Paws for The Philippines

Winter is Coming

Rain relaxes in a Polar Fleece Coat

Cold weather brings its share of problems for pet owners.  Keeping pets safe and warm indoors is critical but we all know that dogs are usually walked outdoors to do their business and get some exercise. It's also important for them to stay warm. 


Small dogs and those with no haircoat or body fat are particularly susceptible since they lose body heat quite rapidly and will need a warm coat or sweater to help protect them from the elements.  

Rain Models Polar Fleece Coat with Velcro on the Back

Rain Lounging in a Polar Fleece Coat

I recently received a Polar Fleece dog coat from PetSafe to test.  Most of us who live in a cold climate are very fond of Polar Fleece since it's so warm. But how would it work on one of our dogs.  Well, that depends upon the dog.  I handed the coat over to my friend, Linda Aronson, to test on one of her Havanese.  The caveat here is that her dogs are in full show coat so they have lovely, flowing coats.  The Polar Fleece coat velcros on the top for easy-on, easy-off, a nice feature.  But how would it work with a long-coated Havanese?    Here's what Linda discovered:

"The coat is nicely designed and well made.  The sizing is a little off as the size 16 was a good fit for length on my Havanese who typically wears a size 14 coat.  If possible try the coat on before purchasing.  The coat is easy to put on and take off and has plenty of room for the dog to move about without restricting movement or for deep chested dogs.  Having the closure along the back is a good idea, and it is easy to hook up without trapping hair, but I had to readjust to get the velco perfectly aligned, despite first attaching the tab of velcro at the neck end and matching the neck ends.  Still, readjustment was fairly simple.  Polar fleece would mat the coat on a long haired dog quickly, but for dogs that have lost coat due to surgery or illness or for those naturally short haired dogs that feel the cold this would be a warm coat either alone or under a waterproof outer coat for wet and snowy weather."

So there you have it. An independent review along with some nifty pictures of Rain modeling the  coat.  I think for those whose dogs have shorter hair, this would be a very worthwhile coat to consider for your dog's winter outings.  



 NOTE:  PetSafe sent the coat for me to test. I passed it along to Linda Aronson for testing on her Havanese. We received no compensation other than the product to be tested and the views expressed are our own.

Petfinder is Having a Contest!

I think a lot of us know at least one person who has found their dog or cat through Petfinder. They do such a good job of showing available pets n various shelters across the county. Calling attention to them is always a pleasure.  A good reminder that they are there 24/7, doing what they do best.  

Photo by Claire Clayton

There are a lot of ways to acquire a new pet.  You  can go to Breed Rescue, or you can find a truly ethical, responsible breeder, or can go to a shy shelter. If the latter is your choice, then Petfinder gives you a way which you can view all of the available pets at local shelters before you leave home.  Then you can drive over and see them in person, get acquainted, and see if one is the right one for you and your family.

Petfinder's new contest is Adopt a Token, to celebrate the launch of MONOPOLY's new token - a cat! They are working with Hasbro on this contest that can make you and your favorite Petfinder Adoption Group a winner!  

Photo by Mary Slaney

Here's how it works.  Search Petfinder's site for dog and cat profiles to find the Cat and the Dog's profile pages. There is a profile for each and once you find it all you do is click on the link "Click to Enter Sweepstakes." You can enter every day through November 30th. Using what you already know you can use the pet filters to find the profiles.  

Petfinder will be dropping hints on https://www.facebook.com/Petfinder, http://www.pinterest.com/petfinder/ and https://twitter.com/petfinder so be sure to check for the hints.

Here are the Prizes:

ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will receive a life-sized replica of the Cat Token, a $250. gift card for the Petfinder adoption group of the winner's choice.

50 FIRST RUNNERS UP will each receive one MONOPOLY Empire board game.

50 SECOND RUNNERS UP will each receive one MONOPOLY classic board game featuring the Cat and Dog tokens.

Additionally, for everyone who purchases the classic MONOPOLY board game from either http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/monopoly-game?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=petfinder or http://www.petfinderfoundation.com Hasbro will give a dollar for every purchase!

What a great way to celebrate the holidays and help homeless pets!  

#PetSafe & The Bloggers Summit & A Special Contest

Stratosphere above the skyline in Knoxville

When the invitation came from PetSafe (Radio Systems) to join their Bloggers’ Summit this year I thought there had to be a mistake. I’m quite outspoken against electronic collars and fences. I don’t believe in aversive training. It hurts the dog and breaks down the human-animal bond. And there’s no need for it when we live in a kinder, gentler world, especially when we can use operant conditioning or lure and reward. It’s no secret that I’m fully supportive of The No Shock Collar Coalition (http://www.noshockcollars.com)

On the other hand, Radio Systems had purchased both Drinkwell and Premier. I was pretty sure the fountains were safe but I am one of those who has been very concerned about their purchase of Premier which specialized in products for positive training for dogs and cats.

            I was up-front about wanting to see whatever was positive and, to their credit, they did not rescind their invitation. If I was destined to be the thorn in their paw, so be it. Truthfully, they could not have been nicer and made a point of telling me that they have had veterinary behaviorists visit. They want to hear from those of us who don’t agree with them. Are they hoping to change our minds? Maybe. Will they? No. There is too much information to back-up what so many of us believe about electronic collars and fences.  Sadly, I got to witness it first-hand.  The toughest part of the trip was a demo by their “trainer.” He had his own dog, a German Shepherd there who he said hadn’t had one of their collars on in a long time, as well as a lovely Pit Bull in for training. When he started to put the collar on his dog, the dog tried to get away, and rightly so.  When he finally got the collar on and the dog’s head went down, there was no question that the dog’s entire body language changed. His head and tail went down, he drooped, he looked defeated. I could have cried. Then the “trainer” said he was using “positive” training while he used the collar and threw treats at the dog! This is NOT positive training. He really has no understanding of the basics. It was gut-wrenching to watch.

            That said, it’s not all bad news and I hope you will stick with me through this post because I have much to say.

            The people who work at PetSafe are lovely and the positive products deserve our attention.  Why?  Because they are doing the right thing with the Premier line and we need to encourage the good. If the company sees that we find the positive in their positive line, they will give it more attention – that’s just good business sense.  And they do have some wonderful things for our companions.  The familiar Premier clicker is still there. They have created something called Lickety Sticks, a very low calorie treat that you can use for rewarding your pet. YOU hold it and allow the dog to lick it. It comes in several flavors. 

I suggested they make one with a long, or telescoping stick for tall people with small dogs. You do NOT allow the dog to have the entire stick or hold it because the dog could swallow it. The treat is strictly controlled by the owner. There’s a clicker leash with the clicker attaching right onto the leash itself. PetSafe has expanded out the bait bag to now hold more, including a special spot for Lickety Sticks.

There is a line of clothing that goes over the dog’s four paws and velcros down the back – easy on and easy off and nice and warm for your little companion. 

There’s a remote treat dispenser for your dog or cat that you control.  They even have new housetraining systems that will have your pup rewarded for going on the right place.  This I see as good for apartment dwellers and elderly people who may not be training their pets to go outside.  And they have so much more.

            Premier’s safe cat harness with the great bungee leash is still there, they have an assortment of positive cat and dog toys.  They have oral care biscuits and treats.

            The company’s president and founder, Randy Boyd, sees much good in putting back into the community, along with the communities in other countries where his company has an office. They create dog parks with rules for safety, they contribute to The University of Tennessee’s Veterinary School where we toured the hospitals. The University has the ultimate training program for people who want to learn physical therapy for pets, among other wonderful programs. Some of the company’s products are in a new house on the Home and Garden Network based at Scripps, which we also toured. That’s also the home of DIY Network and The Food Network, among others.

            The company gives money to animal welfare and youth organization education. Returned products that aren’t defective are given to local shelters in a 7 county radius. They donate to the Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation, support local dog and cat shelters in Shenzhen, China and they support Tennessee Achieves wherein mentors support kids through college admissions and staying in school and they pay for kids to go through community college.  They also have a contest to put a dog park into a community in the. U.S.  They are helping to increase the number of dog parks in the U.S.

            I’ll be revisiting PetSafe periodically with reviews of positive products, some tested by my Aimee, others tested by pets who can give these items the challenge that they need. 

            While we got to visit Knoxville’s highlights, our last night was spent at the home of singer/composer, Jay Clark who also has a Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. His wife, also a Ph.D. works for the forestry service. Both were laid-back and charming. We were treated to a concert beside a bonfire, which followed a wonderful catered barbecue with real down-home food. The stars were many in the clear sky.  It was a nice way to end our few days in Knoxville.  

Jay Clark and his Group

            Now, for those of you who have stuck with me through this entire post, and most of you should know by now that my blog is content-rich, I have a contest for you.  PetSafe has agreed to put together a PetSafe Positive Package for my readers! You will receive one of their nice new Bait Bags, Lickety Sticks, a Clicker and a species-appropriate toy, so whether you have a cat or a dog you are eligible to win!  Just comment on this post and tell me why you want to win!  The contest ends on November 7^th.   That gives you plenty of time to enter!

            And let’s all remember to reward the positive!

NOTE:  PetSafe paid for my airfare, hotel and meals. The opinions expressed are, however, entirely my own.

Review: Bite This Book

When Lony Ruhmann adopted a puppy named Juve (Hoo-Vee), the poor thing developed distemper, a disease that has all but been eradicated. While others may have had the dog put down, Ruhmann decided to to treat the puppy, nursing him back to health.  It was a major effort that would take 6 months.

Part of Ruhmann's process wasn't just talking to the puppy, but reading to him as well.  This is an interesting technique that I have known others to use but my guess is that they came upon it individually, that there is no formal effort behind doing this for a dog.  Much as you would read to a sick child, there is comfort for both the reader and the patient in the soft, sing-song words of a child's book.  

About two years after this took place, Ruhmann now has a book written for dogs, to be read to dogs at any time, containing vignettes that support the dog's point of view.  Allegedly, the book was also written by Juve. Make of that what you will. 

The simple text is colorfully illustrated by Pritali Joharapurkar and would appeal to children with its bright tones. 

Will your dog like it? Your dog will like anything that allows him to share quiet bonding time with you. This book is simple, inexpensive and charming in its way.  Ruhmann's purpose in writing it was to encourage people to adopt pets, preferably special needs dogs. In that his goal is admirable.

Should you read to your dog?  Why not?!  

Ruhmann with Juve

Choosing to build the bond is a wonderful thing and you don't have to wait until your dog is sick. You can start today.

Visit the book's website: http://www.bitethisbook.com

You can order the book from Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/kscypvf


DISCLAIMER  I was sent a digital review copy of this book but have received no compensation for this review.  The review itself is my own, containing my thoughts on the book.

CHASER; Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words

Those of us who have had and loved dogs have known how smart they are. We don’t really question that our dogs understand what we say. We know that eventually we have to spell words like c-o-o-k-i-e and w-a-l-k.  And after awhile only the first couple of letters of the word will elicit a response. That’s the way we pet owners discuss it, anecdotally.  But scientists demand far more proof that the dog actually knows and understands the words that are spoken.  Enter John W. Pilley, psychology Professor Emeritus at Wofford College and his Border Collie, Chaser, whose experience is shared in Chaser Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words by John W. Pilley with Hilary Hinzmann.

Chaser entered Pilley’s life in 2004 when his wife decided her husband needed a puppy for Christmas. Chaser was acquired from a dedicated breeder whose dogs are known for their herding skills. From the day Chaser came home with Pilley and his wife, Pilley began talking to her, somewhat in the way a parent would talk to a small child, which is how children learn languages.

While teaching Chaser the basics of obedience, using positive reinforcement, all of Chaser’s learning has been the result of positive reinforcement using play. Pilley began teaching her the names of her toys. Adding to them, and building problem-solving situations into each new level. She has learned the names of over one thousand objects. Yes, you read that correctly.

A study of another Border Collie, Rico, in Germany was not as comprehensive. Rico only knew about a hundred words and the scientists picked apart the study. Pilley, while allowing Chaser to be a wonderful, happy companion, also used games to teach Chaser and to build a scientific study that ultimately could no longer be challenged.  How he accomplished this is carefully laid out in the book.  As a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, I was intrigued but the nice thing is that this is written in such easy style that any pet owner can read it, enjoy it, and relate to Prof. Pilley and Chaser.  And they can try the same things with their own dog.

Chaser has been seen on television, has been the topic of news reports, but here you get to meet the dog up-close and personal, to see the love and the bond between dog and owner that will be so familiar to dog owners. 

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I think you’ll agree. I highly recommend it. It will be available on October 29^th.

See the Book Trailer here: http://bit.ly/13l4Had

See more about Chaser and links to buy the book here: http://www.chaserthebordercollie.com

You can find Chaser on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chaser-the-Border-Collie/11260276882

And you can follow Chaser on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChasertheBC

You are invited to participate in a special #BlogPawsChat on Twitter where you’ll have a chance to win a copy of the book. I hope you’ll join us there on October 22 at 8PM ET.

NOTE: This is a sponsored post for CHASER in cooperation with BlogPaws (‪http://network.blogpaws.com/) however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

National Feral Cat Day 2013

October 16, 2013. What makes this day special?  It's National Feral Cat Day 2013. Alley Cat Allies (http://www.alleycat.org) does a wonderful job of helping make life better and safer for Feral Cats.  Too much misunderstanding surrounds these cats. For years, volunteers have fed, watered, trapped, neutered and returned feral cats to their colonies where they can live out their lives in peace, no longer able to reproduce but quite capable of leading happy lives, allowing for as much or as little human interaction as they like.

These cats have been vilified by far too many people, including slanted alleged "studies" of the "harm" they do to birds and the environment. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth.  They are living, breathing sentient beings who deserve to live out their lives in peace and, through attrition, the colonies of these cats die out of, hopefully, natural causes, not reproducing any more. Sometimes the kittens can be rescued and can be gentled to become loving indoor pets. Wherever they are they have a right to live out their lives in peace and relatively good health.

A number of events are scheduled around the country, more than 400 of them!  You can find one near you by going online to:
http://www.NationalFeralCatDay.org


There will also be an online Webinar at 7 p.m. EDT on the 16th. For the Helping Cats in Your Community Webinar point your browser to: http://www.alleycat.org/webinar

It's important for all of us to remember humane animal care. Trap-Neuter-Return is the humane treatment of Feral Cats.   There is much to learn and much to be celebrated.  I hope you'll help celebrate National Feral Cat Day 2013.