Newsletter
Shady Mountain Howl
Issue #1, July 2024
Pets of the MonthWe will begin our inaugural issue with showcasing two of our frequent guests, Bella and Tinker. These two sweeties are Goldendoodles. Bella is 12 years old, and Tinker is almost 3 years old.
Bella and Tinker live with their pet parent, Patricia O'Shae. While she often travels with them, sometimes they cannot accompany her; especially when she flies. She knows they love visiting us and are well cared for. Both girls were trained by Miriam Fields-Babineau. When they visit with us at SMPR they go on daily off leash hikes on Shady Mountain. They also socialize nicely with other dogs of similar size and behavior. As they are both off leash trained, we don't need to leash them to let them outdoors or to return them to their suite. They respond well to all cues. Though we don't need treats to lure them from point to point, we do always reward them when they have completed the cycle. Everyone needs to be paid for their work or their work ethic will diminish. Bella was a model for Miriam's book, Doodle Dogs for Dummies. She was patient and maintained professional composure throughout the photo sessions. To follow their activities, view our Current Guest page or check out our Facebook page. |
Howling On This Month
July in Virginia is very hot! SMPR offers lots of ways to stay cool. We let the dogs socialize early in the morning and mid-evenings when the temperatures are lower. Our K9 guests can go outside into the play yards at will or relax in their air-conditioned suites. We keep indoor temperatures between 72-74.
If you opt to exercise your dog with hikes, the temperatures in the woods are at least 5-10 degrees cooler. There's also almost always a little breeze on Shady Mountain.
In July we put wading pools into the play yards so that our K9 guests can cool off or just splash around.
Our indoor pool is always available to our guests. Pet parents can opt to schedule swims. Our K9 guests wear flotation vests and our swim coaches are in the pool with the dogs to ensure safely.
If you opt to exercise your dog with hikes, the temperatures in the woods are at least 5-10 degrees cooler. There's also almost always a little breeze on Shady Mountain.
In July we put wading pools into the play yards so that our K9 guests can cool off or just splash around.
Our indoor pool is always available to our guests. Pet parents can opt to schedule swims. Our K9 guests wear flotation vests and our swim coaches are in the pool with the dogs to ensure safely.
List of features in this month's Shady Mountain Howl:
Clicker TrainingClicking marks the moment your pet has made a correct response. Your pet will work for the click, knowing that rewards follow.
List of Local Pet Rescue OrganizationsAre you looking for a new pet? Are you needing help with an animal that you found? There are several local organizations that can help.
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Allergic ReactionsRead about how to recognize when your dog is having an allergic reaction. Once recognized, you can begin to address the source instead of just addressing the symptoms.
Pet Product ReviewThe Outward Hound Slow Feed Bowl
Why use a slow feed bowl? |
Clicker Training
Clicker Training For Dogs
Clicker training has become a highly popular means of training dogs using positive reinforcement. Essentially, when a dog performs something that you desire, you mark that exact moment by making a unique sound – a click, followed by a reward.
This type of training bridges the communication gap between you and your dog teaching him more about his environment and what is expected of him. Clicker training teaches your dog how to learn, not just how to react as often occurs with most traditional training methods.
Why Does Clicker Training Work?
All animals will repeat behavior that has proven rewarding. For example, if a dog finds food on the counter, he will continually jump onto the counter to seek more food. If you give your dog attention when he jumps on you, he will continue to jump on you.
When you pair the unique sound, the click, with something that your dog enjoys, such as a treat, he will strive to repeat the action that was rewarded. Clicker training helps dogs be aware of what they are learning. This awareness helps them remember it far better as well. Many dogs recall the appropriate response to a cue throughout their lives as it was a rewarding experience.
Getting Started
The first thing your dog needs to learn is that the sound of the clicker (or other unique sound you’re using) is rewarding. Therefore, you need to pair the sound, with a reward. If your dog prefers a specific treat, use that. Should he prefer a specific toy that can be offered with the click. Be certain to offer the reward with the sound. As your dog gives you undivided attention when he hears that sound, he is ready to be clicker trained.
You can even use clicker training to get rid of behavior that you don’t want from your dog. This is done by teaching your dog an alternate behavior and not reinforcing the bad behavior. For example, if your dog loves to jump on you merely stop rewarding him with attention of any sort. This includes allowing him to land on you. Step away. Instead, lure him into a sit using a treat, then click and reward when he achieves that position.
Facilitate Learning
There are many ways to use clicker training with your dog. If you are patient and observant, you can wait for your dog to accidentally perform something you wish him to eventually learn to do on cue. It may take many repetitions before he realizes what he did to earn the click, but it will be something he figured out on his own; never having been forced into the behavior.
To speed up the process you can facilitate the behavior using a reward to lure him into position. Once the position is attained you click and reward. Within a few repetitions your dog will understand what you want and perform the action because he knows he will be rewarded. Pairing luring with clicker training greatly speeds up the process and maintains the positive approach to training your dog.
Clicker training has become a highly popular means of training dogs using positive reinforcement. Essentially, when a dog performs something that you desire, you mark that exact moment by making a unique sound – a click, followed by a reward.
This type of training bridges the communication gap between you and your dog teaching him more about his environment and what is expected of him. Clicker training teaches your dog how to learn, not just how to react as often occurs with most traditional training methods.
Why Does Clicker Training Work?
All animals will repeat behavior that has proven rewarding. For example, if a dog finds food on the counter, he will continually jump onto the counter to seek more food. If you give your dog attention when he jumps on you, he will continue to jump on you.
When you pair the unique sound, the click, with something that your dog enjoys, such as a treat, he will strive to repeat the action that was rewarded. Clicker training helps dogs be aware of what they are learning. This awareness helps them remember it far better as well. Many dogs recall the appropriate response to a cue throughout their lives as it was a rewarding experience.
Getting Started
The first thing your dog needs to learn is that the sound of the clicker (or other unique sound you’re using) is rewarding. Therefore, you need to pair the sound, with a reward. If your dog prefers a specific treat, use that. Should he prefer a specific toy that can be offered with the click. Be certain to offer the reward with the sound. As your dog gives you undivided attention when he hears that sound, he is ready to be clicker trained.
You can even use clicker training to get rid of behavior that you don’t want from your dog. This is done by teaching your dog an alternate behavior and not reinforcing the bad behavior. For example, if your dog loves to jump on you merely stop rewarding him with attention of any sort. This includes allowing him to land on you. Step away. Instead, lure him into a sit using a treat, then click and reward when he achieves that position.
Facilitate Learning
There are many ways to use clicker training with your dog. If you are patient and observant, you can wait for your dog to accidentally perform something you wish him to eventually learn to do on cue. It may take many repetitions before he realizes what he did to earn the click, but it will be something he figured out on his own; never having been forced into the behavior.
To speed up the process you can facilitate the behavior using a reward to lure him into position. Once the position is attained you click and reward. Within a few repetitions your dog will understand what you want and perform the action because he knows he will be rewarded. Pairing luring with clicker training greatly speeds up the process and maintains the positive approach to training your dog.
Allergies
Allergic Reactions
Allergies can manifest in numerous ways. Behavior manifestations generally depend on the type of allergy and whether, or not, it is a chronic, or acute reaction.
There are food allergies, medication allergies, and environmental allergies. Each type can also be broken down into many primary causes and behaviors associated with them.
Pet Allergy Behavior:
Your pet may be scratching many parts of their body, biting their feet, rubbing their ears, or biting at their tail. Sometimes, this causes hot spots (raised red bumps) on their feet, tail, and legs. Allergies can also cause ear infections, urinary tract infections, goopy eyes (conjunctivitis), dry coat and skin, loose stool, and incontinence. In severe cases it can cause shock.
The type of allergy often coincides with the source of the allergy. For example, a chronic allergy, such as a food or environmental source, will cause skin problems, whereas an acute allergy, such as medication, can cause shock.
Let’s look into the types of allergies and their sources so you can figure out why your pet is displaying the behaviors.
Food Allergies:
This is the most common type of allergic reaction and the easiest to remedy. Food allergies can manifest in dogs of any age, gender, and breed. And, while some dogs may not have allergies when young, they can develop them when older.
Commercial pet foods can often contain ingredients which trigger a pet’s allergic reaction. The foods are manufactured for the average pet and not all pets can handle all the ingredients.
For example, some pets may be allergic to chicken products. Others, allergic to white potatoes or peas. Still others, may have a beef intolerance. Many dogs cannot easily digest carbohydrates, which are a very common filler in commercial pet diets. Cats, in particular, do not fare well with high carbohydrate diets.
Here’s a list of the most common ingredients that cause allergic reactions in pets:
Corn, wheat, soy, chicken, peas, white rice, white potatoes, beet pulp, BHT and BHA (preservatives which have a bad effect on the liver, over time).
An animal’s most common reaction to these ingredients, if not tolerant to them, is itchy skin, dry coat, ear infections, urinary tract infections, hot spots, smelly or impacted anal glands as well as general impatience and irritability.
These are chronic issues that can build over time, eventually affecting your pet’s life and well-being. It’s a good thing SiiPet alerted you to the issue!
The best action you can take is to have your dog tested for allergies. Once you receive the results you will know what ingredients to avoid feeding and solve the problem.
Environmental Allergies:
There are many environmental sources that can cause allergic reactions in your pet. These range from flora to fauna. Examples include ragweed or sage grass to fleas and ticks. Some pets are even allergic to human dander! Imagine that. There are humans allergic to animals and animals allergic to humans. Luckily, an animals’ human dander allergy has a very minor, to no, reaction. That’s not the case with fleas and ticks, though.
A flea or tick bite can cause a severe reaction in your pet. It can also cause illness. If you review the recording of your SiiPet, and see your pet scratching in one specific area, it’s a good possibility that they were bit by a bug.
Most pets are allergic to flea and tick bites. Mosquito bites can also cause adverse reactions. You may see red, raised bumps at the bite sites. Flea bites can also cause hair loss, lots of dander and a bad odor.
Pets that are allergic to grasses, plants and pollen tend to just be generally itchy all over. Their coat may be thin and brittle. Their eyes will have yellow goop, which is a sign of conjunctivitis. They will get frequent ear infections and possibly bite at their feet and legs, causing hot spots.
As with food allergies, the best approach is an allergy test. This can be done by your veterinarian. When you get the results, you can put together a plan of action. For example, if your pet is allergic to fleas and ticks, use a topical or oral medication that repels and kills them. If flora is a problem, your veterinarian can get your pet started on allergy shots.
Medicinal Allergies:
Some pets have allergies to the ingredients in medication. This can be very dangerous if you are unaware of this problem. Your pet’s reaction can be subtle or very stark. In fact, if you don’t respond to the subtle behavioral cues immediately, it can quickly become dangerous and deadly.
Symptoms include licking and biting of fur and skin, hives, intense scratching, diarrhea, and the most dangerous symptom, Anaphylactic shock. You can recognize Anaphylactic shock by the following symptoms: Your pet will have cold feet, may collapse, be extremely lethargic, hyperventilate, have a weak pulse and then respiratory failure.
If your dog has these symptoms, get them to the vet immediately!
How to Prevent Allergic Reactions:
There are several things you can do to keep your dog healthy and not suffering from allergies.
- Feed high quality food that doesn’t contain the ingredients mentioned in this article. To be certain to avoid any food allergies, do an allergy test.
- Keep your pet on a monthly schedule of pest control – both internal and external. Parasites can be both inside your dog and on their skin, too.
- Closely monitor your pet when giving a new medication or supplement.
Always be aware of your pet’s comfort as that affects yours too.
List of Local Pet Rescue Organizations
If you have decided to adopt a pet please check out the below links. To the left is Layla, who was rescued by one of these organizations and adopted by Stephanie Carter. Layla spent a lot of time at SMPR and enjoyed her training hikes. She also enjoyed socializing with some of our other guests. She passed away this past May and we'll miss her terribly. But, she is proof that you can find a forever companion at a humane society or rescue organization.
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Are you looking for the perfect indoor/outdoor bed for your pet? Try a Kuranda bed! These beds withstand the most rugged dogs. They come in a large variety of sizes and neutral colors.
Click link below to order one for your dog.
Pet Product Review
Outward Hound Slow Feed Bowl
Slow feed bowls are a perfect way to stop your dog from gulping their food quickly. Fast inhalation of food is not healthy for your pet. Dogs who eat too quickly often vomit up their meals, choke on food or can get bloat. While vomiting up a dinner doesn't pose a high risk (unless there's other dogs nearby who tend to eat the chucked-up food), Bloat can be a fatal result.
The Outward Hound slow feed bowl is the perfect means of helping your dog eat more slowly. The kibbles disperse throughout the dish, making it tougher for your dog to gulp down big amounts of food. The dog must use their tongue to lick out the kibbles. This slow feed bowl can also be used with wet food. Merely push the wet food down into the channels and your dog becomes highly motivated to eat.
There are many slow feed bowls on the market. The reason we sell these at SMPR (in our entry room boutique) is because they are sturdy, non-slip bowls. They withstand the strongest chewers and are easily rinsed off. There's also a large variety of colors and sizes. A small bowl for a small dog or a large one for a large dog. Lots of colors to match your home decor as well.
If you're at SMPR and want to keep your dog eating properly, request to see the Outward Hound Slow Feed Bowls. We always have them in stock.