Saving just one dog won’t change the world...but, surely, the world will change for that one dog...

September 2015 the official speaking of dogs monthly newsletter

In this month’s newsletterDogs looking for homes ................................2 Ask the trainer ..............................................4 Bits & bites ....................................................5 Events ...........................................................5 Recent adoptions ..........................................6 In memoriam ................................................7

About Speaking of DogsSpeaking of Dogs is a Toronto-based organization that launched in 2001 and is dedicated to educating and enlightening people about dogs through seminars, workshop forums, outreach and rescue. Our goal is to end cruelty, abandonment, mistreatment and homelessness of man’s best friend.

Speaking of Dogs Rescue is the operating name of Speaking of Dogs Rescue Program, a not-for-profit charitable corporation in the Province of Ontario.

Contact Speaking of Dogs1277 York Mills Road, Box 33508 Toronto, ON Canada M3A 3R5 Phone: 416-444-4190 | Fax: 416-444-7116 Email: info@speakingofdogs.com Web: www.speakingofdogs.com

Newletter TeamEditor: Nancy Foran Design: Cathy Vandergeest at www.gawck.ca Contributors: Nancy Foran, Lorraine Houston, Kim Gladding and Margaret Pender

NewslettersIf you no longer want to receive our newsletter, email newsletter@speakingofdogs.com, with “unsubscribe” written in the subject line.

Wags and Wiggles for Paws on the Shore!

Speaking of Dogs Newsletter | September 2015 | 1

A wonderful time was had by all when Speaking of Dogs Rescue was out in force to take part in a Paws on the Shore walk to benefit the rescue. Huge thanks to Niki Richer, who organizes Paws on the Shore each month and who chose Speaking of Dogs Rescue to be the recipient of the donations for the August walk, and thanks also to Lorraine, Ian, Sara, Ruth, Katie, Dixie, and Kim for coming out to represent our rescue.

meet Some of our VolunteerS!The Speaking of Dogs website now features a new page! Visit www.speakingofdogs.com/about-us/people-of-the-rescue to get to know some of our volunteers and their pets a bit better.

Speaking of Dogs Newsletter | September 2015 | 2

do

gs lo

ok

ing fo

r ho

mes

Tiffany schnauzer mix

medium, senior, female

Lewis labrador retriever large, senior, male

Without a doubt, a dog is a real friend. Our dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common – they all need loving forever homes. Open your heart and your home to a rescue dog. You’ll be glad you did.

For complete information about the adoption process, please visit www.speakingofdogs.com/adoption-processFor more information on each dog, simply click on their name.

A friend in need iS A friend indeed

feAtured dog:

Nina siberian husky medium, senior, female

Gertie shih tzu / terrier mix small, adult, female

Sweet and stunning Siberian husky Nina is ready for adoption after having her patella surgery, which healed beautifully and was a huge success – you would never know that she used to have trouble walking! Now she even runs! Nina can now enjoy the longer trail walks and the city sights without tiring or being uncomfortable.

Pretty blue-eyed Nina is about 8 years young and has a loving, gentle nature. She is housetrained, not vocal, good with other dogs, not

overly interested in cats (she has lived with a cat harmoniously), is friendly with strangers, and is an affectionate and engaging dog. She is always ready with kisses to spare!

Her foster family is in Toronto, and despite all of their good reports about Nina’s amazing attributes, she’s yet to find a forever home. Who could ask for a better dog – did we mention she is a wonderful traveller in the car? This Siberian beauty is ready to love again, who will be the lucky recipient?

Speaking of Dogs Newsletter | September 2015 | 3

do

gs lo

ok

ing fo

r ho

mes

Millie shih tzu

small, senior, female

Astrid german shepherd

x-large, senior, female

Winnie sealyham terrier

medium, adult, female

Sally jack russell terrier small, adult, female

Chewy chihuahua

small, senior, male

Flex red heeler

medium, young, male

Jake cocker spaniel

medium, adult, male

Nebula german shepherd mix

large, young, male

Louie pomerainian

small, senior, male

Speaking of Dogs Newsletter | September 2015 | 4

ask th

e tra

iner

deAling with SepArAtion Anxiety And iSolAtion diStreSS

Is it Separation Anxiety or Isolation Distress?Separation anxiety “is a serious emotional problem where the dog becomes panicked when his owner leaves. Dogs with full-blown Separation Anxiety act as though they are in terror about your departure, and about being alone in the house while you’re gone.” — Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., I’ll Be Home Soon

“Isolation distress means the dog doesn’t want to be left alone – any ol’ human will do for company, and sometimes even another dog will fill the bill.” — Pat Miller, Whole Dog Journal, July 2008

CausesWe are not entirely sure what causes SA or how it develops, but here is a list of possible contributing factors:

• Thedog’spersonality–theremay be a genetic predisposition to SA or ID

• Re-homing,suchasadogwhohas had to be re-homed multiple times or even just once or a puppy who has just left the warmth of his littermates

• Adogwhohasneverbeenleft alone

• Adogwhohasbeenthrougha traumatic separation through the death of a family member (human or animal)

• Thedogorafamilymemberhasan extended hospital stay, separating the dog from their family

• Adogwhohasexperienced some sort of trauma while alone (an attempted or successful burglary or a fire, tornado, or severe storm)

• Noisephobia

• Oldage

• Thearrivalofanewfamilymember (human or animal)

• Leavingthelitterattooyoungof an age

• Thefamilymovingtoanewhome or downsizing from a house to a condo/apartment

DiagnosisJust because your dog has an accident in the house while you are out does not necessarily mean your dog has SA. It could be a housetraining issue. Your dog barking when someone (such as the mail carrier) comes to the door also does not indicate your dog has SA. And if your dog chews a pillow when you are gone, it may not be SA. More than likely she was bored or under-exercised.

On the other hand, if you arrive home and your front door has been shredded, the couch has been eaten, your dog is panting, salivating, or hiding behind the couch, or there are piles of excrement and puddles of urine throughout the house, you should consider calling in a professional dog trainer/behaviour counselor to provide you with an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnosis is commonly done by getting a complete and thorough history on the

dog’s behaviour, training, medical issues (if any), and what the daily routine in the household is like. Many times videotaping or using Skype during your absence will help with the diagnosis and assist with the treatment plan.

TreatmentSeparation anxiety and isolation distress are some of the most debilitating conditions to deal with for both your dog and YOU! The good news is there are treatment options for these conditions, and in most cases these are very successful. The bad news is that it takes time – sometimes months. With my own dog Angel it took almost a year, but we survived and with patience and consistency you can too. (See July’s newsletter for Angel’s story.)

For mild cases of SA you can often help to manage your dog’s stress levels by doing the following:

• Exerciseyourdogbeforeyouleave.

• Takeyourdogforalongwalkor throw the ball in the backyard for 20–30 minutes before departure.

• Giveyourdog15–20minutesof “calm down” time after exercising before leaving.

• Makeyourarrivalsanddepartures low key; don’t’ be dramatic.

• Giveyourdogasustained-release food toy (e.g. a Kong stuffed with a mixture of Cheese Whiz or peanut butter and kibble, a Buster Cubewithkibbleinit,aGoodie Ship with gooey food in it, etc.).

• Neverscoldyourdogforhavingan accident or raiding the garbage.

• Teachyourdogwhatisacceptable to be chewed on (deer antlers, marrow bones, yak chews etc.).

• Teachyourdogtobecomfortable in a crate or kennel.

Continued on page 6...

Margaret R. Pender, Owner, DogGone Right! Inc.

Speaking of Dogs Newsletter | September 2015 | 5

bitS & biteS

According to a recent study, animals don’t just make the owner’s life better, they make our

neighbourhood and community better!

A very thorough, knowledgeable, and rigorous evaluation of the use of shock collars as a training aid.

Summer’s not over yet, and ticks aren’t only an issue in rural areas. If you’re out and about in the outdoors with your dog, be

aware of the potential hazard of ticks.

If you like to give your dog peanut butter as an occasional treat, be aware that some brands

contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that is harmful and potentially deadly to dogs. Please read the entire label carefully before feeding any peanut butter to your dog. (Or make your own: All you need is unsalted peanuts and a food processor!)

If you feed your pet foods from Merrick or Castor & Pollux, it may interest you to know that Nestlé Purina has recently

signed an agreement to acquire Merrick Pet Care, Inc.

Dr. Karen Becker shares10symptomsyou should never, ever ignore.

The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a decision to revoke the Humane Society of Canada’s registration as a

charitable organization. (Please note the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies is in no way affiliated with the Humane Society of Canada.)

Safe Families Safe Pets – Durham is looking for volunteers who can help care for the pets of women and

children escaping domestic violence. Visit their Facebook page to find out how you can help.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has publishedits2015Canine and Feline

BehaviorManagementGuidelines.

This may be one dog trainer’s rant, but she debunks some fairly important myths about dog

behaviour along the way. And she’ll probably make you laugh, too!

Caring for a dog with cancer is never easy. Monica Segal provides tips for feeding a dog during chemotherapy.

upcoming eVentS

Walk to End Canine CancerThefourthannualWalktoEndCanineCancer will be held at Kew Beach, Toronto, on Saturday, September 26th from10:30a.m.to2:30p.m.Formoreinformation please visit https://ovc.uoguelph.ca/pettrust/event/torontos-4th-annual-smiling-blue-skies-walk-end-canine-cancer.

Fall Is Just Around the Corner – It’ll Soon Be Auction Time!This warm weather probably has most of us still in a summer frame of mind, but the kids are going back to school any day now, soon the leaves will be turning, and next thing you know the Speaking of Dogs annual fall auction will be here! The auction is currently scheduled for early November, and next month’s newsletter will have all of the auction details.

Ready, Set, Woof!The dates may have changed, but the venue has stayed the same: Woofstock will be taking place at Woodbine Beach once again this year, on September 26th and 27th. Woofstock is North America’s largest outdoor festival for dogs and a fun day out for you and your favourite furry friends. There’s a plethora of vendors, contests, and special events, and – best of all – Speaking of Dogs Rescue will be there! Make sure you stop by the rescue’s booth to meet some of our volunteers and find out a bit more about our dogs. The next best thing about Woofstock? It’s free!

For more information about the event please visit www.woofstock.ca.

bits &

bites

Did you know that pets are not just good for your individual health, they also help to keep our communities safer?

An Australian study that surveyed thousands of individuals both in Australia and the United States found that those people who owned pets were more likely to get to know new people in their neighborhood. They were also more likely to get to know a more diverse group of people than non-pet owners.

According to the survey, over 40% of the respondents had received emotional or practical support from someone they met through pet ownership. The researchers believe there is a

‘ripple’ effect in pet friendly communities wherein the socially active pet owners extend their concern for known residents to the neighborhood as a whole, making it a safer and more friendly place to be overall.

Pets in the Neighborhood

Simply click on a summary to be whisked away to the internet page where you can read the full story.

Many of us have heard about Ticks but often associate them with rural areas. More recently, Ticks are being found in and around the city. Ticks are often found in long grass, so be sure to check yourself and your pet after walking through areas like this.

Ticks are little external parasites that latch onto a host (you or your pet) and feed on blood. Unfortunately they have been known to carry bacteria that can cause an infection called Lyme Disease. This bacterium transmits to the host when the Tick bites. For more helpful information on Ticks and pets, check out the ASPCA’s article on Ticks and Lyme Disease:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/ticks-and-lyme-disease

A useful tool to see how common Lyme Disease is in your area can be found on the Dogs and Ticks website:

http://www.dogsandticks.com/diseases_in_your_area.php

During the summer, remember to try to avoid long grassy areas with your pet. If you are unable to avoid these areas always remember to check yourself and your four legged friend after the walk.

Pets and Ticks

rec

ent a

do

ptio

ns

Speaking of Dogs Newsletter | September 2015 | 6

au

gu

st ad

op

tion

s

Happy TailsAugust 2015 adoptions: A big thank you to our foster parents and our new adoptive guardians for helping give these loving dogs a second chance.

Coco2thanks to snookies

Chestnutthanks to kismutt

RockieSmokey

Slyforever in foster

Continued from page 4...

For moderate to severe cases of SA/ID you may have to consider the use of medications while working with a professional who understands and is thoroughly versed in desensitization, counter-conditioning, and the science behind them.

While developing a treatment plan for the moderate to severe SA/ID dog, there are a few “golden rules” I like to follow, in addition to the points raised earlier:

• YourdogshouldNEVERbeleft alone if you are doing a desensitization and/or counter- conditioning program with a trainer.

• Takeyourdogtowork.

• Sendyourdogtodaycare.

• Haveapetsittercomeinwhen you are away from home (most dogs suffering from ID are fine as long as someone is with them.

• Makesureyourdogisleft somewhere she feels comfortable. Many SA/ID dogs also suffer from crate phobia, so crating them can make things much worse.

• Leavearadioortelevisiononas background noise for you dog (I prefer the TV so my dog hears the sound of voices).

• Videotapeyourdogwhileyouare gone to help understand his triggers.

In all cases of SA/ID encourage your dog to spend time alone when you arehome.Getsomedogpuzzletoysor a nice juicy, meaty bone for him to gnaw on in his den while you are in the

kitchen making dinner. If your dog is suffering from a severe case of SA/ID please consult a professional to help you.

Here are some wonderful additional resources:

• I’ll Be Home Soon: How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety by Patricia McConnell, Ph.D. http://www.dogwise.com/ itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB667

• Don’t Leave Me: Step-by-Step Help for Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety by Nicole Wilde http://www.dogwise.com/ itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB1179

• Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs by Malena DeMartini-Price http://www.dogwise.com/ itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB1345

Speaking of Dogs Newsletter | September 2015 | 7

in mem

or

iam

Remyloved by susan and helmut hebert

adopted 2010 | passed august 21, 2015

Rubyloved by caroline castilloux

& foster mom gerry barton

adopted may 2014 | passed august 26, 2015

Zeldaloved by maira obnamia

adopted december 2011 | passed august 28, 2015 Nokiloved by steve and ken

adopted june 2010 | passed august 26, 2015