I’ve uploaded a condensed version of my “Pet Food Recall - What You Should Know (And Do)” post in .pdf and text formats.

Feel free to download the “Recall2Page.pdf” file, print it out, send it to friends, etc. If you would prefer to copy the text into a publication of your own (a newsletter, on your business stationery to hand out to clients, etc.), download the “Recall2Page.rtf” file instead. Please keep the text intact and include the proper byline (”by Ann Dupuis of Your Dream Dog, yourdreamdog.com”). If you wish to include the text in a publication that is for sale rather than free, please contact Ann Dupuis for permission before publication.

(There’s a slightly condensed version of this post available in .pdf format in my Downloads category, feel free to download, print out, copy, and share….)

You’ve probably heard about the pet food recall. But unless you’ve been actively seeking out more information, you may not realize just how extensive the problem with our pets’ food supply is, and that it’s far from over.

I’ve been following the pet food recall news closely, through two websites that have been doing a stellar job digging up information and reporting it quickly and clearly, with updates as soon as anything new is known:

http://petconnection.com

and

http://itchmo.com
Thursday, April 26th, while the FDA was assuring everyone at a press meeting that they weren’t expecting any more recalls of pet food, several more companies recalled some of their canned products. (more…)

It seems that everyone has heard of Cesar Millan, host of the popular dog training show “The Dog Whisperer” shown on the National Geographic cable TV channel. When learning that I’m a dog trainer, a new acquaintance will often exclaim that they watch Cesar Millan and just love his show! I cringe inside while I try to calmly and politely explain just why Cesar Millan is bad for the dog training profession and very bad for our dogs.

While Cesar Millan does promote some good ideas concerning our relationships with dogs (I can agree with him that exercise and leadership are paramount!), his methods of fixing problem behavior rely heavily on using punishment and “flooding” — forcing a dog to face its fears until it “submits” (which may result in “learned helplessness,” a state of depression and helplessness in an animal that appears to the untrained observer to be calm compliance). Taken even a little bit too far, some of his methods are downright abusive.

(more…)

There’s a technique in dog training known as the “alpha roll” in which the handler forces the dog into a “submissive” posture, rolling the dog onto his back and pinning him there until he ceases struggling. The idea is to show the dog “who’s boss” and thereby make the dog more “obedient.” It’s all too often recommended (by misguided trainers and veterinarians) as a way to deal with dog aggression.

This technique is not a part of “positive training” and causes more problems that it could ever “cure.” The “alpha roll” is based on a misunderstanding of some observations of wolf culture. The people who promote the “alpha roll” as a “natural” means of gaining a dog’s compliance completely miss the fact that in wolves (and in dogs) the submissive posture is one that’s willingly adopted by the animal signalling submission. (more…)

On my way to an appointment with a client, I was listening to NPR morning news, and heard this piece about Tibetan Terriers and Batten disease:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5497047

Batten Disease is a tragic genetic disorder that results in the breakdown of the entire nervous system. In the United States, about 1,000 children are diagnosed with the disease each year. Few live into their twenties.

So what’s the connection with Tibetan Terriers? (more…)

The New York Times has recently run a couple of articles on dogs and dog training.

“C’mon, Pooch, Get With the Program” explores the rise of dog training classes as owners expect more from their dogs and as the dog’s role in human society changes from outdoor protector and hunter to indoor soul mates.

An earlier article, “Good Dog, But What About the Trainer?” explores the fact that there are no firm standards or regulations for dog trainers. Anyone who wants to can call themselves a professional dog trainer. It also discusses the differences between group classes and private in-home training.

Note: You’ll need to register with the New York Times website to access these articles. Registration is free.

“Caring Canines,” a Boston area pet therapy program, is looking for volunteers to join them!

If your dog is friendly with everyone (including other animals), please consider becoming a Therapy Dog volunteer! Registered therapy dogs are invited to visit nursing homes and other places where people don’t usually get a chance to be around animals.

Our dog Barney was a registered therapy dog (registered with Therapy Dogs International). While I didn’t do a lot with him so far as pet therapy was concerned (we mostly visited my mother and others in her nursing home), I saw what a tremendous difference pets can make in the lives of nursing home residents and others (in hospitals, assisted living arrangements, etc.). (more…)

You’ve probably at least seen them in pet stores: Greenies® dental chews for dogs. They’re made out of digestible material –– wheat gluten, glycerin, and powdered cellulose fiber being the top three ingredients. Many dogs love them, and they do cut down on dental problems (reducing plaque and tartar) and freshen breath.

But I don’t use them. I gave my dogs Greenies once — one apiece — but the Greenies pretty much went right through them. (Both dogs had loose, green stools later that day.) Since neither of my dogs have dental problems and bad breath usually means they’ve been in the cat pans again, I didn’t think greenies were worth the price just as a chewy snack.

And now there’s an additional reason to stay away from Greenies: in my opinion too many vets are finding undigested greenies blocking patients’ digestive systems. And some of those pets have died. (more…)