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t’s official. Summer is here and so is theheat. With temperatures soaring, it’s soimportant to keep your pets cool to avoid

hyperthermia, otherwise known as heat stroke.To read more about hyperthermia, turn to Dr.Amyx’s article on page 10.

Also in this issue, we feature an article on thePrinciples of Positive Training. Chrissie from Paw itForward Training offers some great tips on howto understand and communicate more effective-ly with your dog.

If you or someone you know is looking to adda new furry member to the family, be sure tocheck out the adoptable dogs from South TexasAussie Rescue on page 20.

Editorial

I

Issue 6: Volume 5www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

And, if you’ve been following our monthly agili-ty series with Lesley Young, this month’s topic isPreparing for Jumping. We’d love to see photos ofyour dog in action!

This issue marks the fifth year anniversary ofUrban Paws magazine. We’ve seen so many coolpet products, read inspiring stories and met themost wonderful and giving people in our com-munity over the years. Many thanks to thosewho share their expertise and passion to help uspublish this magazine.

Jennifer Kitchens

URBAN PAWSMAGAZINEP.O. Box 1556Spring, Texas 77383www.UrbanPawsMagazine.com

Design and layout by:ZOECOCREATIVE

© Copyright 2011. No part of this publication may bereprinted or otherwise reproduced without the publish-er’s written permission. Urban Paws magazine assumesno responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, feature andidea submissions, or photographs, and such material willnot be returned. Urban Paws magazine assumes no lia-bility for the contents herein and has the right to refuseadvertising for any reason. Urban Paws magazine doesnot endorse any specific product or service containedherein; we do encourage you to support our advertiserswhenever possible.

Please tell our advertisers you heard about them inUrban Paws!

On the CoverLacey Ann, photographed byAshlee Newman Photography.

Follow us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the mostup-to-date information, news and events!

6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Calendar

July 2011 Events For a full listing of events, visit:www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events

JULY 1-3DockDogsDockDogs returns to Discovery Green for itsfourth year. This national tour dog jumpingcompetition features four-legged athletes fromacross Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana indiverse jumping competitions. The DockDogscompetition is free and open to the public.Visit the DockDogs website atwww.dockdogs.com for details on how to regis-ter for the Houston competition.

JULY 2Adopt a Rescued Friend Adoption EventMeet the adoptable dogs from Adopt aRescued Friend at the Petco at I-45 andCypresswood. 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. For more infor-mation, visit www.adoptarescuedfriend.com.

JULY 9Smart Rescue Adoption EventMeet the adoptable dogs from Smart Rescue atthe PetSmart at 1-45 and 1960 every Saturdayfrom noon - 4:00 p.m. For more information,visit www.smartpetz.com.

JULY 11-15Companion Camp for Kids and TeensThis is an opportunity for children ages 7-13 towork hands-on with the animals cared for bythe Houston Humane Society. Campers canregister online at www.houstonhumane.org.

JULY 13Bowling for BeaglesCome out and help the hounds with bowlingand fun at Palace Lanes. Noon - 3:00 pm.Three hours includes: Unlimited bowling,pizza, soda, t-shirt, contests and prizes. Slotsare limited. $50 per person. To reserve yours,email Elizabeth at [email protected].

JULY 16Project Derek Dog Benefiting Citizens forAnimal Protection (CAP)11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Hotel Derek, 2525 WestLoop South. One winner will be chosen fromLarge and Small Dog categories, plus an allaround best winner! Tickets are $75. Dogs arecomplimentary. Ticket includes: Entry fee,lunch, wine, entertainment, silent auction andraffle entry for door prize. For pre-registrationtickets: call 281-497-9055 or e-mail [email protected].

JULY 20-24Reliant ParkWorld Series of Dog Showswww.reliantdogshows.com.

JULY 30Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever RescueMeet & GreetNatural Pawz in Vintage Park. 10:00 am - 2:00pm. For more information, visitwww.gbgrr.org.

The Scoop

News &Happenings in the Houston Area

NEWNEUROLOGY ANDNEURO-SURGERYPRACTICEOPENSINHOUSTON

Gulf Coast Veterinary Surgery, Orthopedicsand Neurology recently opened a new specialtyhospital dedicated to neurology and neuro-surgery practice – Gulf Coast VeterinaryNeurology and Neurosurgery. The hospital islocated at 3800 Southwest Freeway, Suite 136.

GCVNN is an expansion of Gulf CoastVeterinary Surgery, Orthopedics andNeurology at 1111 West Loop South. Thereferral hospital is home to the only threeboard-certified veterinary neurologists inHouston, out of a total of six in Texas and144 in the nation. Additionally, the GCVNNhospital uses state-of-the-art equipment,including Houston’s most powerful MRI dedi-cated only to veterinary patients with neurolog-ical and musculoskeletal injuries. Visitwww.gcvnn.com for more information.

TEXAS HOUSE BILL 1451 PASSESHOUSE, ONWAY TOGOVERNOR

HB 1451, a bill relating to the licensing andregulation of certain dog and cat breeders, wasrecently passed by the Texas House ofRepresentatives. This legislation will now pro-ceed to Governor Rick Perry for signature orveto. If passed, the bill promises to ensure thehumane care and treatment of dogs and cats inthe custody of large scale commercial breeders.Opponents of the bill say that it is not in theinterest of responsible breeders, pet owners orcitizens of Texas. To learn more about the bill,visit www.house.state.tx.us and search by theHB number.

Urban Paws Magazine 7

MISTER CARWASH TEAMS UPWITHTHEHOUSTONHUMANE SOCIETYFOR PAWS-A-THON

Purchase a paw through the month of Julyfor $1, $5, or $10 to help the animals of theHouston Humane Society. On average, it costs$12 per day for cats and $20 a day for dogs tobe housed at a shelter while waiting to beadopted. Visit www.mrcarwash.com for loca-tions and offers.

NEW FELINE NUTRITION PRODUCTSAPPEAL TO FURRY FRIENDSWITHFINICKY PALATES

Royal Cannin’s new SELECTIVE felinenutrition formulas seek to satisfy the needs ofeven the fussiest appetites, by appealing to acat’s individual preferences. According to theresearch and development experts at RoyalCanin, most cats decide which food they preferbased on one of three factors: Aroma, textureor shape, and how the food makes them feelafterward. While each animal is different, mostcats generally gravitate toward one or more ofthese preferences, motivating them to eat a fullmeal every day – essential to their overallhealth and wellness. To ensure that even pickyeaters get their daily serving of required nutri-ents, Royal Canin developed three distinctlydifferent formulas that appeal to finicky felineappetites. To learn more, visitwww.royalcanin.us.

12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

DOGGYDEVOTION

If you share your life with a dog, youhave a special connection that peoplewithout pets may not fully compre-hend.

Our doggy devotion seems absolutelynormal to other dog owners, whichcould explain why we relate to eachother when we meet for the first time.

We’d like to hear from you! What arethe signs that you live with a dog? Is itslobber on the car windows, an endlesstrail of toys throughout your house?

Share your insider knowledge with usand we’ll publish your answers in theAugust issue of Urban Paws.

Email your submissions to:[email protected]. The dead-line for submissions is July 14, 2011.


Bow Wow Books

Dog Sense - How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can MakeYou a Better Friend to Your PetBy John Bradshaw

Hardcover: 352 pagesPublisher: Basic BooksISBN-10: 0465019447

Dogs have been mankind's faithful companions for tens of thou-sands of years, yet today they are regularly treated as either pack-following wolves or furry humans. The truth is, dogs are neither--and our misunderstanding has put them in serious crisis.

What dogs really need is a spokesperson, someone who willassert their specific needs. Renowned anthrozoologist Dr. JohnBradshaw has made a career of studying human-animal interac-tions, and in Dog Sense he uses the latest scientific research toshow how humans can live in harmony with--not just dominionover-- their four-legged friends. From explaining why positive rein-forcement is a more effective (and less damaging) way to controldogs' behavior than punishment to demonstrating the importanceof weighing a dog's unique personality against stereotypes about itsbreed, Bradshaw offers extraordinary insight into the question ofhow we really ought to treat our dogs.

A Dog’s PurposeBy John Bradshaw

Paperback: 336 pagesPublisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLCISBN: 0765330342

This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog’s search for hispurpose over the course of several lives. More than just anothercharming dog story, A Dog’s Purpose touches on the universalquest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny, A Dog'sPurpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog'smany lives, but also a dog's-eye commentary on human relation-ships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's bestfriend. This moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us thatlove never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and thatevery creature on earth is born with a purpose.


Healthy Tails

Protect Your Pet from Summer’s Heat

ho would have dreamed June could

be so hot in Houston this year?

Summer has not even officially arrived and tem-

peratures are soaring above 100 degrees. We are

hot and our pets are definitely hot! So be care-

ful with them, hyperthermia can sneak up on

them, on you!’

Your pet's body temperature can be elevated

because of a hot and/or humid condition out-

side. An increased body temperature caused by

environmental conditions is commonly referred

to as hyperthermia, heatstroke and heat prostra-

tion. Hyperthermia may be a life-threatening

condition, and does require immediate medical

treatment.

A dog's normal body temperature is 101.5

degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus 1 degree.

Any time a dog's body temperature is higher

than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, a true emergency

exists. Heatstroke generally occurs in hot sum-

mer weather where dogs are left with inadequate

ventilation in hot vehicles. However, heatstroke

may also occur in other situations including:

• When a pet is left outdoors in hot/humid

conditions without adequate shade.

• When a pet is exercised in hot/humid weather.

• When a pet is left in a car on a relatively cool

day (70 degrees Fahrenheit). A recent study

from Stanford University Medical Center

found that the temperature within a vehicle

may increase by an average of 40 degrees

Fahrenheit within one hour, regardless of the

outside temperatures.

When a pet is experiencing hyperthermia, initial-

ly the pet appears distressed, will pant excessive-

ly, and become restless. As the hyperthermia

progresses, the pet may drool large amounts of

saliva from the nose and/or mouth. The pet may

become unsteady on his feet and you may notice

the gums turning blue/purple or bright red in

color, which is due to inadequate oxygen.

W

ByDr. Jim AmyxFour Seasons Veterinary Hospital

WHAT TODO

WHATNOT TODO

• Remove your pet from the environmentwhere the hyperthermia occcured.

• Move your pet to a shaded and coolenvironment, and direct a fan on it.

• If possible, determine rectal temperatureand record it.

• Begin to cool your pet's body by placingcool, wet towels over the back of theneck, in the armpits, and in the groinregion. You may also wet the ear flapsand paws with cool water.

• Directing a fan on these wetted areaswill help to speed evaporative cooling.

• Transport your pet to your veterinarianimmediately!

• Do not use cold water or ice for coolingyour pet.

• Do not overcool your pet.

• A reasonable goal of cooling is toreduce your pet's body temperature to102.5 - 103 degrees F while transportingyour pet to your veterinarian.

• Do not attempt to force water into yourpet's mouth. Simply have fresh wateravailable should your pet show an inter-est in drinking.

Cooling the pet is extremely important. While

ice or cold water may seem logical, its use is

NOT advised. Cooling the innermost structures

of the body will actually be delayed because the

ice or cold water will cause superficial blood ves-

sels to shrink, effectively forming an insulating

layer of tissue to hold the heat inside. Tap

water is more suitable for effective cooling.

Severe hyperthermia is a disease that affects

nearly every system in the body. Simply lower-

ing the body temperature fails to address the

potentially catastrophic events that often

accompany this disorder. A pet suffering from

hyperthermia should be seen by your veterinari-

an as soon as possible.

In many cases, pets need to be hospitalized until

their temperature is stabilized, and may even

need intensive care for several days if organ fail-

ure has occurred. Be aware of the clinical signs

of heat stroke so you may respond quickly to an

episode.

Know how to cool your pet properly and call

your veterinarian if you have any concerns that

your pet may be suffering from any of the

before mentioned symptoms.

It’s Getting Hot in Here!

Do you know how hot it can get in a car on a summerday? The answer is: Much hotter than it is outside. Cars trapthe sun’s heat. A little heat outside of a car can quickly heatup the inside. On a summer's day at only 85º degrees, evenkeeping the windows slightly open won't stop the insidetemperature from climbing to 102º degrees in 10 minutes,and to 120º degrees in 20 minutes. A dog whose body tem-perature rises to 107-108º degrees will, within a very short,time suffer irreparable brain damage — or even death.

During the hot summer months here in Houston, it is recommended that youleave your dog at home, even if you just run a quick errand. Leaving your dogin the car for “just a minute” can have very serious consequences.

If you see a dog in distress, call out for the owner of the car or, visit the closest business and ask ifthey can make an announcement over the loudspeaker.

Mydogiscool.com is a website dedicated to educating people about the dangers hot weather poses todogs. It offers these cool, free downloadable flyers that you can print and leave on people’s windshieldsor at area businesses. These tools can mean the difference between life and death for a dog left unat-tended in a sweltering hot car, so help spread the word.


he IMS Institute for HealthcareInformatics recently released a reportthat included the top five human pre-

scription (Rx) drugs dispensed in the UnitedStates.

“Nearly half of the calls we receive are forpets that have accidentally ingested human med-ications,” said Dr. Justine Lee, DVM,DACVECC and the associate director ofVeterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline.“Recognizing the most commonly prescribeddrugs in the U.S. and how they affect pets canhelp pet owners be more cognizant of potentialdangers associated with these drugs.”

According to the IMS Institute for HealthcareInformatics report, which was released in April2011, the top five human drugs dispensed in theU.S. are Lipitor®, Nexium®, Plavix®, AdvairDiskus® and Abilify®. Because Pet PoisonHelpline’s call volume is high for dogs and catsthat have ingested human medications harmfulto pets, the veterinarians are sharing how thesedrugs typically affect pets that ingest them. Asexplained below, some drugs cause only minor

symptoms and some can be potentially lifethreatening. Awareness of these drugs and howthey affect pets can save lives. Likewise, in caseswhere a pet has ingested a non-life threateningdrug, awareness can save the pet owner a greatdeal of heartache.

#1 – Lipitor® (atorvastatin)Used to reduce cholesterol levels, U.S. citizensspent $7.2 billion on Lipitor in 2010, making itthe top selling drug in the country. Generallywhen pets get into Lipitor, only mild side effectsare seen, such as vomiting and diarrhea.Therefore, Lipitor is not considered to havehigh toxicity levels for pets. While some humandrugs are utilized in veterinary medicine, Lipitoris not.

#2 – Nexium® (esomeprazole)During 2010, Americans spent $6.3 billion onNexium. It is an anti-ulcer medication and pro-ton-pump inhibitor that results in decreasedgastric acid secretion. While it is utilized in vet-erinary medicine for some pets, mild side effects

T


can include vomiting and diarrhea. Pet ownersof dogs or cats that get into this drug shouldwatch their pet closely, but not be alarmed sincesymptoms will generally subside on their own.

#3 – Plavix® (clopidogrel)In third place is Plavix, which is a drug thataffects platelets in humans, inhibiting clot for-mation and reducing the risk of stroke. Rarelyused in veterinary medicine, $6.1 billion wasspent on this drug for humans last year. Whenpets get into Plavix, it has a wide margin of safe-ty and generally is not considered to be acutelytoxic. Only mild vomiting or diarrhea may be seen.

#4 – Advair Diskus® (fluticasone propionate andsalmeterol)Often used for treating asthma and adminis-tered through an inhaler, Advair Diskus con-tains beta-agonist drugs that expand the lungsand steroids that decrease inflammation in thelungs. Americans spent $4.7 billion on AdvairDiskus in 2010, making it fourth top sellingdrug. Because inhalers contain many doses, dogsthat chew into them are exposed to massiveamounts of the drug all at once. This oftenresults in heart arrhythmias, an elevated heartrate, agitation, vomiting and even acute collapse.Severe electrolyte abnormalities such as very lowpotassium levels are likely and can be life-threat-ening without immediate veterinary treatment.

#5 – Abilify® (aripiprazole)The fifth top-selling drug is Abilify. It containsaripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic agent thatis used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorderand clinical depression. It is important to keepthis drug out of the reach of pets, as ingestioncan result in profound lethargy, vomiting, hyper-thermia, significant changes in heart rate andblood pressure, and seizures. If a pet ingests thisdrug, immediate veterinary attention is needed.

In order to keep pets safe from ingesting theseand other dangerous human medications, theveterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline offer theserecommendations:

• Keep human medications stored in a differentlocation from pet medications. Pet PoisonHelpline often takes calls from pet owners whoaccidentally give their human medications to pets.• Weekly pill holders are irresistible to somedogs, as they resemble chew toys and rattle. Thedanger is that a dog could ingest a full sevendays’ worth of medications, significantlyincreasing the risk for poisoning.·• Avoid putting medications into plastic storagebaggies before traveling – these are not petproof (or child-proof), and can easily be chewedinto by dogs.• Hang your purse out of the reach of your pets.Inhalers, medications, sugar-free gum, and otheritems that are dangerous to pets can be easilysnatched out of a purse by a curious dog or cat.Pet Poison Helpline recently produced a videotitled “Handbag Hazards” available herehttp://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/Ask-the-Vet-Videos.

Remember that what is safe for humans isn’talways safe for pets. If you think your pet hasingested something poisonous, it is always better(and less expensive) to get help immediately.Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poisonhelpline at 1-800-213-6680 for life-saving help.Pet Poison Helpline is the most cost-effectiveanimal poison control center in North Americacharging only $35 per call, including unlimitedfollow-up consultations.

– “Macbeth” Shakespeare

Are You Feeding FRANKENFISH to Your Dogs?

If you read the last three ads written about Solid Gold dry dog food, then you realize that your dog’s life depends upon what you feed them. The articles were: 1) Does GMO Mean God Move Over? , 2)Chicken and the Egg and Salmonella Poisoning, and 3) Sundancer – Our New Dog Food with Cur-cumin. Solid Gold has been the leader in natural dog and cat food since 1975. We introduced the Hund-N-

food. We told them that Hund-N-Flocken had been a top seller in Germany for 20 years. They said, “Oh!” If you import a dog from Germany, frequently the export papers say that if you don’t feed the Solid Gold Hund -N-Flocken , and the Solid Gold Sea Meal powder, they will not guarantee the health of the dog.

caught salmon in our “Just a Wee Bit”, for the small dog. For the large and giant breed, we introduced Wolf Cub and Wolf King. The owner of Solid Gold had

Soon, as usual, other dog food companies copied us. But they used big

salmon was available. Farmed salmon is fed GMO corn. The corn is sterile and cannot reproduce. The salmon are sterile and cannot reproduce. Guess what hap-pens to the people and dogs that are fed this salmon? Solid Gold no longer uses salmon. They are concerned that the GMO salmon may cause cancer. GMO

Our Holistique Blendz dog food was introduced in 1985. Holistic does

the older dog to spare the liver and the kidneys. It is also for white dogs that are

to the Solid Gold booth. The salesman told us that his company also now had holistic dog food. We asked him what holistic meant. He said they put apples in it. Oh well!

If you read the last three ads written about Solid Gold dry dog food, then you realize that your dog’s life depends upon what you feed

natural dog and cat food since 1975. We introduced the Hund-N-

To obtain a free catalogue or to find a store near you call: (619) 258-7356 (M-F 10-5 PST) orE-mail us at [email protected] orwww.solidgoldhealth.com

Solid Gold HolisticAnimal Nutrition Center1331 N. CuyamacaEl Cajon, CA 92020

Solid Gold is a member of theNational Nutritional Foods Association,The Organic Trade Association and the Health Freedom Association.

to plant tomato seeds. You now have to buy GMO tomato plants from the same company that developed GMO soybean and corn. The chemical company said they are doing this to protect the public. Seems that bugs will get on the tomato plants. For 20 years, I just washed off the bugs from my father’s tomato plants. These GMO plants were found to cause two harmful strains of bac-teria that damage the intestinal tract and cause leaky gut syndrome. Dogs were developing leaky gut syndrome and infected anal glands. We use non-GMO tomatoes in our dog food. They are high in lyco-

is red supports the circulatory system, hormone system and thyroid system. In the recent radiation Japanese disaster, the red sea algae was rushed to Japan to build up the immune and hormone systems. Our Sea Meal contains 19 types of

food. It keeps the dogs from chewing at the root of the tail and licking their feet. Our new Solid Gold dog food is Sundancer, which contains

In 1958 the US Congress wanted to fund a study for the use of curcumin and cancer. The big pharmaceutical companies objected and said it would interfere with revenues from their cancer drugs. The New World Order says that if you control the food pro-


Breed ProfileThe Weimaraner

he Weimaraner breed is several cen-turies old. They derived from thesame selective stock as other German

hunting breeds and are a descendant of theBloodhound. The Weimaraner is a good all-around hunting dog and an excellent pointer.Originally used as big game hunters such asbear, deer and wolves, the Weimaraner is usedmore today as a bird dog and even a waterretriever.

The Weimaraner is a moderately large, athleticworking dog. Their medium sized heads, whichhave often been called “artistocratic,” havestrong muzzles and long, pendant ears. Theyhave gray noses and intelligent, wide-set eyesthat come in shades of light amber, gray or blue-gray. Weimaraners normally have long necksthat lead down to long, muscular legs withwebbed, compact feet, and their moderatelylong backs lead to docked tails. Their short,smooth coat is tight to the body and comes inshades of mouse-gray to silver-gray. Overall, theWeimaraner look combines grace, balance andquickness.

Weimaraners are devoted and loving membersof the family. But they are not the type of dogto follow rote commands or have predictablehabits. Though smart, these dogs can be selec-tive about when and how they use their intelli-gence.

Without the proper exercise, Weimaraners canbe very rambunctious and difficult to control.They learn quickly but will get bored if the

training is the same thing over and over again.This breed needs firm, experienced trainingstarting at puppyhood, with an owner whounderstands how to be a dog's pack leader, orthey can become stubborn and willful.

Very gentle and kind, Weimaraners are greatwith children, but can inadvertently knockthings (and people) over. For this reason, theyare probably not the best apartment dwellers.They need plenty of exercise and (if possible) alarge yard to play in.

A healthy Weimaraner’s life span can be from 10to 12 years. Common health problems includehip dysplasia, tumors and hypertrophic osteody-strophy (excessive rapid growth). They are alsoprone to bloat. It is better to feed them two orthree small meals a day rather than one largemeal.

TByJennifer Kitchens

Co-Pilot Protection PlanProtect your Pet’s Health with Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Your enrollment helps homeless pets!

GoHealthyPaws.com/UrbanPaws

Gimme ShelterJoin us in helping our four-legged friends find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!


Lacey Ann is just as feminine as hername implies. This 18 month old bluemerle girl was found at a local shelter andwe see no reason for the owner not tocome and get her. She is sweet and affec-tionate and very badly wants to please.Lacey has already learned to sit, is house-broken and will need to go out on a sched-ule. She runs into her crate for a treat andwill stay quietly. We are working on hermanners. She will still jump up occasional-ly or put her feet on the counter to seewhat you are doing.Lacey loves playing with her foster broth-

ers and sisters. If they don't want to play,she will entertain herself with the entiretoy basket. Lacey needs some leash work,but she is good in the car. Cats are anunknown and children over the age ofeight should be fine. For more informationand photos of Lacey, contact Patti [email protected].

Please note that these dogs may have been adopted by the time you visit them; however,there are many more wonderful dogs in need of forever homes.

Ourcover dog,Lacey Ann!

South Texas Aussie Rescuewww.southtexasaussierescue.org

South Texas Aussie Rescue, Inc. (STAR), located in Houston, TX, is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) adoptionand referral service dedicated to placing homeless or abandoned Australian Shepherds in loving, perma-nent homes. All representatives and foster homes are volunteers - they receive no compensation and doit only for the love of the breed.

All Aussies available for adoption have been temperament and health checked, spayed/neutered, heart-worm checked and put on preventative (and treated if positive), and are current on their vaccinations. Ifa suitable dog is found for you to adopt, we do ask for a small adoption fee to help us cover any medicalwork we've done and to help us continue helping other Aussies in need.

BELLEBelle is a small, red tri-colored girlaround 34 lbs. Originally from a Lufkinshelter, she first went to Pup Squadwith her puppies. After her puppiesdied of distemper, she ended up atSTAR. Belle became very sick withwhat is believed to have been distem-per. After several difficult months, shehas finally recovered enough to bespayed and get her vaccinations. Shewill still have to go through Heartwormtreatment shortly.

COBYMeet Coby, a two-year-old, blue merlemale found at a San Antonio shelter.Coby looks very serious, yet that is thelast word to describe his personality.This happy boy will need a new ownerthat can spend time training and exer-cising him. He's smart and eager toplease but will happily run the house ifnot told otherwise. Coby is very socialand loves to play with his foster sib-lings. Cats and children are anunknown. Coby is housebroken,improving on the leash and learningbasic commands very quickly.

MAVERICKMaverick is a big, fluffy, three-year-oldred merle Aussie. He is a very confidentboy that weighs around 65 lbs. and isvery pretty with his one stunning par-tial blue eye. He is housebroken andcrate trained. Maverick will need workon his leash manners and his greeting.He is good with older children and alladults. He is okay with cats, but not ifthey run. His ideal adopter would becomfortable around a large dog andlook forward to training and smoothingout his rough spots and discovering hisreally great wonderful traits.

BOONEMeet Boone, who should have beennamed Gentle Ben! This four-year-oldblack, tri-colored male came to STARfrom a home where he committed anegregious crime against a freshly bakedpie. This 70 lb. boy is what is known ofas a just add water and stir type ofAussie. He is housebroken, cratetrained, loves his toys, interacts wellwith his companion Aussies, walks wellon a leash, loves to go in the car andloves to be brushed. Boone is not abarker or a resource guarder. He shareshis toys and loves his people. Boone isthe typical Velcro Aussie who loves tobe with his people. While it is notknown how he is with cats, he loveschildren and would probably be happi-est with a medium sized or larger dogcompanion.

BIG BENBig Ben is only a year old and alreadyweighs 63 lbs. This black, tri-coloredmale was found in Huntsville anddescribed as what might be anAussie/Rottie mix. Instead, he is sim-ply a big Aussie with a big black head!Ben is still a puppy but will be simple totrain. This is a very solid dog that meetspeople and other dogs easily. As ofnow, he is known to be great with catsand other dogs and loves people. Hemight be too big or rambunctious forvery small children but he has a sweetnature and is good with kids over theage of eight. He is housebroken andgood in his crate. Ben is neutered,micro-chipped and current on his vac-cinations. He is also on a program offlea and heartworm meds.


MAEMeet five-year-old Mae from a BastropShelter. She was taken to the vet andspayed and is now current on her vac-cinations. Unfortunately, Mae hadheartworms. Her treatment is nowcomplete and she has done great. She isexactly as advertised - a sweet, settledgirl who just wants someone to love herand to take her on long walks. She willneed the long walks as Mae is slightlychunky at 60 lbs.. She could probablylose about 10 lbs. and feel better. Mae ishousebroken and has a cute funny easypersonality. Who wouldn't love thosebaby blue eyes? Mae lives with cats andwould prefer to have her new owner allto herself as she can be a dog that lovestoo much.

top Agility Instructor once asked me,

as a new handler, “Where is it all won or lost in

the competition ring?”. Of course, there are

many answers, but his might surprise you. “In

the spaces” he said. Beginning agility is exciting

and rewarding as dogs make tremendous early

progress learning the equipment – which, he

emphasized, is ‘their job’. “Your job” he said “is

to manage the spaces” in other words, the steer-

ing – directing your dog positively to take the

most advantageous path through the course.

Establishing this togetherness is a vital compo-

nent of agility teamwork, but often gets over-

looked.


I tend to teach that the hand closest to the dog

(the side they are on) is your Working, or

Driving hand. After-all, it’s the hand the dog can

see most of the time and from which they take

their cues. It helps to keep your hand flat and

vertical, more or less steady around waist height.

(If your dog is looking ahead, they won’t see

your hand if it is up in the air, and you cannot

run so well if you bend down). Your dog needs

to learn to drive forward with your momentum

and to slow down when you do, unless you are

sending your dog ahead. In addition to your

hand, your dog will learn to take many cues,

including the position of your legs and shoul-

A

AGILITY FOUNDATION WORKPreparing for Jumping

By Lesley Young, Dog Angels U.S.

ders – sometimes when you inadver-

tently cue the wrong obstacle! It

really is a double act.

The hand furthest from your dog is

your ‘checking’ hand – when this

comes into play it means “come

towards me”. That can be really

beneficial, adjusting your dog’s path

or ‘line’ through a course. I recom-

mend a short positive verbal cue

such as “In”.

The more in-tune your dog is with

your body language, the more confi-

dent and responsive they will be. All

this can be built away from the

Agility area.

Exercise 1 – “In”During heel work, bring your ‘Checking Hand’

in towards your dog with a verbal “In” cue.

Reward your dog with a tuggy game or treat

from your “Checking Hand”.

Exercise 2 – “Acceleration/Deceleration”Practise heel work (on leash initially), changing

pace – sometimes running, sometimes slowing

right down and rewarding your dog regularly,

from your “Driving Hand” for staying with you.

Keep practices short to maintain your dog’s

focus and enthusiasm. In a secured location,

practice this off leash too.

Remember, that with all training, it entails build-

ing gradually and generalizing or “proofing” in

new locations once your dog is proficient in one

location. Practice all these exercises starting your

dog on both the left and on the right. Review

your hand positions and ensure you are giving

your dog clear messages. Have fun!

Lesley Young (MA Hons), has 17 years experi-

ence of Dog Training - relocating to The

Woodlands, Texas in 2009. Lesley runs Pet Dog,

Puppy and Agility classes and is an AKC Canine

Good Citizen Evaluator. www.dogangels.us.

With special thanks to Abby, and her owner

Dick for demonstrating.

raining should be an enjoyable expe-

rience for both you and your dog.

The more you understand about how your dog

thinks and learns, the more effectively you can

communicate. Clear communication means suc-

cessful training and good behavior—with no

need for coercion or physical corrections.

Behavior that is rewarded is more likely to reoc-cur. In other words, dogs do what works for

them. If your dog was given praise and a treat

the last time he sat, he is more likely to sit again

the next time you ask. If he knows that jumping

up on you will earn your attention, he’ll keep

jumping, as your attention (such as touching

him with your hands) is a reward. This powerful

principle is a key component of reward-based

training.

Positive reinforcement reward options. Treats

are not the only positive reward available. Paw It

Forward Training clients are taught “Treat,

Touch and Talk.” When your dog performs a

desired behavior, offer two out of the three pos-

itive reinforcement methods. For example, give

the dog a treat and say, “Good boy!” Another

example is to give your dog a good ear rub and

say, “Very good stay!” The sky’s the limit.

Consider which things your dog finds reward-

ing, and use them. After all, do you plan on

always having a treat handy?

Dogs learn by association. When training, it is

important that the reward closely follow the

desired behavior. For example, when teaching

your dog to sit, the praise and treat should be

given when his rear touches the floor, not after


T

The Principlesof Positive Training

By Chrissie DeCesarePaw it Foward Training


he’s stood up again. On the other side of the

coin, reprimanding your dog for something he

may have done hours, or even minutes ago (for

example, you come home to find a potty acci-

dent) is pointless. Your dog won’t associate your

yelling with what he’s done, and if it happens

often enough, he may begin to fear your arrival

home, as you’re always angry for a reason he

cannot understand.

Reward behaviors you want,rather than punishing behaviorsyou don’t want. Most of us are

so accustomed to noticing

“mistakes” our dogs make that

it seems strange to notice and

reward “good” behaviors. For

example, your dog barks, so you

yell at him to be quiet. Sure, a

barking dog is hard to ignore.

What about when he’s calmly lying down? Most

of us never consider rewarding calm behavior,

so the dog only gets rewarded with our attention

(even yelling is attention) when he is doing

something we don’t like. Naturally, he keeps

doing those things! If, on the other hand, he gets

attention for being calm, he will be calm more

often. Make it a point to catch and reward your

dog for doing something right. If your dog is

engaged in a behavior that cannot be ignored

(such as chewing the table leg), interrupt with a

sharp verbal, “Ah-ah!.” Lead him away from the

area, ask him to sit, and give him a chew toy or

other activity to keep him busy.

Extinction. If a behavior is ignored, it will even-

tually extinguish on its own. Imagine you are try-

ing to buy a soda from a vending machine. You

insert your money, press the button, and wait.

Nothing happens. You press the button more

forcefully, and try a few others as well. Again,

nothing. You jangle the change lever. No soda,

no change. You might even become so angry

that you shake or kick the machine. All that

effort and still no soda! Grumbling to yourself,

you give up and leave. In this example, the soda-

seeking behavior extinguished because there was

no payoff, no reward. Kicking or

shaking the machine is an exam-

ple of an extinction burst. What

that means for your dog is that if

you ignore an unwanted behavior

such as jumping or barking,

before your dog gives up, the

behavior may actually escalate.

The important thing is to wait it

out rather than giving in. It will

eventually stop, and will stop

even sooner the next time around. Patience is a

key element here!

Find an alternate behavior. When you want your

dog to stop doing something, give him some-

thing else to do instead—that is, something that

is incompatible with the behavior you don’t

want. For example, if your dog jumps up on

you, have him sit instead. After all, he can’t sit

and jump at the same time. Paw It Forward

Training clients are taught to have their dogs sit

for everything (treats, attention, food, opening

doors, etc.)! Does he chew on furniture? Give

him an appropriate chew toy instead because he

can’t chew on both items at once. Try this: Take

a piece of paper, and draw a line vertically down

the center. On the left side, list all the things

your dog does that you’d like him to stop doing.

“Your dog’sname shouldalways have a

positiveassociation.”


On the right, next to each behavior, write down

an alternate behavior. Once you start thinking

about things in this way, you’ll be surprised at

the creative solutions you come up with!

Raise criteria gradually. In small increments,

build upon each success. Simply put, that means

don’t expect too much too soon. Build small

steps to get from Point A to Point B. Any time

your dog does not perform an exercise correct-

ly, ask yourself if you have raised the criteria too

quickly. Go back to the point at which your dog

was last successful, then build gradually. Raising

criteria gradually eliminates the need for correc-

tion by setting your dog up to succeed, and

diminishes your frustration.

Use your dog’s namewith respect. In short, your

dog’s name does not mean “no” or that they are

doing something bad. Your dog’s name should

always have a positive association. Use your

dog’s name to gain their attention, followed by

what you are asking/telling. We do not want

your dog to fear his name. Also try to remember

if your dog is not looking at you they are prob-

ably not listening to you!

If trained correctly, behavior is not contingenton food being present. Remember “Treat,

Touch and Talk” mentioned above? If you

phase treats out gradually and begin to substi-

tute real-life rewards (like petting and verbal

praise), your dog will perform the desired

behaviors even when you don’t have food avail-

able. We use plenty of treats at first to teach and

practice new behaviors. Eventually, a schedule

of random (unpredictable) reinforcement, along

with real-life rewards, will ensure that the good

behavior continues.

Training should be fun! Keep training sessions

short; three to five sessions of three to five

minutes a day is fine. Focus on one new behav-

ior per session. Keep an upbeat attitude when

training. Don’t train when you’re cranky! End

each training session on a successful note. Did

your dog just perform ten good sits, with the last

one really great? End the session there. As

each behavior is learned, incorporate it into your

daily routine as often as possible.

Chrissie DeCesare is the owner of Paw it Forward Training,located in The Woodlands. Private training and group classesare both available, as well as CGC prep classes and certifica-tion. To schedule a consultation, visitwww.pawitforwardtraining.com.

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