Caravaggio loves cats

Many people ask me if my dogs get along with other animals.  Now most of the time I get this question because their dog does not get along with others very well.  Dogs in generally are very capable of getting along with other species, many other species.  Its all about training and socialization.

For example, when Nekita was a puppy, I had pet snakes.  I had a Ball Python snake named Nia.  She was a fabulous pet in her own right, but she (the snake) helped teach Nekita at a very young age how to deal with other species.  Basically its about respect and boundaries.  Nekita was taught from day one to keep a certain distance from the snakes, as well as the cats in the house.  Since then, Nekita has always approached other animals with respect and has given proper distance.  I am very thankful for that.

Caravaggio happens to love cats.  When Vaggy was a puppy, he was raised with an older, de-clawed cat.  So Caravaggio thought that being batted in the face by the cat was some sort of fun face massage.  Obviously this is not always true.  Caravaggio unfortunately learned early on that its best to get right up in the face of other animal, not what we were going for.  Since then, we have had to do some extra training with him to teach him to respect other animals.

Now for Caravaggio, it is not that he wants to ever harm another species, he just gets overly excited to meet and make friends with others.  He forgets his boundaries.

Below are some pictures I caught the other day of Caravaggio practicing how to calmly greet some of our neighborhood cats.  He now has a few new friends.

Caravaggio saying HI.

You can see by his body that he's still a little too excited.

Calmly sniffing orange kitty.

Orange kitty then got up to say hi and rubbed up on Caravaggio's face...

then pawed him in the face (just to remind him the cat's in charge here).

Breed of the Month--Miniature Australian Shepherd

Miniature Australian Shepherd

Color:  Blue merle, red merle (liver), solid black, solid (liver) red, all with or without white markings and/or tan points.
Height:  14-18 inches
Weight:  20-40 lbs
Life Span:  12-15 years

Breed Health Concerns:  epilepsy, hip dysplasia, cataracts, Collie eye anomaly (CEA), persistent pupillary membrane (PPM), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Coat:  Double coat of moderate length.  Straight to slightly wavy, medium-textured, weather-resistant under and outer coat.
Country of Origin:  United States

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more informations.

The exact origin of the breed known as Australian Shepherd is not known, but these working dogs were developed in the western United States, not in Australia as the name may suggest.  As the link to my former blog states, breeds such as the Pyrenean Shepherd, Collie, Smithfield, and Border Collie contributed to the breed known as the Australian Shepherd.  The miniature version of the breed began to develop in the 1960s.  A breeder named Doris Cordova enjoyed working with smaller versions of the Australian Shepherd and began breeding them to continue a line of dogs under 18 inches.  The Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA (MASCUSA) was formed in 1990 by Cordova and several other breeders.

Just like the standard sized Australian Shepherd, the Miniature Australian Shepherd is friendly and smart,  adept at herding livestock, excels in obedience training, and works with enthusiasm and grace.

Exercise:  
The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a high-energy working dog, and needs plenty of daily physical and mental activity.  As with any working-type breed, the Miniature Australian Shepherd needs some sort of job, from playing to herding, or even baby-sitter of the house.

Grooming:  
To keep shedding under control, the double coat of the Miniature Australian Shepherd must be given consistent care.

Training:  
Using positive reinforcement training can teach this breed pretty much anything.  The Miniature Australian Shepherd is highly intelligent.  With the proper motivation, the breed can learn almost anything you might be able to think of.  This breed (and its close relatives the Australian Shepherd and Border Collie) excel at agility, competitive obedience, and trick performances.

Here is a size comparison for you.

A Miniature Australian Shepherd with a standard Australian Shepherd.

Trainer Tips- Shedding

As our weather gets warmer, our favorite friends start loosing more and more of their furry coats.  This month's Trainer Tip is a reminder to BRUSH YOUR PUPS.

Now this may sound like a silly reminder, but its not always something we think of.  Or we think, "wow look at all this fur, I should really brush my dog," then forget about doing so 20 minutes later.

The best way I have found to remind myself, is to work in brushing the dogs with my weekly cleaning schedule.  When I am in the process of cleaning the massive amount of pet fur that have collected, I am reminded 10-fold that I should brush the dogs.  This is the perfect reminder for us to pay attention to.  So somewhere in the midst of my cleaning and laundry shores, I take the time to take the pups out for a good brushing.  I also usually bring their ball and we will brush for a bit, then play fetch until they are starting to pant fairly hard, then a little more brushing before we come in.

I also try to get at least two separate times throughout the day where I take them out to brush.  This helps get as much fur off as possible, and helps me feel like I have kept as much of it as possible outside my house.

There are several different types of brushes available.  It is important to pick one that will work best for your dog.  Both my dogs benefit most from what is called a "shedding blade."  Another personal favorite of mine is called the "FURminator."  This thing works magical wonders (as you can see below).  Again, it's going to depend on your dog's breed and type of hair.  It's always good to ask a professional groomer for help and tips on grooming your particular dog's type of fur.

Shedding Blade

FURminator & an example of it's magical powers.

Some other common brushes.

Below are some pictures I took when brushing the other day.  As you can see, Nekita sheds a LOT!  We actually say she doesn't shed, she's our fur machine!

Another Helpful Hint:

Many dogs will get tufts of fur you can actually just pull out.

If you look closely in the above picture, you can see some of the tufts I have pulled

(the thick clumps of fur).

This is VERY helpful.  It's faster than brushing it out.

But be careful, don't pull to the point where your are hurting your dog.

This should be fairly gently and non-invasive for your dog.

As you can see, Nekita was totally relaxed and closed her eyes as I did this.

Look at all that fur floating in the grass.

Nekita loves to be brushed.

Can you see all that fur?  Most of it already blew away.

Breed of the Month--Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiff

Color:  Rich black and blue, with or without tan markings, shades of gold and brown
Height:  Males:  26 inches/ Females:  24 inches
Weight:  Males:  100-160 lbs/ Females:  75-120 lbs
Life Span:  13-16 years

Breed Health Concerns:  Skin problems, hip dysplasia, and thyroid problems.

Coat:  Double coat.  Sparse undercoat (summer), soft undercoat (winter).  Coarse, thick, long, straight outercoat.
Country of Origin:  Tibet (China)

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more information.

The Tibetan Mastiff is thought to be the ancestor of many of today's mastiff-type dogs, but the breed's true origin is unknown.  In Tibet this dog has been used for centuries to protect homes and villages.  In the 1970s the breed began to establish itself in the United States, due in large part to President Eisenhower receiving two of them as gifts in the 1950s from the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan Mastiff is large and intimidating and take's his guarding job very seriously.  This breed is naturally aloof with strangers and must therefore be consistently socialized.  The Tibetan Mastiff is independent minded, but gentle and affectionate.  Training is essential for this large, powerful breed.  This is a breed of dog that I would not necessarily recommend for first time dog owners.

Exercise:
The Tibetan Mastiff needs space but should not be exercised with too much intensity.  The Tibetan Mastiff's body is slow to mature, and therefore must not be over exercised as a puppy.  An adult Tibetan Mastiff will definitely enjoy his time outdoors and has a coat that resist most types of weather.

Grooming:
The thick double coat of the Tibetan Mastiff requires regular brushing and combing.

Training:
The Tibetan Mastiff requires socialization early and often, to make sure his protective instincts do not get out of control.  Training this breed requires patience and respect, as he is an independent thinker.  Using positive reinforcement methods will help keep this breed tuned in to his owner.

Trainer Tips--Picking a pet food

I am realizing more and more than many people do not really know what they are feeding their dogs.  Your dog's diet has a huge impact on their health and life, the same way it does with us as humans.  I know that dog food can get fairly expensive, but that's no reason to be feeding your dog an unhealthy diet.

I am going to start with the basics.
Three things your pet food should NOT contain:
Corn
Soy 
Wheat

These things are filler products that offer little to no nutritional value to your pet, and are not easily digestible.  (This is true for cat food as well).  Furthermore, many dogs will develop allergies from these products.  Your dog could have been on the same food for several years without issues, then one day everything changes and they seem itchy and have bad skin or hot spots.  This is usually due to feeding a food that contains one of these things.

There is one particular popular brand that I hear many people use that is very unhealthy for your pet.  Can you guess which one it is?

 

 

So what was your pick for the worst dog food listed?  The answer is Pedigree.  Depending on the exact bag/ flavor, Pedigree ingredients lists 2-3 different corn ingredients.  This is NOT good for your dog!  Pedigree also lists:  wheat, brewers rice, and animal fat.  These are also not healthy things for your dog.
(See below).

So how do you know what to look for in a dog food?

The best way to pick a dog food is to flip over the bag and look at the ingredients list.  The first thing listed should be some sort of meat, or meat meal.  Better foods will have several kinds of meat listed.  A meat listed first (salmon, turkey, etc) is a better food than a meat meal listed first (salmon meal, turkey meal, etc).

Other things to look for in your pet food.  Obviously as stated above, you want a food with NO corn, soy, or wheat products.  Along with that you want to avoid foods that list "animal fat."  When a pet food lists animal fat in their ingredients, this could be anything from the grease at fast food restaurants, to animal products collected at a slaughterhouse.  Avoid foods listed with "animal fat."

Also beware of "Brewers Rice."  This ingredient is not as bad as the ones listed above, but if included on the ingredients label, it should be very low down on the list.  I generally try and avoid food with this ingredient.

Things you want to look for, of course, the meat listed first...but the label should also include plenty of vegetables and fruits.  Things like:  sweet potatoes, potatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yams, carrots, etc.

The best dry dog food that I know is Orijen.  Orijen is 70-80% meat products, 20-30% fruits and vegetables.  It is the best possible food you can buy your dog.  Of course that also makes it one of the most expensive.  A large 28 pound bag of Orijen can run $90-$100 or more.  Obviously, many of us can not afford that.

Some owners enjoy a food that is lower in protein for their dog.  If this is what you are looking for, Natural Balance is a good choice for you.  Natural Balance lists sweet potato or a similar first ingredient, then meat.  This food is still a good choice in many cases, and does not contain any corn, soy, or wheat.

One of my other favorite dog foods is Taste of the Wild.  It is an excellent food at a good medium price.

If you are on a really tight budget but want to improve your pet's diet, try mixing an excellent semi-expensive dog food with a less expensive, but still good, food.  This can help stretch your budget.  We have often mixed Taste of the Wild with a brand that lists a "meat meal"as the first ingredient (lower quality food).

Another helpful way you can stretch your budget is to mix in left-overs with your dog's regular dry food.  This is not something that we do every day, but if I have something that I need to eat or throw out, I will often give it to our dogs.  Please keep in mind, that your dogs can not and should not have just any left-overs.  We avoid giving them things that are spicy, or adding too much liquid over dry food (soup, etc).  Also remember that several common people foods are toxic to dogs (list below).  If the left-overs contain any of these items, we will not give it to the dogs.  Remember if you are adding extra food to your dog's meal (i.e. left-overs), subtract that much in dry food.  If your dog gets a cup of food at meal time, it should always be a cup, even if you have added left-overs.  Be careful with this.  Adding left-overs can be an easy way to make your dog over-weight and unhealthy if you are not careful.  Remember they don't always get something extra in their food, and they don't just get any left-overs.  The most common left-overs we add to our dog's food is meat rice.

Helpful Hint:  If your dog has diarrhea or constipation, you can add pumpkin (canned or fresh) or cooked rice to help properly adjust their stool and balance out their stomach.  We have used this trick several times.

Dog Toxins:
Onions
Garlic
Chocolate
Grapes/ raisins

Hopefully you will all take the time to read your pet food labels from now on and really know what you are giving your dog.  They are our pets and we love them...so let's help keep them around for as long as possible!

FREE "Ask the Trainer" Day

Saturday June 1st, 2013

10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. @ Kihei Pet Supply in the Kukui Mall, Kihei
               --AND--
2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ The Pet Shop in the Maui Mall, Kahului.

Join us for a day of dog questions.
We invite you to come with all your dog questions and concerns to talk to a professional dog trainer at no cost to you.

Athena Angelic is an Animal Behavior Certified Dog Trainer, has been certified in pet first aid and CPR through the American Red Cross, is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and runs her own dog training business.  Such Good Dogs specializes in training companion dogs, or family dogs, using positive reinforcement methods, combined with energy balance.  Such Good Dogs offers group classes, private lessens, pack walks, socialization, adventures, and boarding.

Athena has many years of dog training experience and loves nothing more than talking about dogs.  Bring any and all questions you may have about your dog to our "Ask the Trainer" Day.
Bring your dogs too!
Hope to see you there!

SuchGoodDogs.com
808-463-4684

Kool Dog Kuts, LLC

There is a fabulous new grooming team that has recently come to Maui.
I wanted to let everyone know about them.

Kool Dog Kuts, LLC
Full Service Doggie Salon & Spa
Kustom Kanine Stylists

Denise Fauth & Todd Gibbs
310-415-3806 / 310-683-8085
kooldogkuts@yahoo.com

I met these two fabulous people while working part time at West Maui Pet Supply.  They are on the West Side of Maui Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday (with some Saturdays), and at the Kihei Pet Supply store Monday & Tuesday.

This is Wickett & Gigi

Denise giving Gigi her pre-bath trim.

Bath time.

Kool Dog Kuts uses amazing whitening shampoo for these little guys!

Get that face clean too :)

Fluff dry off.

Gigi's post bath hair cut.

What a cutie pie!

Wickett drying off after her bath.

Wickett getting her post bath hair cut from Todd.

Wickett at home doing some training with mom after her haircut.

She's such a sweet girl.

Kool Dog Kuts grooming includes:  bath, nail trim, ear clean, and hair cut.

Prices vary on dog's size and breed.

Just a nail trim is $18.

Give them a call today to book your dog.  Watching them work has been a great experience.  The reason I am sharing their business with you is because I believe them to be good, honest, hard-working people that do a fabulous job at grooming.  I enjoy both Denise & Todd very much.  They are very experienced in grooming, and have a natural talent in dealing with dogs.  I would highly recommend them to you!  

If your dog has any grooming needs, please call them today!

Breed of the Month--Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherd

Color:  Black, red, blue merle, red merle.  May have white markings.

Height:  Males:  20-23 inches/ Females:  18-21 inches

Weight:  Males:  50-65 lbs/ Females:  40-55 lbs

Life Span:  12-15 years

Breed Health Concerns:  Allergies, cancer, osteochondritis dissecans, patent ductus arteriosus, dental problems, corneal dystrophy, Collie eye anomaly, patellar lunation, iris coloboma, and persistent pupillary membrane.

Coat:  Double coat.  Undercoat is moderate mane and frill but varies with climate.  Outercoat is medium length and texture, weather resistant, straight or wavy.

Country of Origin:  United States

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more information.

Breeds such as the Pyrenean Shepherd, Collie, Smithfield, and Border Collie contributed to the breed known as the Australian Shepherd.  This breed was actually created in the United States by sheep and cattle herders, not in Australia as the name may suggest.  Although the breed was initially intended for herding and guarding, the Australian Shepherd has become adapt at many helpful tastes.  The Australian Shepherd has remained the breed of choice for many farmers and ranchers.

The Australian Shepherd is friendly, smart, and enthusiastic.  He is intelligent and agile and excels at many things from participation in competitive sports to becoming a therapy dog.

Exercise:

The Australian Shepherd must have LOTS of daily mental and physical exercise!  This is a very high energy breed and needs a job to do.  He will not be happy sitting on the couch and lounging around at home.  This breed excels at many activities including agility, flyball, and obedience.

Grooming:

The coat of the Australian Shepherd needs regular brushing and care to keep the control shedding.

Training:

Using positive reinforcement training is a must for this breed.  They are intelligent and very eager to learn new things.  As long as you keep your Aussie mentally and physically challenged, there's not much this breed won't do for you.

Breed of the Month--Wire Fox Terrier

Wire Fox Terrier

Color:  White with black, black and tan, tan markings.
Height:  Males:  15.5 inches / Females:  smaller
Weight:  Males:  18 lbs / Females:  smaller
Life Span:  12-15 years

Breed Health Concerns:  Cataracts, deafness, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, megaesophagus, lens luxation, glaucoma, distichiasis, and skin allergies.

Coat:  Double coat.  Soft, dense undercoat.  Wiry, hard, dense outercoat.
Country of Origin:  England

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more information.

The Wire Fox Terrier was bred to be a quick thinker, compact, energetic, and bold.  In the 18th century fox hunters used the dog to rout them out when the fox took cover.  History therefore dictated that the dog have absolutely no red color allowed in the coat, so the dog was easily distinguishable from the fox.  There are two types of Fox Terriers, Wire and Smooth Coat.  The Fox Terrier was originally shown in the United States as one breed with two varieties.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) approved separate standards in 1984.

The Wire Fox Terrier is a wonderful pet for active families.  This breed is energetic, out-going, and very self-assured.  He is curious and alert and requires both mental exercise and lots of attention from his family.  The breed tends to be quite vocal and may bark a lot.  Although a well socialized Wire Fox Terrier will do well with other dogs, the breed should not be left alone with smaller animals, as the dog may view them as prey.

Exercise:
The Wire Fox Terrier makes an excellent partner for dog sports, as he is very high energy and needs lots of physical and mental exercise.  The breed needs long daily walks as well as a chance to explore his neighborhood.  This dog is a high energy level breed!  A Wire Fox Terrier that is not properly challenged will mostly likely develop a barking habit.

Grooming:
A professional groomer who understands what the breed's coat is supposed to look like should be used for the Wire Fox Terrier.  If the Wire Fox Terrier's coat is hand-stripped and tidied up by a professional groomer several times a year, he will only require occasional brushing.  The Wire Fox Terrier's coat is almost nonshedding.

Training:
Positive reinforcement training is required for this energetic breed.  The Wire Fox Terrier is very smart and curious, but easily distracted.  Socialization is extremely important to keep the Wire Fox Terrier from becoming overly territorial.  Potty training the Wire Fox Terrier can take longer than other breeds. To keep this breed interested in training, it must remain upbeat, challenging, and fun for the dog.