pet connection

The American Kennel Club recently began a program to recognize the good work that therapy dogs do. The AKC is not certifying potential therapy dogs but instead opened dialog with a number of organizations that already certify therapy dogs, and developed a program to recognize those dogs. I’m proud to say that my now twelve year old Australian Shepherd, Riker, was the first dog registered in this new program.

Riker began visiting retirement homes and Alzheimer’s facilities when he was just a year old. He accumulated more than 200 hours doing these visits and was always a hit with the folks he visited.

However, by chance I got a call from the director of a day care center for children who needed protection.  The director wanted to give a therapy dog a try but the dog would need to love kids, be very tolerant of the kids’ actions, and be able to react accordingly should a child be too rough. Many of these kids had never been taught how to be good to animals. In fact, many had been raised seeing people being cruel to animals.

In addition, because the kids were under various types of protection, the dog’s owner would need an extensive background check and clearance.

I decided to give Riker a try since he loves kids and I already had a background check and clearance from my Marine Corps and military police days. It just needed to be updated.

Once I got that taken care of, Riker and I began visiting this day care center. I’ve written about a few of our visits in previous posts, so in short I’ll say Riker found his life’s work. I swear he’s happier there than he is at home. He gives kisses when kisses are needed, snuggles when kids need a hug, chases the ball when they need to play, and makes the kids laugh on a regular basis.

I stopped counting his visit hours when he went over two thousand.

I’ve been watching Riker to see when he’s going to be ready to retire. He is slowing down and is sleeping more. However, he still brings me a toy so we can play every evening. He still enjoys going to the dog training yard. He even continues to demo during the therapy dog classes. At twelve years of age, when I bring out his therapy dog vest, he turns into a younger dog. He bounces, whining, and trying to stick his head through the opening of the vest. So he’s obviously not ready to retire yet.

I’m so proud of my old dog I could just bust!

Photo: Riker by Liz Palika

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On Sunday, May 22, Kindred Spirits Dog Training hosted the Love on a Leash therapy dogs for a day of fun, food, and continuing education. This was the second year for this activity and the North County chapter leader, Connie Kelly, is certainly getting the hang of organizing and hosting this event. Connie is also a trainer at Kindred Spirits so she wears two hats.

The goal was to help therapy dogs and their handlers keep their skills sharp. The dogs and owners had a chance to work on some obedience skills, especially with some distractions. Last year Kate Abbott, a KS trainer and president of the board for Love on a Leash, devised her ‘gauntlet of distractions’ as she called it, and she set that up again this year. There was a flapping kite, a billowing trash bag, some wind spinnners, an animatronic parrot that made noise, and a horrifyingly lifelike ape head that moved, made noise, and reacted to sounds and movement in its space.

Bashir had seen the ape last year and didn’t seem bothered by it at all this year. However, Sisko was not at all happy with the ape. He went up to about a foot away from it and stared at it, hard, growling very deep in his throat. There was obviously something very wrong. A talking head on a table just doesn’t compute in the World of Sisko.

The goal was for dogs and owners to walk through these distractions. The dogs didn’t have to ignore them; in fact, the lesson was to help the owners learn how to help their dogs when their dog reacts to something so out of the ordinary.

KS trainers Dawn McMahon and Melissa Duffy also held a Canine Good Citizen test for dogs who either hadn’t passed it or who wanted to re-take it for the practice. Attendees also got to play with a variety of Nina Ottosson and other smart toys. You could see the dogs trying hard to figure out how to work the toys. Some other games included tic tac toe, using dogs on sit or down stays as Xs and Os. This is a great way to practice obedience training with distractions, too.

Deb and Dan Jensen provided lunch for everyone and it was welcome. Deb’s chicken salad is great but her lemon bars are awesome.

Dog owners were also given a chance to ask questions about visiting, visit skills, problems, training needs, and anything else they needed help with. Attendees included some experienced dogs and owners as well as some new therapy dog teams so a great deal of sharing happened over lunch.

Last but certainly not least, Walter the Wonder Dog demonstrated a number of his tricks. His human partner, Kate, assisted him. Plans are already in the works for next year’s continuing education day.

All photos by Sheri Wachtstetter. Top: Dogs and owners playing tic tac toe. Middle: A therapy dog investigates the ape head. Bottom: Walter the Wonder Dog and his human assistant, Kate.

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All four of my dogs have grieved in different ways over the past two weeks. Even though I was grieving, too, I was also watching them because I know grief can be devastating.

Riker was the first. Almost immediately he climbed up onto Paul’s spot on the sofa and curled into a little ball. He wouldn’t move for hours at a time, and I would have to pull/push him off the sofa and walk him outside. But that only lasted a couple of days. Then his therapy dog heart kicked in. Apparently all these people were coming to our house so he could love them. That finished his grieving.

I don’t believe Bashir was grieving for Paul at all. Rather Bashir was devastated because I was. When I could take a deep breath and calm myself he did too. But for two weeks he hasn’t allowed me out of his sight when he had any control of the situation. If he had opposable thumbs I would never ever be out of his sight.

Sisko earned his therapy dog stripes these past two weeks. At the worst of my grief, he stayed close, tried to take it all from me, and licked away the tears. Whereas so many puppies his age might have been worried or frightened, he stayed close.

Sisko’s protective instincts also kicked in at the same time, though. No one was going to touch me, hug me, or even get close if he had anything to say. Since I needed and wanted any and all hugs, we did have a discussion about those protective instincts. He’s still rumbling under his breath but that’s okay; he’s learning.

Archer didn’t react right away. But Paul often took business trips without Archer so a few days away from home weren’t too unusual. All the excitement, tears,and visitors didn’t bother Archer too much at first either. He’s bomb-proof and changes don’t upset him normally.

However, three to four days after Paul’s death, I would turn around and see three dogs but not the fourth. Archer would be up on the bed on Paul’s pillow. Then, after a couple more days, I would find Archer in Paul’s closet. He had pulled some clothes off the hangers, including Paul’s bathrobe, and was lying on them.

In addition, Archer began having moments that I could only call frantic. He would come to me, stare at me deep into my eyes, cry, poke me with his nose, and try desperately to communicate with me. I knew what he wanted, I knew what he was trying to say, but I couldn’t help him. I couldn’t bring Paul back.

At Kindred Spirits, we have two men who help us part time in the classes –  Jeff and Rich. When either of these guys walked into the yard, Archer would rush to them — without even looking back at me. He wanted some male companionship. So Jeff has spent a lot of time with Archer, walking him, playing with him, and working him.

In addition, Kate has been trying to channel Paul — copying his way of working Archer — and having Archer work for her. Kate also handled Archer at Paul’s memorial and he was calm with her. Wearing his service dog vest, his mind was in working mode and that steadied him. Other than when he snatched a peanut butter cookie from the minister’s hand, that is.

Unfortunately, when I see Archer so devastated I want to love him. I want to fix his hurt. But that’s not what he wants or needs. So keeping him well exercised physically and working his brain seem to be the best medicine at the moment.

Remember that saying that has been so popular, “It takes a village to raise a child’? Well, perhaps it takes a dog training village to alleviate a grieving dog’s heartbreak.

Photo credit: Paul and Archer. Photo by Liz Palika

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Note: This post was prepared by Liz last week, before the recent tragedy that claimed her husband Paul’s life. We delayed the posting of this column until a more appropriate time. Liz asked us to go ahead and start posting her writing again. Quite frankly, we just couldn’t yet bear to edit for tense.

It was just a little more than two years ago when Archer was going through therapy dog training, and I began the series of posts titled, “The Making of a Therapy Dog.”* Archer turned out to be an awesome therapy dog and has often visited a Veterans Administration center with my husband, Paul. They visit grizzled Vietnam war vets and young-faced wounded warriors from this generation. Everyone greets Archer with open arms.

Now it’s Sisko’s turn. It’s hard for me to believe he’s actually old enough to begin therapy dog training, but he is. He has grown up so fast and will be a year old in April.

A couple weeks back, Sisko and I began a first week Canine Good Citizen class. I don’t anticipate any problems as his obedience skills are very good; his only weakness is a tendency to lie down when left in a sit stay. We’re working on that. Everything else –  heel, down, stay, and come are wonderful. His “leave it” is excellent; once told to ignore something, it no longer exists. He doesn’t jump on people, doesn’t paw or scratch, and never touches anyone with his mouth. Well, except for the occasional teeny tiny tongue flick lick. He’s very social with other dogs. I don’t anticipate any problems but we’ll go through the class and earn his CGC.

The therapy dog class also began last week. Sisko was introduced to the command, “Go say hi!” and learned how to approach people so they could touch him. That was fine with him; people can pet him. He leaned into their hands.

During Sisko’s puppyhood I neglected to introduce him to wheelchairs and walkers. I have no idea why; I usually do it as a matter of course. But he learned what they were in the first class. He saw them move, heard them rattle, and walked up to investigate – no problems.

He also learned how to approach wheelchairs from the side – left or right – and to stand still so people in a chair can reach him. We also did the same thing to walkers.

My only reservation is that Sisko is still young. Most of our previous Aussies have been mentally immature at just a year of age. They can really still be silly at this age. I don’t want to force him into therapy dog work and if he appears to be too immature I’ll slow down. However, although Sisko is always willing to play, he’s an old soul. He’s serious for his age and very loving. I do think this is going to be perfect for him.

In coming weeks, I’ll post about Sisko’s progress and perhaps Kim will add some notes about Harper, too, as she also has the goal of becoming a therapy dog.

Photo credit: Bashir on the left, Sisko on the right – almost as tall as Bashir. Photo by Liz Palika.

*(As a minor side note, that series was nominated as Best Regular Blog in the 2009 Dog Writers Association of America writing competition.)

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As we become more and more educated on the signs of Alzheimer’s Disease in people, it’s worth asking  — what about animals? Can anything be done to prevent it?

This article by Steve Dale in USA Today Weekend discusses both the signs and ideas on how to keep cognitive dysfunction (CD) at bay. CD is diagnosed by excluding everything else medically relevant first, but there are signs to identify it.

“It’s always been there,” says veterinary behaviorist Gary Landsberg of Thornhill, Ontario, director of veterinary affairs at Cancog Technologies. “Our pets are living longer, and we’re learning much more about identifying cognitive dysfunction.” Landsberg is now researching the disorder in cats.

The acronym for pet owners to identify CD is referred to as DISH:

D — Disorientation and confusion, such as attempting to walk through the wrong side of a doggie door.

I — Changes in interactions, such as an outgoing pet becoming withdrawn.

S — Sleep disturbances: cats yowling or dogs pacing overnight for no apparent reason.

H — House soiling, having “accidents.”

So what can be done to prevent CD? The best wisdom points to one thing  –  exercise. Professor Carl Cotman, Director of University California, Irvine,  Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia, says that dementia in people and in animals respond the same.

Cottman [sic] has studied cognitive decline in dogs and people. In one canine study, a group of dogs was enrolled in continuing canine education and followed an exercise protocol. The control group was fed a special anti-aging diet. All the dogs were periodically tested for cognitive skills, and Cottman couldn’t believe the results.

“It was a fantasy come true because the results were so definitive, proving social interactions, exercise, enrichment and diet really do make a significant difference in dogs,” he says. “We believe the same must be true for people.”

Cottman adds that if you do anything, take your dog for a walk: “We know moderate exercise bolsters brains in dogs and people.”

Shooting cats in Utah: The concept of TNR hasn’t caught hold yet in the state of Utah. The ‘Feral Cat Bill’ (HB210) was passed by the Utah House this past week. It will allow Utahns to shoot “pests” without being charged with cruelty. From the Deseret News:

The House agreed to add back a provision allowing the humane shooting of an animal in an unincorporated area of a county if the shooter “has a reasonable belief” the animal is feral.

Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, said feral animals are ever-present in rural areas. He said it’s not a matter of if they’re coming for his cows, but when.

Right. It’s all about the cows. Read the bill. The language is so broad that it could lead to some horrific abuses. Once the animal is killed, there’s no way for a person’s word to be contradicted. If HB210 passes, it’s open season in Utah. Proof that bad legislation can be much worse than no legislation.

Dog saved  –  by dolphin: Turbo got himself stuck in a canal in Marco Island, Fla. He was eventually saved, but not by a person. Check out this video from CNN.

Cats and phones: Author, cat expert and about.com contributing writer Amy Shojai examines the curious relationship between kittehs and phones.

Abuse come in all guises: Have you ever heard of someone having their dog masquerade as a service dog – even when there’s been no certification?  Check out this Wall Street Journal article. Maxx the Westie might be cute, but in spite of the vest, that’s all he is.

The problem with setting numbers: Proposed rules to hamstring breeders frequently try to set arbitrary numbers as some kind of litmus test – ‘Well, it just stands to reason if you have x number of animals, you must be a puppy mill.’ The reality is that a numbers test doesn’t work. This post from desertwindhounds is worth reading (paragraph breaks added to improve readability).

Why are laws with kennel requirements, space requirements, and all that jazz bad? Because dogs are not machines, all the same except for the size. The best husbandry, or animal care, is not institutionalized, but customized: to the breed, the breeder, the climate, and the breeding program. Good husbandry for Foxhounds will be totally different that good husbandry for Chihuahuas. Some dogs do well in groups, some don’t. Some are pretty weather proof, some are delicate. Hunting dogs, for instance, need to acclimated to the environment. Keeping them in air-conditioning all the time will impair their performance and may actually make them more prone to heat exhaustion. Sled dogs need to be exposed to the cold, so they develop good thick coats. Things like wormers and vaccines are highly individualized. Most breeders have a protocol that works for them. Likewise with food, puppy raising, and housing. People who keep multiple dogs usually have a management system that works for them. Ask twenty people what the best way to keep twenty dogs is, and you will get twenty different answers.

If the people who introduce these bills really wanted to protect dogs (assuming that the local welfare laws are good enough), they would apply performance standards instead of engineering standards. Are the dogs in good condition? Do they have shelter? Puppies healthy? Yard acceptably clean? Any sick or injured dogs taken care of? Then it would not matter how many dogs there were, or how they were housed, but whether the actual dogs were cared for.

Unfortunately this type of enforcement is harder, and requires people who are intelligent, well-versed in animal husbandry, and unbiased to do the enforcing. I don’t think that’s going to happen because protecting dogs from neglect and abuse are not what these laws are all about, that is just the surface glitter designed to distract the bleeding hearts. These laws are all about limiting or eliminating purposeful dog breeding and driving breeders out of their business or hobby.

The post’s headline goes down a whole different road, but that’s beside the point.

Hand 2 paw: Maria Goodavage at Dogster tipped me to this great video about Hand2Paw, a Philadelphia program that connects homeless kids with shelter pets.

Magic and poetry in his fingertips: People who think the now-famous quotes from Charlie Sheen’s recent interview were examples of arrogance or delusional thinking just need some context. For that, we have mediumlarge.com.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: Exercising dogs, flickr creative commons (PhillipC)

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