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We apologize for the delay in our first Newsletter of 2009, and for it's abbreviated content. We've been a bit busy settling down after Christmas:) We hope all of you had a merry Christmas season and we ALL hope for a very happy New Year!
Your friends at Lucky Dog |
Meet Our New Customer Service Manager
Eden Davis
Eden has been with Lucky Dog as our Service Manager since early November. She previously spent 10 years in construction management and graduated from Colorado College with a BA in Environmental Architecture.
In her spare time, Eden likes to hike, do triathlons and play with cats Diva, Zoe and Renee, and dogs Makita (Min Pin), Max (Shiba Inu mix) and Brangwen (Aussie/Rott mix).
Along with her admin skills, Eden has even been know to replace faucets at Lucky Dog, and is a great asset to the Lucky Dog team!
Welcome Eden!
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I Eat Bark,But Don't Bark at ME!,
I am Porcupine!
I have researched porcupines for this article and have learned more than I want to know. I found out that porcupines are born with soft quills, not surprising if the species is to continue (quills harden 30 minutes after birth). Just a fun fact.
Porcupines attack dogs, and often, dogs don't seem to learn. Some dogs get attacked again and again during their lifetimes. This goes against the negative reinforcement theory doesn't it ?(put away the pinch collars). Some dogs just love to go after these well defended creatures, and porcupines actually seem to tease dogs into it at times. Veterinarians expect a large influx of "quilled" dogs during the porcupine mating season, when dogs get hit the hardest. Canine vs. porcupine encounters begin in early spring until the porkys go into hibernation in late autumn. Sorry boxer owners, but many vets say this breed is most often quilled; they're just so stubborn they don't give up!
Porcupines do not "shoot" their quills, but thrash the quills into a dog during an altercation. The shooting quill idea may come from the thrashing porcupine tail that lodges the quills into the unfortunate opponent. The quills, which are not deeply rooted into the porcupine, are easily released, and the muscular motion of the dog's own body drives them deeper into the tissue. Dogs will then roll around the ground and paw at themselves from the discomfort, which also hastens penetration of the quills. If the unfortunate dog is found quickly, even the most inexperienced dog owner can pull the quills out with a pliers with little fuss (but a fair amount of blood). If it's been a while, it will be a lot harder to remove the quills. Fortunately, quills are laden with a natural antibiotic type substance and the points of entry rarely get infected. However, your vet may put your dog on an antibiotic after removing the quills, just to be sure. You should always visit your veterinarian even if the porcupine attack is minimal. Many dogs have to be anesthetized for quill removal.
Beware the wooded areas where porcupines like to hang out eating bark off of trees, and avoid taking your dog to areas where they have been sighted.
See quicklinks for a photo of how bad a porcupine attack can be. This dog recovered, but a warning, NOT FOR THE SQUEEMISH!
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 Happy New Year!
This was a challenging year for those of us in the kenneling and pet care community We were faced with previously unknown canine viruses, and the task of educating the public about what kennels and other public dog venues can, and cannot control. Our staff was pushed to the limit during the Christmas flu outbreak, but we kept our promise; to watch over our client's dogs and care for them as we would want our own dogs cared for.
Most of the people I speak to thank us, not only Lucky Dog's voice in providing honest information concerning the recent viruses, but our desire to follow to the letter the veterinarian recommendations we receive. We all love our dogs, and Lucky Dog is not a selfish organization. We published warnings of viruses in our town, we voluntarily closed for cleaning, and we turned business away for the sake of canine health.
Training Class Reschedules
Sometimes Lucky Dog's professional trainers will cancel a class if it is necessary for the welfare of the dogs. We do this as a courtesy to our client's, their canine friends, and the general health of our City's canine population. Dogs in training classes in all parts of the City are breathing the same air, visiting the same canine venues and vets, as are the dogs at Lucky Dog. Expect any responsible training facility to keep you informed, and cancel classes as necessary.
If you hear about us having had some sick dogs during this recent canine flu outbreak, it's absolutely true. Two years ago, major canine care and training facilities in Denver were invaded by the same flu that we have just experienced, and the numbers of dogs affected was staggering. The flu moved on, but the excellence of the facilities affected by it did not, and they are going strong. It will be the same with Lucky Dog, and we will soon be expanding our services to reach even more pet owners (more in next month's Newsletter!)
Why So Many Dog Owners Choose Lucky Dog!
We have a wonderful staff, fair pricing, and a whole world of dog activities for our clients and their dogs to enjoy! We have large play fields, excellent agility facilities, superb trainers, and reasonable daycare fees. All of these qualities add up to the best facility in town, and our cleanliness is second to none. Drop in any time for a tour and check out just how clean we are. Unfortunately, viruses that are spread through the air are unimpressed by surface cleanliness (although a clean environment discourages bacterial growth). So, are we affected by the airborne viruses that pass through Colorado Springs? Of course we are, as is any facility that hosts many dogs due to its reputation for great canine care and excellent training talent!
Research, education and understanding are the most important things....
I am optimistic that our research veterinarians and the companies that market canine vaccines, will find immunizations for some of our recently discovered canine viruses. However, the responsibility for prevention and dog owner education rests not just with veterinarians, but with pet care professionals. Boarding, daycare and training facility staff are the face the public sees, sometimes on a daily basis. If these care givers are passing out false or misleading information, particularly if it is to benefit their business or damage a competitor, they are doing the dogs an injustice. Lucky Dog is committed to continue the honest advice we provide our clients under all circumstances, and we applaud our competitors who do the same.
From our trainers, staff and management of Lucky Dog Resorts, Happy New Year!
DEBORAH ROPES-STEVENSON
General Manager, Lucky Dog Resorts
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| Trainers Corner |
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The True Meaning of Socializing Your Dog
by
Angie Neal, CDBC
Some people think that socializing your dog or pup is about introducing them to other dogs, or basically getting them "used to things" in our world. Both are true in a sense, but if you expose your dog to our human world in the wrong way, it might just back fire on you! An example of a mistake in socializing would be to take a shy or fearful dog to an off-leash park and expect the dog to fit right in. Some dogs may adapt, but some may get even more fearful, or aggressive.
So what is the true meaning of socializing your canine friend? Here is a definition:
Socializing is graduated exposure to a wide variety of stimuli done in a controlled and positive manner to increase social skills and adaptability.
Adverse socialization can occur if exposure is done incorrectly, but obviously that is not what we want.
Make places, people or things as positive as possible, especially in the first few introductions. A good example is a trip to the vet. Most dogs tolerate a vet trip as well as we tolerate a trip to the dentist. If you start making a trip to the vet a pleasant event when your dog is still a pup, or when you first adopt your older dog, you will be more successful. Provide highly motivational treats at each vet visit, to condition a emotional response (vet visit=great treats!) A dog that is very nervous about the vet should be brought in, treated by the vet staff, and then taken out without any other vet interaction. Make several visits in this manner before the dog actually sees the vet.
Have "scary" people, (big people, men with beards, people with canes/walkers etc.), provide your dog with tasty treats when they meet. This will help your dog see these folks as "gift givers", and they soon become the dog's favorite people! Dogs afraid of certain sounds,( vacuums, thunderstorm, etc.), can also be desensitized by providing treats while the offending noise is present.
Why is food the answer?
Ray Coppinger is a professor of biology at Hampshire College, and I had the privilege to listen to his lectures at a recent seminar. His theory of the evolution of the domestic dog, is that dogs actually adopted us. Ray believes that "Man is dog's best friend!"
Ray looked at the evolution of dogs from wolves. His research identified early populations of dogs living near humans, scavenging on human waste, with no direct human assistance. These dogs were thriving! The village dogs had a commercial relationship with humans; they had benefit of the humans, but cost them nothing. Their foraging, reproductive and hazard avoidance behavior was similar to a wild species, and created a niche for them - removing waste food from human settlements.
The lesson provided in Ray Coppinger's article is; feed high motivation treats when introducing dogs to our human society simply because dogs love food. Dogs are hard-wired to understand that food is their main source of survival. Studies show that dogs learn from food rewards, and they associate food with pleasure, security and comfort.
I always say the quickest way to your dog's mind is through his belly! Whatever behavior you reward with treats is a behavior your dog will repeat. Expose them to our world and feed them!
See quicklinks for more on Ray Coppinger.
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Ray Coppinger |
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