Whisker Therapy

Some dogs struggle, spending years of their lives waiting for a forever home. One Lab Mix named Moose traveled across states to find the perfect human to call his own. But then, it happened. Moose finally found love and his forever home. Unfortunately, forever would end too soon for this loving lab. As he sat vigil, the fate of the beautiful boy was once again in question.

Rough Beginnings

Moose started his life in difficult circumstances. In 2017, someone found him tied to a railroad sign in front of an animal shelter in rural Georgia.

Moose lived in the shelter for many months. No one wanted to adopt this adorable pup and time was running out for him. Unfortunately, Moose was residing in a kill shelter. The longer he lived there, the more likely he would be euthanized because of overcrowding. It is a fate too sad to even think about.

However, one shelter employee would not give up on Moose. She asked her peers for help until she found Eleventh Hour Rescue in New Jersey. They had room for the Lab. Moose moved north to his temporary home. Soon after, his new dad came into the shelter and adopted Moose. It was love at first sight.

The Journey to a Forever Home

After only one year in his new home, tragedy struck. Moose’s dad fell ill. While sick, his dad spent time lying in a hospital bed. When he passed away, Moose could not comprehend that his beloved father had left this earth. He sat patiently next to the bed, waiting for his dad to return. Simply heartbreaking.

Thankfully, the folks at Eleventh Hour Rescue did not forget about Moose. They brought him back to their shelter because they stay true to their motto: “Once an Eleventh Hour dog, always an Eleventh Hour dog.”

The employees at Eleventh Hour Rescue ached for Moose. They wanted to find him a forever home with a wonderful family. They posted his story on their social media channels and suddenly it started spreading. There were thousands of shares across their account and others.

Adoption applications started rolling in for the pup. Just a few days later a forever home was found! Eleventh Hour Rescue posted this on Facebook:

MOOSE HAS BEEN ADOPTED by a wonderful family who will care for and love him for the rest of his life!

Hooray for Moose! Though this loyal and loving dog suffered through many trials and tribulations, we are thrilled to hear that he found a new home.

H/T North Star Pet Rescue Facebook
Featured image c/o Eleventh Hour Rescue Facebook

The post Heartbroken Pup Sits Vigil at His Father’s Hospital Bed Waiting for Love appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

via Whisker Therapy

Some people are full of goodness. They nurture and care for those in need. This is the story of one woman who gave her love and compassion to a dog in the last hours of his life. After suffering through tremendous illness, this dog needed peace. He found the right woman to carry him toward the Rainbow Bridge.

Battling Through Disease

Watson was staying at an emergency vet for constant care. A college student found him alone in a Philadelphia park where this sweet dog was emaciated and covered in infected sores. He had a large, cancerous tumor on his hind leg. That’s when the vet called Janine Guido, found of Speranza Animal Rescue.

When she came to get the dog, she was immediately confronted with his sorrowful expression.

“The first thing I noticed with him was his eyes. He looked exhausted — like he was ready to give up the fight,” Janine told The Dodo.

The vets told Janine that Watson had an inoperable tumor. There was nothing left they could do for him. The doctors told her that Watson needed to be kept comfortable in the last stages of this battle.

So, Janine brought Watson back to the shelter to care for the ailing pup.

Compassion and Love

Janine said, “I had a gut feeling that things weren’t going to be good the next day. I didn’t want to leave him alone. Not when he needed me the most.”

So, she created a makeshift bed of blankets and dog beds for Watson, and she laid down with him in the laundry room at the rescue. Janine talked gently to the dog. He quickly fell asleep.

“He slept like a rock all night, cuddled up to me so tight. I cried myself to sleep, and woke up in tears as well,” Janine said.

The next morning Watson’s condition did not improve. Watson began pacing in circles. He wouldn’t eat or drink. Soon after, the dog succumbed to his illness.

“I’m just so thankful I was able to hold him tight for his last night. I was telling him how much he was loved — and that his life mattered. My heart is breaking, but I would not change a thing,” Janine said.

We are thankful for people like Janine in the world who are able to offer comfort during the darkest of times. Janine shows just how far a little kindness can go.

H/T Curious Mind Magazine
Featured image c/o Speranza Animal Rescue Facebook

The post Woman Comforts Dog During The Final Stages of His Battle With Cancer appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

via Whisker Therapy

via Whisker Therapy

via Whisker Therapy

via Whisker Therapy

via Whisker Therapy

Updated: 6/27/19

Since late last year, pet parents have been anxiously following the reports by the FDA that grain-free foods may be causing a spike in cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs that are not normally predisposed to the disease.

Today, the FDA released a more detailed, but still frustratingly uncertain report about these incidents. While a large percentage the foods are grain-free, we still don’t yet know the actual cause of the spike in reports, as grain-free foods are not new to the pet market and have been around many years.

According to the FDA, “Another puzzling aspect of the recent spike in DCM cases is that they have occurred just in the last few years. The FDA is working with the pet food industry to better understand whether changes in ingredients, ingredient sourcing, processing or formulation may have contributed to the development of DCM.”

Which Brands Are Most Associated with Reports of DCM?

Today, the FDA released the following graphic with the dog food brands named most frequently in DCM cases that were reported to the FDA. The full report of all affected foods can be view here.

Source: FDA.gov

Please note the above graph is NOT the complete list of foods reported. You can download the full report of all foods affected here, including notes from the veterinarian about the particular pet affected.

Are Peas, Legumes, and Potatoes the Problem?

According to the FDA, “More than 90 percent of products were “grain-free”, and 93 percent of reported products had peas and/or lentils. A far smaller proportion contained potatoes. Animal protein sources in the reported diets varied widely, and many diets contained more than one protein source. The most common proteins in the reported diets were chicken, lamb and fish; however, some diets contain atypical protein sources such as kangaroo, bison or duck. No one animal protein source was predominant.”

Which Type of Dog Foods Are Most Reported to Be Associated with DCM

Per the FDA, “a review of the canine reports shows that most reports were for dry dog food formulations, but raw food, semi-moist food, and wet foods were also represented.”

What Are the Possible Signs of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)?

Per the FDA, “If a dog is showing possible signs of DCM or other heart conditions, including decreased energy, cough, difficulty breathing and episodes of collapse, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. If the symptoms are severe and your veterinarian is not available, you may need to seek emergency veterinary care. Your veterinarian may ask you for a thorough dietary history, including all the foods (including treats) the dog has eaten.”

What Can I Do If I Believe My Pet is Affected?

The FDA is asking for additional information from pet owners who believe their dog may be affected. Instructions for submitting case information can be found on the FDA page: How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.

Which Brand is Really Safe for My Dog?

As fellow pet parents, we’re also frustrated about these reports, and how yet again the pet food industry appears to have let us down.

We strongly believe that no single dog food should be fed to your dog for their entire life. By rotating foods, you can minimize the chance of nutritional deficiencies due to one particular manufacturer.

Also, remember that all commercial dog foods are processed. We believe every dog needs whole, fresh foods in their diet in addition to dry dog food.

The full FDA report can be viewed here, along with a complete list of all foods reported. We’d also recommend following the Truth About Pet Food Facebook page for further updates.

This story is breaking, additional updates will be added here. 

The post Breaking News: FDA Releases List of Dog Food Brands Associated with Heart Disease Reports (DCM) appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

via Whisker Therapy

I get variations of this question all the time:

“Why isn’t my dog protective of me and my things?”

Husband or wife; “How can I make him protect me, my family and my things?”

People who have a friendly or docile dog, are often disappointed because they naively want a protective dog.

And, people with overprotective dogs (often caused, by them and their behaviors, from scenario one) just want to be able to manage their dog and have friends and family over to their home without worrying that someone will be bitten.

Let me be the first to tell you that you really don’t want an overprotective dog!  Overprotective dogs are a HUGE liability.  Ninety five percent aren’t trust worthy and are dangerous.  Even a veterinary behaviorist may not be able to help if the dog’s behavior is too aggressive or protective. Many get labeled as dangerous dogs after a bite and are forcibly euthanized, without a chance or behavioral rescue or management.  This can be earth shattering for all involved.  Many of these dog owners love their pet dogs but don’t know how to manage the problem that they have created.

I feel sorry for them when their loving (to them) pet is caught on a rabies pole and taken to the shelter or even shot in the street.  I feel sorry for the dog too; this must be a terrible way to feel about life.  And, I feel sorry for their victim, who probably didn’t deserve the bite in the first place.

I understand, the basic sentiment!  We live in a scary world full of scary people, so people by default, want an overprotective dog that they think will take that bullet for them.  But ninety nine percent of the people that come into your life and into your home or car are friends and family.  How do you expect your dog to know the difference from strangers or uncle Andy who is coming to visit from 1,000 miles away?  Most dogs especially pet dogs have horrible reasoning and deductive skills.

Also, most dogs who seem “overprotective” actually feel fearful.  If only these dog owners knew, that aggression you are seeing, is because he is scared of the strangers and not actually protecting YOU.  I have worked with dogs like this and if an actual, aggressive intruder comes into your home, these dogs run for cover.  But if Uncle Andy seems even a bit nervous the dog feeds off it and is likely to be more confident about biting.  Let us agree, most of us aren’t wearing bite suits and ready for a brawl; most people are intimidated by or interact with these dogs completely incorrectly.

Trust me on this, you want a social and friendly pet dog!  You want a dog that you don’t have to worry about when the neighbor children come into your home.  Husbands, wives and kids should all be able to come and go with whomever they want without concern.  You don’t want to have to find a boarded veterinary behaviorist in your location because your dog determines who can and can’t come into your life.

You do not want anyone attacked or bit.

Let Us Break This Down

Friendly Dogs

Pet dogs in and of themselves are a deterrent.

It doesn’t matter if you have a German Shepherd, Border Collie or a Chihuahua; a pet dog that barks will keep people from wanting to enter your house.  He doesn’t have to lunge or attack or show blatantly aggressive behavior, he just needs to bark and alert the neighbors that something is wrong in or around your home.

Remember that barking at EVERYTHING creates the opposite affect for at least your neighbors.  It may keep others at bay but it won’t alert anyone that anything is wrong.  For help with barking problems click here.

Growling often indicates a lack of confidence and is not easy for others to hear.  A good confident bark can be easily taught and controlled.  Watch This

I remember watching some daytime television and a talk show, years ago.  The host was interviewing a man who had gone to prison for many things but burglary and robbery were among many on his rap sheet.   He mentioned; that even the barking of a small dog would keep him from entering a house, even if he outwardly knew the owners were not home.  His remark was, “that he would just keep casing houses and find one without a dog, it was safest.  He didn’t want surprises or problems at all ”

That really hit home for me, even though, at the time, I was just a teenager.  I can understand that even the smallest of barks or barking would or might bring unwanted attention and it would simply be easier to move on to the next house.

And, the majority of dogs; even the friendly dogs, will bark when someone comes to the door!

So, don’t think you need “Cujo” or a man stopper or a protection trained dog to keep people out of your house!  You just need a dog with a voice with a voice!

I am also of, the opinion that, most dogs are actually protective.  Doesn’t matter if they are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, or German Shepherds (in this instance size may matter more as a deterrent in this situation).

Even most friendly pet dogs, that ostensibly love everyone and seemingly would never protect you, still have protective qualities in an emergency, no trainer needed.  Dogs even pets are just built differently than us humans!

The problem is that ninety nine percent of the time you aren’t terrified for your life or in a horribly threatening situation.  Let us both agree that thankfully, this is not a problem!  Not being in fear for your life is a good thing!  If you are in fear for your life on a constant or consistent basis you need more than a trainer you need to reevaluate your life!  Check out this article to find the most protective breed. 

But I do think when your adrenaline spikes and you are sincerely petrified, your dog senses this and his natural protective qualities spring into action!

When I was nineteen, I had my first dog.  She was a Rottweiler, and I know what you are thinking… she was protective.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  When she saw a human, her whole body would wag in anticipation of being pet.  She literally loved EVERYONE.  At the time, I thought she was a bit ridiculous!  I was one of those naïve dog owners who would have preferred her to be more discerning and concerned about the creepy people in the park.

However, I remember walking her one day on leash.  I lived in a fairly small town in Wyoming and often walked in the street.  Being as I was a new dog trainer, she had pretty decent leash manners but was wandering near the end of the leash.  As we came up to walk past a parked truck, a man literally leaped out from the other side of the pickup truck, where we couldn’t see him, with his arms open as if to grab me.

I assume he didn’t see the 100-pound Rottweiler I had on the end of the leash.  I had never once seen her act aggressively until that day, and I never saw her aggressive again.  She barked, lunged and her hackles raised.  I was scared and she was ready to fight.  My husband, at the time, hardly believed my recounting the encounter.

I have never seen a man fly into his truck and drive away so quickly.  I can’t guarantee what would have happened or what his intentions for me were, but I can tell you that both of our instincts said it wasn’t going to be a good outcome.

I appreciated her ability to assess my reaction and the situation and take charge.  No protection training needed.  And, even after that incident, she went back to being the happy, body-wagging dog I always knew and loved.  She was a confident dog.  This experience had not terrified her for life, it simply taught her how to deal with a different situation and I learned to love that she adored people.

Moral of the story:  if you are ever in true danger, most dogs (especially confident dogs) will step up without training.   Fearful dogs often turn into aggressive or what seems like protective dogs.   And, these dogs and their behaviors often escalate to the point where you need the help of a boarded veterinary behaviorist.

Protective Dogs

Protective dogs aren’t bad if the dog’s behavior isn’t aggressive behavior all of the time and they are extremely confident dogs.   Think police dogs.  You won’t find a shy police dog that has a long career.  They may be aggressive or possessive of their space, but they are very confident dogs.

I say this because my dogs are actually protective and protection trained.  They are extremely confident and their aggressive behavior is controlled by ME.  They have a switch on and off but most people do not have 4 days a week, countless hours, thousands of dollars and the perfect pedigree to back their dog.  Plus, these dogs take constant maintenance and management!

The problem is that it is a short trip from “protective” to “overprotective” and what seems like confidence is actually fear.  And, for these dogs one bad experience can affect them for life.

And, too many humans exasperate the behavior by rewarding it and teaching the dog to become aggressive and fearful.  Read this article from the Animal Behavior College.

Many puppy owners come to me because they are sad that their puppy isn’t barking.  Again, I often explain to them that this is a good thing and nothing to be worried about.  The last thing they want is a barking, growling, lunging liability.

Barking is a behavior that can be taught and controlled.  I can literally ask my dog to bark at any moment, but I can also tell her when to be quiet.  And, her barking is not contingent on there being another human in the environment.  I actually don’t want a human association with the behavior.   Read this for help

But, the first time these owners’ puppy barks at someone or growls out the window, people often fly off of their sofa over praise and get the dog or puppy a treat.

This can be very confusing for the dog or the puppy.

First of all, he isn’t likely to associate the behavior of barking or growling with the reward.

You think that you are rewarding “protective” behavior by rewarding the bark or the growl.  But in all honesty, you are probably rewarding his feelings of insecurity and fear.  The first few barks are often the result of a fearful feeling.

The dog sees the mailman walking through the yard and lets out a slight *boof.  He doesn’t know about the mailman, he is more startled that something is in his environment that he doesn’t recognize.  But by jumping up and rewarding him, you are in actuality rewarding the nervous fearful feeling that he is feeling inside .  Eventually he will understand that barking brings the treat but at first he is confused and remembers the feeling.  Trust me you don’t want to reward a nervous dog, even if he is barking at strangers.

We all want confident and independent dogs!  Click here for how to raise a confident puppy by the AKC

Now he feels as if he has to be nervous each time he sees the mailman and barks, because, most often dogs associate feelings with behaviors.   They can’t speak our language so often they adopt pieces of the puzzle and feelings with certain encounters and behaviors.  Again, you want to reward a confident dog.

This is often why husbands, or men, have better luck in training and control than some wives, or women.  Husbands tend to be more dominant and expect less protective behavior from their dogs.  Husbands just tend to be more confident in handling.  Don’t get me wrong; I am a very dominant and confident woman.  But in general husbands, or men, tend to reinforce fear or anxiety less.  Many women feel as if they should be consoling the dog by saying things like “it’s okay, it’s okay” or expecting protection and some aggressive behaviors from the dog.  Husbands don’t tend to do either, they tend to  rely on their own confidence and behaviors and the dogs tend to feed off of this example.  Husbands tend to create more confident dogs that are not overly anxious in certain situations.

I remember working with a potential police dog several years ago.  The problem was that the trainer had gotten the German Shepherd Dog so worked up prior to biting that he had began to scream instead of bark.  This was lack of clarity in his mind.  He thought in order to be rewarded with the bite that he would have to scream.

Screaming is the last thing we want our police dogs to do; it shows some lack of clarity and confidence.  We had to teach him that in order to get the bite that he desired he would have to slow down and bark with meaningful clarity.  We did not want him to lose control of himself; so we had to reteach him.  His mindset is what set the picture.  Remember to reward him when he is confident and showing the behaviors you want to see.

The Scariest Dogs on the Planet

I have worked in this business for a long time!  Over 25 years is a long time, although I hate to admit that I am old.  But I have worked in all facets of the animal care world for quite a while.

And, I have learned from working with my own dogs and with client dogs that the #1 dog that scares people; is a WELL TRAINED DOG.  Do yourself a favor, watch this video, to see what a dog is capable of and what a confident dog looks like!

As a potential perpetrator, the big wagging dog that is pulling his owner down the street, barking at and jumping at friends and strangers alike, is not the dog you need to worry about.

Dogs with years of bite work and protection training come with lots of regular obedience training.

The scariest dog to own is actually the one that is in heel position, with great focus and is listening to his owner’s every command.

My dogs have competed in protection sports.  I know what kind of advanced obedience skills are required.  These dogs have to learn to walk past the decoy in the suit and ignore him on command.  They can’t bite or move out of position on their own (without some specific training).

You would never pick out either of my dogs on the street as having protection training (unless you really knew the breeds).  The don’t pull on leash, they don’t lunge, they don’t bark; unless I command them to do any of those things.

They simply look polite and like canine good citizens.

Again, a barking, lunging, jumping dog that the dog owner has no control over, is likely not protection trained.  It is also probably not going to be overly “protective” in certain situations either, because it lacks socialization and training.

• Raise a confident puppy
• Teach your dog or puppy to bark on command
• Work diligently on advanced obedience skills

All of these components are the recipe to keep bad people from interfering with you in your home and wherever else you may go!

The post Overprotective Dogs and Why You Don’t Want One appeared first on TheDogTrainingSecret.com.

via Whisker Therapy

via Whisker Therapy

By Jacky Colliss Harvey Issue 98: Summer 2019


via Whisker Therapy

Sharon Norton is an Animal Control officer in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Despite the nature of her job, she is still shocked by some of the heartless acts she witnesses.

Her recent rescue of an abandoned puppy cowering in a broken armchair certainly fits that bill. Norton took to Facebook to express her feelings towards the pup’s former owner.

“To the person that dumped this chair, your puppy was waiting for you to come back, slowly starving to death because it was afraid to leave the chair to find food. Shame on you for doing this to this puppy…but one day Karma will meet up with you.”

A Good Samaritan contacted Brookhaven Animal Control after witnessing a truck drop off the chair, a television, and the frightened, malnourished puppy.

Norton earned his trust with a handful of treats and brought him to the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League where he is receiving veterinary care (and lots of love).

She named him “Lazy Boy Gaston” aka “the Armchair Bandit” because he’s stealing hearts everywhere!

Little Gaston will be available for adoption once cleared by veterinary staff. For updates, follow the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League on Facebook.

H/T to Fox19 and Fox32
Featured Image via Sharon Norton

The post Abandoned Puppy Waits In Owner’s Discarded Armchair Until Rescued appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

via Whisker Therapy

Imagine this: you endure a horrific car crash. Thankfully, you manage to survive the disaster. But something is not right. Your beloved dog went missing in the chaotic aftermath of the crash. Sounds pretty awful, right? For one California woman this horrible scenario became reality. But in the end, she finally found her missing pup, but you won’t believe where.

A Reunion Fit for a Princess

Two months ago, a seven-year-old Terrier-mix named Princess and her mother survived a serious car crash in Berkeley, California. In the midst of the carnage, Princess was thrown from the vehicle. The confused and frightened pup ran away.

Heartwarming Video As Family Reunites With Pup That Went Missing After Near-Fatal Crash 

Somehow, Princess made a 78-mile trek from Berkeley (near San Francisco) to Sacramento. No one knows how the pup walked that far and how she survived along the way. Princess displayed a dog’s tenacity and resiliency.

In late May, a local found Princess and brought her to the Front Street Shelter in Sacramento. Shelter spokesman Bobby Mann told The Sacramento Bee Princess was very well-liked.

He said, “She’s a super sweet dog. She’s the type of dog who quickly bonded with anybody. So obviously her family took really good care of her.”

Princess loved attention and made her displeasure known when she was left alone. Bobby said she yelped loudly. “It essentially turned off new adopters because they said this dog was really loud. It seemed like her family was looking for her, and she was giving them the time to find her.”

Meanwhile, Princess’ mom was combing through shelter websites. Eventually, she stumbled across the Front Street Shelter and saw her dog. Princess’ mom reached out immediately.

Bobby said, “[Princess’ mom] called and identified her dog, and we were very excited about that.”

The two were reunited last week. Princess and her mom were overjoyed to finally be together again. We love a happy ending!

 

H/T The Sacramento Bee
Featured Image c/o Front Street Animal Shelter Facebook

The post After Horrible Car Crash, Missing Terrier Found 78 Miles from Accident appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

via Whisker Therapy

A cancer diagnosis requires tests. Lots of tests. Oncologists use highly-expensive methods to diagnose lung cancer in humans. Now, there might be a way to detect the disease by tapping their local Beagle community. Yes, a new study found Beagles can recognize the disease by scent.

Medical Breakthrough

A study from the American Osteopathic Association says Beagles’ incredible sense of smell can identify the specific biomarkers of the disease. These dogs are so accurate that researchers believe this discovery could lead to a new type of testing in the future. Instead of expensive tests, the dogs could provide a safe, affordable, and effective cancer screening method.

The study’s lead author, Thomas Quinn, professor at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, said this in a statement: “We’re using the dogs to sort through the layers of scent until we identify the tell-tale biomarkers. There is still a great deal of work ahead, but we’re making good progress.”

All dogs have a powerful sense of smell. However, Beagles’ abilities stand out amongst other dog breeds. In the study, the dogs differentiated between blood serum samples taken from patients suffering from malignant lung cancer and those who were healthy with 97% accuracy. Incredible!

The scientists aren’t stopping with lung cancer. Next up, the Beagles will attempt to sniff out breast and colorectal cancer from a breath sample. What does this mean for everyday consumers? It could be the first step in creating an over-the-counter screening test.

Quinn continued, “Right now it appears dogs have a better natural ability to screen for cancer than our most advanced technology. Once we figure out what they know and how we may be able to catch up.”

You can read the study in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.

Impressive Abilities

Another study by BioScentDx, a private health care company in Florida, found similar impressive results.

Co-author Heather Junqueira and her colleagues tested four beagles trained to detect the difference between blood samples from healthy patients and blood samples from patients with lung cancer. One dog wouldn’t perform the test. However, the tree others correctly scented the lung cancer samples 96.7 percent of the time, and the normal samples 97.5 percent of the time.

Color us impressed!

“Although there is currently no cure for cancer, early detection offers the best hope of survival. A highly sensitive test for detecting cancer could potentially save thousands of lives and change the way the disease is treated.” Junqueira, the lead researcher at BioScentDx, said in a statement.

Service dogs help people with physical and emotional needs. Maybe now they’ll provide a new, potentially life-saving, service in the medical field.

H/T Study Finds
Featured image c/o Marcus Wallis on Unsplash

The post New Study Finds Dogs Can Sniff Out Lung Cancer with 97% Accuracy appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

via Whisker Therapy

When a pup goes missing, it’s a terrifying experience. Is your pup safe? Scared? This is your baby. Each moment away is filled with the fear and worry of the unknown. What could you have done differently? Is it your fault? In this case, one dog lover thought he was doing the right thing, trusting the popular dog walking service Wag! while he was out of town. Unfortunately, this tail of negligence and failure to act appropriately resulted in a heartbreaking ending. We want to spread the word so other dog lovers might learn from this experience.

A Lovable Pup

Rey moved with her dad John from Wisconsin to California. The two-year-old Lab mix loved her human and her human loved her deeply. The two didn’t know many people in their new home, so they relied on each other for companionship. 

One weekend, her dad needed to travel. It was his first trip away. John decided to hire Wag! to walk Rey while he was gone.

Wag! Does It Again – Named Prime Suspect When This Couple’s Pooch Went Missing

After a solid first walk, the experience started to sour. A dog walker was scheduled to arrive for the afternoon appointment. The walker marked the walk complete but told John they were unable to go outside because they could not find Rey’s leash.

So, John scheduled another walk for that evening.

Find Rey

That evening, a walker arrived to take out Rey. Despite Wag’s rules against it, the walker brought his girlfriend. When the pair arrived, they left the door open and then let Rey out of her crate. The scared pup growled and barked. Then she ran out the door. The Wag walker lunged at Rey and grabbed her by the collar. This scared her even more. Rey wiggled away and off.

Unfortunately, no one told John that Rey was missing until the next morning. The next walker arrived, and Rey was nowhere to be found.

According to his sister’s Facebook post, John did receive email messages in the middle of the night. However, no one called him. John later found out the walker responsible for Rey at the time of her disappearance had a “one-star” rating. John’s sister also said Wag! was not of much help:

Wag! sent out mass messages for people to look for her…They also put up flyers, and put their own phone number on it instead of my brothers so that they would have to be the middle man. This allowed for John to receive delayed tips of sightings.

A few days later Rey was found. She had perished after an accident with a train. Our heart breaks for John, Rey, and their entire family. This was a preventable tragedy.

This is not the first story of Wag! neglect. There is an entire website dedicated to negative Wag! experiences. When it comes to your dog’s care, we urge you to be extra diligent when hiring caretakers. This tragedy was avoidable. Services such as Wag! need to not only ensure proper vetting and training of their walkers but also need to take the correct steps to make sure dogs are returned home safely.

Our heart goes out to sweet Rey, John and his family. Please share this story. Because Every Dog Matters!

H/T Maribeth Cole Facebook post
Featured image c/o Maribeth Cole Facebook post

The post Popular Dog Walking Service Wag! Accused of Neglect and Tragic Death appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

via Whisker Therapy

 

It isn’t uncommon for someone with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to get a dog. PTSD is one of the few mental illnesses triggering anxiety and other symptoms in response to external events.  Real life triggers create their own set of unique challenges and opportunities. We exist in a world full of everyday anxiety which triggers many PTSD symptoms.

For someone needing assistance physically or emotionally, man’s best friend not only provides companionship, but he also improves the quality of life.  When considering assistance dogs decide whether to hire a dog trainer, work with service dog organizations such as America’s Vet Dogs or Military Working Dogs if you are a veteran, or decide to train your canine on your own.

Benefits of Dogs for PTSD

The goal of any service dog, PTSD-trained or not, is to help the person suffering from symptoms find better coping mechanisms to return to life more independently. Dogs are trained to recognize and assist with memory triggers, avoidance systems, mood assistance, and more.

Assistance dogs are trainable to provide support in the four categories of symptoms of PTSD:

Training for Intrusive Memories Symptoms

One of the most common conditions a PTSD service dog assists with is helping owners during intense flashbacks, nightmares, and panic attacks wrought with anxiety and confusion. A PTSD service dog is trained to recognize signs of these traumatic mental returns and then interrupt the cycle.

Trained dog’s behavior breaks this mental cycle with simple things like a nudge of their nose or touch from their paw that comforts their owner’s stress and pulls their owner back. The goal is to halt the progression of the memory or nightmare.

Training for Avoidance Symptoms

Isolation and avoidance are the natural coping mechanisms of PTSD sufferers. The unpredictability of the world outside combined with PTSD sets of triggers and exacerbates anxiety to do anything, including leaving the house. Trained PTSD service dog behavior is aimed to help manage anxiety driven triggers and to provide support when they do occur.

PTSD service dog behavior is trained to support the individual triggers of the owner.  Trained behaviors include deeming a path safe such as investigating around a corner for danger and then nudging or pawing to alert the owner of a trigger. A PTSD dog could indicate to an owner that it is time to leave by walking to a door and pulling on a leash tethered to open it. Often these service dogs are seen sitting in front of the owner to create a bubble of space and line of defense.  

Owners find that the security of knowing they are being watched and supported gives them the comfort to return to the occurrences of daily life.

 

Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood

Feelings of hopelessness, emotional numbness, and negative thoughts are often overwhelming when suffering from a stress disorder.  A connection to a dog is one of the purest forms of joy. The unconditional love of a dog for their owner brings feelings of worthiness when everything else seems bleak. Owning a dog, in and of itself, help return positive thoughts and emotions into a distressed person’s life.  

Training a dog to hug or touch his owner provides physical contact necessary to basic human existence. Additional trained dog behavior increases the level of assistance a dog provides.  

Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions

Substance abuse is another common coping mechanism for those struggling with PTSD.  Service dogs offer support in recovery by providing a new coping mechanism to replace the old.  Bonding with and caring for a dog is an outlet when dealing with strong emotions. A dog’s need to be walked outside forces the owner outside to interact with others and reduce isolation at home.  

Talking about problems is a proven way to overcome guilt and shame. Studies have shown that having a dog present encourages owners to open up and share. Assistance dogs are excellent companions that assist in coping with emotional reactions and help the owner begin to change their responses to situations.  

Training for Additional Benefits

Assistance dogs aid in all areas of life. In addition to supporting PTSD symptoms, they are there to help with other PTSD-like symptoms and assisting in making life just a bit easier.  

Medication management for someone with PTSD can be tricky, especially with many medications taken at different times of the day. Service dogs are conditioned to react to a sound that then alerts the dog to notify his owner that it is time to take action.  Service dogs will retrieve medicine when alerted by a specific sound and bring it as the reminder that it is time to take that medication.

Safety during a panic attack is an issue when the attack has become overwhelming. Service dogs are trained to sense rising in breathing, body temperature and blood pressure, suggesting an oncoming panic attack to then help redirect their owners.  

Types of Assistance Dogs

Service, emotional support, and therapy dog titles are often used interchangeably when referring to a canine support animal. Each of these terms applies to very different levels of assistance and protection the dog provides to his owner.

PTSD Service Dog –  Task Oriented

Service dogs assist with tasks that the owner cannot complete themselves due to mental disabilities such as anxiety disorder, PTSD, or physical disabilities such as traumatic brain injury.  Specific tasks include fetching water or medication for anxiety, alerting to a PTSD induced panic attack, and tugging open doors to aid people with disabilities.

PTSD service dogs are the formal, hands-off dogs that you often see wearing a vest. Hands-off means that no one should approach and try to pet or play with the dog while he is on duty. They are working dogs trained specifically to their owner and their owner’s needs.  A working service dog is allowed access to all ground locations under federal protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) offers additional information regarding the requirements for an Internationally recognized service dog.

Emotional Support Animals – Comfort-Oriented

Emotional support animals provide comfort to owners who suffer from emotional or mental illnesses.  A well-trained canine uses touch in a variety of ways to soothe overwhelming feelings, bond, and provide companionship to owners. The dog also gives them a sense of purpose and belonging.

While an emotional support dog does not receive the same ADA protected access as a service dog it is prescribed by a licensed therapist and does have many protections under state and federal laws.  

An emotional support dog is protected under the Fair Housing Act and is exempt to pet policies. This means a landlord can’t evict you if you get a lawful prescription for an emotional support animal.  Additionally, an emotional support dog is allowed to fly in the cabin of an airplane with his owner in accordance with the ACAA.

 

Therapy Dog – Group-Oriented

Therapy dogs make frequent visits to schools, hospitals, and senior care facilities helping those with psychiatric or emotionally challenging conditions reduce stress and anxiety. Therapy dogs provide comfort in settings such as hospitals, senior facilities, airports, colleges, and anywhere else groups of people could benefit from mental health aid.  

As for non-working dogs, therapy dogs are not granted ADA protected access to areas prohibited to dogs including restaurants and grocery stores.  Check with your local state and government to determine laws regarding access.

Which Type of Assistance is Right

When deciding which level of support is right for you, consider how strictly you would like to adhere to training.  Service dogs dedicate themselves to their owner and owner’s needs; they spend most of their time working. An emotional support dog is a companion not focused on specific aid tasks.

 

Is Certification Required

Service, emotional support, and therapy dogs are not required by the ADA to have a certification.  Additionally, the dogs are not required to be identifiable by a vest, tag, or harness. However, there are times when certification will be necessary to ensure everyone is safe.

Service dog ADA protection prohibits facilities from requesting documented certification, details of the disability the service dog aids in, or require the dog demonstrate a task.  The facility’s staff is allowed to ask two questions to determine service dog status:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?  

Flying with assistance dogs is not covered by Federal ADA Laws.  The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) sets forth the requirements and rights of flying with a PTSD service dog.  

While certification is not required in all instances of PTSD dog use, all assistance dogs must be registered and licensed according to the local city or state requirements.   

Assistance Dog Requirements

Whether training a service, emotional support, or therapy dog basic guidance and requirements apply:

The Dog Trainer and Grooming

Grooming is not only essential to the health and well-being of the dog, but it is also an essential requirement of assistance dogs when in society.  The requirement behind assistance training is that the dog not interfere with the day to day operations occurring in public. Regular grooming ensures the dog is clean, free of offensive odors, and decreased shedding.

The Dog Trainer and Basic Obedience

Basic obedience skills are a must when training assistance dogs. Without necessary obedience skills, the dog is not considered an assistance dog and will be asked to leave public places.  Ensure that your dog is under control with training on basic commands such as sit, stay, heel, lie down, and come.

The Dog Trainer and Elimination

Nothing will get a dog kicked out of public places as fast as eliminating in the wrong area.  Ensure training includes housebreaking. Assistance dogs should never use a building as a restroom.  Training assistance dogs to eliminate on command ensures elimination will occur in the proper location at the appropriate time.  

The Dog Trainer and Manners

All assistance dogs require training. Training dogs must be well behaved in public, remain under control at all times, and not cause a disturbance ensures they will be considered service animal. Place focus on manners such as not sniffing or bothering other people.  

Training must include avoiding aggressive behavior. Any dog that barks, growls, or shows teeth will not be considered an assistance dog.  

TRAINING SERVICE DOGS FOR PTSD

PTSD service dogs require additional training beyond the basics. Emotional support and therapy dogs will provide comfort in situations where service dogs must provide aid.  

PTSD service dogs must be able to complete specific tasks which aid the owner with disabilities caused by panic attacks, anxiety, or other stress. Training a service dog to complete specific tasks which assist people with disabilities begins with dog behaviors often referred to as being a “Good Citizen Dog,” which are later expanded upon to support PTSD needs.  

Positive Reinforcement for Training

The basis of all training is an effective method of positive reinforcement.  Positive reinforcement focuses on rewarding the dog’s behavior you want and ignoring the behavior you do not want.  Training is begun once the dog has reached six-months-old and at any age after that.

Positive reinforcement is offered in the form of a treat, a clicker, praise, or any combination of the above. The goal is to show the dog the behavior you want, offer a reinforcement, and encourage the dog to repeat the action on their own. Reward when the dog performs the behavior on their own.  

Nudge and Paw Training

The nudge/paw is used to alert or comfort the owner. The assistance dog trains to respond to PTSD-like symptoms alerts to the owner’s behavior and, responds with an assisting action.   When considering a panic attack, as an example, PTSD service dogs will nudge or paw the owner at the first sign of symptoms to stop or shorten the attack.

A nudge allows for a gentle method of interacting with the owner, whereas pawing leads to a stronger method of gaining attention. Training each of these methods begins the same. Start with a treat and place it where the dog can smell it.

After placing the treat in or under the palm of the hand begin the training:

• Nudge: Wait until the dog investigates the hand with his nose. Praise or click the behavior and offer the treat.  Repeat until this becomes a natural action.
• Paw: Use the hand not holding the treat to lift the dog’s paw into your palm. Praise or click while offering the treat. Repeat until this is his conditioned response.

Once a dog understands the basic command of nudge or paw it is time to incorporate real world situations. Identify symptoms that indicate an upcoming attack and begin performing them when beginning the desired behavior training. For example, shuffle your feet as you extend the treat.  With consistent positive enforcement training, the dog will associate the shuffle as a trigger to begin the behavior.

Training a service dog to persist until stopped is just as important as training to begin the behavior. Add a command, verbal or physical, each time the behavior is rewarded. Delay the reward and command, while continuing to encourage the dog to paw or nudge, to ensure the dog persists until the owner no longer needs assistance.

Bark and Speak Training

A valuable safety task is training PTSD service dogs to bark for higher levels of alert. If the owner is in the middle of a panic attack and therefore not alert to the surroundings a PTSD service dog will stay tuned to the surroundings.  When a fire alarm goes off, the service dog will bark until the owner responds.

To begin training for bark or speak tasks:

1. Encourage your dog to bark by exciting your dog or ringing the doorbell. Praise and reward the bark while adding a verbal command such as “speak.” Repeat this until your dog no longer needs prompting.
2. When the dog begins to understand the association, speak the command.  Reward the bark and associated behavior with praise or a reward.
3. Add the command that will trigger the dog while working. Extend the time before you respond to train the dog to be persistent until he has your attention.

Retrieve and Fetch Training

A PTSD service dog training option is to teach fetching an item the owner is unable to grab.  The opportunities are endless and are dependent on the needs of the owner.

If the service dog will help with medication management:

• Begin with the object you would like retrieved, such as a medicine bottle, and a treat.  
• Start a game of fetch.  Throw the object and say the command you would like to use.  
• Reward the completed behavior.
• Once fetch is established, move the game into reality.  
  • Place the medicine bottle on the counter.  
  • Point to the item.  
  • Say the command.
  • Reward the completed behavior.
• When the dog knows where to locate the item practice the command from another room.  

Tug and Pull Training

Training the dog to tug or pull will aid in more than just pulling a wheelchair. If the owner is in a situation that the dog recognizes as hazardous, the dog tugs the leash and pull his owner to the door.  

To train a service dog to tug or pull:

• Begin with a rope and a treat.
• Encourage the dog to take the end you are not holding.
• Pull gently.
• Reward when the dog pulls back.
• Add in a verbal or physical command.

PTSD Dog Breeds

Dogs and PTSD is a form of evidence-based treatment designed to return the ability to function in stress and anxiety-laden situations after a traumatic event. Once the level of assistance is determined, it is time to consider dog breeds.  

Service dogs dedicate themselves to their owner, their owner’s stress and anxiety symptoms, and their owner’s needs. Any dog breed is an option to for an assistance dog as long as it is well behaved, controlled in public, and well groomed. However, some dog breeds have innate capabilities that provide additional benefits with specific disabilities.  

Consider individual needs and chose a breed based on which combinations of size, temperament, alertness, and intelligence will best provide assistance.  

Service Dog Breeds

When selecting service dog breeds begin with choosing dogs known for their loyalty and alertness:

• Pomeranians are the right choice when needs require medical alerts. Size limits their physical abilities, but they are known for their alertness and ability to recognize changes in medical conditions.  
• Collies are known for their intelligence and ability to detect seizure activity. They are an excellent dog for psychiatric service, anxiety disorder, and PTSD.  
• German Shepards are known for their ability to help maneuver and remain alert to potential dangers.  When needs include aid in detecting potential dangers, the German Shepherd is the dog for the job.

Emotional and Therapy Dog Breeds

Emotional support and therapy dogs are about comfort and are allowed to focus on more than just owner.  Dog breeds suited to emotional support and therapy rolls are ones that tend towards friendliness and affection.  

• Labradors are known for their stable and balanced personalities. Their calm demeanor suits them ideally to psychiatric service.  
• Golden Retrievers are known for their gentle temperament and strong ability to love. They excel at providing physical and emotional support.  
• Havanese dogs excel at providing love and physical comfort. They are smart and quick to train.  

Whichever breed and level assistance you select know that you will have a companion that is always there for you.  If purchasing a trained assistance dog is not the right choice for you do not be discouraged. Training a service dog at home is done with the right tools and guidance.

The post Your Dog, PTSD and Getting Help appeared first on TheDogTrainingSecret.com.

via Whisker Therapy