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Greetings!
 | | Teoti & Logan |
If you've read my books, you know I'm a fan of crate training. My third book was all about it! Crates are a very useful tool for housetraining puppies and keeping them safe while they're in the chewing stage. They're also critical when you have a dog of any age who requires rest for an illness or injury.
As I write this, my 10-year-old Labrador Retriever, Logan, is sleeping peacefully in his crate, recovering from surgery to remove three mast cell tumors. He's calm and happy, because when he was a puppy I trained him to enjoy his crate. Logan is a very bouncy boy, so the crate is helping keep him still so he doesn't open his sutures. It's also protecting him from the loving ... if misguided ... attention of his two canine brothers, who could lick his injuries and also interfere with his healing.
If you haven't explored crate training with your dog, you'll find tips on how to start in this newsletter. You'll also find information on the importance of physically examining your dog to keep ahead of health problems. I've also included information on safe handling of pet food. Please check out our schedule of upcoming classes -- Family Manners II graduates, please take note we'll be offering Family Manners III this next session, the only time this year. If you find this information helpful, please feel free to forward it to a friend!
Please give your dogs cookies from me. Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTPPawsitive Results, LLC
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Class Schedule
It's never too late for your dog to learn! Sign up for classes today. Learn how to register.
Family Manners I
Tri-City Leisure Center, West Columbia
Class begins Thursday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Now taking registration!Friarsgate Park, Irmo
Class begins Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Now taking registration! Family Manners IIITri-City Leisure Center, West Columbia Class begins May 10 at 8:30 p.m. Now taking registration!
Please note: This is a five-week class, with three classes at Tri City and two field trips on Saturdays. This is the only time this class will be available this year. Please check the site for details. Private LessonsWe offer a variety of training packages in the convenience of your home. Choose from Puppy Head Start, Housetraining Help, Family Manners, Behavior, and Competitive Rally Coaching. Times not work for you? Check out our future schedule. |
Lumps & Bumps & Cancer ... Oh My
 | | Logan recovering from surgery. |
If you've been reading this newsletter for two years, you know that my Labrador, Logan, had a mast cell tumor removed and after chemo, was cancer-free. I'm sad to report that while the original tumor has not recurred, the mast cell cancer is back, showing up in three new tumors. We have a really good chance to beat this again, because I found the lumps early. Have you ever done a complete physical check of your dog? Please start today! So many health issues can be helped if you find the problem early, including cancer. Cancer is a scary diagnosis, but please understand it's not a given death sentence. Treatment has come a long way, and there are a variety of options. Animals also respond differently to the treatment than what you may have experienced or heard about with people. For example, Logan just had major surgery and he's bouncing around like his usual sweet self. I'd be in bed for weeks! The chemo used in pets is a very small amount, so the side effects are minimal. Logan went through his last treatments like a champ. While I was warned some animals do lose their whiskers, he kept his. He did have a reaction to his last treatment, but I was prepared ahead of time and one night in the hospital and he was bouncy again. So if you find a bump on your dog, don't despair. Just get it checked. While you often think of older dogs getting lumps, they can appear at any age. So the time to start examining your dog is now. Start at your dog's head. Examine his mouth, inside and out -- see any bumps? Anything odd? Check his entire head and ears. Run your hands down his neck and chest. Feel all four legs and examine his paws -- don't forget in between the pads. Run your hands along his sides, flanks and belly. You need to be thorough, so check his inner haunches and groin. (Three of Logan's lumps were in his groin area. I found his first one when he rolled over and stretched.) Check his back legs and paws. Don't forget his tail, if he has one. There are many kinds of bumps and lumps dogs can get, so even if you find one it doesn't mean it's cancer. Logan, like many Labradors, is prone to lipomas -- fatty tumors. When I found his first tumor, I thought he's just sprouted another lipoma. I got it checked just in case, and I'm so glad I did! Once you've checked your dog from head to tail, please make a routine to check him regularly. You'll want to find lumps as they appear, and monitor any ones that come up to see if they change or get bigger. If you do find one, please do ask your veterinarian to check it. Logan and I send you best wishes it's just a bump and nothing serious!
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Safe Handling of Pet Food
You know you're supposed to be careful when handling food for people to avoid salmonella and other bacteria. Did you know you also need to be careful when handling pet food?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has an informative video on safe handling of pet food. You can access it here. |
A Crate Idea
If your veterinarian says your dog needs to be still for any reason, by then it's pretty late to introduce your dog to a crate! So please do this ahead of time, just in case you need it.
Set up the crate in a place where it's near family activities. Leave the door open. Toss treats inside so your dog goes into eat them. Do not shut the door yet.
As your dog gets comfortable going into the crate, start shutting the door behind him and then immediately opening it again. Gradually keep the door closed for longer periods of time.
At mealtimes, put your dog's food bowl inside the crate and shut the door -- with the dog on the outside of the crate. This will build up anticipation to go in! After a minute, let him in to eat and shut the crate door with him inside.
If your dog is clicker trained, you can also shape him to go inside the crate. First, click and treat for him looking at the crate. Then click and treat for movement towards the crate. Click and treat for a nose or paw in the crate, then two paws, three paws, etc. Keep your sessions short and always end on a good note.
When your dog is reliably going into the crate, you can add a cue. "Go to kennel!" "Kennel up!" "Go to jail!" Reward your dog for going inside.
If you teach your dog to enjoy confinement, he will have much less stress should he need it after an injury or surgery. This will help him recover faster! |
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About Pawsitive Results, LLC Pawsitive Results, LLC offers reward-based group dog training classes in Irmo and West Columbia, SC., as well as private lessons. Owner Teoti Anderson is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, author and public speaker.
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