Dogs, Camp and Reading

Yesterday, Jill dropped her son off for camp in a parking lot in the suburbs of Boston. It was Ian's first time at camp, and like most of the campers (new and old) the boys were nervous. It's not easy to leave your parents, whether you're 9 or 15. About half of the families had brought along their dogs as Jill would have if Shadow could fly in the cabin.

In the parking lot, both humans and canines could sense that the air was thick with emotions: excitement, nervousness, anticipation and fear. As the people and pets milled about, Jill noticed that virtually every kid bent down to pet the dogs as they walked by. Each time, Jill could see that the interaction melted away some of the nervousness and distracted the kid as he was about to leave his parents and his comfort zone behind. As the time for departure grew near, more kids and now parents were petting and smooching the dogs. As people flocked to the dogs, conversations were started and new friends found. Clearly, the dogs provided emotional support to everyone standing in the shadow of the buses.

Dogs are used in therapy for many of the same reasons they proved helpful in the parking lot. Dogs break down emotional barriers, offer unconditional and non-judgmental love and support, which encourages people to work through their stress.

Programs like Sit, Stay Read, Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.), Bidewee's Reading to Dogs Program, Reading with Rover, PAWS for Reading and many others around the country bring therapy dogs to schools, libraries and clubs to help children learn to read. When the kids, most of whom have poor literacy skills, read aloud to the dogs magic occurs. The dog listens attentively and never corrects, laughs or teases the child. The dog is a non-threatening listener and the children are relaxed and willing to try to read aloud. As a child's reading skills improve, so does the child's confidence and self-esteem. Teachers report that formerly hesitant students volunteer to read aloud and students develop a love of reading. Hard numbers back this up. (Look here too.)

So, whether kids are going to camp, learning to read or coping with other stressful situations, dogs are there to lend a helping hand -- er paw. This is one of the myriad reasons dogs why are man's (woman's and kids') best friend.

Good Books For New Puppies

Teresa from Alaska recently wrote to Happy Dog Land asking us to recommend training books to help with her two new adorable puppies (pictured below).

Emma with her new brother Sam.

Big sis Kaytie holding Bailey.

We asked two well respected and trusted Certified Pet Dog Trainers (CPDT) trainers Lynn Brezina and Jamie Damato for suggestions. Here is their list:

• Positive Puppy Training Works by Joel Walton
• Before and After Getting Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar
• Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell
• The Puppy Whisperer by Paul Owens

Of course, your home work along with a well recommended puppy class that teaches positive reinforcement rather than punishment-based training will start your new pup's life off on the right paw!

A Little Latte Goes A Long Way

Micheal Gerson's Op Ed piece in today's Washington Post is worth a read. In his column, Gerson chronicles his transformation from someone who was infamous for his "intolerance for animals" to someone whose "prejudices" have been "melted" by a cute Havanese named Latte. While exploring his emotions, Gerson covers several heady topics including animal rights, animal welfare and friendship.

We may not agree with everything Gerson espouses, but it's always nice to give a shout out to a new member of the dog loving community.

A few weeks back, first-time dog owner and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus wrote about her experiences with her new puppy Tank. Marcus' tale of the pup's introduction and effect on her family is humours and heartwarming. She writes:

"We are on the computer -- on our four separate computers -- less. We are rolling around on the family room floor more. We are talking to our neighbors, not just waving at them en route from car to front door. We are in the back yard, throwing the Frisbee for Tank to fetch or, in Jon's case, running alongside him; Tank, having had the pleasure of accompanying him on this mission, now refuses to budge until Jon gets moving, too. Smart dog, he has clearly distinguished between "Stationary Lady Who Feeds Me" and "Fun Running Guy."

Marcus reiterates what we in Happy Dog Land already know, a dog is a family member who brings love and joy and fosters togetherness and community.

My Own Private Duncan Idaho or Been There DUNE That

Recently, a company specializing in genetic engineering called BioArts successfully cloned Trakr, a 9/11 canine hero. For those of us just getting over the fact that 8-track tapes are getting replaced by cassettes, this is nothing short of astounding. Spending your whole life with your same best furry pal is, apparently, only a few test tubes away. Seems like a no-brainer...right?

Wrong.

Just because a living being has the same exact genes as your long time companion, doesn't mean Fido II, III and IV will have the same personality as Fido I. It really doesn't matter what Fido II looks like, or whether his mitochondria do a dance just like Fido I's. Rather, what really matters is Fido II's personality -- and that can't be cloned (at least not yet).

We all would love to have our old dog back after he dies. That's impossible, however, unless you can replicate every single experience Fido I ever had in his whole entire life (and just read The Boys From Brazil to get a sense of what that might entail!) Moreover, why go to the trouble and expense of cloning and the associated ethical conundrum when all you get is a new dog that merely looks like the original? Identical DNA can only go so far to bring back your beloved Fido I.

There are so many dogs in need of a home and your nurturing can make New-Fido into your new best pal. New-Fido will never be the same as Fido I. He will, however, be just as good, only different. And, that difference is what makes life interesting. Perhaps New-Fido will be a jogger and you'll lose weight, or she'll be that lap dog you always wanted. Each new pet opens a world of possibilities so why just settle for appearances?

Moreover, cloning could very easily become an addiction. Once you make one clone Fido, you can keep going back to the folks at Bio Arts and turn out a whole chain of Fido gholas -- just like the God Emperor of Dune -- and we all know how that turned out for Duncan Idaho and the entire human race!

Your dog is who he is because of the nurturing you and your family and friends provide. You can't just reawaken memories in the clone-Fido and expect everything to be the same. Moreover, you never know whether the cloning process itself can cause something to go awry. Fido III may turn out to be a pawn in a centuries old war and the Theilaxu's plan for fetch-dominance comes to your living room. In all seriousness, though, the more critical problem is that Fido II may suffer medical issues due to the cloning process. Cloning is hardly a risk-free undertaking.

While we understand the urge to clone, we must insist that you consider this option a folly. With so many wonderful dogs available for adoption, it seems silly to try to replicate a pet who has already reached his great reward. Each pet is different -- and that's the joy of it all. Don't try to relive the past through Fido II or III or IV -- let go and enjoy the present.

Bravo Portuguese Water Dog Breeders!

As reported in the Wall Street Journal today, the demand for Portuguese Water Dogs has risen tremendously since Bo Obama moved into the White House. Reputable Portie breeders (like good breeders of all dogs) don't allow just anyone to purchase their dogs. The screening process is strict and demanding. Portie breeders are turning down people at an even higher rate than usual because so many people want the "It" dog.

"We try to discourage people," says Mary Eadie, a breeder in Annandale, Va., who says she has had 300 calls since Bo Obama came on the scene. She says she narrowed the field by eliminating anyone who wanted a dog immediately or wanted a female to breed. Then she weeded through applications, finally inviting the final 30 for interviews to vie for the 10 puppies her two females gave birth to in March. "We try to educate the public about the commitment involved in taking on this dog," she says.

The vigilance of these breeders will protect the breed and ensure that the dogs go to people who can take proper care of these highly energetic dogs.

With demand for Porties growing by leaps and bounds, puppy mills will unfortunately fill the void. If you want a Portie and the "breeder" or pet store is willing to sell you one no questions asked, walk away and don't look back--you may be turned into a pillar of salt. Don't be tempted because you will be supporting unscrupulous people who don't care about the welfare and safety of the dogs. Moreover, you want to be able to sleep at night. If you can't get a Portie, there are millions of other wonderful pooches waiting for you to find them!

Kids and Dogs: A Few Rules And A Lot of Common Sense

By now, everyone has probably heard about the toddler who flushed a puppy down the toilet while trying to give the pooch a bath. Thankfully, the pup was saved by a skilled plumber. This story reminds us that while kids and dogs are a wonderful combination, they must be supervised. Pet expert Steve Dale provides some rules to keep kids and dogs safe while together. Review Steve's rules and talk about them with your kids.

Children are never too young to learn how to safely interact with pets. Start by showing your young child how to gently touch a pet. As your child ages, teach her some of Steve's more detailed rules. Your efforts will ensure that your kids enjoy a life-long happy relationship with our furry friends.

Ask Billy: Potty Training Follow Up

Abbie Bella with the grandson's pacifier.

We first met Abbie Bella in April when her mom Judy asked Billy for potty training advice. Abbie is now seven months old, has graduated from her first obedience class and been micro-chipped and spayed. Bravo Judy! Training your pooch, fixing your dog and giving her permanent identification is not only responsible, but will help keep her safe and healthy.

Judy has been following Billy's advice for about two months. Here's a progress report:

"Abbie was sleeping with me, but then she would get up all the time and I would have to get up to make sure she wasn’t tinkling or pooping on the carpet. I was losing a lot of sleep and couldn’t handle that. Since May 29, I have been putting Abbie in her crate in the bedroom right beside my bed, close to my pillow, where she can see me. First, we will get in the bed, cuddle and play awhile and then I will crate her for the night. Abbie now sleeps through the night without having to go out before 6am. On the weekends, we tend to sleep a little later, but she whines when she needs to go out. I take her out and then come back to bed for awhile and she usually goes back to sleep!"

Way to go Judy! Billy is a firm believer in crate training. Abbie is safe when she's in her crate. She's also learning to control herself because she wants to keep her personal space clean. Just be sure to race her outside as soon as you open the crate door. Praise her and give treats when she goes to the bathroom outside.

"I'm following Billy's advice and taking Abbie out right when I get in the door at home, after eating and on an hourly basis up to bedtime each night. Abbie's been getting the hang of potty training, but we did have two accidents this past weekend, both in the hall, but I am trying to "watch" her more and take her out more. It’s been a long time since I had a puppy to care for and I was used to my older dogs going and coming as they pleased out the doggie door."

Every time Abbie goes out the doggie door, give her a treat and make a big fuss with lots of praise and kisses. She'll learn that using the door brings all sorts of positive attention. Positive reinforcement is a wonderful thing!

Moreover, a few accidents is not bad -- potty training is a process that requires patience! Judy agrees and notes that it has been a long time since she had a puppy in the house. She writes, "I think Abbie will eventually understand, I just have to be patient while she is learning. She is a puppy and I am trying to think of her like the grandson as far as 'potty training' is concerned. He is learning too and still has accidents. Puppies are like children at least mine are."

Although Abbie's potty training is progressing well, Judy tells us that once Abbie's paws hit the carpet she sometimes has an accident. We're not sure exactly why carpet confuses Abbie. Perhaps, her super-powered canine nose is able to detect smells or urine lingering in the carpet from other dogs. There's a chance that when she was a new pup her cage was lined with a piece of carpet, a mat or a towel and she's used to the sensation on her feet. The fact that she has been recently spayed could be the reason. The spaying procedure removes the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. Occasionally a dog will suffer a potty training setback after this type of major surgery. (Here's an informative article about the spaying process.)

Judy, no matter the reason for a setback, keep trying and continue your routine--you're doing a fabulous job! Don't get frustrated and stock up on Petastic, our favorite stain and odor remover. Your patience and care will help Abbie become house trained quickly and let her know how much you love her!

Tell Abbie we're proud of her progress and give her a hug from her friends in Happy Dog Land!

If you need advice or have a question about dog care, send it to Billy at info@happydogland.com. We'll post the answer here. Please include a photo of your pooch so we can show him/her off to everyone in Happy Dog Land.