a crate for any extended periods as they most often do not relieve themselves where they sleep. First action when allowing them out is to use the command “go pee outside!” and take or let them out and reward with a “good pee outside!” when they do. I teach to reward the action not the dog, i.e. “good pee outside” not “good boy!” Also utilized puppy pads as they have infused ammonia odor to attract them to go on a spot that already smells like a ‘used’ spot. You can use a few leading up to a door that you use to have them go out to relive and remove the pads one at a time until there is one in front of the door.

Lon L. Flewelling was born the middle and most charming of three boys in rural Minnesota where he spent many formative hours on family farms directly interacting with animals nearly from day one. Since his youth he enjoyed the gift and magic of close communication abilities particularly with dogs. Lon followed his gift into the world of wolf studies to further develop my passion and abilities to understand canines and their communications with each other and humans. He is a perpetual student of canines and sees no end to the absorption of canine knowledge.

“Lon L. Flewelling is the human owner’s manual on how to operate your dog in Denver!”
-Shasta Michaels-

Dog Files Viewpoint: I’ll Be Back Soon!

By KatyBeth Jensen For The Dog Files

In several weeks, my son and I will head to Alaska on vacation.  My Jack Russell, Rascal, will be left behind for the first time with someone other than my husband or my mother.  After her initial shock at not coming along, Rascal probably won’t even notice I’m gone. Jack Russells are like that. On the other hand, I’m having terrible separation anxiety before I’ve even packed my first bag.  Rascal has slept next to me every night since we brought her home. On the rare occasions I have left her home overnight, she easily substituted my husband or mom as her sleeping partner. Jack Russells are like that. I, on the other hand, didn’t sleep worth a woof. When I tell my clients that I understand how hard it is to leave their pups, they know without a doubt that I do. 

As a professional pet spoiler and petprietor of Camp Run-A-Pup, I can share a few tips which might make it easier when you have to leave your pups behind.  

If you can find a reliable caregiver, your pups will be happiest at home. Here is the catch, though. Only leave your pups at home with your mother. Okay, if your mother is not available, then only consider friends you would trust with your car. 

Do not rely on the friend playing with your adorable Lab puppy in May when she says, “Oh, he can stay with me over 4th of July.” Your puppy will be bigger, splashing in his water bowls, turning your kitchen into a swimming pool, and using your work clothes as a beach towel.  Your friend will not be amused by these stories, and will suddenly be very busy. Have a back-up plan. 

While looking for the “next best place to home” for your pup’s vacation stay, here are few things to remember: 

It won’t be easy to leave my pups when we head out on vacation, even for someone who knows without a doubt “they will be just fine.”  I will pack my bags, kiss their noses and announce, “We are going to have a great time!” Then I’ll tell them, “I’ll be back real soon,” shut the door quickly, and whisper to myself, “I’ll be back real soon.” 

How do you deal with leaving your pups when you go on vacation? 

Pats for pups!

Katybeth

KatyBeth & Rascal

Katybeth is a professional pet spoiler, living in the Chicagoland area, running her own business, Camp-Run-A-Pup. Camp Run-A-Pup spoils other people’s pups, and they do it really well. Katybeth lives with and loves three dogs of her own, Rascal, a Parson’s Terrier (AKC recognizers her as a Parson’s; you might recognize her as a Jack Russell), Skippy, a Schipperke with a personality disorder, and Scooby, a beagle that might belong to a neighbor. Katybeth’s newest family star is Soquel’s Last Souvenire, or as they like to call her, Trinket, a show-stopping Doberman pup. Katybeth co-owns Trinket with her mom because she likes being on the winning side of the dog show arena and wanted the rights to tell the real unabridged stories of the oddities of dog showing. the movie Dog Show did not even come close to telling. Katybeth also enjoys writing her blog — My Odd Family. Dogs, dog people, dog shows and owning a dog business combined with hearth, home and family never leaves her at a loss for material to write about.

Katybeth Jensen,PPS
Professional Pet Spoiler
http://www.camprunapup.com/
http://www.deerantlersforpups.com/
http://myoddfamily.com/

Also, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dogfiles

Caring For Your Senior Dog

By Nadine M. Rosin For The Dog Files

My greatest wish, is that every pet parent is lucky enough to someday have to face the issue of senior canine care. When my own dog, Buttons, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 8, the vet referred to her as a senior dog. Not only was I unwilling to lose my beloved canine to an insidious disease, but I remembered as a child, dogs commonly living into their late teens. So, 8-years old… middle-aged? Maybe. But senior citizen? Definitely not!

How I implemented an intense holistic cleansing and nutritional regimen to successfully heal the cancer without the vet’s prescribed treatment of chemotherapy, radiation and amputation, is a whole other story. This article is about senior canine care. Since Buttons not only survived the cancer, but thrived for an additional 11 years, until passing peacefully of old age at 19, I am blessed to have some life experience with a canine elder.

Of course, regardless of age, a pure, clean diet and chemical-free environment are essential for a strong immune system. Dogs metabolize everything so much faster than we do-whereas our bodies can endure a certain amount of toxic abuse for 40 or 50 years before retaliating, a dog’s body will start showing disease in 5-7 years. In my experience, it’s wise to take note of what chemical exposure there is in your own home via often overlooked things as cleaning products, laundry products, and air fresheners.

Past a certain age, supplements start taking on an even greater role and I encourage every pet parent to do their own online research of the many available choices. Personally, I had a lot of success with Yucca Extract to ease any joint stiffness or swelling Buttons had. Yucca is a natural steroid with no negative side effects and is easy to mix in food. Also, after much reading on its use in Germany and Italy on human stroke victims, I began using Alpha Lipoic Acid to help with any symptoms of CDS (doggy Alzheimer’s).

The last 3 years of Buttons’ life, I was very careful to keep a steady routine, not move any furniture, and basically keep everything in her world as predictable as possible. When the time came, we experimented with different brands of diapers. For her 18th birthday I bought a cushy, fold-up baby stroller to take with us on hikes for when she got tired. At one point, due to her aging eyesight and cognitive function, I covered the sharp edges of our furniture with foam.

Ok. Now here’s the hard part- the one that isn’t so comfortable to read, but the part that is, in my opinion, essential. Take lots and lots of photos and video- they will help comfort you through the grieving process when the inevitable happens. When Butts was 17, I bought a bunch of disposable cameras. Every time I filled one up with pictures of her, I’d put it in a box in the back of my closet. It wasn’t until months after her passing that I began having them developed, one by one. What a comfort it was to have new photos of her even after she’d gone.

Take a day here and there away from your busy life to shut out the rest of the world and really connect deeply with your animal’s spirit- to consciously and uninterruptedly just BE with this unconditionally loving soul who’s been such a deep and delightful part of your life. Believe me, there will come a time when you will be so glad you did.

Do any research about what your choices are and how you will handle the details of your dog’s body after their passing. It’s so much easier to think clearly and gather facts well before the day you are thrown into that gut-wrenching grief.

Most importantly, as much as you can, treasure each moment for what it is- find the joy in it, rather than missing what was or fearing what’s to come. I mean, our dogs never stop teaching us how to do just that, right? Having a senior canine can be so precious and such a profound learning experience. Your canine may not be bounding along the beach or scampering up the trail any longer, but your relationship will be as priceless as a rare, old cognac, and by then, you’ll undoubtedly be finishing each other’s sentences, too.

Nadine M. Rosin, Holistic Pets/Toxic-free Living Consultant, Pet Bereavement Facilitator, author & speaker.

Available for phone consultations, your next function or fundraiser

The Healing Art Of Pet Parenthood
A book about the human-animal bond, healing cancer holistically, and a new take on pet loss.

Pet Parenthood Blog
A blog with answers & information about natural healing, grief, and parenting our beloved pets.

Follow me on Twitter.

The Mission Behind the Book :

Helping pet parents realize we may be unconsciously contributing to the skyrocketing increase of cancer in our pets by unknowingly creating highly toxic environments in our homes.

Providing comfort, camaraderie, and validation for pet parents experiencing the devastating loss of a beloved pet.

Helping to remove the words, “It’s just a dog/cat” from the lips of non pet parents everywhere.

Introducing Dogs To Each Other

By Lon L. Flewelling For The Dog Files

I always enjoy the challenge and pleasure of success in introducing new dogs to each other in such a way that they understand there is no threat to territory or self. Toni wanted to do just that to ensure a happy, healthy pack.

Toni asked:

I want to have a pack. My dog Kid, my step-son’s year old female Bella, also a pit, and his latest rescue, roscoe, 11 month old pit. Lots of pits. Anyway, how do I go about making them a pack? Kid has met both dogs, not together. Loves Bella. Met Roscoe thru my fence, didn’t like. Fence is a problem I think.

Lon answered;

My best success has been to introduce on neutral ground so there are no territorial issues going on. The fence between dogs represents a solid territory line so in a park or open space that none of them ‘own’ works best.

Have them on leads and walk them past each other a number of times getting slightly closer with each pass. Reward and denial work here as with many things. The reward is to be able to be near and interact, denial comes into play if any of them growl, or start showing body language that is aggressive, stiffening body and tail, puffing up, staring…correct them immediately with a stern ‘leave it’ and if it persists, ‘denial’ would be to turn them away from the forward motion and walk away from the confrontation.

Give it a few minutes and try it again.

ONLY after both or all dogs are calm and in submissive mode, this may take a few passes, are they to be allowed the ‘reward’ of getting closer and closer until they can all sit near each other without any dominance or aggression.

If possible, when getting home take them for a walk together around the block in your neighborhood, side by side and never in front of you or your son…YOU are the pack leaders.

I would recommend plenty of water bowls side by side in and outside the home so there is no possessive/territorial actions there either.

Bring them into your yard or at least outside and repeat the walking and sitting near each other, making certain they are all calm and subdued. The house is your territory as pack leaders, not theirs, as subordinate pack members. If there is any body posturing or language from any of them, leash the perpetrator(s) and ‘deny’ them access to the others until they settle. Reward and denial…repetition of commands like ‘leave it’, ‘settle’ and consistency of commands will be your allies throughout.

Donna asked:

On the walk with my dogs – my romper kicks the dirt in the same spot every time. She will not do poddy anywhere but in her yard so it is not that she is covering up and there are no other dogs around that she is standing her ground. Is there another reason for this? I’m just curious.

Lon replied:

It is likely a spot that has some sort of odor or pee from another dog. Dogs have scent glands in their paws between their toes and the kicking is another form of marking to leave their scent on top of the last ‘contribution’.

Wolves in the wild will do the same thing on the spot of a kill and or over another’s urination.

Donna wrote back:

Wow, it is indeed a spot where many dogs pass by on their walks so many do relieve themselves nearby. I had no idea that dogs had scent glands in their pads, that explains a lot about when and where he has kicked before, thank you!

Lon L. Flewelling was born the middle and most charming of three boys in rural Minnesota where he spent many formative hours on family farms directly interacting with animals nearly from day one. Since his youth he enjoyed the gift and magic of close communication abilities particularly with dogs. Lon followed his gift into the world of wolf studies to further develop my passion and abilities to understand canines and their communications with each other and humans. He is a perpetual student of canines and sees no end to the absorption of canine knowledge.

“Lon L. Flewelling is the human owner’s manual on how to operate your dog in Denver!”
-Shasta Michaels-

The Dog Park Blues

By KatyBeth Jensen For The Dog Files

I was visiting with some new dog owners the other day, and they were worried.

It’s that time of year again. The weather is warming, and the sunshine is luring my campers’ owners to take leash in hand and head out to our local dog parks with their furry playmates.

It’s that time of year again. Concerned dog owners will call me with tales of their pup being bitten or biting a park playmate. Pups will be dropped off at camp with stories about the other dog owners that frequent dog parks. Owners who don’t care, are irresponsible, talk on cell phones, and bring toys and badly behaved children.

Some owners will wish for a more social dog. Others will wish their dog would share his toys, like the other dogs at the park. Owners will be beside themselves because they were yelled at when their larger dog ran over a smaller dog. One owner will cry when she shows me where her dog was “attacked” for no reason AT ALL. Another will cry when she tells me how her sweet dog seemed to attack another playmate for no reason.

I will hand out tissues, kiss owies, reassure everyone, and once again, curse the dog parks and playgrounds. However, since it’s doubtful I’m going to convince you that your pup would probably prefer a nice long walk with you for companionship, I’m going to share with you a few tips to consider before you open the gates of the local dog park and unsnap your leash.

Babies, toddlers, unruly older children? Leave them at home. Just do. If you bring them, don’t even think about snarling at the owners of dogs who run over them or jump on them. The odds of a bite are high. Read the sign on the gate: DOG park.

Before you enter the gates, dump all the treats out of your pocket. No treats. When you swim in the ocean, do you bring shark bait with you?

Toys. Leave them in the car. Dogs don’t share. They can’t be taught to share. Really. If a dog gives up a toy or allows another dog to take their toy, they are not “sharing.” They are showing social awareness. If they resist, they know the other dog will probably bite them. If your dog steals toys or refuses to share, they are not “selfish.” They are showing dominance. Leave the toys in the car. Okay, I see that purple eggplant in your pocket. Hear me sigh, but at least you know the dynamics. I’ll get the tissue ready.

Dog parks are stressful for your pups. Imagine you entered a party and twenty people descended on you, wanting to sniff your butt, jump on you, and snuggle up to your partner. Imagine knowing that at least a couple of “guests” had guns or knives. My guess is, you would hightail it out the door pretty quickly, or else head for the bar for a double. Giving up the human idea that dog parks are “fun” will help your pup have a better time and be less stressed.

When you enter the dog park, unsnap the leash, but please keep it in your hand. If you are sipping a latte and need a hand for your cell phone, put the leash around your neck.

Wait one minute. If you are sipping a latte and talking on the phone, who is watching your dog? Yes, the dog who is running amuck. Hang up. (I don’t have the heart to tell you to pitch the latte.) When your dog gets unruly at the dog park, call them to you immediately, and snap the leash back on, even if this means spilling the latte. Your dog needs your attention. Better yet, every few minutes, call your dog to you and have them sit. Your pup will feel more secure each time you reestablish that no matter what happens at the dog park, you are still his leader.

Along with your dog, leash, latte and purple eggplant, I hope you brought your sense of humor and goodwill with you to the dog park. Dogs will bite one another, get personal with one another, and sometimes accidents happen. Try to work it out. Be nice. If you can’t be nice, stay out of the dog park. I do.

Don’t stay too long, and for goodness sakes, shut the gate when you leave!

Now, take a nice calm walk home or back to your car. Talk to your pup about your day. Practice a few sits and downs. Look down and feel appreciation for the pup strutting beside you at the other end of the leash, wondering if the dog parks are really the best place for you and your pup to have a good time together.

Pats For Your Pups!!

Katybeth

KatyBeth & Rascal

Katybeth is a professional pet spoiler, living in the Chicagoland area, running her own business, Camp-Run-A-Pup. Camp Run-A-Pup spoils other people’s pups, and they do it really well. Katybeth lives with and loves three dogs of her own, Rascal, a Parson’s Terrier (AKC recognizers her as a Parson’s; you might recognize her as a Jack Russell), Skippy, a Schipperke with a personality disorder, and Scooby, a beagle that might belong to a neighbor. Katybeth’s newest family star is Soquel’s Last Souvenire, or as they like to call her, Trinket, a show-stopping Doberman pup. Katybeth co-owns Trinket with her mom because she likes being on the winning side of the dog show arena and wanted the rights to tell the real unabridged stories of the oddities of dog showing. the movie Dog Show did not even come close to telling. Katybeth also enjoys writing her blog — My Odd Family. Dogs, dog people, dog shows and owning a dog business combined with hearth, home and family never leaves her at a loss for material to write about.

Katybeth Jensen,PPS
Professional Pet Spoiler
http://www.camprunapup.com/
http://www.deerantlersforpups.com/
http://myoddfamily.com/