How to teach a dog not to get frightened by gunshots

The Dog Doesn't Need to Be Gun Shy

By Jake Theron

No one likes surprises, especially if it's something like a Cherry Bomb blowing-up right beside you. If that happens, we have a tendency to put the person who lit the fuse on our S-List. With a dog, they've got pretty sensitive hearing. But fear of a gunshot is not in their DNA.

It's usually our fault. We've screwed-up by not getting the pup used to the big bang when we pull the trigger. While there are breeds that are skittish, firing-off a rifle will probably make them soil their new mohair suit.

So, in the interest of being good folk, don't even try to get you lhasa apso to become a member of the NRA. They're just not built for it. Enroll them in a nice knitting club or teach 'em chess.

Flushers, Retrievers and Pointers

Now we're talking gun dogs. The best conditioning takes place when they're about 9-weeks old. But you can teach old dogs new tricks, too. Before we get started, here's a list of extremely stupid and insane things to do if you want to totally fail at getting your mutt used to guns:

• Keep them outside during thunderstorms. 

• Blow-off fireworks near the animal. 

• If the pup is eating, start unloading your weapon. 

• Take the dog to the Shooting Range. 

• Think that an old mutt can teach the new guy some gun dog tricks. 

• Randomly blow-off a few rounds just to get the animal's attention.

To Do List

What is gunshot? It's a noise. As you raise your pups, get them used to all kinds of sounds. Keep a radio or teevee on near their isolated portion of the house. A good place is where you do your laundry. Someone's always slamming things around where you do your wash. Snapping your fingers, a hearty clap, a bunch of slightly loud "Good dog" praises are other things to get them used to realizing they have ears. Go slow; you don't want the dog to turn into a neurotic mutt.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Dog-Doesnt-Need-to-Be-Gun-Shy&id=7476650

A no-easy life of Moscow shelters for dogs and cats

      Moscow shelters for cats and dogs have no easy life. Some of them are municipal, however, a lot of them are supported by dog-lovers and volunteers. On January 19 the dog shelter “Gav” organized a photo session to attract attention to the dogs and help them to find new families, as well as to get some help for reorganizing  the territory of the shelter.

     The lands occupied by shelters cause a lot of difficulties for  their existence. As in all big cities land is very expensive in Moscow, on the other hand firms and companies  are searching actively for new areas to develop their business and sites of the shelters - which are practically defenseless in a conflict with business - are very attractive.

      Another problem is poor technical supplies of the shelters, which are also very expensive. A few days ago  a shelter in a Odinzov region in Moscow was  on fire because of a gas balloon explosion. The owner of the shelter saved all the dogs (about 150) and cats (about 60), carrying blind dogs in his arms to the security place. Now other shelters shared food and warm blankets with the saved animals (it is about 15˚-18˚ below zero in Moscow), while dog-lovers are trying to raise fund to restore the shelter (for donation: Natalya 8-926 594 39 44).

     Shelters can not accept all street and abandoned dogs, that’s why volunteers found another way to take care of animals and created a net of  curators who try to find at least temporary homes for dogs and cats while circulating information about them through Internet, pet shops and local news papers for people could adopt them. 

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LAPD Officers Rescue and Raise Funds for Injured Pit Bull Mix

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LAPD officers Jennifer Cohen, Cindy Herrera and Valerie Lancaster were on their way back to the Southeast Division station in Los Angeles on Jan. 10 when they spotted a Pit Bull-Shar Pei mix lying motionless on the sidewalk.

“We noticed that his ribs were sticking out, so we assumed that he was malnourished and needed some food and water,” they wrote on the Rescuing Philly Facebook page. “We drove to the corner taco stand to get a plateful of meat and a bottle of water to give to him. When we returned, he was in the same exact spot.”

When the dog tried to stand up to eat, he cried out in pain. The officers examined him and saw he had several scratches, as well as a very swollen leg. “When the public saw us attempting to help him, they notified us that he had been lying in the same spot for at least five hours. Five hours!!!” the officers wrote.

They took the dog to Advanced Veterinary Care Center, a nearby animal emergency hospital. As they drove there, the three officers decided to name him “Philly” in honor of their captain, Phillip Tingirides – “one of the best supervisors you could have,” they wrote.

The news from the vet was not good. Philly had been hit by a car. Two of his ribs were fractured and his leg was broken, requiring surgery. Philly was microchipped, so the officers went to his owners’ house and explained what had happened to their dog.

“The owner responded with ‘put him to sleep, we don’t want to fix him,’” the officers wrote on Facebook. “Excuse me! Repeat that! No way! No how! We had them sign over their rights to Philly on the spot. Here we are, Philly’s new foster parents.”

Cohen, Herrera and Lancaster started a ChipIn to collect donations to help cover Philly’s veterinary care expenses. As of today, more than $23,000 has been contributed – enough to cover Philly’s treatment.

“Philly underwent surgery to repair his left front leg, which was fractured at the elbow,” the officers wrote. “They implanted an artificial elbow that is being held together with screws and pins.” Philly also had to have large plastic pieces and other materials surgically removed after they were discovered in his stomach. In addition to all that, he has parasite and respiratory infections. But the officers wrote that the dog with the constantly wagging tail “is recovering and being a strong boy.”

On Saturday, Cohen told NBC 4 News, “We’re his foster mommies now, basically. We trade off every couple of days, so he’ll be in different homes. He’s great around kids, and we give him different environments so he is ready to go to his forever home.”

With so many stories in the news about police officers shooting family pets, especially Pit Bulls, it’s encouraging to know there are still compassionate heroes on the force like Cohen, Herrera and Lancaster. The three officers work with kids and their parents in the Southeast Division’s gang prevention/interventionJeopardy Program.

PHOTO: Rescuing Philly Facebook Page

Source: http://www.ilovedogs.com/2013/01/lapd-officers-rescue-and-raise-funds-for-injured-pit-bull-mix/

Dog Rescues Puppy From Coyote

Maltese-poodle mix dog saved 7-month-old puppy from coyote

By Sarah Grieco

|  Monday, Jan 21, 2013  |  Updated 2:13 PM PST

Courtesy of Helen Woodward Animal Center

Sophie will be ready for adoption sometime in February.

A dog that saved a 7-month-old puppy from a potential coyote attack will soon be available for adoption.

The Helen Woodward Animal Center said the 2-year-old poodle-Maltese mix dog named Sophie was injured after she spotted coyote in the family’s backyard in East County. The dog’s family said that they heard a cry and ran out to see Sophie step in front the family puppy to protect it from the coyote.

The family told the animal center than they were able to scare the coyote away, but Sophie sustained bites to the neck, shoulder and side. The puppy was unharmed.

A veterinarian stitched Sophie’s wounds and gave her medicine. The family then decided that their home’s location near wildlife might be a threat to the dog and puppy’s safety, so they surrendered the animals to the Helen Woodward Animal Center last week.

The puppy, Lulu, was adopted shortly after, but now Sophie is looking for a new home.

The animal center said she will be available for adopted in about two weeks. For more information, visit the center’s website.

Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Dog-Rescues-Puppy-From-Coyote-187790951.html#ixzz2IiLtmn6D

January 2013 - Puppy Mill Rescue - Over 60 Dogs Saved

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66 PUPPIES AND DOGS RESCUED FROM PUPPY MILL

Most will be available for adoption on Saturday, January 12

North Shore Animal League America and National Mill Dog Rescue have joined forces once again to save the lives of 66 puppies and dogs facing destruction.

On Monday, January 7, Animal League America’s Rescue Team pulled up to the safety of our no-kill rescue and adoption organization after a long trip from the Midwest, where puppy mills—commercial breeding facilities that provide little if any medical care or socialization to their animals—are common. When these dogs are no longer useful for breeding, or if a puppy becomes “too old” to sell, the mill owners often destroy them.

The dogs range in age from puppies to adults, and include: Shih Tzus, Maltese, Schnauzers, King Charles Cavaliers, Yorkshire Terriers, French Bull Dogs, Poodles and one Shar-Pei, a beautiful dog whom rescuer Darrell Rhodes named Ruffles.

Although mill breeder dogs have a very hard life until we rescue them, they are amazingly resilient animals. Thousands of these beautiful dogs have been adopted from us over the past few years, and their families tell us that they make the most loyal, grateful companions imaginable.

As with all our rescues, the dogs are being evaluated by our expert medical and behavioral teams here at Animal League America. They are expected to be available for adoption on Saturday, January 12, at our Port Washington, NY campus.

Animal League America saves the lives of nearly 20,000 Mutt-i-grees®—a term that describes any rescued pet, whether mixed breed or purebred—each year.  Our collaborations with organizations such as National Mill Dog Rescue are vital to our lifesaving efforts.

Theresa Strader, Executive Director of National Mill Dog Rescue, has dedicated her life to saving mill dogs, and she is grateful for our partnership. “Our relationship with North Shore Animal League America is extremely meaningful,” she says. “So many more animals’ lives are saved because we do this together.”

Animal League America is dedicated to finding permanent homes for as many innocent animals as possible, and we need your support. Please click here to donate to our life-saving work, or click here to find out more about all the animals available for adoption.

 http://www.animalleague.org/rescue/pet-rescue-programs/puppy-mill-rescue/rescue-alert-local.html?autologin=true&sub_src=national_version

Please support the Animal League's Rescue Efforts

How to choose a trainer for your dog?

      It is no easy task to find a good trainer for your dog. Probably, it is as difficult as select a good school for a kid. Here is a brief  guide that might  be practical.

First step. Get a clear idea what is the purpose of teaching or training  your dog. In most cases – to have a civilized and socialized pet as a pleasant companion. The whole educational process will take about 15 – 20 hours of obedience training. You can find a qualified instructor and most of the work do yourself. Probably, you think about brilliant sport career  for your dog in IPO, mondioring, agility? In this case you’ll need more than one trainer and spend years on the training ground.

Second step. If you live, for example, in Canada, or US, or Australia, you can refer to professional associations of trainers. Such associations were created in many countries but not everywhere. If there is none, ask in the kennel club or consult with your breeder. In practice a lot of people prefer to seek through Internet or ask their friends or those whom they consider to be a responsible dog owner.

Third step. You need to decide whether your puppy will attend classes on the training ground or will have “home education”. Both variants are acceptable. Each of them has its plus and minus. Group lessons also help to socialize a young dog. However, in some cases first individual lessons will be preferable. What is important: do not follow anybody’s example. Be attentive to your dog, watch his/her behavior and choose the way that will make your unique dog civilized and well trained.

Fourth step. Ask the trainer what methods he/she apply. Try to see how he/she conducts the training with other dogs.

Fifth step. Ask for a program for your dog: what skills will be developed, what exercises will be used, what time will it take. Any trainer with considerable experience can answer your questions.

Sixth step. Better to decide beforehand whether you will participate in training or the instructor will train your dog by himself. In my opinion the first variant is preferable as it reinforces dog-owner mutual understanding. However, the second variant is also rather popular as a lot of people have no time to come with their dogs to training ground regularly.

Seventh step. It is very important to have the psychological contact with the trainer of your dog. Try to find a person with whom you feel psychologically comfortable.

And – the final step.  Look at the dog of the trainer. Would you like to have a dog with such a behavior? The dog can tell you a lot about his master and answer many your question.

Good luck !

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