A Pekingese takes the Prize

Did you catch the 136^th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show?  This year was a great mix of rookies and veterans competing not for money but for prestige.

In New York, Malachy, a 4 year-old Pekingese, took home his 115^th overall best in show title on Valentine’s Day.  Malachy beat out Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici, a Doberman Pinscher, who won Best of Working Group; Shadagee Caught Red Handed, an Irish Setter, who won Best of Sporting Group; Cappy, a German Shepherd, who won Best of Herding Group; and Ian, a Dalmatian, who won Best of Non-Sporting Group.  Many other winners were declared that day for various dog groups and breeds; like Ace, a black cocker Spaniel, who won Best in Breed his first time running.  

There was exciting anticipation for this year’s dog show as six newly recognized (by the AKC) breeds would be making their debut. Those six breeds include: The Xoloitzcuintli (competing in the Non-Sporting Group), which is known to be the national dog of Mexico; The Norwegian Lundehund (competing in the Non-Sporting Group) which is primarily used for hunting Puffins; The Finnish Lapphund (competing in the Herding Group), which is primarily used for herding reindeer; The Entlebucher Mountain Dog (competing in the Herding Group) which is a native of Switzerland; The Cesky Terrier (competing in the Terrier Group) which is used mostly for hunting; and the American English Coonhound (competing in the Hound Group) which is primarily used for hunting.  Unfortunately, for these hopeful pups, none of these newly recognized breeds took home a silver bowl or a fancy title.

The veteran show dog, Malachy, was up against some stiff competition as the crowd cheered for the nation’s number one pick, a black Cocker Spaniel named Beckham, and another fan favorite,  a Wire Fox Terrier named Eira.  While Terriers usually rule at Westminster (Wire Fox Terriers winning most often), this will make the fourth time a Pekingese has been named Champion at Westminster since 1990.       

How the judges decide who is best of over 2,000 purebred dogs is beyond me, but Judge Cindy Vogels named Malachy this year’s champion.  As champion at Westminster, Malachy wins a coveted silver bowl and a new prestigious title that will last a lifetime.  While there is no prize money for the winners, such a title presents opportunities elsewhere (like breeding potential).

Congratulations to all the winners at Westminster Kennel Club this week and best of luck to all participants in the future.

Valentine Treaties for Your Four-legged Sweeties

Who is your Valentine this year?  Is it your dog?  According to WikiAnswers, about 3% of pet owners buy a Valentine’s Day gift for their pet.  Three percent seems a little low but the numbers are increasing as more owners celebrate the unconditional love that their pet gives them all year long.  But what should you get to show your love and appreciation for man’s best friend?  In the human world we give chocolates and roses or cute little cards and candies.  But since dogs can’t enjoy those types of things, what do you give a dog? Why not treat your pup to something sweet.  (Well, not actually sweet).  

While we all know (or should know) that you can’t give a dog human sweets (especially chocolate), we may not know that there are dog bakeries that bake goodies for dogs.  What’s the difference in a human cookie and a dog cookie you may ask?  Well first, dog treats should always be made with whole-wheat flour or rice flour instead of all-purpose flour.  Secondly, there should be no sugar in dog treats.  Cake frostings and cookie dip should be made from other ingredients like organic peanut butter, cream cheese, meringue powder, cottage cheese, yogurt, or Carob (a chocolate substitute).  Lastly, dog treats should be made with all natural ingredients without preservatives or ingredients that you can’t pronounce.  And just because it is called a treat doesn’t mean it has to be unhealthy.  The more organic the treat, the better it is for your dog.

Bake a special treat for your pup this Valentine’s Day…..

Ingredients:

1 Egg

¼ Cup applesauce

½ Cup beef or chicken broth

1 Tablespoon honey

1 Tablespoon molasses

¼ Cup oil

2 ¼ Cups whole-wheat flour

2 Cups carob chips

Directions:

1.       Preheat oven to 300˚F

2.       In a large bowl, combine the egg, applesauce, broth, honey, molasses, and oil. Gradually stir in flour.

3.       Dough should be stiff, add flour or water to adjust.

4.       On a well-floured surface, roll out dough into ¼ inch thickness.

5.       Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make shapes from the dough.

6.       Place on lightly greased cookie sheets and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.

7.       Melt carob chips in microwave or double boiler.

8.       Dip half of the heart into the melted carob.

9.       Place cookies on waxed paper and let stand until carob is set.

Not one for baking? That’s ok too because there are professionals who do it every day so that you don’t have to.  Here are some local dog bakeries across southern California:

Jackboy’s Dog Bakery in Corona, Norco, Studio City, Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Newport Beach,  Newport Coast, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Corona Del Mar, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Temecula, Wildomar, Lemoore, Rancho Cuchamonga, Upland, Alta Loma, Redlands, and Yucaipa.   

Three Dog Bakery in Lake Arrowhead, Newport Beach, San Clemente, Los Angeles, Old Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, and Del Mar. 

Sophie’s Dog Shop and Barkery in Fullerton

Le Woof Dog Bakery & Boutique located at 18306 Imperial Highway in Yorba Linda. 

*Remember, dogs should never eat as many cookies or as much cake as humans do.  Just one or two bites make an exciting treat for your dog without causing a tummy ache later.  Bone Appétit!

Pet Obesity: Fighting the Epidemic

Did you know a 20 lb. pug is equivalent to a 161 lb. 5’4” woman or 188 lb. 5’9” man?  That is 11% overweight for a pug.  We already talked about the statistics in Pet Obesity: Noticing the Epidemic and we know that an estimated 54% of U.S. cats and dogs are overweight or obese.  If you were part of the 22% of dog owners in denial about your dog’s weight, hopefully you have come to the realization that a change must be made or your dog will most likely pay the price.  Overeating, eating unhealthy foods, and not exercising is a deadly combination; so let’s make a change.

Problem: Overeating.  Some dogs would eat a whole bag of dog food if you let them.  They inhale their kibble and then look at you like, “is that all?” In cases like this, free feeding (filling the bowl and letting your dog eat when he wants) does not work.  You need to measure out the appropriate amount of food stated on the dog food bag or as instructed by your veterinarian. 

The number two culprit to weight gain is fatty wet food.  Portions of wet food should be monitored closely.  Just a few extra scoops here or there can easily add 10 extra pounds to any dog.  However, while wet food can help pack on the pounds, an excess of treats is the number one problem in most overweight cases.  A treat after breakfast, a treat for lunch, a treat before dinner, and then a treat for dessert.  Believe it or not, your dog can go a lot longer without eating than you can.  Depending on his activity level, he doesn’t need more than two meals a day, let alone snacks in between.

Solution: Limit food intake.  Putting your dog on a diet is hard to do.  They look at you with big sad eyes and whine like they are starving.  While this is hard to resist, put down the treats; your dog doesn’t need them!  If you feel the urge to feed your dog more often than once or twice a day, break up his normal meal into smaller portions that you can give throughout the day.  If you want to give a treat, only give 1 treat per day, not 3 or more.

Problem: Unhealthy eating.  Even if you do cut back on the food and treats, do you actually know what you are feeding your dog?  Most consumers don’t even pay attention to what is in their own food let alone their dog’s food.  If you read the ingredient label you might be surprised to find a lot of big name dog foods (and treats) are packed with fillers, calories, and ‘bad’ fats.  While these dog foods are the cheapest alternative (due to the cheap ingredients) they are not the only option for feeding your dog. 

Solution: Change your dog’s food.  There are holistic dog food brands like Blue Buffalo, Wellness, Canidae, Natural Balance, Stella & Chewy’s, and Nature’s Variety that provide a more balanced and healthy meal for your dog without meat by-product or fillers.  Additionally, there are other alternatives to kibble or wet food such as freeze-dried food, raw meat medallions, or even home cooked meals that you can buy for your dog.  The point is, you have options and while they may be more expensive then basic kibble, they will save you money on trips to the vet and avoid the more expensive Prescription Diet food which your veterinarian may put your dog on if his weight becomes a problem.     

The major pet stores just started carrying holistic dog food so their options are still pretty limited.  Check out a local feed store for more options to compare to find the right food choice for your dog:

B & E Feed located at 1004 6^th St. in Norco- (951)371-4000

Pet Supply Warehouse located at 5729 E La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills- (714)777-9970

Anaheim Feed & Pet Supply located at 1730 N Lemon St. in Anaheim- (714)992-2012

Problem: Lack of exercise.  Most dogs were born and bred to work but today’s society doesn’t need them to work like they once did.  Despite these societal changes, dog’s still need exercise and it means more in a dog’s life than just avoiding weight gain.  Exercise:

·         Strengthens the immune system

·         Increases blood circulation

·         Reduces the risk of heart disease and other illnesses

·         Reduces or eliminates digestive problems

·         Reduces susceptibility to urinary infections

·         Reduces stress and the likelihood of depression

·         Keeps dog from becoming obese which could result in depression and/or diabetes

·         Reduces the chance of arthritis in senior years

·         Reduces boredom and therefore bad behavior such as chewing, digging, and excessive barking

·         Helps to build confidence

·         Reduces anxiety which may cause a dog to become aggressive or territorial

·         Calms hyperactive dogs

Solution: Daily exercise.  Exercise makes a happy, healthy, and well-balanced dog.   It’s up to you to get in the habit of making sure he gets that regular exercise because he can’t do that for himself. 

If you want to change things in your dog’s eating habits, you do not have to do it alone.  Talk with your veterinarian for advice or look online for a little guidance.  Organizations like the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention provide online tools to help pet owners make a change and gain control of the situation.  Check out the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention website and join the fight against pet obesity.     

Pet Obesity: Noticing the Epidemic

Did you know a 13 lb. miniature Dachshund is equivalent to a 189 lb. 5’4” woman or 220 lb. 5’9” man?  Did you know a 90 lb. female Labrador is equivalent to a 186 lb. 5’4” woman or 217 lb. 5’9” man?  In other words, each dog is 30% overweight.  With an estimated 68% of U.S. adults being overweight or obese, it’s no wonder that an estimated 54% of U.S. cats and dogs are overweight or obese as well.  Overeating, eating unhealthy foods, and not exercising is a deadly combination and our bad habits are being passed along to our pets.

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) conducted their yearly survey for pet obesity in 2011, only to find the results were worse than 2010.  The sad truth about the pet obesity epidemic (as it’s being called) is that an increased number of pet owners aren’t even aware that their pet is overweight.  APOP founder, Dr. Ernie Ward says, “22 percent of dog owners and 15 percent of cat owners characterized their pet as normal weight when it was actually overweight or obese. This is what I refer to as the “fat pet gap” or the normalization of obesity by pet parents. In simplest terms, we’ve made fat pets the new normal.”  This report, released on Monday, February 6^th, also stated that “those at least 30 percent above normal weight or a body condition score (BCS) of 5, continues to grow despite 93.4 percent of surveyed pet owners identifying pet obesity as a problem.”  In other words, pet obesity continues to rise despite the realization that it poses major health risks.

Some of the common weight-related conditions in dogs and cats include:

·         Osteoarthritis

·         Type 2 diabetes

·         High blood pressure

·         Breathing problems

·         Kidney disease

·         Shortened life expectancy

Orthopedic surgeon, APOP Board member and Director of Clinical Research at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Steve Budsberg, says, “As an orthopedic surgeon I see, on a daily basis, the effects of obesity on dogs and cats with osteoarthritis.  It is very frustrating to see how much pain and discomfort excess weight has on my patients.  Veterinarians and owners have the ability to stop obesity in our pets. No animal goes to the refrigerator or the pantry and helps themselves.”

As Dr. Budsberg points out, we have no one to blame but ourselves.   There are no overweight dogs in the wild.  If we don’t learn to change our habits we continue to hurt the ones who depend on us to take care of them. 

If you are in denial or just curious about your pets weight, check out the APOP website for the Pet Weight Translator and put your pup’s weight into perspective.  Fill in your height, your dog’s actual weight and your dog’s ideal weight.  The translator will first show your maximum weight for your height and then translate your dog’s weight (actual vs. ideal) by comparing it to your maximum weight.  The website also offers tools to help pet owners get their dog back on track with their weight.  Take the challenge and make a difference in your dog’s life.  

Super Bowl Is Going to the Dogs

Are you planning to watch the big game with your dog this Sunday?  What are your plans for this year’s Super Bowl?

“I’m going to watch the game at home, so yes, my dog will be there.” – Dane Chapman of Corona, on watching the Super Bowl with his dog, Stinky.

“I’m going to watch the game at a friend’s house and my dogs are coming with me.  If the game starts to suck we can always entertain ourselves watching the dogs.” – Erin Finch of Corona, on watching the Super Bowl with her dogs, Maui and Kona.

“I’m going to watch the game at home with my dog, but we only watch for the commercials.” – Sarah Beck of Riverside, on watching the Super Bowl with her dog, Diesel.

If you plan on being 1 of over 111 million people watching Super Bowl XLVI this year, (whether it’s solely for commercials or not) then you will be happy to know that there will be plenty of dogs for you to watch.  I’m not talking about players on the other team; I’m talking about the dogs starring in this year’s commercials.  Volkswagen, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Skechers have all created commercials starring dogs.

Volkswagen’s commercial features a dog named Bolt, who goes on a Jedi-like quest to be worthy of chasing the new Volkswagen Beetle.  Brian Thomas, general manager of brand marketing for Volkswagen says, "Dogs are a universal force for good, much like the Volkswagen brand."  

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s commercial will have a dog in two commercials, one for Budweiser and one for Bud Light.  The Budweiser commercial will briefly show their iconic Dalmatian while the Bud Light commercial will feature a bottle-fetching dog named Weego.  The Bud Light commercial is a satire for the beer’s tag line Here We Go.  Paul Chibe, vice president of A-B's U.S. marketing says, “People have always had a special relationship with dogs. The connection of dogs to our spots is more of a coincidence."

Skechers’s commercial will feature a dog named Mr. Quiggly, as he wears a pair of GOrun shoe’s and races a pack of greyhounds.  While this commercial has caused some controversy over greyhound racing from greyhound advocacy groups, Leonard Armato, president of Skechers Fitness Group, says the commercial is meant to inspire, not support greyhound racing.  Leonard says, “We believe he'll be the most lovable dog on the Super Bowl."

Wherever and for whatever reason you are watching the Super Bowl this weekend, have a fun and safe time with your pup!

Back to the Very Basics (part 4)

Have you ever baked a cake that came out lumpy or didn’t rise like it was supposed to, or just came out tasting awful?  Any baker can tell you when baking a cake it is very important to get all of your ingredients portioned correctly.  The miscalculation or absence of just one ingredient can make a perfect cake go terribly wrong.  You don’t have to be a baker or Einstein to realize that too much of anything is never good.  So why do we often forget that with our dogs? 

Riverside resident Carmen Gutierrez shares her experience with her Chihuahua who has become possessive of her in the two years they have had her. “Bella, my baby, was a rescue.  She was so tiny and scared when we brought her home we just wanted her to feel safe and loved.  Now she has to be with me 24/7 and she doesn’t really like anyone else around me.  I know I’ve spoiled her but I can’t help it. She’s so fragile.”  

As Cesar Millan would tell you, the ingredients for a well-balanced dog consists of 1 part exercise, 1 part discipline, and 1 part affection – in that order.  That is a pretty simple formula.  But why is it that when we bring a pup home, the first thing we give is an overabundance of affection?  This tends to give us a lumpy cake (an unbalanced dog).  With the New Year underway and the recent symbolic fresh start exercise (covered in Back to the Very Basics part 3), this is the time to quit that bad habit and start over, with good habits. 

First, Exercise.  Every dog needs it in one form or another.  Depending on your dog’s age, size and energy level, she needs at least 30 – 60 minutes of exercise per day.  Not only does exercise benefit your dog’s health but it also helps release her energy which leads to more successful training sessions.  Get in the habit of walking your dog daily.  If walking every day is too much to ask right away, set goals to work up to walking daily.  Start with twice a week, then three days a week, then every other day, and then daily.  If you need, ask someone to walk with you to help keep you motivated and accountable.  

Second, Discipline.  This is where training comes into play.  Just like children, dogs need boundaries and limitations.  If you let your dog make the rules or break your rules then all training goes out the window.  Starting over means it’s time to practice and master the base commands for all training. Come, Sit, Stay.  Those 3 basic commands set the foundation for all other obedience, and if your foundation is weak then you will never have consistent obedience.  It’s also important to remember that training is an ongoing thing.  It’s something you should work on every day and continue working on, even after your dog has mastered the command.

Third, Affection.  Give your affection out like it is a treat.  It is a reward for good behavior, a way to tell your dog she is doing what you want.  It should be given when she is calm and relaxed or when she has accomplished a task you set out for her.  You can give affection to a dog relaxing next to you, as you would be rewarding good behavior.  But if the dog is jumping on you, climbing you, or standing on you, that is dominant behavior and should be discouraged.  Also avoid giving your dog attention when she is hyper, that will only reinforce her hyper activity.   Overall, start taking notice of how your dog interacts with you.  We often make the mistake of mislabeling dominant and unbalanced behavior as the dog giving us affection or wanting to play, when in her mind she is telling us that she is in charge.    

Remember, it takes 21 consecutive days to form a new habit.  If you really want to see a change in your life and a change in your dog’s behavior, give yourself a true chance by working on these new challenges until you accomplish your goals.  Training can be very frustrating at times but it gets easier as you work on it.  The hardest part is starting. 

Back to the Very Basics (part 3)

“My dog will not come on command to save his life,” says Somone Hicks of Riverside.  Her 5 year old bulldog, Gordo, has been ignoring her commands for years.  “I got him from the pound when he was about 8 months old.  He was a wild puppy but I excused a lot of his bad behavior because of his age.”  This is not an unfamiliar tale.  All too often the mistakes we make with our dog in the beginning wind up condemning us for the rest of that dog’s life.  In fact, this phenomenon has inspired a little saying we have all heard at least once, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.  For those of us dealing with a disobedient dog at home, we ask ourselves; are they lazy, just plain stupid, or are they simply ignoring us?

Studies show that 70% - 80% of dog owners do not care if their dog can perform tricks or exhibit special skills (like tracking or fetching), they only ask that their dog come when called, get along with other dogs (and humans), and not destroy the yard.  In the grand scheme of dog training, those are three pretty basic requests, yet they are the top three issues plaguing most dog owners.  To make matters worse, these bad habits are usually only a product of the constant struggle between dog and dog owner to see who is actually in charge (and I can tell you it most likely isn’t the owner).  So where do we go wrong and how do we correct this problem after so much time has passed?

If you have a leaky pipe, you may be able to patch the leak and call it good.  But the integrity of the pipe has been compromised.  You’ve only given it a temporary fix which is not very reliable and at some point that patch will no longer work.  Dog training is similar.  Addressing only one individual behavior may fix that behavior but it won’t be reliable because there are still bigger issues that have not been addressed.   When dogs become serious problems, you have no choice but to start from the beginning.

To symbolize your truly fresh start, try this exercise with your dog:  Take your dog for a car ride around the block.  When you get home, pretend you just adopted him.  He has no past that you know of but you were told of a couple personality traits such as he doesn’t like cats, and he tends to bark (of course, your dog may have different habits). You took a couple of What to Expect When Expecting a Dog classes and you feel pretty confident about being the pack leader to this dog (since you made so many mistakes with the last one).  When you reach the front door of the house you enter first and invite him in.  You can ask (or make) him sit at the door first before you invite him in but the important thing is to show him that it is your home.  Keep him on a leash and have him follow you around for the rest of the day.  Do not let him on the couch, or bed, or in any room you don’t want him to be in (such as the kitchen).  Even if you are ok with him on the couch or bed, he must learn that it isn’t his right to sit wherever he pleases but that he must earn his place in the pack.  The point of this exercise is to teach him that you are the pack leader and you control what he can and cannot do in your home. 

This is not an easy exercise, especially for those who let the dog run the house.  It is hard to watch your dog be unable to do what he wants or play when he wants, but this psychological shift has to happen in order for you to regain control in your home.  Once you have your symbolic fresh start underway, you can start resetting the foundation of successful training.  That means going back and perfecting the basic commands that are often taken for granted.