JESUS CHRIST IN RICHMOND PARK

Don’t be a Fenton.   Talk to me about a Control Off-Leash class.

I have a DINOS.  I work with DINOS constantly.  My heart aches for them and their owners.  Its up to those of us with DINOS, and those of us who sympathize with them, to take a stand and pass the message along.  It’s the least we can do.

 DINOS. Click here.

One of my favorite DINOS sleeps after class.

It happens to all of us: as we age, our brains move a little slower, we take a little longer to solve problems, and it takes a little more effort to absorb new information.  It’s not that intelligence or problem solving capacity has decreased at all, it’s just that things are a little slower.  It’s a pretty clear pattern across all animal species.

But, did you know that studies indicate that dogs can suffer from cognitive dysfunction or dementia similar to that found in humans?  Sometimes it’s not just “normal aging” – sometimes it’s a treatable medical problem.  More severe than the normal slowing down of mental function, it’s called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome and has similar (but not identical) pathology to human dementia.  It is not at all similar in pathology to human Alzheimer’s disease, although it is often mistakenly called “Doggy Alzheimer’s.”

And just between you and me, I’d wager a bet that it’s only a matter of time before other animals are found to suffer from dementia, as well.  Dogs just tend to be the most convenient test subjects because their lives are so closely tied with humans.

Cognitive function is defined as mental processes such as perception, learning, memory, awareness and decision making. A breakdown of these functions in a dog causes bizarre changes in your dog’s normal behavioral patterns, such as house soiling or getting lost in a once-familiar room.

Wondering if your dog is a possible victim of CDS?  Here is the basic “checklist,” although your veterinarian will be able to do a more thorough history and diagnosis.  You want to watch  for:

•     Orientation: meaning your dog may get lost in a small or familiar area.  He may suddenly begin going to the back door to potty, when for his entire life he’s gone to the front.  Some dogs appear confused, and may not be able to find their food and water dishes, or unable to find their way out from under a chair.

•     Social Interaction: Normally independent dogs may become strangely clingy.  “Velcro” dogs may become distinctly aloof.  Or even stranger, a normally affectionate dog will walk away in the middle of a petting, for no reason.
•     House training: dogs who have had perfect house training their entire lives may begin having “accidents.”  These are truly accidents; they are not in any way an attempt by your dog to transmit any sort of communication.  Rather they likely reflect a breakdown of memory and learning.
•     Sleep: circadian rhythms can be disrupted, resulting in a dog who appears to sleep more than is normal, or who becomes an insomniac.

Unfortunately, CDS is as difficult to treat in dogs as it is in humans.  Your veterinarian can prescribe a medication which is will help through its immune-system boosting and anti- neurodegenerative effects (meaning, it slows the breakdown of the connections in the brain and helps to grow new ones).  There is some evidence that diet rich in antioxidants can have a positive effect, as well.   And of course, behavioral and psychological support goes a long way, too.  The brain is incredibly malleable.  Help your dog to do the canine version of a crossword puzzle every day to keep his mind sharp!

Have an idea for a training Tidbit? Let me know! I’d love to hear from you!

This year, I’ll leave you with an important holiday message from our canine friends:

(click the image to enlarge it)

These two seem to have invented a fun game …

*disclaimer: empty carbs aren’t good for parrots and neither is standing on the stove, so please don’t copy this video. Parrots upset your dog’s digestion, so please don’t ever leave your predator pets and your prey pets together unattended.*

APDT Conference 2011- San Diego, CA

Many of you have asked about my trip to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers’ conference in San Diego in October.  It was fantastic!  Undoubtedly the highlight of my trip were the field studies at the San Diego Zoo and Sea World San Diego, especially since I work in multiple species and most of my clients live with more than one type of pet!  The trainers at these facilities were so gracious and endlessly patient in answering all of our questions about zoo animal training, husbandry, handling, and their education.  By the end of the trip to Sea World our entire group of dog trainers were all ready to ditch working with dogs and go straight to Orcas! (Not that that’s particularly likely … that water is COLD!)

And I have several videos as well:

First we met a cheetah.

Then, we met Daisy, the armadillo.

..And Tess, the sloth

And we talked with the marine mammal trainers, too.

And met Orchid the Orca

I can’t wait for the next conference!

And in addition (but making for less interesting video)  I learned all sorts of new and interesting dog training protocols, techniques, found some cool new equipment, met some brilliant animal trainers, and generated many, many new ideas which are already being integrated into my training of humans and animals!

The opportunity to receive continuing education in the very latest in animal training,  in such a hands-on, entertaining and integrative way, is so valuable in the dog training profession.  I’m very grateful for it.

Plus, I got my picture taken with Karen Pryor while simultaneously creating one of the most awkward, geeked-out fan moments of my career.  It was awesome.  The picture’s here on Facebook.

Click here to read her blog entry.

Puppy Kindergarten class is for making new friends!

How to teach your pet to play Hide and Seek

Intelligent animals love games.  They also enjoy solving puzzles. Anyone who’s ever watched their dog work out how to open the cookie cupboard or their cockatoo how to open their cage door can attest to this.  I don’t think I’ve ever met a dog who didn’t enjoy playing Hide-and-Seek.  And as a bonus: I don’t think I’ve ever met a child (or child at heart) who didn’t love playing Hide-and-Seek with their dog.

This game can be modified slightly to be played with any animal who has learned to come when you call him (cats, bunnies, parrots).  You’ll just have to call the animal instead of relying on the animal to find you voluntarily.  But hey, then you’re practicing recalls, so that’s even better!

• Begin in your home, with two people and your dog (or dogs!) on a leash.  One person has a few yummy treats.  This person will be the “hider” first.  The other has the dog on the leash and no treats.
• The Hider steps away a few feet.  Stay close, and within plain sight.  We’ll start really, really, ridiculously easy at first.
  The person with the dog says, “where’s [insert name here]?” in an excited voice.  And waits.  And waits.
• Eventually the dog will get bored and go to the Hider to see if he’s any more interesesting.  “Hooray!” you both cheer, and the Hider feeds your dog several little pieces of treat in a row! Your dog thinks, “wow, that was cool!”
• Restart the game.  The Hider “hides” again, still VERY EASY and in plain sight, but perhaps he could step behind the sofa, or a few more feet away this round.
• Person with the leash: “where’s [name]??”  Dog will hesitate a bit, and again seek out the Hider to see if he can milk some treats.  “Hooray, you’re such a smart dog!!!” and several small pieces of treat from the Hider.
• Repeat, with GRADUALLY increasingly difficult hiding spots.  Don’t push it too fast, or your dog will feel he can’t “win” and give up.  At the same time, resist the urge to help your dog – let him figure it out!  He can do it, if you increase your difficulty slowly.  If you must help, have the Hider make a small noise, like a cough, to grab the dogs’ attention.
• Switch hiders.  Now that your dog understands the game, he can be taught to seek out other people, too.
• Take the game outside, to a fenced area, and repeat from the bottom (start easy, work to more difficult hides)
• Have fun, and be safe!

Hints: if you train with more than one dog, chances are one will do the actual seeking, and the rest will just follow for their treat.  That’s fine, but if it bugs you, you’ll have to teach each dog to play the game independently, then put them together.
Many times you can fade out the treat after a while – some dogs will play this game for the simple joy of it.  But if they lose enthusiasm, go back to rewarding with a treat or a toy.  You’re playing to have fun, remember?
Children love this game, but make sure your dog is comfortable with kids before you let them handle him or her.

Are they harmless, or do they create early biases?

“Law school grad and second-year vet student at Colorado State University Michelle Dally decided it was high time someone stepped up and dissected the role of vet industry-sponsored freebies in an ivory tower setting. Like so many veterinary students before her, she questioned the ethics of free pizza, flea products and pet food in vet school.  [...]  when students first arrive, they find their desks piled high with a variety of freebies – pens, notepads, backpacks, notebooks, highlighters, academic calendars, pet treats, pet food bowls, reference books, and more – all emblazoned with pet food, pharmaceutical, and other corporate brand names from across the veterinary industry. And that is only the beginning.

“… studies and surveys have shown that the impulses generated by gift-giving are neither rational nor totally conscious. As suggested by *Brennan et al., “Individuals receiving gifts are often unable to remain objective; they reweigh information and choices in light of the gift. So too, those people who give or accept gifts with no explicit ‘strings attached’ still carry an expectation of some kind of reciprocity.”

Click here to read the full article, and see how UC Davis is doing things differently.

It’s crossed all of our minds.  What if you could replicate that absolutely perfect pet you had as a kid?  That animal who still lives in your heart, many years later; the one to whom you unwittingly compare every subsequent pet.  For a little while, it looked like science was coming close.  But now…

“Nearly a decade ago, scientists at Texas A&M University announced the birth of CC, the world’s first cloned cat. CC, as in Copy Cat, has the same DNA blueprint as her genetic mother, Rainbow. So, like identical twins they share the same genetic code. That means everything’s the same-their looks, their mannerisms, their…. But wait.”

CC and Rainbow have completely different personalities, and they don’t even look alike!  Huh?

Click here to read the full article from Dr. Sophia Yin’s excellent behavior blog.