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Saving just one dog won’t change the world...but, surely, the world will change for that one dog...
JUNE 2017 the official speaking of dogs monthly newsletter
In this month’s newsletterDogs looking for homes ................................2 Ask the trainer ..............................................4 Events ...........................................................5 Bits & bites ....................................................6 Recent adoptions ..........................................7 Father’s Day ...................................................8 In memoriam ................................................9
About Speaking of DogsSpeaking of Dogs is a Toronto-based organization that launched in 2001 and is dedicated to educating and enlightening people about dogs through seminars, workshop forums, outreach and rescue. Our goal is to end cruelty, abandonment, mistreatment and homelessness of man’s best friend.Speaking of Dogs Rescue is the operating name of Speaking of Dogs Rescue Program, a Canada Revenue Agency–registered charity based in Ontario.
Contact Speaking of DogsP.O. Box 8058, RPO Hurontario Collingwood, ON L9Y 0H1 Phone: 705-444-SODR (7637) Email: [email protected] Web: www.speakingofdogs.com
Newsletter TeamEditor: Nancy Foran Design: Cathy Vandergeest at www.gawck.ca Contributors: Nancy Foran, Lorraine Houston Emily Fisher, and Kim Gladding
NewslettersIf you no longer want to receive our newsletter, email [email protected], with “unsubscribe” written in the subject line.
The Furry Friends 5K Is Almost Here!
Speaking of Dogs Newsletter June 2017 | 1
Interested in walking or running a fun 5K and doing some fundraising at the same time? Our dogs need your help! You can sign up as a walker or runner for the Furry Friends 5K and collect pledges for Speaking of Dogs Rescue.
Date: Sunday, June 4
Time: registration and race kit pick-up opens at 8 a.m., and awards and prizes will be given out at 11 a.m.
Location: Heydenshore Pavilion, 589 Water Street, Whitby
Well-socialized dogs are welcome!
Race-day registration is available, but please arrive early! For more information you can visit http://furryfriends5k.ca/event/whitby
Can’t race but still want to support the rescue? Click here to pledge Lorraine.
FEATURED DOG: Linda is an eight-year-old Pom-Chi mix who was surrendered when her family relocated out of the country. Her life has been turned upside down and she is still adjusting.
Linda has been diagnosed with a condition called cervical myelopathy. This means the messages from her brain don’t get to her front legs properly. She needs to wear a harness on walks and be handled with care. She compensates quite well but can be uneasy on stairs, so she should be carried up and down to avoid injury.
Linda needs time to warm up to new people but does well when given time and space. She is housetrained but doesn’t signal when she has to go, so she needs regular potty breaks. Linda has a loving demeanour and enjoys pets and lying at your feet. She also really enjoys her bed and could stay there all day.
A quiet home would suit her quite well, and she is not be a good match for young children. Linda currently lives with a large breed foster brother, two cats and a bird. She is not bothered by them and has even tried to play with the cats, so she might enjoy a companion her size.
Linda is ready for stability again. Can you give her the family that matches her needs?
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A friend in need is a friend indeedWithout a doubt, a dog is a real friend. Our dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common – they all need loving forever homes. Open your heart and your home to a rescue dog. You’ll be glad you did. For complete information about the adoption process, please visit www.speakingofdogs.com/adoption-process. For more information on each dog, simply click on their name.
Dogs Looking for Homes
Rocky GERMAN SHEPHERD LARGE, ADULT, MALE
Jack AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG MIX
MEDIUM, ADULT, MALE
Hank CATTLE DOG / BULLDOG MIX
LARGE, ADULT, MALE
LindaPOMERANIAN / CHIHUAHUA MIX SMALL, ADULT, FEMALE
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Minnie YORKIE / SILKY TERRIER MIX
SMALL, ADULT, FEMALE
Cocoa Charlie LABRADOR RETRIEVER MIX
LARGE, SENIOR, MALE
Francine POODLE / BICHON MIX
SMALL, SENIOR, FEMALE
Fletcher LAB / VIZSLA MIX
LARGE, YOUNG, MALE
To: Speaking of Dogs Rescue From: Cindy Subject: Charlie update
Charlie has completed two sessions of obedience classes and done really well. We are now in Agility Foundation. The instructor shortened the tunnel Charlie was going through three or four times, and he came flying out the end with his little stubby tail wagging and offering kisses. We are having lots of fun together! He is now sound asleep and snoring on the couch beside me, a tired and happy boy. Thank you Speaking of Dogs Rescue and foster mom Ruth for choosing me to adopt Charlie. We are a perfect fit!
Re: Charlie
SUMMER FUN FOR THE CALENDAR!While you’re out and about having fun in the sun, don’t forget to capture some of those special moments with your furry best friend! We’d love to include a photo of your dog enjoying the best of the summer in the 2018 Speaking of Dogs Rescue calendar.
Ideal photos would not include people but can include a four-legged friend. Photos should be 300 dots per inch (DPI) and at least 5 inches x 7 inches in size, and they can be colour or black and white. Please email to [email protected].
Ask the Trainer
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I DON’T KNOW, ASK THE DOG!I would hazard to say that dogs are a more honest species than human beings. If you ask your dog how she feels, she will always tell you exactly how she feels – as long as you listen to her. If you ask your dog what she thinks she should do in a given situation, she’ll tell you the best answer she knows – as long as you listen to her. If your dog is upset, she’ll tell you. If she’s happy, she’ll tell you.
However, there’s a big difference between looking and seeing and a big difference between hearing and listening.
One of the greatest training mistakes an owner can make is thinking they know more than their dog. And yet, we’ve all heard that increasingly loud repetition of a cue word followed by an exasperated “You know this!” and maybe even a grab, shove, push, or yank.
After all, if it’s the dog’s fault that the training isn’t going well, the teacher doesn’t have to take responsibility for their role in their pupil’s learning. If the dog just isn’t teachable, what more can be done? Ask your dog, she can tell you exactly how you should teach her.
Sometimes you need to second-guess what you think you know and realize that what you “know” is probably just your interpretation of events and maybe not actually what your dog is trying to tell you.
When training fails, take a step back and ask your dog, “Do you understand?” Ask this multiple times, and the answer must be consistently correct in order for there to be truth to the statement “You know this.”
Dogs, of course, don’t have the best verbal skills, so you need to speak their language. Your dog replying “No, I
don’t understand” will look like this: looking away from you, walking away, jumping up, barking, whining, sniffing the ground, lying down instead of sitting, licking her lips, puling her ears back, sitting facing away from you, a lag time between asking for and receiving the behaviour… Anything other than immediately demonstrating the desired behaviour, such as sitting attentively, is an indication that you have room to improve your training and improve your dog’s response.
If a dog understands what is expected and is motivated to do it, there is no reason why they would not do it. Dogs will always be willing to do what’s expected of them when these conditions are met. Equipped with the knowledge that a dog will do what is asked of her as long as she understands, the owner can become a much more effective teacher.
Just as you can influence your dog’s motivation, you can influence her understanding. If training falls apart, there is almost always something you can do to motivate your dog and ensure her more complete understanding.
Being willing to ask your dog how she is feeling and being able to understand her reply are important to her well-being – and maybe even yours. Owners often think that their dog whispering “no” is the same thing as giving their consent.
Most dogs show discomfort – in other words, whisper “no” – by moving away, demonstrating suppressed or shut-down behaviour (such as sitting still), or mouthing non-aggressively. Think of how your dog usually behaves during something they don’t really enjoy, such as nail trims.
These are all non-aggressive ways a dog has of saying “Please stop, you’re making
me uncomfortable.” Owners often ignore their dog’s request to stop. Instead, they more heavily restrain their dog as he or she tries to get away. The shut-down dog is continuously exposed to the procedure without being provided any motivation to engage, while the mouthing dog is scolded and told it’s not “play time.”
Unfortunately, the more a dog’s withdrawal of consent is ignored or misinterpreted, the higher the risk becomes of an aggressive, panicked, or otherwise escalated response. Don’t make the mistake of dismissing your dog’s attempts to gently tell you she is uncomfortable and only noticing when her whisper escalates to a shout – and her gentle mouthing escalates to a bite.
It may be less important to understand exactly why your dog finds a situation uncomfortable than to understand that she finds it uncomfortable. Telling your dog “it won’t hurt” is about as helpful as me telling you that you aren’t ticklish as I wiggle a feather across your instep. The only one who has the right to decide whether something feels good or bad is the being who is feeling it.
What’s more, a dog who has never had her quick cut can still panic at the slightest indication that a nail trim is going to happen. It’s not always about physical pain, and in these cases we
...continued on page 6
Emily Fisher, CPDT-KA Scratch and Sniff Canine Services, Guelph, ON
Speaking of Dogs Newsletter June 2017 | 5
Events
MUSKOKA DOG FESTHeading to cottage country this summer? Need an excuse to spend an afternoon in picturesque Bracebridge? Join us at Muskoka Dog Fest! This one-day event will feature over 70 vendors, live music, beer tent, stunt dog performances, lure courses, doggie fashion show, photo booth, and fun for the whole family – including the family
dog, of course! And don’t forget to stop by the Speaking of Dogs Rescue booth while you’re there!
Date: Saturday, 22 July Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: Annie Williams park, Bracebridge, Ontario
For more information visit http://dogfestmuskoka.ca.
WAGS AND WIGGLES FOR ANNA AND TRACY!Speaking of Dogs Rescue is so proud that Anna will be featured on the packaging for Simple Pets Beef Fillets. This beautiful photo of our sweet girl was taken by none other than Tracy Munson. Congrats Anna and Tracy, you make a great team!
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Simply click on a summary to be whisked away to the internet page where you can read the full story.
Bits & Bites...continued from page 4
humans are often even quicker to dismiss our dog’s discomfort. If your dog quietly tells you she is uncomfortable, thank her for letting you know in a whisper rather than a shout: Stop what you are doing and find a way to help her feel better about the situation. Your dog will thank you now, and you’ll thank yourself later.
As a dog owner, try to make every effort to open your relationship with your dog to the possibility of a real two-way conversation. Ask her where she wants to go on a walk, and let her follow her nose while you trail behind. Observe what she is smelling, and try to realize that you’re not capable of taking in the information she is finding on that bush.
Ask her if she’s comfortable being touched by reaching for her, unrestrained, and try to truly see what she says. If you reach for her foot, does she shift her weight back, turn her head and lick her lips? Ask her to follow instructions quietly and respectfully, and observe her response. Is she enthusiastic and engaged, or does she wander, lag, and disengage? This is half the battle; everything else comes easy once you understand your dog’s honest replies.
THIS MONTH’S RECALLS:Click on a recall to be directed to further information online.
• Smallbatch Dog and Cat Food
• The dangers of nicotine to dogs and cats are well known, but do you know the potential dangers of e-cigarettes?
• Major pet insurer Petsecure finally pays out claim after originally saying dog injuries from “jumping, running, slipping, tripping or playing” are not covered.
• What can the colour of your dog’s urine tell you about their health?
• What appears to be a feud between a Leslieville resident and a dog owner has escalated to poisoned treats being left a grassy area.
• A police officer charged with discreditable conduct for removing a neglected kitten from the home of a drug user has been exonerated.
• Total Dog Magazine revealed “The 5 Most Dangerous Dogs in the World!” (Hint: #5 is Badly Fed Dog.)
• Find out about the Bello Project, which offers care and compassion for the pets of terminally ill people.
• Ken Ramirez, executive vice president and chief training officer at Karen Pryor Clicker Training (KPCT), asks “Is a Clicker Necessary?”
• The Simple Dollar has created a “pet ownership cost calculator.” The page provides a wealth of information.
• Watch this heartwarming video about how a horrifically abused pit bull and a young autistic boy changed each other’s lives for the better.
PLEASE HELP US TRY TO WIN THE GREAT CANADIAN GIVING CHALLENGE!The easiest way to offer financial support to Speaking of Dogs Rescue is to visit our Canada Helps Giving Page http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=10262
These funds help the rescue cover the costs of the many medical procedures our dogs all too often require, as well as microchips, food, supplies, and professional grooming. We’re grateful for every donation we receive, and this month we have reason to be especially grateful: with every donation of a minimum of $3 during the month of June, every $1 donated will automatically enter the rescue into a draw to win a donation of $10,000!
The challenge begins June 1, 2017, at midnight Newfoundland Daylight Time and ends on June 30, 2017, at 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The grand prize draw will be held on Canada Day, July 1, 2017. Only donations made on givingchallenge.ca or through the canadahelps.org website will be entered for the prize draw.
Please help us help our Forever in Fosters and the many wonderful homeless dogs in our care. And when you give to us through Canada Helps, we give back to you: a tax-deductible receipt will be issued directly from the site.
Thank you for your generosity and support!
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Neda Rex
MerryHelgaClara
Happy Tails
MAY ADOPTIONS: A big thank you to our foster parents and our new adoptive guardians for helping give these loving dogs a second chance.
Max
Copper thanks sheba’s haven rescue
TankOscar
Bill
Speaking of Dogs Newsletter June 2017 | 8
A special thank you to all of our wonderful
foster dads. Without your care, love, patience, and understanding, our
rescue dogs would never be able to have their
second chance. Happy Father’s Day!
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In Memoriam
SammieLOVED BY TRACY, LUAN, LORRAINE,
PETOPIA AND CEDARBRAE STAFF
PASSED MAY 2017
MargoLOVED BY NICOLE AND DARRYLADOPTED NOVEMBER 2013
PASSED MAY 19, 2017
CapriLOVED BY GAIL AND PERRY
ADOPTED JUNE 2009
PASSED MAY 2017
Fiona (aka Mimzy)LOVED BY JANET AND ERNIE, FAMILY AND FRIENDS
ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 2013PASSED MAY 2017
