Bark & Clark

Los Angeles, City of Most Dog Attacks on Mail Carriers

2013-05-16T09:02:00.001-07:00

I always get a little since of pride and happiness when I see Los Angeles at the top of any list dealing with dogs, except this time! YIKES! Apparently we topped the list for most dog attacks on mail carriers last year with 69 attacks. The full story and some helpful tips from Dogster are below.

Dogs bark at mail carriers. Everyone knows that. It's one of the enduring images of the American family, along with the white picket fence and the two-car garage.

But some dogs also bite mail carriers, and that's where the whole pretty scene falls apart. After the U.S. Postal Service released its list of dog attacks on letter carriers in 2012, we were saddened by the numbers.

Nationwide, 5,879 postal employees were attacked, according to the Postal Service.
The worst area? Los Angeles. Last year, the city had 69 attacks on letter carriers, leading the Los Angeles Times to label the city "Most Vicious."

(Golden Retriever by Shutterstock.)

Ken Snavely, L.A.'s acting postmaster, said, "Many dogs are cherished members of their family, and people believe their dog won't bite, but given the right circumstances, any dog can attack."

He also said that problem pets or dogs roaming a neighborhood can result in a suspension of services until the delivery area is deemed safe.

“If our letter carriers deem your loose dog to be a threat, you’ll be asked to pick up your mail at the Post Office until it’s safe to deliver,” Snavely said.

San Antonio and Seattle were next on the list, each with 42 attacks last year. Then came Chicago, with 41, and San Francisco, with 38.

The full list is as follows:

Los Angeles: 69

San Antonio and Seattle: 42

Chicago: 41

San Francisco: 38

Philadelphia: 34

Detroit: 33

St. Louis: 32

Baltimore and Sacramento: 29

Houston and Minneapolis: 27

Cleveland and Dayton, OH: 26

Buffalo and Brooklyn, NY: 24

Denver: 23

Dallas and Tacoma, WA: 21

Wichita, KS: 20

The numbers, while alarming, pale in comparison to the 4.7 million Americans annually bitten by dogs -- more than half of whom are children -- according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(Dog by Shutterstock.)

The Postal Service released the list to kick off National Dog Bite Prevention Week, whose partners (including the American Humane Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association) offer the following tips to avoiding attacks:

Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.

Don’t run past a dog. The dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch you.

If a dog threatens you, don’t scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.

Never approach a strange dog, especially one that’s tethered or confined.

Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.

Anyone wanting to pet a dog should first obtain permission from the owner.

Always let a dog see and sniff you before petting the animal.

If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.

If you are knocked down by a dog, curl into a ball and protect your face with your hands.

Brute Strength as Dog Training?

2013-05-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

WARNING: RANT BELOW

I have had it! I don't know if this is just in Downtown right now or if there is a wave of this going around everywhere. Since DTLA is where I live and work, this is where I am seeing a lot of big strong men (sorry, haven't seen women doing this) with Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and even some smaller breeds using their brute strength as a training technique.

What I am seeing are these men with usually large, high drive (or in some cases small, high drive) dogs with prong collars, choke chains or just a flat collars jerking their dogs around the sidewalk, giving extremely harsh leash corrections, hitting and choking their dogs. This is not the same person, these are multiple men doing this.

I understand that there is such a thing as compulsion training, I studied it, know how to do it and choose not to. But even if you are giving a "leash correction" it should be on a choke chain or flat collar and the dog should not have their front feet come up off the ground. A leash correction should NEVER be given on a prong collar and as far as hitting goes, that is not training that is abuse!

I see one owner with his dog that is about the size of a mini poodle or beagle, he gives a leash correction to this dog on a training line so hard that the poor little dog's feet come off the ground for about 2-3 seconds at a time. That is too hard! NO NEED!

I see "alfa rolls" done all the time, I tolerate that since I know Mr. Millan is out there preaching it, but taking your hand and hitting your dog upside their head or "spanking" them is not acceptable. That is nothing else other than abuse. I do recognize that some people pat their dog's back side firmly as a good boy or playful way... this is not what I am referring to.

Today was the end for me. A big muscly guy had a young Pit Bull that was amped up and going all over the side walk, but it looked to me like he just was never taught any leash manners. The guy out of frustration hit the dog in the head, the dog crouched to the ground and didn't want to walk so the guy with all of his strength dragged the dog across the side walk. The dog was clearly scared and confused, the guy then gave the dog a big yank and the dog was jerked forward becoming air borne for a moment. Then he was given another much too hard leash correction. This is abuse, not training!

I understand having a dog that pulls and how frustrating that is, but that is no excuse for this type of treatment. If this sounds like you, call me, I would love to educate you about dogs and how to communicate with them. When I decided to become a dog trainer and focus in DTLA, this is what I wanted to address. I want to educate people and their dogs so they can have a better relationship and happier lives!

If you are treating your dog like this, STOP! Take a breath. Then move on. Dogs are innocent, beautiful beings that do not deserve anything other than our love, trust and companionship. That is exactly what they give us in return.

Need training, need help? Give us a bark!

New Trend in Dog Fighting: "Trunking"

2013-05-07T12:15:00.001-07:00

It is hard to imagine that dog fighting could get worse or more inhumane, but it now has. I guess as the saying goes "where there is a will, there is a way" rings true here, no matter how disgusting the will is. As the article from Dogster below describes, "Trunking" is a new trend in dog fighting. "Trunking" is where two dogs are put in the trunk of a car to fight to the death and driven around for 10 -15 minutes until the fighting stops. All the while loud music is being played so no one can here the sounds of the dogs. When they stop, the dead dog is thrown out and the "winner" continues to fight again. Just typing that makes my stomach turn and my head explode with anger. The full story is below.

A new dog-fighting trend is so savage and inhumane it's almost hard to comprehend. It's called "trunking." Dahlia Canes of Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation explains it:

"They put the dogs in the trunk [of a car], lock it up, and they [drive] around, put the music on very, very loud so no one can hear it," she said, according to ClickOnDetroit.com. "After 10 or 15 minutes, they stop. The dead dog they throw out, and the winner keeps going."

You read that right: They put two dogs in the trunk of a car, blast the music, drive around as the dogs fight, and then when the shrieking and yelping finally stops, they pull over and throw out the dead dog.

The winner gets to fight again.

It almost sounds like an urban myth, but it's very true: Workers at Miami-Dade Animal Services Department in Florida confirm it, saying they've seen many cases.

One came last week, when a good samaritan tipped the agency off to a man suspected of being involved in trunking. The tipster said that he'd seen the man repeatedly throw dogs into the trunks of cars to fight. Authorities responded and found five adults and four puppies in terrible condition at the man's home.

(Receiving care at animal services. )

"The kennels did not have any water, food, or adequate shelter," said Luis Salgado with Miami-Dade County Animal Services. "They were in feces and urine, so the conditions were pretty bad."

They were also covered in scars, open wounds, and teeth marks.

"There are puncture wounds," said Salgado. "One of the dogs had a broken wrist, an injured eye. One of the dogs is just bit up all over the place and [has] open wounds on his face."
Authorities haven't found the owner, but he'll face felony charges when they do. As for the dogs, the department is trying to get custody so the animals can be adopted or sent to a rescue group.

The dogs are doing well mentally, and they are very friendly with veterinarians and staff. One dog happily wagged his tail when two staff members held him tightly, even though a vet was scrubbing his wounds.

Surprsingly, only one of the dogs has been identified as a Pit Bull. Miami-Dade banned Pit Bulls 23 years ago, and the ban was upheld by voters last year. That dog will have to be adopted by someone outside of the state. Let's hope they all find good homes.

It brings me great sadness to have to post something like this. But knowledge is power. Now that we know this is happening, keep your eyes open and if you see this or even suspect it, it is worth a call to the authorities. Dog fighting rings are going to continue, they think they can out-wit all of us that are against it, but if we band together and we all work for the common goal to outlaw and stop this cruelty and torturing of innocent dogs, we will beat them. They may go to jail, they may lose massive amounts of money, but the only ones losing here are the dogs. Even if they live, some may never be rehabilitated and if they can be, they live with these scars (physically and mentally) for life.

Obie the Dachshund Loses 40 Pounds!

2013-05-02T17:13:00.001-07:00

Who can forget the adorable but severely overweight Dachshund Obie? Well there is good news, he did it! He lost 40 pounds! And now because of this extreme weight loss he needed surgery to remove all the excess skin from his belly. Dogster brings us the full story below.

When we last checked in with Obie the Dachshund, he was being pulled this way and that. The people who had rescued and cared for the portly pup were embroiled in a legal battle over who had custody. Fortunately, that's all done now: A judge ruled in January that the dog would be staying with his foster mom, Nora Vanatta, and he has, continuing his weight loss regimen with much success.

Obie has lost 40 pounds, down from a staggering 77. But as the weight evaporated, the excess skin did not. Obie had huge amount of loose folds harming the clean lines of his new physique. Check out his "bosom pile," as Nora dubbed it on Obie's Biggest Loser, Doxie Edition Facebook page:

How much loose skin is that? About two and a half pounds worth. It was getting to be an issue, so Nora scheduled Obie for surgery. On Tuesday, she posted this on the Facebook page:

Dr. Kramer will be performing the surgery at Oregon Expert Vets. I don't know that this surgery has ever been performed on a dog before after a significant weight loss but it will be similar to doing a mass removal procedure. He will likely have tension sutures, compression bandages and drains in place. I will be with him every step of the way and will be available to scrub in and assist. He will stay in the hospital tonight so he can receive IV fluids and pain medication.

Fortunately, by Wednesday, Obie was safely in recovery, the operation a success. Here's some photos of the procedure and recovery:

"He is a little whiny but doing well. Getting ready to offer him some dinner," Nora wrote on Facebook while Obie was in recovery.

Obie is now close to meeting his goal, according to Nora.

"We haven't weighed him since the surgery, but he lost two and a half pounds of skin," she told KGW.com. "So he should be around 35 pounds now. I figure his healthy weight is between 28 and 30 pounds."

To give you an idea of all he has accomplished, check out this before and after shot of Obie (taken before the surgery):

It has been quite a journey, but the end is in sight. And during it all, Obie and Nora have been educating others on pet obesity, appearing on talk shows, speaking at conferences, and presenting at vet schools.

He has also been spending a lot of time with his buddy Nog:

What Nora did should be commended. She saved this dog's life! The story is not over yet, but it looks like there will be a happy ending for Obie!

Dog Left in Car for Possibly SIX Days!

2013-04-26T09:35:00.003-07:00

Each time I go out of town and leave my dog in the capable hands of friends or a boarding facility, I hope everything goes well, my dog listens, behaves and is generally a good boy. Never do I think, I hope my dog gets fed, I hope he is not locked in a car or dies! Nor could I imagine leaving my dog in the hands of a person that has that little of knowledge about how to care for a dog. All the more reason the story below is simply shocking. For anyone this day in age to think it is okay to leave a dog in a hot car for any length of time is hard to believe. But it is truly mind blowing to think that someone left a dog locked in a car for 6 days! Dogster brings us the full story below.

We don't know this bonehead's name yet, because he hasn't been charged with a crime. Police would like to charge him, though. They just need some evidence that the dog the bonehead locked in a car for six days had actually been locked in a car for six days -- or five days, four days, or even three days. When it comes to dog health, any days are too many to be locked in a car.

What they have now, however, is just testimony from a security guard, who said that the car had remained in the same spot in a parking lot for six days. Security guards don't know whether the dog was in there the whole time, but they believe the worst. When the guards finally noticed the dog, they noticed his ribs. He was a dog in peril, shaking and scared, huddled in the car, with no food or water.

"The dog appeared frightened and was shaken and appeared to be in distress," Seattle police spokeswoman Renee Witt told KOMONews.com.

Authorities got Zipper out and fed him, then they called Seattle Animal Shelter, who picked up Zipper and cared for him.

Don Baxter, manager of the shelter's animal care and volunteer programs, said Zipper could have died of heatstroke.

"Even on a relatively cool day it can get deadly in there for them," he said.

Right now, police are trying to figure out how long exactly the dog was in the car.
"That's a big concern for us," said Witt. "That would actually be animal neglect."

Without that charge, Zipper is scheduled to released back to his caretaker -- the very man who left him in a car for six days.

Baxter isn't happy about it, but there's little he can do.

"We're going to have a conversation with this individual," he said, "try to educate them about the proper care for the dog and let them know that it's not acceptable to leave a dog inside a car on a warm day like today."

So, what's this guy doing owning a dog? He doesn't, really. He's just the boyfriend of the person who really owns Zipper, and he's dog-sitting while the owner is on vacation.

Who knows? Maybe he really doesn't know a single thing about caring for dogs. We already know he's an idiot.

Cruisin the Concrete Pooch Parade!

2013-04-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

Spring is in full swing, the weather is beautiful and the evenings are cool & enjoyable. It's the perfect setting for you and your dog to get out for a stroll & a sniff through Downtown, learn something new and have a patio for us all to relax on after!

It brings me great pleasure to announce Bark & Clark's Spring Pooch Parade!

Please join us for the Cruisin the Concrete Pooch Parade on May 21st @ 7:30pm.

The evening will start with me, Certified Trainer, Tamara Clark, leading your pooches through the bustling streets of the Historical Core to the entrance of the South Park district. We will stop in at Pussy & Pooch for some Pawbar time for your dogs and then through the city we will go for our educational romp. As usual, the evening will conclude with a chance for the humans to sit down, unwind and enjoy wonderful conversation at the dog friendly, Big Wangs. So fun!

Besides the obvious fun you will have, this is a great chance to learn about how to handle your dog downtown and in general with other dogs and humans. The Cruisin the Concrete Pooch Parade workshop's focus will be on you dogs socialization with congested city sidewalks (including dog on dog interactions), leash control, and focusing on you while dealing with distractions. As well, we will have our usual education on the approved potty places and how to get your dog to go there.

The benefit of working your dog in this environment is it helps reinforce their basic obedience and uses those skills to increase their focus on you - not all the distractions. We'll also work on manners specific to the city, such as sitting at all intersections before crossing; sitting for introductions and the proper way to greet other dogs.

We teach uptown manners for Downtown dogs! This class is so fun, it's more like an outing... So let's take a stroll through the city and focus on doggy's ability to deal with the public, the lively city and all the other pooches out and about.

I am so excited about this Pooch Parade, I hope I will see you all there and if you can't be there, I hope you will help spread the word!

Be sure to RSVP by May 14th because space is limited. The cost is $40/dog.

To sign up for our next Pooch Parade, give us a bark: Bark!

9 Tips to Prepare Your Pet for Warmer Weather

2013-04-19T10:41:00.001-07:00

Petside released a list of tips for all pet owners to help prepare your loved 4-legged friends for the warmer weather ahead. I hope you find this to be helpful in preparing your pet.

1. See a Vet

Schedule an appointment to see your pet’s veterinarian. Bi-annual exams are the best way to ensure that any potentially life-threatening condition is detected early. At this time of the year, have your pet’s doc give him a blood test for heartworm, in order to prescribe a preventive program.

2. Groom Your Pet

What a great time for a makeover! Have a groomer revitalize your pet’s fur and trim those winter-ravaged ends.

3. Flea and Tick Protection

When you choose a flea treatment, recognize the importance of killing not just adult fleas but also the eggs or larvae. The Advocacy for Pets and Affordable Wellness (APAW), a national coalition of pet owners and advocates dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of America’s pets, encourage pet owners to save money by searching out quality and vet-grade flea and tick products at superstores like Costco and Walmart as well as shopping at their local pharmacy, too!

4. Pet Proof Your Yard

In the spring, garden chores the likes of cleaning up from winter; preparing soil for planting; buying flowers, plants and trees; safeguarding property from insects; mulching; securing yard fencing; preparing the pool and caring for gardening and other tools can be dangerous for your pet. Before working in the yard, consider your pet’s safety as well as other animals that could wander onto your property.

5. Safe Spring Cleaning

Although spring cleaning may mean a deep cleaning of your home, use non-toxic products so that you can create a healthy and environmentally friendly atmosphere for the two and four-legged members of your family.

6. Cope with Pet Allergies

Like humans, pets suffer from seasonal allergies, too. Symptoms include: watery eyes, runny noses, sneezing, and itchy skin. Pet allergists recommend walking pets early in the morning and late at night when the pollen count is down as well as wiping off pets before they come in the house to avoid spreading allergens throughout your home, making their conditions worse. Treatment for pet allergies is similar to treatment for humans. Allergy testing, shots, antihistamines, air-filters and humidifiers are available but speak to your vet to determine the best health strategy for your dog or cat.

7. Get Your Pet Active

After a sedentary winter, your dog may have packed on the pounds. Feed your animal the recommended serving sizes of pet food and limit treats and other snacks. With warm weather here, you can also use the opportunity to get your pet exercising at least 30-60 minutes a day.

8. Cope with Pet Shedding

In the spring, all dogs and cats (except hairless breeds like a Sphinx or an American Hairless Terrier) lose their winter coats and begin to shed. Unfortunately, shedding hair is one of the biggest annoyances to pet owners. Regular bathing, grooming and supplementing their diets with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids will keep their coats healthy and shiny.

9. Update Your Pet's Gear

With the change of season, it is always a good time to replace worn and frayed leashes, harnesses and collars. Also, update ID tags and microchip database date to keep your pet safe should he get lost.

I hope these tips help you prepare your pet for the warmer weather and allow you to have a safe and fun summer!

Comfort Dogs to the Rescue!

2013-04-18T13:13:00.005-07:00

In the face of almost every tragedy, there is relief from dogs that I truly admire, Therapy dogs. No words will make anyone in Boston feel any better, but the love, reassuring licks and hugs from these hero dogs certainly will make the pain more bearable. Below is the story of the Comfort Dogs that helped in Boston from Dogster.

Earlier this year, the K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs made headlines when they traveled to Newtown, Conn., to provide comfort to the people affected by the December school shooting.

Today, the dogs have arrived at another sad destination -- Boston. But as they did in Newtown, the therapy dogs are helping those who need it most.

"The dogs are here to bring comfort, release and mercy to people who are going through a confusing time in their lives," Tim Hetzner, president of Lutheran Church Charities, which runs the dog program, told the New York Daily News.

Three dogs came from the group's headquarters at Lutheran Church Charities in Chicago; two more came from Newtown, where they have been since the massacre.

(At the airport.)

(Maggie and Addie made the trip from Newtown.)

(The dogs appeared on the Today show on Tuesday.)

The dogs -- Ruthie, Luther, Isaiah, Maggie, and Addie -- are meeting people on the streets around the marathon site, as well as visiting all the Boston hospitals that are treating victims. The comfort dogs plan to stay until Sunday making rounds, but they'll stay as long as they're needed.

(Isaiah with a news cameraman, doing what he does best.)

"When patients see the dogs, they light up and smile. It gives them a chance to release," said Hetzner. "In many cases they talk to the dogs like they are counselors, big furry counselors."

Dog TV

2013-04-12T09:44:00.002-07:00

Quite a while ago there was talk of creating a TV station just for dogs, well it is here. DOGTV has partnered with Direct TV, so those of you with Direct TV can tune into a station just for dogs. Dogster has all the details and a couple of clips below. They also included their list of possible programming that I found to be quite amusing.

DOGTV is a television network for dogs. No joke. TV for dogs. All day, all night. Your dog camped out on the couch, watching TV, bag of chips on his belly

And with the announcement this week that DOGTV has partnered with DirecTV, more than 20 million customers now have access to it.

Why would you ever use this? Well, people work. Dogs don't. So, you flip on DOGTV before you leave for work, and your dog has eight hours of content so he can veg out on the couch.

(Now playing on DOGTV.)

Or, say, you just want to experience the thrill of watching your dog watching TV. Hey, it's your cable bill.

What kind of programming does it offer? Well, according to the press release, "DOGTV producers spent hundreds of hours to create content that caters to a dog’s well-being and unique sense of sight, hearing, and movement detection. Everything from the visuals –- the scenery, scenarios, color palettes, and camera angles –- to the audio soundtracks were selected with a dog’s experience in mind."

Here's some YouTube clips of that programming:

But with the nationwide rollout, DOGTV better get hip to the tastes of today's discerning hound, and there's no better place to start than human-centric TV. Here's our ideas for new shows:

Game of Bones

How I Met Your Meatball

Survivor: Dog Park

Breaking Basenji

Mad Manchester Terriers

The Walking Dead (Cats!)

True Blood Sausage

America's Next Top Meatball

The Vampire Dalmatians

Dancing With the Sausages

M*E*A*T

Poodles of Anarchy

The Good Whippet

Sex and the Chilean Fox Terrier

The Bold and the Beagle

Hell's Kitchen Scraps

Gilmore Greyhounds

Parks and Recreation and Eating and Sleeping

Live with Kelly and Michael and Puddles

Kourtney and Kim Make Max Meatballs

Saturday Night Labradors

How to Live With Your Poodles (For the Rest of Your Life)

Boardwalk Empanadas

Dawson's Cream Pie

Two Broke Basset Hounds

I like that they have different styles of programming. As I played these clips from my computer my dog had to come and investigate! He was really into the relaxing clip. For those of you with Direct TV, if you check this out, give us a bark and let us know what your dog thinks of it.

Miraculous Police Dog

2013-04-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, I stand in aw of working dogs such as police, military and bomb detection dogs. The story below is 100% why. As I read the story in Dogster this morning, the two things that stood out to me that made my eyes tear up and my heart smile all at the same time, were the pure drive and determination that was shown by the dog and the partnership, trust and pure love that is very clear between dog and his partner officer Steven Bechtold.

During an arrest in San Bernardino County on Easter Sunday, Jared, a Belgian Malinois police dog, was thrown out of a second-story window by a parolee. Bryan Bills, 28, refused to surrender to officers, and when they sent Jared in, police believe that Bills used the dog's momentum to throw him out of the window.

“The dog went to bite him -- jumped to bite him. He side-stepped and pushed him out (the window),” officer Steven Bechtold, Jaris’ partner, told CBSLA.com. “I saw him go out the window, and I didn’t know what was going on from there. I just feared the worst.”

(The house that Jared was thrown from.)

"I saw him for about six or seven feet as he went out and lost sight of him," Bechtold continued to KABC. "My first thought was, 'What happened to my dog? What happened to my partner? But yet I've got an officer here, we still have to deal with the suspect.'"

Jared landed on his head, then staggered around, bleeding from the nose. He suffered a large gash on his head. Officers rushed him into a cruiser and took the five-year veteran of the Fontana Police Department to the animal hospital.

"I thought he was dead," Bechtold said. "I thought he would be dead or paralyzed."

(Photo courtesy of the Fontana Police Department.)

At first, veterinarians feared the worst, testing Jared for brain damage. Fortunately, that threat seems to have passed. They told Bechtold that nothing was broken and there was no internal bleeding, and they sent Jared home with a bandage around his head and a supply of painkillers.

This is a first," Lt. Gary Aulis, head of the department's K-9 program, told the Los Angeles Times. "Of the dogs injured in the line of duty, we've never had something even remotely like this happen."

Unfortunately, Jared was rushed back to the vet late Tuesday, according to CBSLA.com. He has a tear in his sinuses, which allows air to leak in, causing pain. It's expected to heal in a few days, but Jared is off-duty for 14 days.

"He's very sensitive. He's very emotional," Bechtold said. "He's always high drive, ready to play, ready to go; he's pretty much the same every day. What you see is what you get."
Bechtold is optimistic about his partner's recovery.

"I kind of didn't think we'd have him around when I saw him go out the window, but he keeps getting better and better, so it's been a tough week," Bechtold said. "But it's been a good week at the same time."

Good luck Jared on your recovery!

April in Downtown!

2013-04-04T10:10:00.001-07:00

HELLO APRIL! This is my favorite month of the year, some of the happiest moments in my life happened in this month! I hope this year continues the trend and this month is good to us all. Below are a few things that are happening Downtown and some of the new places that have opened up I am excited to try.

Do you like exercising with your dog? If so, join the first Heart of the City 5K Race Downtown on April 14th! It is dog friendly (remember, you have to train them just like you do yourself to run distances) and a great way to enjoy our amazing city views. Join today and help support the California Hospital Medical Center Foundation.

If you are more the adventure type, the CityRace Scavenger Hunt: Center of the City of Angels will be on April 20th. Register today!

As always there is some great entertainment and fun things to do throughout the month. I am looking forward to: LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival April 4-7, LA Times Festival of Books April 20-21, and of the return of CycLAvia! April 21!

Whatever you do, go enjoy this wonderful city with our perfect weather! And when you can, do those special things with your dog.

Happy April!

Dog Proofing for Spring

2013-03-29T10:03:00.001-07:00

Spring is here and with it comes some rain, some flowers and for your dogs, some dangers. The Bark put out a great guide to help you make your spring doggie safe. I hope this helps you keep your dogs safe in your own yard or out on the trails hiking.

If it wasn’t for the stubborn little crocuses in my front yard, I’d be hard-pressed to believe spring has come to Seattle. But officially the season has sprung, and in most parts of the country, the change is happy news for dogs, who will be spending more time sniffing, romping and rolling in the outdoors. Hooray!

While longer, warmer days bring joy to our hearts, they bring some risks to our dogs. “Every seasonal change can bring dangers, but spring presents some specific risks that can be easy to address, as long as pet owners know what to look for,” says Dr. Peter Bowie, a veterinarian in Marin, Calif.

Among Dr. Bowie’s seasonal priorities is antifreeze. While the deadly chemical is most often associated with winter, he says, veterinarians at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center of Marin see just as many antifreeze poisonings in the spring. Whether it’s due to shade tree mechanics cleaning their radiators, unidentified leaks, or portable basketball hoops, ethylene glycol–based antifreeze winds up in driveways and streets where it tastes sweet to dogs and, even in tiny amounts, may cause sudden kidney failure.  

Foxtails are another not-so-fabulous right of spring. These grass awns, which sprout in abundance this time of year, have microscopic barbules along their surface. Once they catch on animals’ fur, they can become lodged in their skin (most often in the webbing between the toes), ear canal, or nose. Foxtails cause extreme discomfort and often lead to bleeding, infection, and, in the case of ear canal migration, ruptured ear drums. If swallowed, foxtails can lodge in the throat, causing swelling and infection. If accidentally inhaled, they can cause serious damage and infection in the airways or lungs. (Check out Protecting Your Dog Aganst Foxtails by Nancy Kay, DVM).  

Activity in the garden can also be detrimental to our dogs, the use of slug and snail baits, in particular. These combine an attractant, usually apple meal or some other sweet-smelling base, with an active chemical compound such as metaldehyde to poison whatever swallows the bait. Unfortunately, this can include our pets. Increased rat activity also means increased use of rat poison this time of year, one of the deadliest things your pet can ingest.  

Fertilizers, even organic or natural fertilizers, can harm pets. Blood and bone meal are common organic fertilizers, which makes it tasty for pets but can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatic inflammation. Grass and flower fertilizers can also contain toxic chemicals that may be deadly if ingested.

If you’re planting, remember some plants are toxic for dogs, including azalea, chrysanthemum, daffodil, rhododendron, sago palm and tulip. Consumption of these plants can lead to kidney failure in animals. The ASPCA provides a complete list of toxic plants with images.

“I urge pet parents to get outdoors and enjoy the season, just remain aware of your pets’ surroundings,” says Dr. Bowie. “Changes in the environment can be stimulating to them, but new smells in the yard or garden can also be harmful. Simply take extra precautions: be sure all chemicals are completely out of your pets’ reach, keep small pets on a leash at all times when outdoors, and remove foxtails as soon as you see them.”

Wildlife
Companion animals aren’t the only critters more active this time of year. Brian Adams of the Massachusetts Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) reminds us that spring is a time when wildlife is on the move. He suggests a few simple steps to minimize or prevent conflicts between us or our pets and wildlife.

Never feed wild animals intentionally or they will view your yard as a food source. The includes cleaning up spilled birdseed from feeders, which may attract turkeys, rodents, and the animals that prey on them. If you have bears in your area, remove bird feeders.
Avoid unintentional feeding by keeping trash and compost secured and by feeding pets indoors.
Drive carefully and watch for wildlife crossing roadways, especially in areas where road salt remains from winter storms; this attracts wildlife.
Learn more from MSPCA about how to humanely live with wildlife, including advice on critter-proofing your home and what to do when you discover an orphaned animal.

If your dog spent a good chunk of the winter, cashed on the coach, eating a few too many sweet potato chews, you also want to be gradual about bounding into a spring exercise regime. “Often, pets get overly excited to go outside and strain themselves,” says Heidi Ganahl, CEO and founder of Camp Bow Wow. “Make sure you monitor your pet and start slow before engaging in strenuous physical activity.”

Still, there's no denying it’s a perfect season for launching a daily exercise regime. Dawn Marcus describes the health benefits and a plan for starting a successful walking plan.

Finally, another ritual of the season, spring cleaning poses risks for our pets. It’s important to think smart about your cleaning. Many cleaning products are irritating or even toxic for dogs. Invest in eco-friendly products, such as homemade cleaning solutions featuring vinegar or enzyme-based cleansers.

Pup Saves Hiker

2013-03-28T10:34:00.000-07:00

I love rescue stories about dogs, more specifically, when the dogs are doing the rescuing! Such amazing animals. Here is a great rescue story about a dog named Mole that found a hiker that was was stuck on Mount Rubidoux in Riverside County, you may have seen it on the local news the other night. What a great dog and lucky hiker!

Riverside, CA, resident Ramon Llamas and his dog, Mole, regularly hike on Mount Rubidoux in Riverside County. It's their routine, three to four times a week, according to KABC-TV. Mole likes to scramble off the trail on his own and check things out.

But this time, Mole found a hiker who had been trapped for four to six days, without food, and far enough from the paved portion of trail that nobody could hear his cries for help. The trail receives a constant stream of hikers, some with baby strollers, out for daily exercise, but they were all out of range.

"[Mole] likes to go look in the rocks and he kind of pulled me over, pulling and crying and I said, 'What's going on boy?'" Llamas said.

Llamas followed his dog warily. He thought Mole might have found a coyote lurking in the outcropping of rocks, or some other danger. He approached slowly. He peered in. He saw a pair of eyes. Llamas asked if the man needed help. The man definitely needed help.

"He said, 'I need water, please don't leave me.' So I gave him water from my backpack and in a minute he said, 'You got more?' So I give more water," Llamas said.

Llamas got some other hikers and they called 911. Firefighters with the Riverside Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team made their way to the location and rescued the man.

"He was severely dehydrated. He was conscious. We were able to talk to him, but we could not fully get all the information out of him," said Riverside Fire Capt. Bruce Vanderhorst. "He was slightly confused with his timeline of events."

"In talking to him, he came up here during the night time," said Vanderhorst. "So we think he was unaware of his footing, slipped in between some rocks and slid down to the location where he was."

"He was almost in a standing position wedged down," said another firefighter. "He actually got really deep down inside. It's a good thing that the dog located the victim."
The man was very disoriented but is being treated for dehydration at a local hospital and is expected to be fine. The fire captain said that if another day or so had passed, he would have died.

It bears mentioning that Mole, the hero dog, is himself a rescue.

Boot Camp Dog Training

2013-03-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

I read an article in Petside.com that I thought was wonderful! It was on Boot Camp Dog Training and it really expresses how I feel about the whole thing. I am asked all the time if I do Boot Camp style dog training or Board and Train, my answer is no, because it doesn't embrace my style of training. I have done a couple of Board and Train's earlier in my career and it was because of these experiences that I saw why it doesn't work. The dog can be a perfect for me, but I am the one that bonded with the dog. Once home the owner doesn't have the bond and doesn't have the experience and usually doesn't keep up on the program so the dog goes right back to where they were when they brought them to me. No matter how much time a trainer spends explaining this or teaching how to keep up the behavior, if the owner doesn't value the training, it will not work.

This is a strong point in my training style, building the relationship between you and your dog. The experience of training creates a bond and a language between the two of you. You learn how to listen to your dog and your dog learns how to listen to you. The experiences you have, the frustration, the successes, the time of celebration, all of that is what the training experience is about. That genuine happiness and sense of pleasing you that your dog gets is the ultimate high for them and the same with you when you see your dog get it. Those are the moments that are mutually celebrated and creates a bond that is strong and connects you a little more.

Below is the article from Petside.com, it points out a lot of important facts and things to consider if this is something you are considering for your dog.

Have you ever wanted to ship your dog off for a “boot camp” training situation, where someone does all of the work for you and returns a perfectly mannered dog? It’s a tempting scenario, particularly if you’re at the end of your rope with your dog. The knowledgeable trainer works her magic while you get a blissful week or two off from dealing with the barking, peeing, leash pulling or whatever it is that drove you to seek out a trainer in the first place. Though it sounds like a dream, the results can be anything but.

One of the most worrying aspects of boot camp dog training is that you don’t know what’s happening to your dog when you’re not there. Though the trainer might describe the training technique to be used in vague but reassuring terms, unless you’re there to witness it, you have no idea exactly how your dog is going to be handled. For example, one of my new customers dropped his dog off at a local boot camp facility while he was on travel and returned to discover that the trainer had used both a choke collar and a shock collar on his dog. He immediately noticed that his normally exuberant dog seemed suppressed, even prior to the post-camp training demonstration with the trainer. Unfortunately, my customer didn’t think that the facility would use such heavy handed techniques for basic obedience training.

Worse yet, sometimes the boot camp scenario takes a horrifying turn when the trainer injures, or worse yet, kills the dog in his or her care. It’s shocking, but it happens, as these articles illustrate.

I’m not suggesting that all boot camp training will result in a dog abuse. I know of quite a few excellent trainers who offer “board and train” options (which is a much nicer name than “boot camp”) in addition to group classes. I’m sure the dogs in their care end up with some cool new tricks in their repertoire, but I still feel … conflicted about the scenario.

Training isn’t just about ending up with a good dog. Indeed, that’s a huge part of it, but training also helps you develop a stronger bond with your dog. Working through training exercises as a team creates a sense of accomplishment and adds a new layer to your relationship. You learn to read your dog more accurately, listen to what he has to say, and respond accordingly. Those experiences often happen during the minutia of dog training, where an advance during a daily practice session turns into a reason to celebrate. That said, I know that I’m being naive in assuming that everyone takes as much interest in training as I do.

Though I understand the allure of sending an untrained dog away like clothing to be dry cleaned, I feel that it’s so important to be a part of the training process, no matter how challenging the dog might be. Training can be frustrating, annoying, exhausting and at times, seemingly fruitless, but it’s a necessary rite of passage that every dog guardian should experience firsthand.

It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

Again, I agree totally with this article and couldn't say it better myself. I just love that last line, "It's not always easy, but it's always worth it." Well said. I find that most people want training to be easy, but as with anything in life, it is not easy. I have yet to talk to one parent that thinks raising their child from birth to adulthood is easy, but they do it and they read books, talk to professionals, go to classes in some cases and do their best to give their child everything they need. In my opinion, dogs should be no different in the sense that your consult books, professionals or go to classes to learn how to provide the best home for your dog. You will be happier understanding how to communicate with your dog and your dog will be happier understanding how to please you.

Happy training...

Another Recall Alert! This Time Natura

2013-03-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

There have been so many recalls lately, what is going on? This is the 4th recall of food or treats since February. Please be sure to check your food and treats each time you see a recall alert, if your dog ingests anything that is contaminated it could be deadly. The scariest part of the recalls is that these are not little brands, these have all been popular, major brands. Especially this latest recall, the brands effected are very popular.

Below are the last 4 recalls from the most current (Natura, which includes California Natural, EVO, Healthwise, and Innova) back. Thank you Dogster for your detailed information.

Pet-food maker Natura Pet Products Inc. announced a huge recall of its dry dog and cat foods earlier this week because they may be contaminated with salmonella.
It's the first recall by the company in more than 21 years. However, the recall involves many different varieties of food in four extremely popular brands: California Natural, Evo, Healthwise, and Innova.

The list of affected products by these brands is long; check here for specific titles and descriptions, sizes, lot numbers, and UPC codes.

According to the company, the affected products were made in a single production facility during a two-week window in December 2012. Routine testing by the Michigan Department of Agriculture collected from a single retail location tested positive for the presence of salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported. As a precautionary measure, the company is voluntarily recalling all products from this production window.

The affected products were sold in bags through veterinary clinics, select pet specialty retailers, and online in the United States, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Costa Rica. The product expiration dates range from Dec. 17, 2013, to Jan. 2, 2014.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian."

Again, be sure check the full list here if you use any of these brands.

For more information, call Natura Pet Products Inc. at (800) 224-6123 or visit the Natura Pet website.

Bravo is recalling two-pound tubes of Bravo's Raw-Food Diet Chicken Blend for Dogs and Cats because of the presence of salmonella.

An example of the hanging tag (with a date not involved in the recall)

The recall affects only those tubes made on June 14, 2012, and no other sizes or Bravo products are involved. Look for the ID code 6 14 12 on the white hang-tag attached to the bottom of the plastic film tube. The tubes went out nationwide to distributors, retail stores, and Internet retailers.

While Bravo's own third-party testing did not detect salmonella, routine testing by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture done on samples collected from a single retail location tested positive for presence of salmonella, according to the FDA.
There have been no reports of illness.

According to the FDA, "pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian."

Obviously, a raw food product containing chicken is something to handle carefully, but Bravo appears to have a good system in place, despite this episode. According to its Quality Assurance page, every Bravo raw diet product is sent to an independent laboratory, Northeast Labs, and tested for the presence of bacteria -- and the results of those tests can be sent to customers.

"No product leaves our plants until we receive confirmation the the product has tested to be free of bacteria," it reads. "We do not subcontract production of any of our products to outside third-party sources. We carefully select the sources from which we buy the raw ingredients, we control how it is handled after delivery to our plant, we control every step of the manufacturing process, and we use human grade ingredients and no animal by-products in any of our formulas."

To contact the company, call 866-922-9222.

Steve's Real Food of Murray, Utah, a maker of raw dog food, is recalling five-pound bags of Turducken Canine Diet (eight-ounce patties), due to potential contamination of Salmonella.

The patties were distributed to retail stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, California, Minnesota and Tennessee.

The "potential for contamination" came to light after routine sampling of one bag by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

According to the FDA, "pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and have these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian."

Interestingly, Steve's Real Food CEO Gary Bursell says the problem could be the result of a problem with the bags and is not a sanitation issue, according to Pet Product News.
“We use a biodegradable film on the bags, and we've had problems sealing the patty bags, not the nuggets,” Bursell said.

“We sanitize our production facility between every product run,” he adds. “Our plant operates just the same as any human food facility, and everything we've got out there is clean stuff.”

Photo via Steve's Real Foods' Facebook page.

The recall affects about 240 bags, or about 1,200 patties. The recalled product comes in green-and-cream-colored biodegradable film bags with lot number 209-10-27-13, with an expiration date of October 27, 2013.

Call Steve's Real Food at 801-540-8481 if you have questions or concerns.

Kasel Associated Industries of Denver, CO, announced a huge voluntary recall this week, incorporating ALL products manufactured at its Denver plant from April 20 through September 19 of last year.

The reason? Possible Salmonella contamination. However, Kasel says it has not received any reports of illness in connection with the products.

The Kasel brands being recalled include Boots & Barkley, BIXBI, Nature’s Deli, Colorado Naturals, Petco, and Best Bully Sticks. The specific products number nearly 50, including all manner of dog treats, including bully sticks, chicken jerky, pigs ears, beef ribs, beef knuckles, lamb jerky, pork femur, buffalo hearts, pig snouts, lobster tails, knee caps, beef liver, hearts of lamb, pork jerky, chicken-stuffed femur bone, smoked-beef femur bone, and more -- the list is long.

If you have have products from any of these brands on your shelves, check the FDA page to identify UPC codes, lot numbers, and best-buy dates for the infected products here.

According to the FDA, "Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has any of these signs, please contact your veterinarian."

If you have questions, call Kasel Associated Industries at 1-800-218-4417.

In other recall news, Nature’s Variety has announced a voluntary recall of one batch of Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula due to plastic pieces found in bags. The company says the clear plastic pieces present a choking risk to dogs, though it fails to mention the source of the plastic.

The recall includes the following products with "Best if Used By" date of 10/04/13:

UPC# 7 69949 60137 1 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions, 3 lbs. bag

UPC# 7 69949 70137 8 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions, 27 lbs. case

UPC# 7 69949 60127 2 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties, 6 lbs. bag

UPC# 7 69949 70127 9 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties, 36 lbs. case

The affected products were distributed through retail stores and the Internet in the United States and Canada. The company says no other products were impacted.

If you have questions, call Nature’s Variety Consumer Relations team at 1-888-519-7387.

Tamara's Training Tips: Discipline/Punishment

2013-03-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

Discipline and/or Punishment is a topic that I address with every client. It is also something that is at the forefront of my mind all the time as I see people on the street administering it to their dogs. There is a constructive way to do this, in my training it would be a consequence for bad behavior and there is a wrong way to do this which can be just plain abuse.

It is important that your dog understands boundaries and you know how to enforce them but also make sure you keep your relationship in tack and not simply use fear to rule your dog. You want your dog to listen to you and trust you, not be feared into acting a certain way.

The strongest consequence for your dog is to take your attention away from them or ignore them. But this is not always possible. For those moments I recommend a squirt from a spray bottle, a clap of the hands, or possibly a time out.

For ignoring, this is a good consequence for things like attention seeking behavior, teaching loose leash walking, manners in public or with visitors in your home, jumping up and other similar bad behaviors. Remember that ignoring means, no looking at, talking to or touching your dog. An example on how you would use the ignoring method: Your dog is really excited when he sees other dogs on the street, as soon as he starts pulling and whining to get to the other dogs, you shorten your leash, stop talking to him, do not look at him and do not touch him, simple keep walking directly by the other dog and when your dog returns to walking beside you and doing a behavior you like, you reward him with a "good boy", eye contact and a pat on the head.

The water bottle is a great tool for excessive barking, unruly behavior on the leash, chewing, biting and many, many other things, but those are a few common ones. When you use the water bottle you need to simply squirt your dog and try not to look at, talk to or touch as you are doing it. Remember, the water bottle is the consequence, not you scolding or physically punishing your dog. An example of use of the water bottle: Your dog barks excessively at every noise outside. When your dog begins to bark (I usually allow 1-3 alert barks) give the command you have chosen for "quite", when your dog continues to bark, squirt him with the water bottle. When he stops barking, say "good boy", give eye contact and pat on the head.

Clapping of the hands is usually used for most of the same things the water bottle is use for. You can administer it in two ways, it depends on the sensitivity of your dog. The first is to simply be in the room with your dog and clap when you see them doing the unwanted behavior. The second is to get your hands close to their face and clap for the unwanted behavior. An example of use of the hand clapping: Your dog is chewing on your couch, you walk into the room and clap your hands loudly. Your dog looks up and goes right back to it, you walk closer to your dog and clap right in his face, he moves away from the couch, you say "good boy", give eye contact and pat on the head. For chewing specifically you should also then give your dog the appropriate chew toy to continue chewing.

Time out. This is a method that is commonly mis-used. First your dog has to be crate trained or trained to be in a room without you without the onset of major anxiety. Usually this is used if your dog is being overly hyper, refusing to listen, or being a unruly with guests human or canine. An example of using the time out method: Your dog has a play date over, they are playing nicely until there is a fight over a toy. Pick up the toy, put your dog in the crate (and the play date in theirs if there is one), after 5 minutes or when he is calm, let him back out and continue play. Be sure when he comes out to at least say "good boy" or give a little pat on the head, this would be the "make up" period so your dog understands you are no longer angry at him.

The most common things I see that make me cringe are the use of leash corrections or leash pops with a choke chain or prong collar and the use of "spanking". Traditional or Compulsion trainers do use physical punishment on dogs that are exhibiting unwanted behavior. But this is not my type of training, this type of training is based on your dog fearing you or you have complete dominance over your dog. There is no relationship and the only reason your dog "obeys" you is because they fear the punishment.

These types of corrections may get what you want in the moment, but they will not get you what you want long term. Further, I believe any time you raise your hand to your dog, that is not training, that is abuse. I see it everyday, a spank (smacking the dog on the rump with an open hand), a nose flick or finger slap (flicking the dog's nose with your finger or firmly tapping on the top of it), face/muzzle grab (tightly grab the dogs muzzle to yell or scold), or kicking/pushing the dog with your feet. All of these I consider abuse. There is never a need to physically punish your dog to this degree, a water bottle will more than get the job done and if that doesn't work, there are many humane ways to clearly say to your dog, don't do that.

If you have a dog that you feel needs discipline, give us a bark and let us help rebuild your relationship!

Michael Vick Still Making Headlines

2013-03-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

I have to say, I am sick of Michael Vick, but the reason why he is in the headlines has my blood boiling! A couple of weeks ago it broke that Vick has purchased a Belgian Malinois, named Angel. That immediately made me sick to my stomach and had me wondering why on earth would any breeder allow that man to have this dog? Does anyone else remember why Michael Vick wanted to own a dog again, it was for his kids. It was because he didn't want his children to be punished for his mistakes and to lose out on the companionship of a dog. Well, that is a great statement his publicist put together. It had to be his publicist because it is a bunch of bullshit! Are you kidding me? You got a Malinois for your children?

This is a man that has demonstrated that he cannot handle having a strong, high drive, high energy breed. This is not a breed that is known to be good with kids, this is a breed that is most notable for their police and military work. Up until now this breed has remained (for the most part) out of the hands of thug like people such as Vick and dog fighters in general. But now that other dog fighters see what Vick is doing, one can only speculate that this may lead to another fighting outbreak but this time not Pits, Malinois.

Vick was seen at Petsmart in dog obedience training (by himself, not with his kids) and it is said that he signed up for 6 classes, but this doesn't make me feel any better. Though they say it is not a publicity stunt, I have serious doubt about that.

My hope is that the proper authorities continue to monitor Vick so he doesn't have an opportunity to start another horrendous dog fighting ring and ruin 100's of dogs from another breed. It is inspiring to see that his attempted book tour was stopped by outraged people. He served his time, he is free, he is legally allowed to own a dog and he has met all of his required duties as spokesman against dog fighting. But the one thing I never saw was remorse. I do not believe he is sorry for what he did, I believe he is sorry he got caught.

Bottom line, Michael Vick is a master of cruelty, torturer and murderer of dogs. This type of person should never be allowed to handle, let alone own, the beauty, innocence and love of a dog. But I judge thought differently, so now we all need to just cross our fingers that our legal system will work this time and he will do right by this dog he now has.

Thank you to Dogster and Crossing Broad for your coverage!

What do you think? Give us a bark!

DTLA 5K for You and Your Pooch!

2013-03-08T11:57:00.000-08:00

Attention all runners, dog owners and people that want to do something fun, healthy and dog friendly! California Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) of DTLA has organized the first DTLA dog-friendly 5K, Heart of the City 5K run/walk on April 14, 2013.

Below is little more about the event.

This should be a great event and I hope all you DTLA dog owners get your dogs out for this event. Running can be a great reward for a dog, but be sure you train your dog to run!

Register online today!

Dogs in the Workplace

2013-03-07T12:59:00.000-08:00

Having spent 10 years in Human Resources prior to becoming a dog trainer, I read just about every survey there was about employee happiness in the workplace. It has not been a secret for quite a while that pets in the workplace reduces stress and increases productivity and overall happiness. Yet this is a hard thing to convince many workplaces to take on as a policy, usually due to liability or someone at the top not being a pet person. Now, as a trainer, I find myself still asked about this on a fairly consent basis. Everything from "is it true?" to "would you come and talk to my boss?".

The article below from Petside addresses this topic quite well. It is from one companies perspective, but it demonstrates the positives of a pet friendly workplace and the rules that should accompany such a policy.

The owners and employees of Indigo Wild, a company in Kansas City, Mo. that produces all natural soaps and lotions didn’t need a study to tell them that having pets in the workplace leads to more productivity and less stress.

Indigo Wild has been allowing all or some employees to bring their dogs to work since the company moved from Emily Voth’s kitchen, who founded the company in 1996.
The company, which has 13 full time and 20-30 part time employees at any given time, has at least 10 dogs in the factory each day.

“There’s just a lot of happiness and furriness,” says Leslie McGuire, marketing manager. “Every dog just has a routine and will go around to different people for treats; it’s a lot of fun.”

That’s basically what a study found that was conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University and released last March.

The study was conducted at Replacements Ltd., a retail business in Greensboro, N.C. The company has 450 employees and there are between 20-30 dogs at the business with employees each day.

The study was conducted over a period of a week, using saliva samples and surveys of people who brought their dogs to work, people who did not and people who didn’t have pets at all.

Stress hormone levels tested through saliva samples showed that all three groups of employees had the same at the beginning of the work day, but rose for those employees who didn’t have their dogs at work and those who have no pets at all. Employees who brought their dogs to work with them showed a decrease in stress hormones throughout the day.
The study also showed other less measurable positive influences such as employee interaction with each other and each other’s dogs.

McGuire says that Indigo Wild has never completed formal surveys on employee satisfaction and stress levels from being able to bring their dogs to work, but says that the company is an overall pet-friendly place and everyone likes the atmosphere.

Not all employees at Indigo Wild are allowed to bring their dogs to work every day, says McGuire, but there is a monthly event, Dog Day Afternoon, in which all employees are allowed to bring their dogs, as long as they have a current health certificate from their veterinarian.

“You would think there would be dog fights, but there aren’t,” says McGuire. “We have a dog run outside of the building and many of the dogs really like to play together.”

Many of the employees who bring their dogs to work have worked for the company for awhile. McGuire says there aren’t a formal number of employees who can bring their dogs, but it is limited and employees have to wait for a spot to open to be eligible. “We just have too many employees for everyone to bring their dogs,” says McGuire.

Dogs also aren’t allowed in the production area.

As for McGuire, she brings her five-year-old pug, Daisy, to work with her each day. McGuire has worked for the company for nearly three years and says when she applied, she wrote her letter of introduction in Daisy’s point of view and attached a photo of Daisy to the letter and resume.

“I knew it was a place where you could bring your dog to work and that was definitely an incentive for me to apply,” says McGuire. “I think Daisy’s letter and photo got me noticed as the first thing Emily said to me when she called me back is that I have a cute Pug.”

Indigo Wild has a total dog culture; it not only allows pets in the workplace, they produce Y.U.M. (Your Untidy Mutt), a line of dog soaps that contain essential oils, a spray to keep pet beds fresh and a candle to help eliminate pet odors from the home.

The company is also a supporter of the Kansas City Sheltie Rescue, donating a $1 of the sale of each bar of Y.U.M.

What do you think? Should pets be allowed in the workplace? What are the guidelines? Do you get to have your pet at work? Give us a bark!

What's Up Downtown March!

2013-03-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

WOW! 2013 please slow down just a little! I am having a hard time believing today is the beginning of March. But I am also very excited, March and April are my favorite months. March holds a lot of fun for us Downtown! These are some of the things I am looking forward to...

March 5th is the mayoral election, don't forget to get out and cast your vote!

The L.A. Marathon will be coming through Downtown on 3/17, cheer on the runners or just remember about the street closures. I think there are still spots left, so if you are runner, sign up!

3/17 marks another special occasion, St. Patrick's Day! There are many celebration options, pretty much any bar in Downtown will be having some sort of special or event that day. The four I know of are Casey's 41st Annual St. Patrick's Day street festival, L.A. Live's St. Patrick's Day festival, Down & Out's (5th and Spring) celebration and of course Dublin's (7th & Flower). Or you can always host your own party and look out your window at all the drunk people walking through Downtown, it proves to be quite entertaining every year.

After the day of celebration, you may be ready to try a couple of new places in our neighborhood. If you need flowers or a nice centerpiece try Glasswing Floral on 6th and Spring. There are a couple of new spots to eat/drink, I am interested in the Ham & Eggs Tavern in the financial district on 8th & Grand.

This just scratches the surface, there is so much to do DT! Get out there and explore the city, with or without your dog. I would recommend leaving your dog at home for your St. Patty's celebration, they will not enjoy it as much as you.

Controversy Over Vaccines

2013-02-28T15:38:00.001-08:00

The controversy over vaccines is never ending. Ask any pet owner and you will likely get a different view. The views are even varied throughout the veterinary world. The Bark had a great article on this very topic in today's newsletter. I hope you find it as interesting of a read as I did.

Dr. John Robb leads a protest outside of his former veterinary practice.

For years people suspected that pet vaccines didn't need to be administered annually and that immunity was more similar to human shots. Fortunately in the last ten years, veterinary colleges and organizations, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), revisited their guidelines and now recommend administering core vaccines every three years. It's even becoming more common to find veterinarians who measure antibody levels through blood titers instead of defaulting to regular booster shots (this is one of my requirements when choosing a vet).

But even with the AVMA and AAHA constantly revisiting their guidelines, pet vaccines remain a tricky topic. It's further complicated by the fact that many studies are sponsored by vaccine manufacturers, which creates a potential bias. Dr. Richard Ford, a 2003 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines Task Force member, has said that the decision to recommend a three year re-vaccination schedule was an arbitrary compromise that was not based on science.

And frequency isn't the only controversy. Earlier this month, a Connecticut veterinarian had his practice taken away from him after Banfield found out that he had been administering half-dose vaccinations. Dr. John Robb believes that it's not safe to use the same dose for all dogs and cats, particularly for the smaller breeds.

Dr. Robb bought his Stamford, Conn. Banfield franchise in 2008, a year after the veterinary hospital chain was acquired by Mars and PetSmart. He believes that the corporations are not only unfairly targeting him because they want to ultimately cease franchise ownership for their hospitals, but are jeopardizing the health of his clients' pets.

There are definitely arguments for both sides of the issue, but I can see where profits and insurance risk could create a conflict for a medical organization owned by two big corporations.

AAHA President Dr. Mark Russak believes that Robb is putting pets at risk and creating a potential public health concern with incorrectly administered rabies shots. He says that vaccines are manufactured through scientific trials to determine the correct amount of antigens needed to stimulate the immune system.

But while many veterinarians disagree with Dr. Robb's vaccine protocol, Jean Dodds, a leading expert in this area, says that dosages can be adjusted safely. She has been vaccinating toy breeds with half doses for years and is currently spearheading a campaign to increase the rabies vaccination interval from three to five years with the hope of eventually changing it to seven.

A 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association showed that there are potential problems with using a universal dosage. The research documented a higher incidence of vaccine-associated adverse events in dogs less than 22 pounds (27 percent versus 12 percent for dogs over 22 pounds with each subsequent shot).

The fact that there is so much division among veterinarians on this topic just goes to show that more work must be done in this area to develop guidelines we can trust.

Tamara's Training Tips: Sweet Treats and Your Dog

2013-02-22T09:45:00.000-08:00

Starting around Thanksgiving and going until a little after Easter, I get a lot of questions about how to keep dogs out of candy, cookies, chocolate and other types of human treats. Along with the questions, I get a few panic ridden calls when the dog consumed one of these items. Today I will be giving tips on how to dog proof these treats and what to do if your dog does get into them.

I think we all know that chocolate (the darker the more dangerous) is toxic for dogs, but what about other candy, cookies or pie? The answer is not a simple yes or no. It really has to do with what is in the sweet treat. For instance, if it is a peanut butter cookie, a small amount is probably okay if your dog is not allergic to peanut butter, but a whole dozen is not good. That much sugar is not good for a human, so it surely is not good for your dog. But is it toxic? No. But they will (most likely) be sick.

The most common problem I encounter with these sweet treats being brought into the home is that they are usually stored in a place your dog can get to. This is the first big DON'T! If you have a large dog or dog that can jump, storing things that are off limits to them on a counter or shelf is not a good idea. They will just get up there to get it when you are not there.

Most people figure that part out right away, so they go for a cupboard. The second DON'T is not to underestimate the intelligence or pure will power of your dog. If they really want something, they will figure out a simple swinging door to get it. Some dogs will even figure out a door knob to get what they want, yes I have known this to happen. So if you store your sweet treats in a cabinet or cupboard, either install a child lock on the door or if there is a knob, install a knob lock or even a slide lock, though some dogs have figured out simple slide locks.

If your dog does not give up and starts scratching at cabinets, surfing counters non-stop, or obsessively going through your kitchen, it is time to restrict their access. Create a barrier so they cannot be in the kitchen unless you are there with them. If this does not help, you can restrict the access to none.

When you are home you can monitor your dog and the choices they are making and reward them for the correct ones, but when you are not, they are on their own to make whatever choices they want and to reward themselves. The only 100% way to know your dog will stay out of trouble is to crate them or keep them in their designated area (such as a dog run, special dog proof room in the home or even a bathroom that has been dog proofed). If you elect the crate, please make sure your dog is crate trained.

If you have done all you can and your dog still finds a way to eat your chocolate covered cherries, call your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian ASAP. Remember that milk chocolate is the least toxic and baking chocolate is the most toxic. The size and weight of your dog will also factor into what effect the chocolate will have. If you find your dog still consuming the sweet treats, you can use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting (depending on the size of your dog, small dogs as little as 1 teaspoon - 1/2 tablespoon, in larger dogs 1 tablespoon - 3 tablespoons ). Be prepared, it works fast. But if you do not know when your dog digested it, DO NOT induce vomiting, call your veterinarian.

* Please note that inducing vomiting should only be used in this type of instance (food toxin), if your dog has swallowed an object or poison this SHOULD NOT be done, it can cause more damage than good, immediately call your veterinarian.

As the sweet treats continue to roll in through the next couple of months, I hope these helpful tips keep you happy and your dog safe!

Have a great weekend and don't forget to do something special with your dog!

Tibetan Mastiff Dies During Plastic Surgery in China

2013-02-21T16:06:00.002-08:00

I believe it is a general consensus for most anyone that owns an animal that you do all that you can to NOT have your animal undergo surgical procedures that are not necessary. The sole reason for this discretion is that it is risky to put them under anesthesia. I can't imagine having my dog put through the stress and pain of surgery for something purely cosmetic. Though that is exactly what the story below is about. To say I am outraged is an understatement. This is abuse in my opinion and the owner should be charged as such. At the very least, his law suit should be thrown out. The full story from Dogster is below.

In March 2012 (*I believe this should be 2010, but all sources checked stated 2012), a breeder known only Mr. Yu bought a beautiful Tibetan Mastiff from a another breeder. Two years later, it was time to breed the dog and make some money. Yu was an old hand at this -- he had 30 dogs and had been in the business for 15 years.

But first he had to do something.

"The skin of my dog's head was very flabby, so I wanted to cut part of his forehead and straighten the skin," said Yu, according to the Global Times. "And also in this way, his hair would look longer as the rear part of the head will have more hair."

Yes, Yu wanted to give this already stunning dog plastic surgery.

"If my dog looks better, female dog owners will pay a higher price when they want to mate their dog with mine," he said.

So Yu took the dog to the Beijing Yongchangjihe Animal Hospital on Nov. 8, 2012, for this completely unnecessary surgery. On the operating table, the dog died. His heart stopped due to a problem with anesthesia.

Now Yu is suing the hospital, demanding 880,000 yuan ($141,240) compensation for his dog's death. He says he bought the dog at that price. Tibetan Mastiffs get big bucks in China, and have become luxury status symbols -- trophy dogs -- for the elite. A Mastiff sold for 10 million yuan in 2011, and another sold for 20 million yuan last year -- that's more than $3 million.

"If you are rich, you can easily buy a big house or a Lamborghini. But owning a purebred mastiff is quite another thing," said dog breeder Li Yongfu, according to the Telegraph. "It's solid evidence of your wealth, power and taste, and makes a most presentable gift for your clients and partners."

Unsurprisingly enough, animal activists in China are outraged at the surgery.
"We wouldn't recommend plastic surgery, which doesn't help improve the health or save the life," said Mary Peng, co-founder of the International Center for Veterinary Services. "Any time you do surgery, you are going to deal with the healing of the tissue. It can lead to scarring and infection."

"It's unfair. It only meets the aesthetic desire for the owner, completely ignoring the rights and interests of the dog," said Qin Xiaona, director of the Capital Animal Welfare Association.

"I am also against raising Tibetan Mastiffs in lowland cities like Beijing," Xiaona said. "They should be living on the plateau grassland areas. People shouldn't raise them here just for profit."

What do you think? Is this abuse? Is this ethical coming from a breeder? Should there be a legal consequence for Mr. Yu's actions?

Let me hear your opinion, give me a bark!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2013-02-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

Today is a day to celebrate love. I know that it is usually about a romantic love, but it doesn't have to be and I don't think it should be limited to just that. What about the pets in your life that give you unconditional love and support year round. They are there when you are smiling and there when you cry, they make you laugh when you are angry and they remind you what life is really about.

I think today is the perfect day to give back a little bit of that amazing love. Take some time today to do something special with your pet, show them how much you love them and how much they mean to you. Neville suggests a bone, wet food, and maybe a run in the park.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day to all the humans and their animals that make this world a little bit better of a place.

Love Your Dog Pooch Parade Fun!

2013-02-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Last night was the Love Your Dog Pooch Parade and it was a big success! All the dogs did so good, I was extremely proud of all of them. For the first time, the entire parade was made up of my clients, so they were all people and dogs (except for one) I had worked with in the past or are currently working with.

This Pooch Parade was a little different than any that I have had before in that all the dogs were reactive in some way, plus one adolescent puppy. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Well, it was not, it was a great night! The dogs were focused, the people were on point and the city set the perfect scene for us. We worked on some hard issues and showed our dogs lots of love at the same time.

I want to congratulate and thank all the participants! You all made me so proud. Seeing all the work we have done together pay off was impressive!

Thank you to Pussy & Pooch for the amazing Pawbar meals! They looked so good I almost ate one! Janene, Brandon and Lorenzo made our visit to the store no less than perfect. From the selection of the meals to making sure each pooch was taken care of with water and to-go boxes if needed, you made us feel like VIP's as usual!

For the first time we ended the evening at Artisan House, what a perfect choice! Thank you to Brad (Bar Manager) and the wait staff for making the end to our evening just as perfect as the rest of the night!

Finally, thank you to the four special "helpers" I have, Adam, CJ, Jenn and my Neville... without you this event would not be half of what it is.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Don't forget to show your dog some love too.