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No Pets Allowed in Shelters

Saturday, February 25th, 2012 at 12:34 am

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No Pets Allowed

What? No Pets Allowed in Shelters?

I am not referring to animal shelters here. Rather, I am referring to women’s shelters. You see, I have learned about a dog who is staying in a safe haven while her pet parent transforms her life into one of hope and love again. Her human family is in turmoil right now. This dog is afraid of the abuser in the home and growls at him. The children are not aware of what has happened to their mother because the abuse happens when they are not at home.

Since her pet parent cannot find a women’s shelter that will allow her to take her loving companion with her, a family is providing foster care for this dog. If you would like your pet parent to help other pets in need, have them check out Ahimsahouse to learn more about providing a safe haven.

Why Do Victims of Abuse Stay in the Home?

This Child Finds Comfort With Her Dog

Up to 48% of domestic violence victims will delay or refuse leaving an abusive home out of fear of leaving their pets or livestock behind according to Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T). This is the first and only national program to encourage domestic violence shelters to allow families to bring their pets with them.

It is no secret that domestic violence often starts with violence towards pets. More than 72 million homes in the U.S. in 2011 included companion animals. Women without children consider their animals as their children and are reluctant or totally unwilling to leave them behind. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 72% of homes have women as the primary caretaker of the pet. That’s true in my home. This dog that I know about does not like her male abuser but she does warm up to every other man that she meets.

Cats Are Often the Victims of Abuse

There are approximately 2500 women’s shelters. In early 2009, there were only 8 women’s shelters known to take in pets also. Although the number has grown, less than 70 women’s shelters across 29 states are listed as being able to accommodate pets.

How Can We Make a Difference?

We have Allie Phillips to thank for fighting for our rights to remain with our pet parents. Besides founding Sheltering Animals and Families Together (SAF-T), Allie has worked on legislative issues and developed national initiatives on human-animal interactions.

This abused pet parent, who is still in her home with a protective order against her husband, has to be less stressed knowing that her companion is in a safe haven. The foster parents are trying to keep their guest very busy and very pampered so that she isn’t anxious while she is away from her pet parent. She tried to snap my face off at first…more than once… but I reassure her that I am her new friend. I share my food and treats with her too. As an only pet myself, I have not had to share before but I sense that she appreciates my generosity. However, not every pet has an option like my new friend.

What kind of accommodations do the pets have in women’s shelters?

Small Animals Have Luxury Accommodations in a Healthy Home

We viewed outdoor kennels or indoor rooms filled with cages. This certainly in not what my new friend is used to. I can tell that she is a diva like myself and expects only the finest comforts of a human home.

Women’s shelters across the states house from 1-3 pets per month for up to 90 days.

Sick pets, elderly pets or those used to the constant companionship of their pet parents would have a tough time adapting to this type of environment. This is where Red Rover comes in with available grant money. Their slogan is Bringing Animals from Crisis to Care.

What are the primary concerns about pets in women’s shelters?

Allergies

Funds to pay for the pets

Sustaining the pet program

Dog bites

Abandoned pets

Legal issues

Allie Phillips has thought it all through from how to garner support, how to establish SAF-T, and the future of SAF-T.

Your pet parent can do more to help pets like my friend. The goal of SAF-T is to have one SAF-T shelter in each state by 2014 through education and awareness. If you know of a pet and their family that is being abused, and they don’t have a place to go together in your area, have your pet parents team up with Allie Phillips. They can learn more about her work at www.manifestedharmony.com.

Help us assist Allie in multiplying the number of women’s shelters that welcome pets.

What are your feelings about pets being allowed in women’s shelters? Share your feelings with us…

: Help Multiply Pet-friendly Women’s Shelters

Living in the moment,

Schatzi

Pet Companion to Animal Lover Amelia Johnson

Train a Pet Parent You Can Be Proud Of!

Thursday, January 19th, 2012 at 11:41 pm

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National Train Your Dog Month | APDT

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) wants your pet parent to have a dog that they can be proud of so it has designated January as National Train Your Dog Month. Regardless of whether you become a part of their family as a puppy or an older dog that has just rescued them from a life of boredom and loneliness, you should make training your pet parent a part of your everyday life.

Puppies Do What Puppies Do!

Puppy classes give your pet parents a routine to follow and support from other puppy owners for those moments when they are in overwhelm with normal puppy behaviors such as chewing and housetraining. The classes will help your pet parent develop skills to interact with other puppies, with children and adults and to experience new but safe environments. You will look like an angel compared to the other puppies so be eager to go to puppy class.

Training that occurs outside the classroom reinforces the basics learned for any sports activity, therapy behavior or other job that you want your pet parent to do.

There are FEW Books on Training Pet Parents!

You can be proud of your pet parent when he has learned to greet your guests politely, to walk nicely on the leash and to come when called. Well-trained pet parents can fully participate in your life rather than be left behind or confined to a separate room.

Although we are not allowed at many sporting events where children play, older children may play with us at a well-designed dog park such as the Frostburg Dog Park in Maryland.

Teach Your Child To Treat Us With Respect!

AKC kennel clubs and 4-H Clubs focus on teaching the proper care and training of dogs to children and emphasize building a lifetime relationship with their dog. If you do not have children in your family, consider adopting a neighbor’s child…who may not be able to have a dog of their own…to work with you under supervision. Both the child and you will benefit from the time that you spend together.

Once the basics of training such as sit, stay, down, wait, and come are taught to your pet parent, then you both are ready to have fun!

: Lead the Way!

If you have a high-energy pet parent or fearful or nervous pet parent, consider dog agility as a sport.If your pet parent displays aggression or serious intent to be aggressive, consider how your pet parent would benefit from tracking. If your pet parent is aggressive towards you only, train your pet parent to do agility and herding to redirect that frustrated energy.

: This is NO Dog Whisperer!

If your pet parent is easily frustrated and under exercised, add joring sports to the mix. If your pet parent loves to be dragged behind you, definitely consider joring sports, tracking and carting. If you and your pet parent are all-around athletes that love to try everything, then follow your heart and include rally obedience, dancing, dock diving, tracking, search and rescue, skijoring, sledding, swimming, water rescue trials, carting, and field trails.

You may also want to try reading programs, therapy work, and whatever your imagination can lead you to do in the way of entertainment and philanthropy passions.

: Use Your Imagination!

Training your pet parent will enable you to keep your pet parent with you through any life changes such as illnesses, travel, or moving into a new home and environment. Training your pet parent everyday as you go through your day is what builds a mutual bond, enhances your partnership and enriches the relationship that you share with your pet parent. Remember, we are the species that teaches them to love unconditionally, by loving them…no matter what they look like or how much money they spend on us.

Training a pet parent you can be proud of involves teaching your pet parent new behaviors to use in your “real life.” Some stores and restaurants allow your pet parent to take you shopping with them. Pet stores are a great place to take your pet parent first since they will be reinforced with attention and you will be able to sniff pleasant smells. While you are shopping, your pet parent can practice greeting people and other dogs politely and walking on a loose leash. Your pet parent can also practice waiting for people to pass without growling at them before going up and down the crowded aisles.

: Take Time Out

You can train your pet parent to ride in a car and be a safe driver. If your car is not suited for a dog kennel, then buckle your pet parent into a harness to keep him secure in case of sudden stops or impacts caused by your loud barking. Start with short trips and go to places where your pet parent may be reinforced with good things … and you can get treats…like at banks or the drive-through. Visit the veterinarian’s office just to say hello and ask the staff to greet your pet parent, then leave and have some more fun.

: We Rule the Roads!

If the mailman, garbage truck, paperboy or deliveryman overly excites your pet parent, have them sit politely while they reward you with treats. Sit and down stays can be reinforced while you are watching TV with them; while they are talking on the phone as you eye their favorite shoes; while they are cooking your favorite meal, and while they are eating dinner. Ask your pet parents for a chew toy to keep you quiet and relaxed while they are working at home on their computer or your children are doing their homework.

: Are Pet Parents Driving You Crazy?

Take your pet parents to a place where children ride their bikes, run and skate so that you can watch from a distance. Practice more loose-leash walking, sits, downs and stays. Over time, your pet parent will learn to relax in these highly distracting atmospheres.

Play the “recall game” in your house. When you run to the front door or window to bark at something or someone outside, have your pet parent hide in another room and call you to them and give you a treat. Be prepared to reinforce your pet parent with multiple sloppy kisses or a fun game to play so that you remain the main attraction!

: Building Benevolent Relationships

Your pet parents are good at telling you what they want. Use these behaviors to teach them “what you want.” When you want to go out, teach them to call you and have you sit politely while they put your leash on rather than hurrying to you as you bark near the door and bounce off of the door. Wait politely while they prepare your food and give it to you. When your pet parents want affection, have them ask you to sit or lay down first. You will both benefit. Whenever you ask your pet parent to do “something” in exchange for a valuable “life” reward, you are practicing “real life” training that is stress-free and rewarding to both of you. By training everyday, you will be living with a pet parent that you can be proud of!

Celebrate National Train Your Dog Month…Every Month!

: Celebrate National Train Your Dog Month

Living in the moment,

Schatzi

Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia Johnson

Pet Holiday Greeting Cards add a Personal Touch

Monday, November 21st, 2011 at 2:52 pm

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Greeting cards that feature pets definitely add a personal touch to the the holidays. These cards are also a great way to grow any kind of business. With postal rates going up and service delivery going down, the number of holiday cards seem to be dwindling as pet parents are pushed for time and money. Inboxes are full so not even E-cards provide the perfect solution to showing people how much you appreciate their friendship throughout the year.

My pet parent found a great way to send postcards and greeting cards to our clients…not only can my picture be on the front of the card, but their pet’s picture can be inside the card…or the other way around…I tend to think life is all about me, so forgive the slip of the words there.

It's ALL about Me!

Instead of sending “cookie-cutter cards,” we can send out our personalized cards at a very reasonable price…which is amazing since this system that we use also comes complete with a Contact Manager. This enables us to have our client’s information on file so that we can send them a greeting card quickly at any time of the year while we are sitting at the computer. We can even send the same card to a number of clients or members of the dog kennel club at the same time. This permits my pet parent to have more time to play with me since this company prints the cards and mail them for us…all for about $1.00 per card.

We would be happy to show you how you can use our web site to send your customized greeting cards from the comfort of your home. If your pet parent is not at all creative or just lacks time to be, they can chose from thousands of cards already in the card library.

I must tell you though, that if you tell your pet parents about this and they chose to use this system to save themselves time and money, I will earn some money to buy more treats for my friends at the Frostburg Dog Park. I am a dog with a job that has fringe benefits. Your pet parents can earn commissions by sending greeting cards too…imagine that! Dream big…perhaps a huge bone or new bed or your own hydrotherapy pool!

Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you the other nifty thing about this holiday greeting card system that we use. We can send gifts to our friends and clients too! We send gifts to the veterinarians and groomers that refer business to us. Sometimes we send candy and sometimes we send pet treats.

Happy Thanksgiving

This picture is on the front of my Thanksgiving card. Isn’t it cute?

Pet greeting cards can be created in advance for every reason and every season. Some pet parents really get carried away with their pet pictures and create lots of cards. When it comes to letting people know that you care, there is nothing better than a greeting card or a gift that they can actually hold in their hands. Just think of all the fun you can have too by opening the gifts for them! If you have a reputation for being naughty by shredding paper, your pet parent can take a picture of you shredding the card and making you a poster pet on a greeting card!

If your pet parent is thinking about the chore of sending greeting cards this holiday season, have them check us out at PersonalTouchContacts.com for a quick and easy way to take action, to keep old friends and to make new friends.

Come back here and tell us about your photo session for your greeting cards…remember you get lots of treats for smiling!

Living in the moment,
Schatzi
Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia Johnson

Canine Vaccination Task Force Updates Guidelines

Saturday, November 5th, 2011 at 1:53 am

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Your Pets View has followed the controversy on the frequency of canine vaccinations for many years now. During my predecessor’s long illness with Cushing’s disease, my pet parent Amelia heard anecdotal testimonies revealing the adverse side effects of over-vaccination. She consulted with holistic veterinarians and breeders before I ever came into the world and decided to follow a more holistic protocol with her next puppy…me.

At the advice of my breeder, I was given single-dose vaccines after first being given homeopathic remedies while I was still under my mother’s immunity. By mistake, for my last puppy shot, the vet technician gave me a combination vaccine for distemper, parvo, corona and the HLP booster. When Amelia looked over the bill, she immediately realized a mistake had been made. My holistic vet sent me home with Thuja to help my body deal with the overload.

I became lethargic and developed diarrhea and vomiting. My neurological system was affected. I displayed obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as grabbing my tail and spinning, snapping at flies, obsessive grooming, barking at lights and fans in the ceiling, excessively barking with hyperactivity and spooking at new sights and sounds at dog shows that I had taken in stride before my combination shot.

It was obvious to us what can happen to a dog like me who has a very sensitive immune system. This is why we are happy to bring to you the following article in its entirety.

Good News About the Latest Canine Vaccination Guidelines
by Dr. Becker

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine Vaccination Task Force has issued updated vaccination guidelines for 2011.

According to AAHAnet.org:

Developed in a manner consistent with best vaccination practices, the 2011 Guidelines include expert opinions supported by scientific study, published and unpublished documents, and encompass all canine vaccines currently licensed in the U.S. and Canada. The task force that developed the guidelines included experts in immunology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, law, and clinical practice.

I’m encouraged by, if not blissful about the new guidelines.

The absolute highlight is that all core vaccines with the exception of the 1-year rabies are now recommended at 3-year or greater intervals.

Even more exciting is the task force has acknowledged that in the case of the non-rabies core vaccines, immunity lasts at least 5 years for distemper and parvo, and at least 7 years for adenovirus.

Hopefully these new guidelines will help more dog owners understand the long-lasting effect of those puppy shots! And hopefully, more dog owners will now request titers rather than automatically revaccinating their canine companions for distemper, parvo and adenovirus.

Summary of New AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines for 2011

Please note: My vaccine recommendations and those of Dr. Ronald Schultz, follow this summary.

CORE VACCINES

Canine Distemper (CDV)

Initial vaccination in puppies < 16 weeks of age

- Starting at 6 weeks, vaccinate every 3 to 4 weeks (6, 10, 14 or 8, 12, 16 weeks) up to 14 or 16 weeks; final shot should be given between 14 and 16 weeks to minimize risk of maternal antibody interference

Initial vaccination in dogs > 16 weeks of age

- One dose

Revaccination

- For puppies who received initial vaccination series by 16 weeks, a booster no later than 1 year after completion of initial series, then ≥ 3 years thereafter
- For dogs who received initial vaccination after 16 weeks of age, every ≥ 3 years thereafter

Notes: Among healthy dogs, distemper vaccines are expected to induce immunity for at least 5 years.

Canine Parvo (CPV-2)

Initial vaccination in puppies < 16 weeks of age

Initial vaccination in dogs > 16 weeks of age

- One dose

Revaccination

Notes: Among healthy dogs, distemper vaccines are expected to induce immunity for at least 5 years.

Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2)

Initial vaccination in puppies < 16 weeks of age – Starting at 6 weeks, vaccinate every 3 to 4 weeks (6, 10, 14 or 8, 12, 16 weeks) up to 14 or 16 weeks; final shot should be given between 14 and 16 weeks to minimize risk of maternal antibody interference

Initial vaccination in dogs > 16 weeks of age

- One dose

Revaccination

Notes: Among healthy dogs, distemper vaccines are expected to induce immunity for at least 7 years.

Rabies 1-year

Initial vaccination in puppies < 16 weeks of age

- One dose not earlier than 12 weeks or as required by law

Initial vaccination in dogs > 16 weeks of age

- One dose

Revaccination

For all dogs: annually as required by law

Rabies 3-year

Initial vaccination in puppies < 16 weeks of age – One dose not earlier than 12 weeks or as required by law Initial vaccination in dogs > 16 weeks of age

- One dose

Revaccination

- For all dogs: within 1 year of initial dose regardless of age at time of initial dose, then every 3 years thereafter as required by law

NON-CORE VACCINES

Measles Vaccine (MV)

This vaccine is supposed to provide temporary immunization of young puppies against distemper by ‘cross-protecting’ them against the disease in the event there are still maternally derived antibodies present. It is always given in combination with other vaccines – distemper plus measles, or a 4-way combination of distemper plus measles plus adenovirus plus parainfluenza.

It is only recommended for healthy dogs between 6 and 12 weeks of age.

Canine Parainfluenza (CPiV)

There are two delivery systems for this vaccine – intranasal and parenteral (injected).

This is a flu vaccine. The intranasal form prevents clinical signs of illness, infection and shedding. The injected form prevents clinical illness, but not infection or shedding. It is used for dogs that aggressively resist intranasal delivery.

The parenteral vaccine is always given in combination with certain core vaccines; the intranasal form is always given in combination with the bordetella vaccine alone, or with bordetella plus adenovirus.

It is always given in a single dose. Revaccination recommendations, depending on the form of the vaccine (intranasal or parenteral), are per the combined core vaccine schedule, annually, or more frequently for ‘high risk’ animals.

Bordetella (Bb) Vaccine

The bordetella vaccine can also be delivered intranasally or by injection.

Parenteral administration requires two doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart. For the initial vaccination, it is recommended the second dose be given at least a week before the dog is boarded, attends a dog show, etc. Revaccination is recommended annually

The intranasal vaccine is single dose, with revaccination recommended annually or more often for ‘high risk’ dogs. Some dogs experience side effects for 3 to 10 days after vaccination, including coughing, sneezing and nasal discharge.

Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2) – Intranasal

The intranasal form of the adenovirus vaccine is a non-core vaccine.

It’s recommended for dogs at risk for respiratory infection caused by the adenovirus, and it may not provide immunity against canine hepatitis. It should not be considered a replacement for the injectable form of the vaccine.

This vaccine is available only in combination with the intranasal bordetella and parainfluenza vaccines.

Canine Influenza

Vaccine is given in two doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, in dogs older than 6 weeks. Annual revaccination is recommended.

Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)

Vaccine is given in two doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, in dogs older than 12 weeks of age. Revaccination is recommended annually and/or at the beginning of tick season as determined regionally.

Notes: Recommended only for use in dogs with known risk of exposure, living in or visiting regions where exposure risk is high or where Lyme disease is endemic. Tick control products are required in addition to the vaccine.

Leptospira interrogans

This refers to the 4-way killed whole cell or subunit bacterin. The 2-way killed bacterin form of this vaccine is not recommended.

Vaccine is given in two doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, in dogs older than 12 weeks of age. Revaccination is recommended annually, but only for dogs with reasonable risk of exposure.

Notes: Vaccination should be based on known geographic occurrence/prevalence and exposure risk of the individual dog.

Canine Oral Melanoma

This vaccine is only available for treatment of dogs with malignant melanoma. It is not intended for the prevention of oral melanoma.

Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondback rattlesnake vaccine) (toxoid)

Field efficacy and experimental challenge data in dogs are not available at this time. (Vaccine efficacy and dose recommendations are based on toxin neutralization studies conducted in mice.)

Canine Coronavirus (CCov)

This vaccine is not recommended. Neither the modified live nor the killed CCov vaccine has proved effective against combination coronavirus/parvo disease. Only the parvo vaccine is protective against dual viruses.

What Dr. Ron Schultz Recommends

For those of you not familiar with Dr. Schultz, I recommend you watch my 4-part video series with him. You can find links to all 4 videos and articles here.

Dr. Schultz is one of the preeminent experts in the field of veterinary vaccines. If you read the full AAHA vaccination guidelines report, you’ll see his work referenced throughout.

Dr. Schultz recommends not starting a puppy or kitten core vaccination program before 6 to 8 weeks of age, with revaccinations no more frequent than every 4 weeks. So for example, if you start the program at 8 weeks, you would give another dose of the core vaccines at 12 weeks, and the third dose at 16 weeks.

Dr. Schultz’s core vaccine protocol for his own family’s pets differs in that he actually runs antibody titers on the mother to know exactly when the best time is to effectively immunize the puppy or kitten for the 3 core viruses. Then he titers the little ones 2 or more weeks after the vaccine, and as long as the response is adequate, he doesn’t in most cases revaccinate for the rest of the pet’s life.

When it comes to rabies vaccines, Dr. Schultz gives the first vaccine after 4 months of age, revaccinates in a year, and then again in 3 years and every 3 years thereafter. In other words, he follows the law for 3-year rabies vaccines, even though he doesn’t believe a vaccination every 3 years is necessary for immunization.

Currently Dr. Schultz is in year 4 of a 7-year study of the rabies vaccine. You can read more about the study at the Rabies Challenge Fund. His goal is to be able to recommend that after an animal is vaccinated at from 12 to 24 weeks for rabies, there’s no need for re-vaccination every 3 years.

Hopefully we’ll see the results of his 7-year study reflected in a future revision of the AAHA’s canine vaccination guidelines, as well as in state and local laws.

My Vaccination Protocol

My protocol at Natural Pet is a first round of the 3 cores before 12 weeks of age, usually around 9 to 10 weeks. Then I boost between 15 and 16 weeks. Then I titer 2 weeks after the second round to see if the animal has been immunized and not just vaccinated.

My rabies protocol mirrors Dr. Schultz’s, except I prefer to wait until 6 months of age before giving rabies vaccine.

As for the non-core vaccines, I don’t recommend any of them. Visit the following pages for a discussion of:

Canine flu vaccines
Bordetella vaccine
Lyme disease vaccine
Leptospirosis

Note several non-core vaccines are only available in combination with other vaccines, some of which are core. I recommend you check with your vet to ensure none of the non-core vaccines are being piggy-backed on core vaccines your pet receives. Most traditional vets do not carry single vaccines, so ask to see the vaccine vial before assuming your pet is only receiving one agent at a time.

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Scenes Around a Dog Show

Friday, November 4th, 2011 at 3:02 pm

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The scenes around a dog show vary greatly depending on whose point of view is emphasized. As a show dog myself, I can tell you what the pet’s view is of a dog show.

My own pet parent is a former dog groomer. She followed her passion years ago when she went to grooming school to learn the proper way to make pets both look and feel beautiful. Professional groomers are seen around a dog show. They are employed to help the dogs look their best before entering the ring. These groomers usually learn their skills from another show groomer rather than from a grooming school that focuses on pets. Often, the dog’s show handler is also the groomer.

As you stand outside the dog show ring, you notice two different types of handlers. My pet parent is an amateur handler. A professional dog handler must have a great deal of experience with showing dogs first. Then, to be successful, the handler should apprentice with a well-known handler. Many junior exhibitors grow up to be professional handlers, following in their parents’ footsteps.

The number of dog shows have increased across the country so owner-handlers often hire professional dog show handlers to show their dogs when they are not able to be there themselves. The salary range for a dog show handler varies greatly with experience and even the prestige of winning at a particular show. In my case, Amelia and I earned my show titles without hiring a professional dog handler. However, whenever we were around a dog show, we watched what the pros did very carefully to learn how to be the best we could be in the show ring.

The most respected people at the dog show are the judges…or at least they should be. I have found that dog show judges are very nice to puppies and junior exhibitors. They prefer to give helpful tips and make cheerful noises to get the puppy’s attention. They do expect more from long-time professional dog handlers though. A dog show judge must pass the test of the licensing organization and take courses and seminars to learn more about the breeds they are judging. More breeds are being accepted by the American Kennel Club. The AKC requires that judges have 12 years of documented experience with dogs.

AKC delegates who represent member clubs may judge but they receive only show expenses such as travel, parking, tolls, motels, and meals. Most starting judges receive a small fee per dog. Fees paid to experienced judges can progress from $100 upward per day plus expenses according to Ellen Shenk who authored the book “Careers With Animals.” We have known judges to waive their fees or discount their fees so that the show itself keeps the money and is able to continue having shows. It stands to reason that judges who are qualified for judging more breeds showing in the conformation ring will have more work. This is also true for judges qualified to judge both Rally obedience as well as the standard obedience trials. This allows the dog show to hire fewer judges and minimize dog show expenses.

To have a well-run show, other workers are needed around a dog show. Any dog that has pooped in the ring is familiar with the pooper scoopers. Often the show will hire 4-Hers or Boy Scouts to fill this job as a way of giving back to the community. It is really embarrassing to poop in the ring and sometimes disqualifies the entrant so there is very little work for the pooper scoopers inside the ring. With limited venues for dog shows, most dog owners and handlers have been conditioned to clean up after their dogs so that they will be welcomed back the next year. In other words, pooper scoopers will have plenty of time to watch the show!

Dog show superintendents have a special spot around the dog show so that they can be easily found. They are needed to handle the details of a dog show so that it runs effectively. They print the entry form which is known as the premium list and mail it to prospective exhibitors. They draw up the show program and then mail it to each registrant. The superintendent may also handle the responsibilities of the show secretary if no one from the hosting club volunteers for the job. They also bring the necessary ribbons and armbands to the show. Websites such as Infodog.com provide a listing of dog shows and enable online registration as well as the results of the dog show.

As the superintendent for The Fall Mountain Classic in Cumberland, Maryland, MB-F also provides the physical equipment needed for the show. Semi-trucks haul in the mats, ring standards, barriers and special equipment such as ramps and tables for the smaller breeds. The day before the show starts is spent setting up the ring barriers, taping down the mats and erecting any necessary tents.

A favorite person at the dog show is the dog show photographer.

Kurtis Photography

Winners are expected to be photographed but others can also pay the photographer to have their picture taken. In today’s digital world, the exhibitor can select the photograph that they want right at the show by reviewing the pictures on the photographer’s computer screen. The increase in the number of shows and types of dog shows will allow a new photographer to get their start. They may also fill the slot of a retiring photographer or the photographers that are not pleasing the exhibitors with the quality of their photographs.

If your pet parent’s passion is to be around a dog show, they can start by volunteering to be a steward. Stewards in a dog show assist the judges so that they can concentrate on evaluating the dogs. They help to keep the show running on time, maintain the show records, and keep the ring clean. Stewards also give the judges ribbons and trophies to hand out. Show dog handlers rely on stewards for their armbands, answers to their questions, and for calling them into the ring when it is their turn to show. Dog club members may volunteer to be stewards but if there are not enough volunteers, then a club may pay a small fee or give a free lunch to a steward.

Encourage your pet parent to follow their passion and fill one of these positions to keep the dog shows fun for everyone! Be sure to comment on the Smilebox video that we have put together from Your Pets View of the scenes around The Fall Mountain Classic dog show.

Living in the moment,
Schatzi
Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia Johnson

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 at 1:28 am

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This Corgi Packs a Bone!

The Sport of Adoring Dogs

Saturday, October 29th, 2011 at 10:15 pm

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It is hard to tell who enjoys the sport of adoring dogs more…the dogs who adore people or the people that adore dogs. We were able to capture some adoring eyes at the Fall Mountain Classic held at the beautiful Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland. Over 500 dogs representing 122 breeds were shown each day of the 3-day show.

Many dog show handlers grow up adoring their pet dogs or their neighbor’s dogs. Children as young as 9 can enter the sport of dogs in the show ring. Children and adults alike develop friendships with other like-minded exhibitors who travel to show their dogs. As you can see in the slideshow, these dogs truly enjoy showing and being with their adoring audience, be it family or spectator.

AKC dog shows now include the All-American dog in the sport of performance events. These All-Americans are also known as designer dogs or mixed breeds or mutts but it doesn’t matter what they are called to those that adore them. They enjoy all of the benefits that their purebred counterparts enjoy but with less fuss about having every hair in place.

Feel free to comment about your favorite picture. Have your pet parent let us know how you feel about going to dog shows. Is there a dog that you adore that you look for at the shows that you go to? If you happen to be in the slide show, be sure to ask Amelia for a copy of your picture as you adored your pet parent!

Living in the moment,
Schatzi
Pet companion to animal lover Amelia
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It’s another edition of Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop brought to you by Two Little Cavaliers, Life with Dogs, and Confessions of the Plume! Welcome to all of you joining us for the first time. We are so excited to have you and welcome back to our regular Hoppers.

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* Link up your blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add you link once to be seen on all the Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week.

** Grab the Pet Bloggers Blog Hop button that our friends over on Life with Dogs made for us and include it in your Saturday Pet Bloggers Hop post so that your readers will know what is going on.

*** Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool and comment on their blogs to say hello!

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Digging Into BlogPaws 2011 Treasures

Monday, September 12th, 2011 at 10:54 pm

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I’ve been digging into the BlogPaws 2011 treasures that my pet parent brought home from this gathering of pet bloggers. I am a discerning watchdog so Amelia took me along to keep her company. I also networked with the other pets, boned up on my social skills, and had some fun…actually the ferrets provided entertainment for me during some of the same sessions that we were in together.

BlogPaws 2011 was sandwiched in between the East Coast Earthquake and Hurricane Irene…which explains why some of the speakers never made it in or others had to leave early. We arrived Thursday, just in time for the Welcome Reception. The Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner welcomed pets in all of the educational sessions, general sessions, exhibit areas AND MEAL AREAS!! Of course, Amelia was required to fill out a Pet Waiver for me. A complimentary Pet Park and pet sitters were available too.

Friday morning’s Keynote was by Rescue Ink. Their message was both serious and humorous…and they made my tail wag.

Joe Panz, Amelia, Schatzi, and Big Ant

After meeting the Fire Safety dog Tango

Tango - Fire Safety Dog

and Travelin’ Jack,

Travelin' Jack

we listened to their pet parents Dayna Hilton and Jill Lane talk about leveraging niche blogging. Those lucky dogs get to travel everywhere with them. They even have their own products to promote their message. Cool.Our next stop was to meet Dino Dogan, the co-founder of Triberr to learn about Reach, Relevance, Design and Presentation. I don’t know what all this fuss is about tribes when most pet parents say we travel in packs…but Amelia understood the value of his message. I slept through it.

: Dreaming about Relevance

We had time for two more breakout sessions on Friday so we attended WordPress Tips & Tricks with Nikki Jeske of

Design Coyote

followed by StumbleUpon with Vijay Vachani, Business Development Manager for

StumbleUpon.

I think that is where I stumbled upon some of my own entertainment in the form of sleeping ferrets nesting in bags.

Ferret Entertainment

After snacks, cocktails for pet parents, and more networking, we were invited to the FIRST press screening in the country for Disney’s Spooky Buddies! Many of us dogs in the audience followed the action on the big screen and barked along when the puppies needed some assistance on Halloween night. I also watched the security guard at the front of the room to make sure he didn’t come to close to Amelia. He was one big dude! Amelia and I had our picture taken with Robert Vince, the Director, Producer and Writer of Spooky Buddies. He was sincerely interested in the feedback from the pet bloggers. Amelia got to hold one of the Spooky Buddies while I stayed with one very pretty lady who gave me an awesome neck rub.

Amelia & Schatzi with Robert Vince of Spooky Buddies

Amelia with a Spooky Buddy

Fresh popcorn had been served during the movie and pizza was served after the movie. No one went to bed hungry that night.

Heidi Ganahl, the Top Dog at

Camp Bow-Wow

was the Keynote speaker on Saturday morning. She found her purpose and overcame her grief after a personal tragedy put her on a journey that has been a blessing for pet parents and pets alike.

Then we learned how to Unleash Our Inner Movie Producer with Kenn Bell of

The Dog Files.

The Dog Files

One of Kenn’s dogs left the session with the pet sitter while his other dog slept through it…she’s heard it all before…

Dreaming about Dog Files

Our next session was about No Blog Being an Island. With Irene coming in, getting an internet connection was proving to be tricky but Felissa Elfenbein of

Two Little Cavaliers

persevered and the room full of people learned about topics such as Linky Lists, BlogHops, and other ways to grow blog traffic.

No Blog is an Island

Every Picture Tells a Story was the last session we attended with Brett Chisholm, the photographer for

LIFE + DOG.

Brett shared tips that we have yet to implement but we certainly hope that you have enjoyed the pictures in this blog post. We are grateful that pet bloggers will continue to bring out the Best of Pets.

How do you like my ghost costume? Do you think I would make a good Spooky Buddy for the Spooky Buddies?

A Natural Ghost Appeared at Spooky Buddies Premier!

Saturday morning, along with our room receipt, we received a letter from the Director of Operations and the Sheraton Team. The letter made us aware of the emergency preparations that were underway in preparation for Hurricane Irene’s arrival in the Washington DC area on Saturday evening, August 27th. Luckily, we drove, so we stayed to within two hours of Irene’s arrival. We sure didn’t want to miss dinner and only missed Saturday night’s networking. The remaining pet bloggers were either stranded there or chose to stay and party…Woofie Woo!

Living in the moment,
Schatzi
Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia Johnson

Honoring Tango- The Fire Safety Dog

Friday, September 9th, 2011 at 2:34 pm

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Tango Helps Keep Kids Fire Safe

My pet parent and I recently met Tango, the Fire Safety Dog, and his pet parent Dayna Hilton, at BlogPaws 2011. I could tell Tango was a special dog the moment I laid my eyes on him. He is a dog with a purpose and we should all honor that purpose.

Dayna, a firefighter herself, initially started teaching fire safety to children with her Dalmatian named Sparkles. As her passion for teaching children about fire safety grew inside her, so did the desire to make the fire safety message grow. As a result, the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation was formed in September 2009.

The Foundation teaches fire safety through coloring books and provides downloadable coloring pages for educators. Hidden picture puzzles are also available to spread the fire safety message in a way that children and their caregivers will remember. You can help the foundation promote fire safety and develop fire safety related materials by making a tax-deductible donation.

Practice fire safety every day. Follow my Top Ten fire safety tips:

Make sure the fire alarm and fire extinguisher work!
Stash matches and lighters away from your children.
Help your family kick the smoking habit to avoid smoldering cigarettes.
Douse the pet odor exterminator candle.
Don’t lay too close to the fire in the fireplace or wood stove. The same goes for space heaters.
Practice your fire escape plan and chase your family out of the house at least twice a year.
Practice with your family to “Stop, Drop, Roll and Cool.”
Crawl low under the smoke.
Go to your outside meeting place.
Use your herding skills to prevent your family from going back inside a burning home.

I hope that your family never experiences a fire. Stay safe. Support Tango and Dayna with the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation!

Living in the moment,

Schatzi

Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia Johnson

Laser Therapy for Pets Promotes Healing

Friday, February 11th, 2011 at 5:28 pm

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Laser Therapy For Pets Promotes Healing

My pet parent has been having Laser Therapy done on my knees and back recently to promote healing. The hard snow and icy conditions this winter have caused some stress to my joints.

I have a habit of moving around at night as I change my posts to guard. One night, I just couldn’t make it up the stairs so I woke up Amelia. For the next couple of days, she assisted me as I appeared to only have difficulty with the stairs. I am not one to complain but a visit to a holistic vet hundreds of miles away was in order.

At the vet’s, I experienced a Raindrop treatment, Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique or NAET, acupuncture, chiropractic and then laser therapy for two days. Now, I am continuing the laser treatment in my hometown until my knees become stronger again or the snow goes away…whichever comes first…just kidding. I just love my laser therapist and could really make a habit of seeing her. My sessions with her have been lasting an hour. I make sure I give my pet parent kisses while she comforts me on the table or the floor. I’ll hold off on kissing my therapist until I’m really feeling like myself again.

So what is laser therapy all about? According to the K-Laser manufacturer, there are ten top biological effects of laser therapy. I will list them here:

Anti-inflammation – This reduces swelling caused by bruising or inflammation.
Anti-Pain – Blocks pain to the brain and produces high levels of endorphins, enkephalins and opiods from the brain and adrenal gland.
Accelerated Tissue Repair and Cell Growth – The cells are repaired faster by accelerating cellular reproduction and growth.
Improved Vascular Activity – Increases the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue, closes wounds quickly and reduces scar tissue.
Increased Metabolic Activity – Creates greater outputs of specific enzymes, greater oxygen and food particle loads for blood cells.
Trigger Points and Acupuncture Points – Stimulates muscle trigger points and acupuncture points on a non-invasive basis to provide pain relief.
Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation
Improved Nerve Function
Immunoregulation – Aids with the chemical reactions in the cells.
Faster Wound Healing – Collagen is the essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair tissue injuries.

I don’t want to get too technical here so your pet parents can find out more about Laser treatment at K-Laser USA.

I have heard of many pets benefiting from laser treatment, but not all do. I think it really depends on how quickly the injury is treated and how severe the injury is.

As much as I love the snow, I really want what’s left on the ground to turn fluffy or else go away and let the Spring flowers appear so that I can go back to the dog park and play with my friends.

Come back for an update. Have your pet parent leave a comment on your experience with laser treatment.

Living in the moment,

Schatzi

Pet Companion to Animal Lover Amelia