Posts from the ‘uncategorized’ Category

Apr 19

Our Rights and Responsibilities: Dog Law Q+A with Attorney Heidi Meinzer

When it comes to providing the best care for our dogs, we consider many issues: nutrition, training, socialization…but what about our legal rights and responsibilities as dog owners? We should be thinking about these issues too.

The Whole Dog Journal’s recent interview with attorney Heidi Meinzer about dangerous dog laws is a good place to start. If you haven’t read it, you should. Paul Miller, an animal welfare professional is also interviewed and it’s great stuff. Here’s the link. Go on. I’ll wait.

Good, right? Heidi and Paul’s answers provide information that every dog owner should know, such as how to be responsible dog owners, understanding dangerous dog laws, what to do if our dogs are deemed dangerous, and how to avoid coming into conflict with the law in the first place.

While reading the interview, I suspected Heidi might be a member of Team DINOS when she said,“…always take care when interacting with dogs and people wherever you are, including in your own home. If your dog shows any hesitation when meeting another dog or a person, do not force her to interact. Be your dog’s advocate and kindly tell the person that your dog needs space.”

It’s excellent advice, so I wrote Heidi to find out more and she does indeed share her life with a DINOS! She was kind enough to agree to answer a few legal-based FAQs for us too.

Here’s a little more about Heidi before we start the Q+A:

Licensed to practice in Washington, Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., Heidi specializes in animal law issues. In addition to her law practice, Heidi is a member of the APDT and an Assistant Dog Trainer with Fur-Get Me Not, as well as a board member for multiple animal welfare organizations.

It should be noted that in regards to dog laws, there is a lot of variation from state to state and even town to town. Heidi’s answers are a great jumping off point, but each one of us still needs to research this issue locally in order to be truly informed.

Q: Let’s get started with the basics. What are our legal responsibilities as dog owners?

Heidi: Dog owners have basic responsibilities regarding care that are governed by neglect and cruelty statutes (such as Virginia’s “adequate care” statute). And of course, other laws govern issues such as liability for dog bites.

Q: If someone has a dog with a known behavioral issue, is there anything they should be doing to protect themselves legally?

Heidi: Ensure the safety of your dog and the public. For instance, if your dog has a history of aggression, you should ensure your dog is properly confined (e.g., proper fencing) and is properly equipped on walks (e.g., double leash with harness and collar).

Q: What about DINOS gear? Does wearing a “Keep Back: My Dog Needs Space” t-shirt make someone liable if an incident were to occur on a dog walk?

Heidi: It should not make you automatically liable. There is a chance that a potential plaintiff could argue that you had reason to know that your dog had certain propensities (like viciousness) — but many dogs just need space without having demonstrated vicious propensities.

Q: In the WDJ interview you gave some very helpful advice for dog owners who want to avoid or are facing a Dangerous Dog citation, which I encourage everyone to read. In general, if your dog does bite someone or another dog, what do you suggest they do?

Heidi: If your dog bites someone or another dog, first and foremost — stay calm! If you can, take your dog to a safe place to let your dog calm down and reduce the risk of any other incidents. When your hands are free and your dog is safely out of the area, offer assistance to the person or the dog. Also, be prepared to share proof of your dog’s rabies vaccination. If there is any way to take photos of the injury and the area where the incident occurred without offending the person, try to do so.

Expect to be contacted by your local animal control officers. Again, you will need to share proof of your dog’s rabies vaccination. You may want to consult an attorney about what other information you should share with animal control. Your attorney can also advise you on what to do about liability issues, including whether to involve your insurance company.

Q: One of the biggest challenges for DINOS families are loose dogs. In order to avoid them, many of us are intentionally only walking in areas that have leash laws, but they’re often ignore or are not enforced. Is there anything we can do to increase their effectiveness in our communities?

Heidi: If you see someone disobeying the leash laws, you need to work with your local animal control officers to report the issue. If we don’t report, animal control won’t know about the issue and can’t take action!

Q: Many of us are calling to make reports, but we’re essentially being ignored or laughed off the phones by authorities who think leash laws are a waste of their time! Any thoughts on how we can effectively advocate for the enforcement of existing leash laws?

Heidi: If police or Animal Control Officers don’t want to enforce the leash laws, I would report it up the chain. But who actually oversees ACOs varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so you have to do some research to make sure you’ve found the right source. For instance, in Virginia, some ACO departments are supervised by the local police or deputy office, but others are supervised by the entity (often a nonprofit) that runs the local pound/shelter. You can also talk to the attorneys charged with prosecuting ACO cases — sometimes that will be the local prosecutors, and sometimes the local city or county attorneys. Ultimately, you can work your way up to the county or city board.

In any event, try to make the ACOs’ job as easy as possible, by taking photos or video, gathering as much identifying information about the dog and person, keeping accurate records of when and where you see the dog off leash, and call the ACOs as soon as possible — while the dog is still off leash if at all possible.

If your jurisdiction does not have leash laws, alert your local legislators and educate them about the need for leash laws.

Note: you can find state dog leash laws here.

Q: Here are two generic scenarios that many of us have encountered. Any thoughts?

A dog on leash is approached by a loose dog and bites the loose dog. Who is legally responsible? And can a dog be declared dangerous when it was being properly managed by its owner at the time of the incident?

Heidi: If there is an applicable leash law, it is likely the owner of the loose dog would be liable. Even with jurisdictions that have dangerous dog laws, typically protection is a defense, and animal control officers will likely consider that the loose dog approached and may not charge the leashed dog with dangerous dog proceedings if it attacked in that circumstance — especially if there is a leash law in that jurisdiction.

A person (with or without a dog) approaches a leashed dog. They are told to “stop!” and warned to stay back. If the other person ignores the warning and continues to approach, who is legally responsible if the leashed dog bites?

Heidi: It depends on the jurisdiction. There are some jurisdictions with “strict liability” statutes — although many of those jurisdictions typically have defenses that may be applicable. Also, the owner may be able assert other common law defenses such as “assumption of the risk” and contributory or comparative negligence.

Q: Let’s end on a happy note! Can you tell us about your dog, since she’s a DINOS too? What are some ways you set her up for success and advocate for her when you’re out in public?

Heidi: Sophie is a beautiful Shepherd mix who is very environmentally sensitive and can be reactive to dogs and people. I initially used a Gentle Leader with her, but I didn’t do enough to desensitize her to it and she hated wearing it. The last thing I wanted was to have her be uncomfortable and associate that with being out and about and seeing dogs and strangers. So I now use a Freedom harness, which has a clip on the back and front, and I use two leashes — one clipped to the back of the harness, and one double clipped to the front and to her Martingale collar. She also wears a red bandanna.

I always take lots of high value treats with me any time I take Sophie anywhere, and I have done a lot of behavior modification exercises with her over the years. I make sure to keep plenty of distance between me and other dogs. I also make sure that I can see what is up ahead and that I turn corners ahead of her — otherwise, she is always on the lookout and could encounter something before I have a chance to see what is going on. I don’t hesitate to let people know that she needs space, but I always stay calm and polite.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions Heidi!

You can score more insights from Heidi on Facebook and her blog.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and intended to provide general information, not to provide legal advice. This blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

Apr 6

15 Comments

Have You Hugged a Shelter Worker Today?

Note: I’ve totally lost control of my to-do list and haven’t been able to carve out some time for writing new stuff, so I thought I’d share an older piece I wrote a few years ago for StubbyDog (originally published Oct. 2011). Be back soon!

They stand at the doorway each morning and take a deep breath. The dogs, recognizing that they’re no longer alone, have erupted in a cacophony of demands for food, bathroom breaks, attention. Overwhelmed by the noise, hearts pounding, trying to pick a direction to go in first, they say, “I’m coming just as fast as I can everybody. I love you all this morning.” And then they start running.

They weave through the chaos: an injured dog, a hysterical family of a missing pet, an animal control officer with a van full of strays, new volunteers who need training, a call to an adopter that didn’t show to pick up their new dog, a victim of cruelty in desperate need of medical care.

There are more dogs than there are kennels.

photo by Melissa Lipani

There are adopters to meet with, kennel cough to be treated, biographies to write, veterinarians and trainers to consult with, surgeries to find funding for, rescue groups to reach out to, documentation of cruelty cases to fill out, baths to be given – hard, painful choices to be made.

The daily work continues: Kennels must be scrubbed, food delivered, medications carefully administered, evaluations to be completed, kennel charts filled out, yards to be cleaned.

There are 24 hours in a day and 100+ hours of work to be done.

They feel tiny in the presence of this mountain of work and the countless souls they’ve been trusted to care for. How fast can they work, for how long, and will it make a difference?

But just when they feel like they’re slipping under water, it happens: one great day.

A long-term resident finally gets adopted, a local business stops by with a donation of a new washing machine, the dogs they feared wouldn’t make it find foster homes, a child’s birthday party brings toys and treats, an adopter calls to tell you how happy they are with their new dog, a volunteer brings coffee and hugs.

They are flying on the wings of this good day, fueled by the hope that there will be more just like it. Powered into another work week, trusting that, if they keep their heads up and their feet moving forward, it will get better.

They are a vital part of our community. The safety net for our pets. The beating heart deep in our collective hope for a better world for our animals.

They are the magicians, the master jugglers, the contortionists, working endlessly to pull one more miracle out of their bag of tricks. One more life saved by their weary hands. They are the underpaid, overworked operators working the lines until there is a happy ending.

They are doing the work most of us could never bring ourselves to do, yet we depend on them to care for the animals in our communities. We demand more from them and they show up for the challenge. They are willing to take the heartbreak, the lost lives, the failures, the sadness and exhaustion. Because they know the dogs can’t make it without them.

They are our determined hands, our compassionate hearts, and they need our support.

They are shelter workers and they’re everyday heroes.

2013 note: I think volunteers and foster families are the bomb too and wrote tributes to them back in 2011. You can find them here and here.

Mar 29

17 Comments

Playing Tuba with My Dog and Other Stuff I Keep Meaning To Do

Hi! It’s been kind of quiet over here the past few weeks, huh?

I want to write, but I’ve been busy doing cool stuff: going to Austin, Texas and not so cool stuff: hanging out in airports for two days because a freak winter storm cancelled my connecting flight home and gross stuff: getting a cold.

I hate having my hermit-esque routine turned upside down, so it took me a while to get my act together. I’m back.

And now, here’s what I keep meaning to write about, in no particular order:

Fences: wood ones, metal ones, redundant ones, invisible ones, and ones with gates that fly open unexpectedly.

Leash Laws: enforcement, funding, and why there’s always a cop outside my house (hint: it has nothing to do with dogs).

Dog Nails: how much I hate to cut them, heaven-sent painkillers, and the trouble with posting photos of your dogs on the interwebz

Good Adoptions: stuff I learned from Birdie the Dog. About her adoption. Not about her new hobby: finding dead baby birds.

Relaxation Protocol: am I the only one that actually enjoys doing this? Judging by other blogs: yes, I am.

Plus much, much more!

Also, I want to hang out with these two.

Now all I need to get this done is an extra day in my week and a butler to deal with the self-generating hair balls that take over my house every 36 hours. And one million dollars (just in case the Universe is taking requests today).

Stay tuned. I’m on this!

Feb 23

40 Comments

Professional Dog Walking: Fame, Fortune, and Poop Bags

Recently, I’ve gotten quite a few emails asking me for advice about starting a dog walking business. I’m sure the editors of Vanity Fair will be covering this hot topic in their next issue, so let’s get to it before they steal my thunder.

Before I start, it’s fair to say that what I write here may not speak for all the dog walkers out there, especially the ones who are employees of big pet care companies – the kind of job where they can call out because they’re too hungover to walk to the bathroom, let alone walk a dog. I’ve always worked for myself, so this just reflects my personal experiences as a self employed dog hustler.

Here’s a look behind the scenes, to give you a better idea if it’s the right job for you:

Dog walkers work almost almost every day, including holidays, and in any kind of weather, including blizzards and scorching heat waves.

We get paid the same amount to walk an ancient, barely mobile teacup dust bunny, as we do a 150 pound armored tank that drinks rocket fuel right before we show up.

We work when we’re sick, when we are injured, and when we have blisters the size of pancakes.

We walk dogs for people who don’t tell us they’re home, upstairs, lurking on us and then we embarrass ourselves by singing to their dogs out loud.

We work for people who are in bed, with their dogs, and get angry when we wake them up as we try to coax their dogs out from underneath the covers.

We clean crates that have seen atomic bombs of poop go off in them, covering the dogs in turd-shrapnel.

We work with dogs that scare us sometimes, but still need us to take care of them, so we figure it out.

We hoard plastic bags (aka plastic gold) and develop a compulsive triple bagging habit at the grocery store.

We work with dogs that have no training or skills or manners and we do our best to get them and ourselves in and out of the house in one piece.

Can you dig it? Dog walkers deal with all this, because we love being with the dogs. It’s a privilege to make a living being a dog’s friend.

If you want to be a dog walker:

You better love hard work and delivering great customer service, as much as you love dogs. You may work with animals, but you are still in the service business.

You better be trustworthy. Really trustworthy. Never take it for granted how much your clients trust you to always be doing the right thing in their homes and with their pets. Most of your clients will really appreciate you and value your role in their lives. Don’t blow it.

If you can deal with all this stuff, then you’ll get one of the best jobs on the planet.

You won’t get rich and you will get weird lop-sided muscles in your “leash arm”, but you’ll get to spend every day outside with best tour guides on the planet, getting paid to make them happy.

It’s a really cool thing to be a dog’s favorite person (aside from their owners, of course).

It’s just about the best feeling in the world to walk into house after house and get greeted like you’re a rock god. Bad moods evaporate on impact.

Oh, I can hear you saying it now, “But HOW do I become a dog walker? What should I know?

Ok, ok, fine:

Take a Pet First Aid Class.

Read books, watch videos, and learn as much as you can about dog behavior.

If you’re going to hang out in dog parks, be especially sure you’re familiar with dog body language. It’s a free-for-all in those places and you’re with someone else’s dogs. You have to pay attention!

Create dog walking contracts for your clients to sign and clear rules for them to follow so that you get paid.

Be a defensive driver. It’s not your dog. Don’t take risks with their physical or emotional health. When in doubt, cross the street.

Make friends with other pet professionals. Pet store employees and vets always need to refer their clients to trustworthy pet sitters and dog walkers. Be that person they think of first.

Get off your phone. Don’t talk and walk. Be present with the dogs.

Choose and market a specialty, if you have the skillz. Cater to medical/special needs dogs, small dogs, reactive dogs, high energy dogs that need a running partner, or Mastiffs who prefer to spoon on the floor, instead of leaving the house.

Don’t be a hero. Know your limits. Most people can’t safely walk more than a couple of dogs at a time. Can you? Know this before you commit to walking a pack of dogs. It’s perfectly ok to only walk one dog at time.

This will NEVER be me. I don’t roll with this many dogs on leash at once.

Don’t forget pet sitters insurance, a simple website or blog that clearly states your services and rates, references from past clients (even if those clients are the shelter staffers who really appreciate your volunteer work), and some sort of business card.

Finally, when you become a dog walker, you become an “expert” on dogs to your clients. Whether you are one or not. They will ask you a lot of questions. Get to know basic dog training techniques and some good professional trainers, so you can refer your clients to them, if need be. Learn about high quality dog food and supplements. Learn about leashes, harnesses, halters, and other tools, so you can help your clients learn how to use them. Learn about basic, common medical issues, because you’re going to have to tell your clients that they may want to consider going to the vet, given what came out of Lulu’s back door this afternoon. You won’t have all the answers, nor should you try to, but know where to point your clients, so that they can get reliable information from other professionals.

Oh, and get over any weirdness you have about poop. There’s just so much poop involved in being a dog walker.

Know this: There will be holes in the poop bags.

There will be days when you stick your finger right in a pile of soft serve poop and then have to walk for 20 minutes to get back to the dog’s house to clean up. And along the way, you’ll run into a half dozen people that want to say “hi!”, so you wind up talking to them and trying to act causal, while you wonder if they smell poop on you.

But in the end, only you and the dog will know you’re hiding a stinky poop finger behind your back. And they will never tell.

That’s what it means to work with your best friends.

What about you guys? Are you a pro dog hustler? What do you think the newbies need to know? Sound off in the comment section.

Feb 10

22 Comments

One Weekend in Maine…

We had a blizzard this weekend. How about you?

Three feet of snow in 24 hours + hurricane-force winds = six foot high snow drifts.

It was awesome. The dogs can tell it better than I can, so here’s Boogie and Birdie (and one snow ninja):

Day One: We dig out. Note: for perspective, the snow ninja is almost 6 and half feet tall.

Boogie’s first bathroom run during the blizzard

Because of the winds, there were huge snow drifts and bare spots where the grass was showing. Boogie headed towards the nearest patch of grass.

Snow Face.

Slow Motion Shake Down

Day Two: The sun comes out. Birdie smells the air. She is sad to report that it does not smell like peanut butter or pepperoni. She heads back to the house.

Boogie channels his inner bunny rabbit to hop through the snow drifts.

Boogie?

Spotted!

Birdie returns for a quick flight around the yard. Flap those ears Bird!

Did someone call for a Super Bird?

That’s my girl.

Boogie digs…digging

Boogie gets ready to go in face first.

But what he really wants is to play catch. Here's Boogie waiting for me to throw some snow.

The only thing he loves more than digging is playing catch. Here’s Boogie waiting for me to throw some snow.

Eye on the prize.

Going for it.

YES!

And then it was time to go inside and warm up...

…and then it was time to go inside for a nap.

For me, playing with the dogs is the best part of snow days. I hope that those of you who got stuck in the blizzard were safe and able to have some fun too.

Wishing all of you a warm, play-filled week!

Jan 14

55 Comments

Money Talks: Do You Support Companies That Discriminate?

I just broke up with my auto insurance carrier.

For years (long before I had dogs), I’ve been a happy Progressive customer – good rates, good customer service, no complaints. Until this year when I bought a house. Because we have a dog that is a pit bull , we planned in advance to get our home owners insurance through State Farm because they have a great reputation within the pit bull community.

When I contacted State Farm for a quote, I told them what kind of dogs we have. They didn’t care. All they wanted to know was if they had a bite history. Our dogs don’t, so we had no problems.

Boogie has a history of moping. State Farm didn’t mind.

Then, when it came time to renew my auto insurance, it got me thinking: I’d like to bundle my home and auto insurance. Does Progressive offer home owners insurance and, if so, would they insure my dogs, regardless of their breed? I asked Progressive for a home insurance quote and found out that they do insure pit bulls, but only if I’m willing to pay a hefty “dangerous dog breed” fee. Uh, no thanks.

Now, I appreciate that Progressive at least offers the possibility of home insurance for families with pit bulls (and other “dangerous dogs” like, Dobermans, Rotties, Chows, etc.), because there are many companies that flat-out do not. Many families are forced to give up their pets because they cannot find insurance that covers certain breeds or mixed breed dogs. So, in areas where there are no other options, at least Progressive offers families (the ones who are able to pay a few hundred extra bucks) an option.

But still. It’s a discriminatory fee. It punishes many dog-owning families, particularly lower-income ones who cannot afford to pay hundreds of dollars extra each year, just because of how their dog looks. No fair.

Luckily, I do have options that don’t penalize me for choosing to love a little Boogie. And so, despite the fact that State Farm’s auto insurance cost a little bit more than Progressive’s policy, I dumped Progressive and bundled up over at State Farm. I could have kept Progressive as my auto insurance and State Farm as my home owners insurance. I could have kept seeing both companies, juggling my affairs with two different agents, but I’m just not that kind of gal. I want a committed relationship where my agent accepts me for who I really am: a dog lover. An all-dogs lover.

State Farm at an Indy Pit Crew Event: http://www.indypitcrew.org

I’d rather give ALL my money to a company that chooses not to discriminate. Money talks.

Of course, Progressive wanted to know why I left, so here’s what I wrote them:

“I left Progressive for only one reason: while shopping for home owners insurance, I discovered that your company considers my dog to be a “dangerous breed” and would charge me an additional fee in order to cover him. My dog is not dangerous and doesn’t have a bite history. Therefore, I took all of my business to State Farm, which does not discriminate against dogs based on how they look or their breed. Instead, they are only concerned with actual behavior and treat every dog as an individual. I was very happy with Progressive and would have loved to continue giving you my business – both auto and home – but I cannot patronize businesses with discriminatory practices, fees, or penalties. If you ever change policies and evaluate dogs based on their behavior, not their looks, I’d be happy to return.”

I haven’t heard back, but I’m not waiting by the phone at night. Breakups, right?

What about you? Does your insurance company discriminate? There are so many dogs affected by insurance discrimination: Chows, GSDs, Rotties, Dobermans, Akitas, Mastiffs, Great Danes, Boxers, Huskies, and many more. Are you giving your hard-earned bucks to an insurance company that discriminates against dogs based on what they look like? As a dog lover, how do you feel about supporting a company that would deny a certified therapy dog coverage because they’re a Rottweiler or an Akita? Or one that makes assumptions about my dog’s behavior just because of how he looks?

As dog lovers, we have to stick together. It’s the only way we can influence profit-driven businesses to stop discriminating against dogs based solely on how they look. To be honest, we also have to stick together to fight Breed Discriminatory Legislation in our local governments (how can we expect businesses not to discriminate, when certain governments are doing so?), but letting your wallets talk in the private sector is a step we can all take too. There really is no excuse for businesses not to treat all dogs fairly. State Farm is doing well financially, so insuring all these families with “dangerous dogs” isn’t ruining them. Why can’t other companies follow in their fair, profitable footsteps?

Please know that insurance is no small thing for many dog lovers. Housing is a major issue for lots of families. There are people who can’t find home owner’s insurance and have to give up their beloved family dogs. There are landlords that want to rent to all dogs, but their insurance companies don’t allow them to be fair. There are SO MANY renters that can’t find housing because of this issue and many wind up giving up their dogs.Those dogs don’t always survive being surrendered to a shelter. And, even if they did, is that really the best use of our animal shelters? As a refugee camp for dogs who are loved, wanted, and well cared for, but weren’t insurable just because of how they look? Uh, a million times no.

So, I’m asking you, my fellow dog lovers: if your auto policy or any other insurance policy is up for renewal soon, would you consider taking your business to an insurance company that does not discriminate? Will you put your money where your heart is and stand with me and Boogie? I know it’s a pain in the tush to switch. It took me way longer than I care to admit to stop being lazy and do the right thing for my own family. But maybe, like me, you’ll one day feel compelled to deal with the temporary inconvenience of switching so that you can align your spending with your ethics.

And if you’re looking, you do have options. Here are some companies (it may vary from state to state) that are helping families stay together: State Farm, ~~Farmers~~ (see update below), USAA, and Travelers are a few. There’s even this company with a pit bull on their website and a list from Bad Rap with options nationwide.

Why not get a quote from one of these and then reward them for treating all dogs and families fairly by giving them your business?

You’d be Boogie’s hero.

Update 2/12/13: Farmers has changed their policy regarding pit bulls, Rottweilers, and wolf-hybrid dogs. More on that here. As of this date, the change is only in CA, however all families with Farmers insurance would be smart to look for an alternative to Farmers home owners insurance now. Additionally I reached out to State Farm and today they confirmed that they are not following Farmers lead and will continue not to discriminate against dogs based on breed.

Dec 31

7 Comments

The (Dog) Days of Our Lives

I don’t know about you guys, but between the (almost) end of the world, the holidays, and some snow shoveling, December was one busy, where-the-heck-did-it-go month around these parts.

Allow me to give you the highlights. Or, if you prefer, the blooper reel. In no particular order, the dogs I did the following:

Played in the snow. Fell down in the snow. Shoveled the snow into his face so Boogie could eat the snow mid-air.

Also: After recovering from a serious collar-buying addiction, now I only indulge my habit once a year at Christmas. Boogie gets a custom martingale, and Birdie gets a flat, buckle collar. Last year, Boogie and Birdie got matching collars from Preston, a New England company. 2012 was the year of the preppy alligator.

For 2013, we decided to switch coasts (B+B are jet setters like that) and order our collars from California-based Sirius Republic. I couldn’t decide on a matching set, so we went individual-styles this year.

Boogie will spending 2013 as a lumberjack:

Boogie thinks getting his photo taken is lame-o lame.

Birdie will be spending 2013 in a ring of love birds:

Birdie doesn’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day

Speaking of loving Birdie, I signed her up for a Nose Works class this winter. It starts in February and I’m looking forward to our girls night out together. If the class is a good fit, maybe I’ll let Boogie get in on the fun (ew, boys!) in the Spring.

One of the reasons Birdie gets to go to class first is because she’s a senior citizen. This winter she’s turning 11 and in preparation for her forthcoming geezer-ness, Birdie decided to get really drunk the other week. Or at least, that’s what it looked like when she suddenly started walking like her legs were made of rubber. One minute: sober as a judge. Next minute: falling over drunk.

It looked like something was misfiring in her brain, so I called the vet, blubbered, and drove 85 mph to the office. By the time we got there, she wasn’t falling over like a narcoleptic goat, but she was stumbling and her eyes were vibrating (nystagmus). Bloodwork, x-rays, and hours of observations later, Birdie was once again walking a straight line and her eyes were ok. All the tests came back: healthy. With no clear diagnosis, we decided on a run of prednisone to clear up any possible inflammation. We just wrapped the meds up the other day and so far, so good.

Although, as you can imagine, I’ve hidden the key to the liquor cabinet and I’m watching the Bird Dog like a hawk.

If you’re wondering, it’s possible that this was Old Dog Vestibular Disease, but the vet wasn’t totally convinced (her symptoms weren’t severe enough to warrant a clear diagnosis). We just have to wait and see. Fun! But I did read this helpful article from Bark Magazine, just in case.

So, speaking of being petrified and worrying about bad things, I decided to use Legal Zoom to help me draw up a Pet Protection Agreement, just in case you-know-what-happens to me and the husband. I felt like a lunatic doing it, but for $40 bucks I bought myself some peace of mind knowing that if you-know-what-happens to me and the husband, the care and guardianship of our pets is clearly spelled out in a legal document. Asking family and friends to be the “guardians” of our various pets (we have 2 dogs, 3 cats) was one of the weirder emails I’ve ever written to my crew, but I’ll do anything to ward off the heebie jeebies.

Well, that’s not a very fun way to wrap things up, so let me tell you about some good stuff coming very soon in the new year:

I’ve been working with the cool kids at Design Lab Creative Studio to come up with a couple of fab things for y’all. I don’t want to spill ALL the beans, but there’s a new poster, new handouts, and even a new-ish site coming in Jan/Feb of 2013. I don’t think it’s going to start a revolution, but I’m very excited to give you guys better quality tools and a really cool poster! It’s almost done, so bear with me as we finish up the last steps and then I’ll take you guys on a walking tour of all the new stuff.

And I know that on our daily walks it may not seem like the world is getting the DINOS message, but on this last day of 2012, let me leave you with this nugget:

Banfield Pet Hospital, the largest privately owned veterinary practice in the United States, has added a DINOS-related page to their website and will be releasing a beautifully done DINOS handout in the new year. Banfield has an enormous client-base, including lots of first time dog owners and folks with puppies, so I’m very excited about the DINOS message spreading to this new audience. Every day, in ways that are big and small, the message of responsible and respectful dog ownership is making its way into more conversations. Change is slow to take hold, but it is happening.

On that note: Thank You! Team DINOS (that’s you guys!) is made up of such incredibly smart, compassionate people. Your thoughtful comments, your resourceful tips, and your funny jokes are what makes this all possible! Thank you for being such an important part of the conversation and making this wacky project a pleasure for me to work on. I appreciate your support – the big hearts and the big laughs – so very much.

Happy New Year everyone – may 2013 be the Year of Safe, Happy Dog Walking!

Dec 8

12 Comments

Boarding Kennels for DINOS

Below you’ll find a list of boarding options recommended by the Team DINOS fans on Facebook.

These boarding kennels have been a good fit for their DINOS, particularly those that are not social with other dogs. Every dog is an individual and there are many types of DINOS, so please keep in mind that what works for one DINOS family, may not work for another.

This list is a great place to start your search and there are a wide range of options below. Some offer small, private home-like boarding, while others are giant resorts with luxury packages. Contact these facilities and ask for a tour. Get to know the staff and find out how they handle dogs of varying temperaments and social skills. Determine if their training and handling skills are a good fit for your dog and in line with your own training/handling philosophies. Here are some questions to ask. Make an informed choice!

The list is always expanding, so be sure to check back and if you’d like to recommend a boarding option, leave a comment or email me: info@notesfromadogwalker.com

Please note that being included in this list is not an endorsement by the author of this blog.

UNITED STATES

AZ Cave Creek: Partners Dog Training

CA Dublin: Dublin Creek Kennels

CA Oakland: Citizen Canine

CA Oceanside: Bark Ave Resort and Kamp

CA San Jose: Canine Corral Dog Daycare and Overnight Care

CA San Francisco: Mighty Dog Walking & Boarding Services

CA San Francisco: Pet Camp

FL Hawthorne: Sun Kiva Kennels

FL Lake Mary: Hollywood Houndz Boutique & Spa

FL Riverview: Canine Cabana Florida

GA Athens: Pawtropolis and Helping Paws Rescue

GA Atlanta: Happy Healthy Pup

GA Atlanta: K-9 Coach

GA Cumming: Just Pets Veterinary Hospital

IL Chicago: Paradise for Paws

IL Chicago: Stay. A Modern Dog Hotel

IL Frankfort: K9 Tail Shakers

MA Boston: Fenway Bark

ME Greene: The Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine

ME Portland: Forest Ave Veterinary Hospital

ME Saco: Suntar Kennels

MD Owings: Countryside Kennels

MI Romulus: Curreys Family Pet Care Center

MN Eden Prairie: Wag ‘n Woofs

MN Lanesboro: A Dog Spot

MN Minnetonka: Auntie Ruth’s

MN Plymouth: Plymouth Heights Pet Hospital

MN St. Paul: Dog Days

MO Hillsboro: Green Roof Kennel

NC Raleigh: Suite Paws Pet Resort & Spa

NH Manchester: Gail Fisher’s All Dogs Gym

NJ Millstone: The Green Leaf Pet Resort

NV Reno: Canine BNB

NV Reno: Honey Bear’s Country Kennels

NY Fishkill: Pet Pleasers

OH Burton: The UltiMutt Inn & Pet Resort

OH Seville: Comfort Kennels

OR Tigard: GoInBark

PA Freedom: Lucky Paws Pet Resort

PA Pittsburgh: Paws Here Awhile

PA Reading: Peacock Bridge Kennels

RI Providence: Outbound Hounds

SC West Columbia: Barnwell Oaks Kennels

TX Flower Mound: Canine Courtyard

TX Seabrook: The Majestic Pet Hotel & Boutique

TX Round Rock: Action Pack Dog Center

TX San Antonio: Becker Animal Hospital

UT Draper: K9 Lifeline

UT Salt Lake City: Doggie Mannerz

UT Zion National Park: Doggy Dude Ranch

WA Monroe: Mystic Mountain Retreat

WA Sequim: Dungeness Pet Resort

WI DeForest: Aunt B’s Pet Resort and Spa

CANADA

Lethbridge AB: Bogdan’s Boarding Kennel and Dog Training Centre

Edmonton, AB: Kennels Bed and Biscuit

Calgary AB: Whiskers & Wags Pet Services

Abbottsford BC: LAPS Special Boarding Program

Vancouver BC: Bronte Pet Services

Bloomfield ON: Winstead Dogs

Nov 20

92 Comments

It’s Not How They’re Raised, It’s How Dogs are Managed That Matters Most

How many times have you heard someone say about a dog, “It’s all how they’re raised”? Probably a lot. If you own a pit bull dog, probably a lot more.

I hear pit bull advocates saying it all the time, as a way to defend our dogs. I hear other saying it as a flippant remark about dogs in general. This phrase gets tossed around all the time, but no one seems to be aware of what they’re really saying….and how damaging it can be.

This saying does have a kernel of truth in it, of course, but “how they’re raised” is just one of the factors that contributes to who our dogs are. It’s not the whole story.

When people believe that “It’s All How They’re Raised”, there are some real-life consequences for the dogs. So we need to check ourselves.

Here are a few ways our words hurt:

People refuse to adopt adult dogs. This idea, that how they’re raised determines who a dog is, makes adopting out adult and senior dogs a real challenge. Why would adopters take a chance on an adult dog, who has been raised by someone else, when they could adopt a puppy and raise it “right” themselves? Some folks really believe this. Seriously, shelter workers are constantly confronted by this way of thinking. It stinks.

Shelters won’t place victims of cruelty up for adoption. If a dog has survived an abusive or neglectful situation, such as dog fighting, animal hoarding, puppy mills, etc., then it is known they were “raised wrong”. Some organizations use this as proof that the dogs aren’t safe or fit to be adopted out.The same thing goes for dogs that are suspected of surviving these situations. If the assumption is made that a dog with cropped ears has been fought, that assumption of their past may wind up costing the dog his life if policies dictate that fight bust dogs are not adoptable because they were obviously “raised wrong.”

Responsible dog owners feel like failures. People who have raised their dogs since puppyhood beat themselves up when they’ve done everything right, but despite their very best efforts, their dogs still have behavioral issues. I hear from a lot of you through DINOS because you feel ashamed and guilty about your dog’s issues, despite having raised your dogs right. Let me just say it now: it’s not all how a dog is raised that matters. You guys have to stop beating yourselves up (even if you’re a dog trainer).

Here’s the reality – dogs are who they are due to many factors: training, breeding, socialization, management, genetics, and environment. All of these things influence who our dogs are.

A dog’s past is a chapter, but it’s never the whole story. Let me show you:

“Raised Wrong”

Some dogs, neglected and abused their entire lives, are well-adjusted, social dogs. Anyone who has worked in rescue has met countless dogs who were not raised in the best circumstances, but despite this lack of early socialization or care (or worse) they turn out to be safe, family dogs. Many of us share our homes with dogs that were raised in less than ideal conditions, but are still wonderful pets.

One example of this scenario are the dogs rescued from fight busts or hoarding situations. Despite terrible beginnings, many of these victims of cruelty are ready to leave the past behind and enjoy family life. They may need training and structure to get used to living with a family in a house (what dog doesn’t?), but some of them are able to adjust to family life with relative ease. Their past didn’t help them do this, you dig?

Meet Jagger, the handsomest dog on earth! Visit his Facebook page to meet this sweet boy.

“Raised Right”

Some dogs, purchased from responsible breeders and socialized properly from puppyhood, still wind up with behavioral problems. Many responsible dog owners, who have raised their dogs since they were puppies and did everything right, still find themselves with dogs who have a variety of behavioral issues. These dogs were “raised right”, but are still struggling, sometimes due to genetics.

One example of this is illustrated in an article written by a dog trainer who shared her problems with her own dog. Despite her very best professional efforts to train and socialize him, aka raise him right, he has significant behavior issues which may be caused by a medical condition. It’s not how he was raised that’s causing the problem. Read it here.

Puppies. It’s not just how you raise them.

In both of these cases, the common denominator that is actually determining the success of these dogs as family pets and their safety in the community isn’t how the dogs were raised: it’s responsible management.

Whether they were raised “right” or raised “wrong” in the past, no matter what behavioral problems a dog does or doesn’t have, when owners recognize their dog’s individual needs and provide them the right care and management tools, dogs have a chance to succeed in our crazy world.

More Present, Less Past

So, it’s not “how they’re raised” (what happened in the past) but rather, “how they’re managed” (what’s happening in the present) that needs to be our focus, if our goal is to help our dogs and also create safe communities for us all to enjoy.

We can look to their past for clues and guidance, of course. I don’t mean ignore it all together. But we do more for our dogs when we look at them right now, without the haze of a bad (or good) past fogging up our thoughts. Who are they right now? What do they need to succeed today?

Whoever they are, dogs always exists and act in the context of human beings. They don’t live in a vacuum. They live with us. We need to recognize dogs as individuals, then determine what they need from us in order to succeed in the world.

What this means is that when dogs are properly managed by a human, a dog with or without behavior problems has the opportunity to be a safe, family dog. Dogs may need a variety of management tools, depending on what behavioral issues (if any) they have. Beyond training, various management tools might include: space management (crates, gates, etc.), muzzles, leashes, fences, proper supervision, etc. I’d also include medication in this category, if it’s necessary. When these tools are used, owners are setting dogs up to be successful.

This also means that any dog that is not managed properly can be a nuisance to the community or a danger to others. We see this often in the case of dogs that are running loose in neighborhoods. The dogs may be friendly (or not), but by allowing them to roam the streets or chase other dogs, their owners are setting these dogs up to get into trouble. They are not managing them. They are setting them up to fail.

side note: This is why I’m such a stickler for obeying leash laws. It’s a management tool. I just wish the laws were enforced.

I think that dogs are only as successful and safe as humans set them up to be – no matter what their past may be. When a dog gets in trouble or acts dangerously, somewhere along the line, a person has failed to make the right choice. But that’s not the same as “how they were raised”.

How they’re raised may be one factor that influences dogs, but it doesn’t determine the whole being of a dog. Perpetuating this idea only winds up hurting dogs with less than perfect pasts and shaming people who own dogs they’ve had since puppyhood.

The truth is that it’s how we currently manage dogs that determines how any dog interacts with the world. When we focus on managing them in the present, based on their individual needs, we can set dogs up for success despite what may have happened to them in the past.

So can we trash “its all how they’re raised” once and for all? It’s such a drag for dogs and their owners.

Let’s replace it with the truth:

It’s all how they’re managed. Dogs are only as successful as we set them up to be.

PDF version here: It’s Not How They’re Raised

Oct 19

9 Comments

I’m all over this. Pit Bull Families, get in on the fun and bust some stereotypes!

2014 Note: Although this original post is from 2012, we’re always accepting new photos. If you’d like to be a part of The Majority Project, please follow the instructions below!

As scientific study and research continues to prove that “pit bull” dogs are just like any other dog, we’re now facing a different, equally challenging, hurdle: proving that “pit bull” dog owners are just like any other dog owner.

Why is it so important that we make this point? Because the false belief that only criminals and reckless people want “pit bull” dogs leads to restricted adoption policies, breed specific legislation, and other discriminatory policies.

From law makers and shelter policy makers to talk show hosts and strangers in the checkout line, the stereotype is that “good” people don’t live with “pit bull” dogs.

We know this isn’t true.

In fact, we know that dogs labeled “pit bull” are one of the most popular dogs

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