Dog bites anchor on live TV

I see the Internet is on fire with this topic.   I have spent the past several hours reading comments left by the public on how the anchor was at fault.  I must admit, I had that same thought but a day later, I would never fault anyone for being bitten who was not intentionally trying to irriate or harm a dog.   As hard as it is to believe, many humans really have no clue that a dog would ever bite them.

The stress signals were all there and it was the perfect storm. The dog had just gone through a horrific trauma being trapped in freezing water, pulled out by a stranger, taken to a TV station (which is stressful for even a well socialized dog to handle,) then trapped between the reporter, his owner, with no escape.    The way the anchor was petting the dog with such a herky jerky fast pace, and at one point, even a slap to the dogs eye, it was clear she was nervous aroud this dog.   Again, not her fault. I'm sure in her job description interviewing an Argentine Mastiff was not included.  And how the heck would someone who is not a dog trainer or experienced with canine signals know that  lick lipping was a "back off " signal?

I do NOT believe this dog is a danger to society. I noticed how docile the dog was immediately after the bite which tells me that he had no intentions of hurting her. This dog could easily broken free from the owners grip and gone in for the kill if he wanted to.

 I just hope that the public is more understanding and does not blame the anchor. She has enough to deal with  right now.  Her face, which is part of her qualifications as a TV anchor may never the same. She will probably forever be fearful of dogs and may have permanent nerve damage depending on the severity of the bite.  

And as for the owner, I hope he is not punished by being required to have his dog euthanized. I'm sure the TV station played a big part in encouraging him to come on TV to promote their own ratings.  And, whethere the dog was on a leash or not in the studio would have made no difference.

Video
http://youtu.be/20LmnczNvMU

Difference between therapy dog and service dog

Dog owners are often confused about what the various registrations and awards an owner can get for their dog so I thought I would break it down.

There is no such thing as a certified therapy dog. Dogs are considered registered upon passing the test.  

Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
Canine Good Citizen is an award (not a title or certification) given to a dog who has passed the 10 testing elements demonstrating the dog is a social member of society.   If you live in an apartment or condominium complex, many HOA require that your dog pass the CGC test.    I feel it is a good idea for all dog owners to get this award for liability purposes.

Test elements include: 
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
Test 3: Appearance and grooming
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
Test 7: Coming when called
Test 8: Reaction to another dog
Test 9: Reaction to distraction
Test 10: Supervised separation

Pet owners may find classes and evaluators in their area by going to
http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/cgc_bystate.cfm
Some evaluators like myself are willing to give private lessons and provide the test. Evaluators are not allowed to actually participate in the test since the dog will have already become familiar with them so evaluators must enlist the help of friends and a new distraction dog for the test.

Therapy Dog
There are several therapy dog programs. Delta Society and Therapy Dog International are the most recognized. Therapy dogs have no special privileges in restaurants, airlines, or other areas that an Assistance Dog holds. Therapy Dogs are typically taken to hospitals, senior homes, but can also work as Courthouse Dogs and assist therapists by using their personal dog during therapy sessions with their patients and clients.


Emotional Support Dog
Emotional Support Dogs can help people with emotional and psychological disorders.   Technically there is no test required for an ESD although some people do take the CGC test.  I have known people who have just received a written note from their therapist that they need their dog with them.  However, ESD do not have the same privileges as a service or assistance dog on airlines, buses, public non-pet friendly stores, or restaurants.  This designation is being abused people who simply wish to break the rules. Basically, any dog can become an ESD if you just tell it to.

 Assistance or Service Dog (same designation)
To qualify for a service or assistance dog the person must need the dog to preform tasks that assists them such as seeing, balance, diabetic alert, seizure alert,  allergy alert, autism, picking up items, pulling a wheelchair and post traumatic stress disorder.  Freedom Dogs  an organization that trains dogs to work with military who suffer from PTSD.

  Owners should carry a note or from their physician if their disability is not apparent.  Some people choose not to vest their dog to protect their medical privacy or even become a victim of a crime.

From my personal experience going through the Therapy Dog testing, I found that Therapy Dog International was more practical for basic work such as hospitals or senior homes.  Delta Society's evaluations are more stringent since Delta Dogs may assist patients with modalities.

Dog Whisperer Jan 7th Episode-Interdog agression

The new season of The Dog Whisperer kicked off with a real doozy. The case involved interdog aggression (housemates fighting.)  To make matters worse, the dogs were females.  :(    Just to make things even more fun the dogs were Terriers. The odds were stacked.

  I have learned from personal experience that interdog aggression is the most difficult of all behavior cases to resolve. Interdog aggression was the impetus that inspired me to become a professional dog trainer.  Since I will only own female dogs, (just my personal preference) I have spent the last 12 years studying and living with multiple female dogs.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of interdog aggression cases between females will never be resolved. Choices are re-home or management.  If you choose management, you had better be prepared to live on pins and needles in a baby gated house until one dog passes away. There is a reason they call female dogs bitches. Females fight to kill! Trust me, I have the scars to prove it.

Now, back to Cesar. His show begins with him watching video of the two dogs.  He talks about body language, ears, eyes, mouth, etc.  He tries to determine which dog is the aggressor--sort of pointless since clearly rank is involved.  In other words, the lower ranking dog can absolutely be the aggressor if that dog has learned to strike first out of self preservation.  Okay, we know Cesar understands body language but how does he plan to solve the problem.

The dogs apparently go at it when the vacuum cleaner starts up. The owner suggests the problem is the vacuum. To me, the vacuum has nothing to do with the fights, it's just that one dog doesn't like the vacuum and becomes so aroused that naturally so does the other dog.  Have you ever seen one dog bark when the doorbell rings while the other one just sits there quietly?  Cesar sticks to his "weakness" theory, meaning that dogs don't like weakness so they attack the weak dog.  There is absolutely no science behind this, but whatever.  What the vacuum really tells me the dogs have a hair trigger and have been living under an enormous amount of pressure.  A good place to start the training would be with teaching impulse control, all be it not that easy with a Terrier.   What this owner had going for her was the dogs were extremely motivated to train which could help get a handle on training some relaxation.

  Cesar never addresses how the owner lives with the dogs. I guess because that would bore his audience which is exactly why The Dog Whisperer show is sending the wrong message to owners.  Did the owner do any foundation and leadership training to reinforce she was God in that house?  Did she inadvertently mess with the dogs natural rank order? Who knows? The owner purchased one dog as a hunting dog so I have to assume she  has some experience at dog training.   One thing I do know about interdog aggression is you MUST go with their established rank and foster that rank until THEY decide to change it.   Most owners have no clue how to figure this out so I  suggest they hire a professional to help them determine this and provide tips on how to foster it.  

The show progresses with Cesar taking the two siblings to his center. They are so stressed out that they get into a pretty nasty brawl. Cesar's other dogs run over to the fight, assistants rush over to shoo away dogs while Cesar picks up the two girls.  I replayed the the fight scene back in slow motion and could see that one dog had locked on to the other dogs leg. Locked on means just that. You cannot pry the dog off. It was hard to watch. I had flashbacks of my girls locked on attempting to disable their opponent.

Cesar concluded the show with his updates as he usually does.  He explains that training was halted because one of the dogs had a serious medical condition.


You can read the case history here.  What is your idea on how to resolve this case?
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/wild/dog-whisperer/case-files/#/ruby-and-jinx-whydogsfight-05-dogwhisperer8_45337_600x450.jpg

One day I will write about the fight my girls had that put me in the ER. Although it was over 8 years ago the memories are still to traumatic to bring up.

I hope you will follow my blog to read more on interdog aggression and owning multiple female dogs. 

Both dogs are leaning away from each other.

Here are photo of my English Springer Spaniels that eventually tried to kill each other.  This photo was taken before I was a dog trainer.   Looking back at these photos, it's clear these two dogs were extremely uncomfortable.  I was forcing them to sit close to each other. Every shot I took that day was the same.

Notice how left dog is trying to look away. There is nothing going on in the room for her to look at. She is trying to hold it together.

Here the dog on the right is leaning outside because I have posed them to close together.

We lived  for 8 years on a management system.  In 2008, the girl on the right passed away from pancreatic disease at age 10.  Girl on the left is now 10 1/2  and is very happy and healthy and even has a new sibling who is her best friend. (see photo below)

                     

                

   Today girls are best friends despite the 71/2 year age difference.   They know Mom is God!

Independent lab FAILS pet Glucosamine Suppliments

ConsumerLabs.com is the watchdog of the non-regulated multi-billion dollar a year supplement industry. As we all know supplements are not subject to FDA approval.  There have been cases of people being left with permanent liver or kidney failure from taking supplements.  It's imperative that you do your homework before taking any suppliments or diet products.  

  Consumer Labs is an independent lab and offers *voluntary testing* to manufacturers.   Consumers can join for for $33.00 per year. Well worth the investment when you think of one bottle of salmon oil can cost well over that.

Dr. Tod Cooperman, Founder and CEO of Consumer Labs gave expert testimony before the Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding the quality of dietary supplements on May 26, 2010. Dr. Cooperman's testimony. 
http://www.senate.gov/fplayers/CommPlayer/commFlashPlayer.cfm?fn=aging052610&st=876

I first became aware of Dr. Cooperman, MD while watching The Dr. Oz Show.  As as advocate for my own health care as well as my pets, I now do my own research. I weed through the junk science as well as the *one size fits all * http://www.webmd.com/  and land somewhere in the middle.  After a serious misdiagnosis from an quack doctor, (who is proudly now listed on the website http://www.ratemds.com/  I no longer put my faith in mainstream medicine or just one doctor's opinion.
Doctor's don't know everything. 


I have listed the most common type of supplement owners give to their pets--Glucosamine and Chondroitin. The brands listed below did not pass.

First, What It Does
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are used to slow the progression of osteoarthritis (also referred to as degenerative joint disease or DJD) — the deterioration of cartilage between joint bones common in older dogs and cats as well as in horses.  They may also reduce associated pain. 

Glucosamine is thought to promote the formation and repair of cartilage. Chondroitin is believed to promote water retention and elasticity in cartilage and inhibit enzymes that break down cartilage.

Animal studies have been limited.  However, in experimental models of osteoarthritis in small animals, such as dogs, both preventative and therapeutic benefits have been seen. Results in horses have been more variable.  One study in horses with osteoarthritis showed improvement in lameness, flexion, and stride length within two weeks of treatment with glucosamine, chondroitin and manganese, although there we no further improvements after four weeks. Results of other studies using this combination have varied.  As summarized in a 2005 article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (Neil, 2005). “Results of clinical trials of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in horses suggest possible improvement in clinical signs; however, rigorously designed long-term trials are needed.” 
Source Consumer Labs   www.ConsumerLabs.com

BRANDS THAT DID NOT PASS

Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Breast with Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Only found 6% of claimed glucosamine and 15.9% of claimed chondroitin
Dist. by Dogswell, LLC

Joint Max Regular Strength Glucosamine Chondroitin
Only found 17% of claimed chondroitin sulfate
Dist. by PHS, Inc.

Joint Complete for Dogs and Cats Glucosamine Chondroitin
Only found 15.9% of claimed chondroitin sulfate
Mfd. by Liquid Solutions

K-9 Liquid Health Glucosamine with Chondroitin and MSM  Glucosamine
Only found 5.4% of claimed chondroitin sulfate
Mfd. by Liquid Health, Inc.

All products tested for lead contamination passed testing.


I give my dogs (and myself) fish oil by Nordic Naturals.   I researched NN with Consumer Labs. All Nordic Naturals products rated across the board the one of the highest. 
http://www.nordicnaturals.com/

 los gatos, dog trainer, behavior, aggression, obedience training, dog trainer, san jose dog training, los gatos dog training, therapy dog training, los gatos dog trainers,

Vet files down biter dogs teeth

I was standing in line the other day at Cost Plus when a couple behind me commented on my sweatshirt that had my logo on the back.   I always love talking with people about their dogs and hearing all about their fur-kids behavior problems. It really doesn't bother me especially when there are 20 people in line in front of you.

The couple goes on to tell me about their 8 pound long hair Chihuahua that bites them (and others) on a regular basis. They seem pretty okay about this and even seem to be proudly laughing.  I just listen as I don't really want to get into this one.

The wife tells me that their vet said "we can work with the dog" and suggests that they start by having the dogs canines filed down which they did.  Now, I am starting to get a little heated under the collar but I just smile and continue listening.  They go on to tell me that they asked the vet for Prozac (laughing) but that the vet tells them no and continues to tell them that he can work with the dog.   My point is here, the owners may have been on the right track. Many dogs with severe anxiety or fear-aggression are prescribed anti-depressants while undergoing behavior modification with a trainer or veterinarian behaviorist who is experienced in fear behaviors. But this vet just nixed the idea and the owners lost an opportunity to get on the right track.

I understand vets have a very difficult job. Dealing with people's emotions, finances, beloved animals, euthanasia, paying off student loans, dealing with employees, working with snarky and fearful animals can be exhausting.  But, come on, if vets are not willing to learn about behavior, they should refer to a qualified trainer.

I remember back before I was a trainer my Springer Spaniel was about a year old and her fear aggression was starting to kick in. She growled at the vet during a routine exam.  His exact comment to me was "I put dogs like this to sleep everyday and don't feel bad about it".  As an uninformed dog owner, I was way to naive to even be offended at that remark. It wasn't until I became my own advocate for how to properly and humanely train my dog, that his comment began to infuriate me.  That comment was probably the best thing that could have happened to me because I would have never become a dog trainer, met so many wonderful dog people, become a therapy dog team, and have such happy, well adjusted dogs today.

I have since heard that idiot vet has sold his portion of the hospital and retired.  Good move.

Flexi-leads banned in San Jose-Woman killed from flexi-leash

  The San Jose city council has approved an ordinance that changes the city's leash laws.
The new ordinance requires people on city trails to keep their dogs on leashes no longer than 6 feet. That's 14 feet shorter than previously allowed. The law also requires dog owners to walk, jog or bicycle to the right of the trail when with their pets.
The change comes after a series of meetings following a deadly accident in 2009. That is when a woman get tangled in a leash while walking on Los Alamitos Creek Trail. She fell, hit her head and later died.

http://www.k9s4happiness.com/Sit_1./New_San_Jose_Leash_Law.html

Guests should put purses out of dogs reach

It's holiday time and many of us will be hosting holiday parties.  Guests can sometimes leave their purses on the floor or sofa where dogs are able to get to. Sugarless gum can be extremely dangerous for dogs and they are naturally attracted to the smell and taste just as they are to anti-freeze. Make sure guests put their purses in a room where your dog cannot access.

Let me tell you about a recent accident that happened in my home.   We had house guests from out of town.   I am always aware of anything lying around our home that our dogs would possibly be interested in eating, especially our youngest, a Standard Poodle who is still in that curious phase of noticing anything new.
I need to run out to pick up a gift and leave my husband in charge of the dogs and our guests.  Our plan was to meet up for dinner later that night.   My husband, who is very good about making sure food or dangerous garbage is not left out but he doesn't think as forward as I do.  He doesn't notice that our guests has left her purse on the couch when they left  the house to meet me.  Our 10 year old Springer Spaniel is probably the best watch dog we have ever owned so we like to leave her loose to guard the house. We come home from dinner only to find our guest's purse ransacked by our very food motivated Spaniel who can sniff out a crumb left in your jean pocket, in the dirty clothes hamper and will eat a hole right through your pants to get it.   All I see is one of those pill boxes that says Mon, Tues, Wed., Thurs. you get the idea, opened up with pills all over the floor!   I FREAKED out! I had known that our guests was taking medications for all sorts of medical issues.  I calmly, well not really, I YELL at my husband to go and talk to our guests and find out what pills were in this case.  I could have cared less about he privacy and hoped she wouldn't lie.   As he is discussing this with her in the other room with her, I run for the hydrogen peroxide, put my dog in the garage and start pouring it down her throat. Watching and waiting was awful but I knew it had to be done. After 3 separate vomits, I give her charcoal.  My husband returns and  tells me the pills were just vitamins. I did believe her because I could see that most of them that came up were quite large and looked like suppliments.   My dog was fine but I learned a very valuable lesson about house guests and their stuff being left around when you own dogs.