|
|
|
Good News for Dog Owners
 I recently read a book by John M. Barry called "The Great Influenza" which discussed the human influenza pandemic of 1918. This virus caused the death of 100 million people across the globe before it ran it's course. At the end of the war and final days of the virus's killing spree, a successful vaccine still had not been found.
We are all vulnerable to viruses, as are our animal friends. Considering the fact that the canine flu virus is fairly new, we are extremely lucky that a vaccine is on the way after such a short time. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the nation's research veterinarians, we should soon be able to protect our dogs from this virus, or at least, lessen the symptoms of the virus. As the testing of the vaccine continues, things are looking good for an approval by the USDA.
Please read the article below to find out more about the new vaccine which will (hopefully sooner rather than later) keep our canine population safe from the canine flu virus, a subtype of equine virus H3N8.
Debi Ropes-Stevenson
General Manager, Lucky Dog Resorts
UPDATE!! The canine flu vaccine has arrived at some vet offices. As of August 30 all dogs who come to Lucky Dog will be required to have the vaccine. This vaccine will require two injections, the vaccine and a booster.
|
|
|
| Contact Us |
|
4401 Mark Dabling Blvd
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907
719-599-9663
or
2801 Janitell Rd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
719-527-9663
|
|
|
|
|
Your Dog's Health
On the Horizon:
A Canine Flu Vaccine!
Some of you may remember the canine flu outbreak of last year. Since the canine flu is highly contagious and a new virus in the canine population (having jumped species from horses to dogs) dogs have no natural resistance to the disease. Last year, dogs all over Colorado Springs became sick with the flu, but all who were exposed will now have some natural immunity to it. How long the canine natural immunity lasts is a matter of speculation in the veterinary community.
Fortunately, a vaccine for the canine flu is on the way! The USDA has given conditional approval to Intervet/Shering Plough Animal Health for their canine influenza vaccine. During this conditional period the Company will continue to submit data regarding the products performance, and Government regulators will determine whether a license can be granted for the vaccine.
The canine flu vaccine being tested contains inactivated whole virus so there is no chance of a dog catching the flu from the vaccine. During the field trials, 700 dogs from 30 breed groups ranging in age from 6 months to 10 years were tested, and no side affects or safety issues were noted.
Like the bordetella (canine cough) vaccine the canine flu vaccine will not necessarily prevent the disease from occurring, but greatly decrease the severity and duration of symptoms associated with the flu. The new flu vaccine will be recommended just as the bordetella vaccine; dependent on the dog's lifestyle. Immunization for the flu will be indicated for dogs that visit dog parks, boarding facilities, grooming parlors, and training classes etc.
Your friends at Lucky Dog will monitor the progress of the vaccine and will let you know when it is available through your veterinarian. If the success of the vaccine trials continues, and the vaccine is approved, Lucky Dog will require our visiting dogs to be protected against the canine flu.
UPDATE - The canine flu vaccine has arrived at some vet offices! We will require the vaccine for all dogs entering Lucky Dog after August 30!
If you have any old or new carpeting that you don't want, Lucky Dog may be able to use it! We are working on decreasing the sound level at our Central location using a variety of materials. Let us know if you have any carpet we can beg off of you and we will come and get it!
| |
|
Trainer's Corner
Human Emotions and Guilty Dogs
by Angie Neal,CDBC
Years ago I had a client who swore his dog had guilty feelings about getting on the couch when the client left home. Every day the owner would come home from work, open the door, and observe a "guilty" look on his male lab's face, and dog hair on the couch was evidence of the "crime." To make sure the dog knew he had done wrong the owner would yell "NO COUCH!" at the guilty looking dog.
This owner was frustrated at the dog's refusal to stay off the couch, and asked me how to stop this behavior. He KNEW it was his male lab because he was convinced his female lab would never be so disrespectful! I told him that yelling at his dog when he had possibly been on the couch hours before he came home was doing no good, and he needed to catch the dog in the act.
The owner took my advice. The next day he came home 30 minutes early, sneaked up to the front window and peeked into his living room. What he saw shocked him; it was his female lab stretched out on the couch! He unlocked his door and stepped into his house. There was his female looking fine (off the couch now) and his male lab showing huge submission signals which the owner had always interpreted as a sign of guilt! The man felt terrible for all the reprimands he had directed at the wrong dog.
The sad thing about this case is that all the owner really accomplished was the idea (in the eyes of the male lab) that he (the owner) was not safe to be around when he first came home. It destroyed the human/dog bond. It took a long time for this poor dog to recover from such repetitious corrections.
Dogs do have basic primary emotions like humans. They are happy, playful, fearful, they feel safe or unsafe, they are hungry or in pain etc. Dogs guard their humans, toys, food, beds, and protect what they feel belongs to them, including their territory. However, emotions such as guilt, revenge, and jealousy, etc. are emotions that just too advanced for the canine brain. We need to interpret what is really going on when we think our dogs may be displaying these emotions.
| |
Lucky Dog will again sponsor:
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Saturday September 12
The event will be at the Garden of the Gods in the Rock Ledge Ranch parking area at 4:00 PM. Registration will be $40 (1 human, 1 dog) and $50 ( 1 human, 2 dogs).
REGISTER ONLINE NOW! Until 7:30 PM September 11 at:
You can also register on the day of the event on-site. Kids can register with their parents and pooch, then the whole dog gone family can sleep in on Sunday still supporting our vision, "A world without breast cancer." You can also show up Sunday without the pooch for the Race for the Cure.
Parking is only in Pleasant Valley or at the Race Expo Area (look for the tents on the corner of 30th Street and Gateway Road). Each pooch registered will receive a door prize drawing ticket! Other prizes will be awarded in a variety of fun pooch categories - Owner/Pooch look alike, best dressed, largest human fan club in attendance, biggest fundraiser - to name a few. Be creative and come on out to join the fun!
Lucky Dog will be selling pink tee shirts with our logo by the end of August. For each shirt sold, we will donate $5.00 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.
These shirts will be available in limited quantities, so if you are sure you want one let us know and we will order a shirt in your specified size.
| |
Goodbye Brian!
First the fun stuff - Brian and his wife Donna welcomed a baby son in June named Anthony Randall Moore. Congratulations to their entire family!
Now for the sad news. Brian has decided on a career change and will be leaving Lucky Dog before the end of July. Brian is our "homegrown" trainer having done his training apprenticeship while working as a dog guardian at Lucky Dog Central, and later working at Lucky Dog South. Brian has taught everything from basic obedience to tricks to trail manners, and his input and canine skills will be sadly missed at Lucky Dog.
Brian will be finishing up all on-going classes at Lucky Dog South. We wish Brian good luck in all his future endeavors.
Note: Future training at Lucky Dog South will be instructed by Nikki Athey who currently teaches puppy class on Saturdays at Lucky Dog Central. Her schedule at Lucky Dog South is posted under "Training" on our web site, and you can reach Nikki at nikki@bealuckydog.com
| |
|
|
|
Puppy Mills - Animal Cruelty for Profit
Whether you want to believe it or not, the majority of pet stores buy puppies from puppy mills. For many years it has been my policy to avoid pet stores that sell puppies, and if I'm in a mall I will not walk down a row of shops if a puppy selling pet store operates on that side. This may seem extreme to some people, and I understand that, but it is my way of avoiding the stores completely, not having to look into the eyes of those puppies in the window. I know where they've been and what they've been through and particularly what their parents have been through, and I am sorry I can't do more.
Recently, North Shore Animal League of America rescued 53 dogs from puppy mills in Kansas and Missouri (see "Don't Buy that Puppy in the Window!" in Quicklinks). These dogs were actually in fairly good condition, so the visual is not as bad as some I've seen. One of the mill owners was going in the hospital and he called to tell the rescue that they should come and get the dogs or he was going to shoot them. I guess we should be thankful that he called, but here is the kind of person puppy mill rescuers deal with.
You can help Mill Dog Rescue, a national organization with a local group in Peyton, Colorado. Please go to their web site at :
This group is fighting to raise enough money to keep their kennel facility; they do fantastic rescue work, but can't continue to do so much without a place to house the rescued dogs.
Update - and a bit of nonsense after the puppy mill information:
For all those waiting breathlessly for my dog, Darcy Jo's DNA results, we should know in a week or so and will publish results in the next newsletter. Debi Ropes-Stevenson
Lucky Dog Resorts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Save 25% on any KONG or KONG product at either Resort. No need to print coupon, just mention the "newsletter coupon." |
|
| Offer Expires: August 31, 2009
|
|
|
