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The Dog Guardian: Summer 2015 (PDF version)
In This Issue:
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Our board meeting was held on Sunday, June 7, 2015. We discussed 3 programs:
Candice reported getting about one request a month for the CCGC™ testing package, about double from last year. She approves the testers and sends out the kits.
Dagmar reported on the progress of the program. See item #12 in this issue to read more about the program.
This spring we held clean up events in 4 different parks. We added Heritage Park in Orleans to our list that included Bruce Pit, Conroy Pit, and Stittsville Park. In the fall, we will be adding Andy Shields Park in Greely.
In this edition we are introducing 2 new sections: Article Review and Helpful Hints. Our first article review deals with getting your pet ready for the new baby. It is never too early to get your pet prepared for a new baby. After all, your pet was the centre of attention in your house. He was your only child. Now he has to adjust to a new baby, a 2-legged one, not the 4-legged ones he is used to.
Information that dog owners might find helpful and would like to share with others. Thanks Kit for giving us the information about the Tick Key.
In the Safety Tips section, we cover the importance of learning about a dog's body language and how environment influences the meaning of that language.
We decided to explore The Ottawa Humane Society website because of its amazing educational programs offered for both children and adults.
These are only a few of the highlights of this issue. We hope you enjoy reading it.
It is important for children to learn to read a dog's body language. For example, a child may think that a dog licking his lips is hungry. That may be true if it's dinnertime and you are putting his food in his dog dish. However, if you see a strange dog on your walk licking his lips when there isn't any food around, the dog is probably showing that he is anxious and afraid. It is a good idea to stay away from him.
It is very hard for children to recognize dog body language. In the poster below Dr. Yin demonstrates how a dog may show you that he is anxious, fearful and stressed. Each picture comes with a short explanation. To download the poster click on the link: www.drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/free-downloads-posters-handouts-and-more
Ottawa Humane Society The Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) website contains a lot of really great information ranging from pet health, to community programming, adoption and volunteering (to name a few). Check them out here: www.ottawahumane.ca/home/index.cfm
If you’re interested in adopting a pet, the website offers details on available dogs, cats, and small animals as well as cost and offsite adoption centres. You can help save a life by clicking here: www.ottawahumane.ca/adoption/adoption.cfm
Interested in community programs? The OHS reaches out to the community through a series of school, day camps and volunteer programs. Click here to learn more: www.ottawahumane.ca/community/education.cfm
You have a very friendly dog who you think would be perfect to visit nursing homes, etc.? Find out how you can participate in "The Brightening Lives Program" by clicking on: www.ottawahumane.ca/community/brightening.cfm
Don't forget to visit The OHS Kids section. Just click on www.ohskids.ca/home/ for your child to find out about pets, play games, do puzzles, and ask questions of Buddy (the resident dog mascot) and Belle (the cat mascot).
Kit Watson found this Tick Key in the Lee Valley catalogue. She thought it was a great tool to use for removing ticks easily and quickly, and at a cost of $7.95, very affordable. Tick key: www.tickkey.com
The tick key attaches to your key chain so it is very handy when a tick decides to latch onto your dog. For product information and directions, see: http://www.tickkey.com/why_tickkey.html
To view the Lee Valley Tools ad, click here: www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=67728&cat=2,51555
Click here to learn more information about ticks: http://www.tickencounter.org/
We are working hard to make the Going to the Dogs fundraiser another success. Just a reminder that the date has been changed to Sunday, September 13, 2015 (from June 14. Thanks to the wonderful people who already offered to volunteer. We are looking for a few more volunteers to help make this a success.
Here are the jobs to choose from:
• Distribute posters and pick up donated items for the silent auction
• Fill goody bags on Sunday, September 6
On Sunday, September 13:
• Transport silent auction items, etc. to the racetrack
• Set up at the racetrack
• Help at registration desk
• Help out at the silent auction tables
• Sell 50/50 tickets
• Clean up at the end of the event
Email your friendly volunteer coordinator, Julie More at [email protected] to let her know what you would like to help out with.
Source: BabyCenter® website: http://www.babycenter.com
Read the full article here: http://www.babycenter.com/preparing-pets-for-babies
The article was written by animal behaviorist Nikole Gipps. Learn more about Nikole here: http://www.babycenter.com/expert-nikole-gipps
Nikole begins by saying it's never too early to start getting your dog ready for the new baby. She even suggests you start when you are just thinking of having a baby.
Her first suggestion is to find a private place for your pet where nobody disturbs him (like a crate, laundry room, etc.). It will become your pet's private room where he knows he is safe and secure. Put his food dish, water dish, favourite toys, blanket, etc. in his newly created private space.
Her next suggestion is to start desensitizing your pet to rough children's handling. Start slowly playing with his ears, paws, face, tail, etc. Do this in conjunction with his favourite activities. She recommends that you do this about 5 times a day, each session lasting between 2 to 5 minutes. Nikole advises that in some cases, it may be a good idea to get professional help. Some trainers and vets offer baby readiness classes. You may also want to have a temperament test done on your pet to see how good he will be with the baby and to advise you on how to handle difficult situations.
Make sure your dog knows the ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘stay’ commands. Practice them especially in noisy and hectic environments. Nikole also mentions the importance of getting your pet used to scents associated with babies.
The author ends the article with advice on how to choose a good dog trainer and training classes. She includes a book resource list.
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Recommended Reading List Childproofing Your Dog, by Brian Kilcommons & Sarah Wilson There's a Baby in the House: Preparing Your Dog for the Arrival of Your Child, by Michael Wombacher Ian Dunbar's dog-training tapes. They don't address soon-to-be parents specifically, but are good for general training. tapes can also be obtained from his website: http://www.dogstardaily.com/videos |
Springtime means it’s park clean up time. This spring we added Heritage Park in Orleans to our list. Every Saturday between May 9 and May 30, we were at different parks organizing the clean ups.
We would like to thank all our wonderful dog owners who came out to help us. We would also like to thank Shad Qadri (Stittsville-Kanata-West Ward Councillor) and Jody Mitic (Innes Ward Councillor) for coming out to support the events.
In the fall we will be adding Andy Shields Park in Greely to our list, which will bring the number of parks to five. Our fall clean ups will take place on Saturday mornings from September 19 to October 31.
Check our Facebook page and website for exact dates.
Come and join us. It's fun! Your dogs will be so proud of you. They think it's a good deal. You do all the work and they get dog cookies.
Nelson - photo by Mary Blaney
Tyler, my 7-year-old black lab, would like you to meet his best friend Nelson, a 5-year-old black lab. In turn, Nelson would like you to meet his family, Mary, Gary, Diana, Jane and Elliott. Nelson has an older doggie brother named Zion, and a younger cat sister named Tolkien.
Nelson's favourite toy is a frisbee. A tennis ball is a close second, followed by a "jolly" ball. He loves tracking, fly ball, skijoring, and agility. He is a multitalented guy.
Way to go Nelson! You can be our poster boy for dog sports
RDOC would like to recognize Denise Jean for her volunteer contributions.
Denise helped design and implement The Preschool and Dog Safety Program. As one of the three members of the committee, Denise put in a lot of work. Her background in special education helped a great deal. And of course, having two grandsons (Tyler, 3-years-old and Dylan, 5-years-old) plus being owned by Peabody (a wonderful Shih Tzu who lived to the ripe old age of 10 years) gave her plenty of background knowledge about preschoolers and dogs.
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Denise has great ideas. When she volunteers for something, she goes all the way and puts in unlimited hours. Denise is also very good at writing articles and sits on the newsletter proofreading committee. To see her book review in the Spring Issue look here: |
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Yearly membership fees are seniors and students $10.00, adults and families $20.00, (volunteers get 50% discount), not for profit organization $35.00, corporations and businesses $50.00. To join or renew your membership, please email [email protected] or go to our website at http://www.responsibledogowners.ca/membership.html |
Preschoolers are the segment of society that are most vulnerable to dog bites. They have not yet learned how to interact safely with dogs, their own pets and/or strange dogs they meet outside. Responsible Dog Owners of Canada (RDOC) have developed an interactive play program for this demographic, showing preschool teachers, care givers and parents how to teach preschoolers to interact safely with dogs.
The program has been divided into various sessions, starting with more basic child/dog interactions and building up to more dangerous interactions (for example: an aggressive dog encounter in the park). The sessions can be broken down further depending on the interest and attention span of the children. They can be introduced in circle time (preschools and day cares), in small groups, or one-on-one. A special kit has been provided to enable children to play-practice the issues introduced. The items provided should be limited to the introduced issues and then built on as further issues are presented. The children should be allowed adequate time and opportunity to play with the kit items until they have grasped the lesson to be learned from the presentation.
--Submitted by Dagmar VanBeselaere
Will and Morgan, photo by Jill Sandwell
Just a reminder that in partnership with the Ottawa Public Library, we will be presenting our first Preschool and Dog Interactions Workshop for preschool teachers and parents on Saturday, September 26 at 11am at the Nepean Centrepointe Library.
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Topics covered: • Talking to children about dogs • Looking after dogs (how they can help) • Safety rules • Body language (how to read your dog's mood) • Meeting dogs outside (on-leash and off leash dogs). Suggestions of activities for circle and free play times will be offered to cover each topic. To register please call the Nepean Centrepointe Library at 613-580-2940 or email: [email protected]. Register early. Spaces are limited. |
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Your Dog’s Golden Years – A Manual for Senior Dog Care (Including Natural Remedies and Complementary Options).
by Jennifer Kachnic, CCMT, CRP and 19 other canine experts.
The book is thorough, including the basics: the benefits of adopting a senior dog, senior nutrition, supplements, blood work and dental care.
In addition, it addresses the special problems of seniors, including common medical conditions, with a discussion of what can be done for them. Finally, there is a discussion on end-of-life issues. Hospice care and euthanasia are discussed, as well as a chapter on dealing with your own feelings after an older pet’s death. At the end of each chapter there are books, websites and organizations that are recommended by each of the contributing authors.
Your Dog’s Golden Years is ideal for anyone owning a dog: sooner or later your dog will be a senior and this reference covers questions and answers in major categories such as: “How can I assess the quality of life my dog is experiencing?” “What treatments might be best for my dog as he ages?” “Should I consider Hospice care?” or “How can I deal with the “anticipatory grief” I feel when I know my dog is dying?”
Submitted by Kit Watson
The Paperback book was purchased online from Amazon for $22.10.
Winnie has two toys she enjoys playing with. They are the Hurley Dog Bone and Tizzi made by West Paw Design (www.westpawdesign.com) in the United States.
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The general features I like the most about both of these toys are: • They are very durable, having lasted at least 2 years and still going strong • They are 100% recyclable, non-toxic, dishwasher safe • They are gentle on the teeth • They float • There is a one time free replacement warranty if the product does not live up to your expectations. |
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The Hurley Dog Bone: • is a ball for fetching and a bone/stick for chewing all in one • comes in three sizes, extra small (4.5”), small (6”) and large (8.25”) • is available in four colours, black, orange, green and blue Cost: $18.95 for the large size |
The Tizzi: • is a treat toy • comes in two sizes, small (4.5”) and large (7”) • is available in three colours, orange, green and blue Cost: $22.99 for the large size |
Both of these toys were bought at Chew That, located at 665 Armstrong Road in Gloucester.
This ten-step test provides a good measurement of a dog's behavior in a social setting with different distractions.
For more information on the CCGC test or CCGC preparation course, please contact RDOC at [email protected]
RDOC is pleased to announce that 2 candidates received their CCGC certificates on Sunday, April 26, 2015: Terry Levere and her dog Parker and Heather White and her dog Leo. Congratulations Terry, Parker, Heather and Leo!
Both dog-owner teams completed the 6-week CCGC course: www.foreverfriendsdogtraining.com/canadian-canine-good-citizen
The course was taught by Mary-Ann Porter, Coowner of Forever Friends Dog Training School: www.foreverfriendsdogtraining.com/home
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Candice presenting the CCGC Certificate to Heather and Leo. Photo by Mary-Ann Porter |
Candice presenting the CCGC Certificate to Terry and Parker. Photo by Mary-Ann Porter |
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Responsible Dog Owners of Canada (RDOC) Responsible Dog Owners of Canada is a registered non profit organization that promotes responsible dog ownership through education and support, cultivates respect for the rights and privileges of members of the dog-owning and non dog-owning communities, fosters recognition of the contribution that canines make through companionship, service/assistance and therapy and aspires to assemble a strong network of responsible dog owners to ensure the restoration and preservation of a dog-friendly society. Responsibility · Respect · Recognition Contact RDOC by: Write
to us at: Or visit us online at:
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