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10 Tips for Humans
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 Our friends at Your Dog's Friend in Rockville MD have put together a great list of reminders for all of us. Their website is also a wealth of information for everyone who loves dogs. Their motto is "Helping Your Dog Become Your Lifetime Companion." Here are five of the tips:
- Dogs "speak" through body language. They show when they're happy, stressed, relaxed, etc. It's OUR job to understand what they're saying.
- Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise. Thinking helps build your dog's confidence and tires her out.
- Being around children can be stressful for dogs. Keep this in mind and monitor the interactions of your dog with your children and their friends.
- "Socialization" is not the same as exposure. Socialization is an over-used term that has come to mean "throw your dog into any and all situations and hope for the best." Your #1 priority should be to help your rescued dog feel safe.
- Training is a process. Dogs don't come knowing our language, rules, and expectations. Patience, consistency, kindness, and repetition are essential.
Read the entire list ...
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Come and See Us!
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Information about all our upcoming events is on our website "Events and News" page. 
Adoption Day and Dog Bath Weeks at Weber's Pet Supermarket! Weber's at Fox Mill (Herndon) is hosting NVSR for an Adoption Day on April 27th, noon to 4pm, where you can meet our volunteers and some of our foster dogs. IN ADDITION, for two more days there are NVSR Dog Bath Days at the self-serve Dirty Dog Spa, Fox Mill store, when NVSR will receive $10 for every dog bath. (Not just Shelties!) Directions to the store. Hurry! Tell your friends, neighbors, and family to bring "Princess" or "Buddy" in for a nice bath! 
Reston Pet Fiesta, Saturday, May 4, 10am - 4pm. Sponsored by GoodDogz.org , Reston's Town Center is turned over to dogs of all stripes and their people, along with doggie vendors, and almost 50 rescue groups. Including ... NVSR, of course ! We never miss the Reston Pet Fiesta. We'll have lots of Shelties there, including fosters, volunteers to "talk Sheltie," and lots of Sheltie items for sale to support NVSR.
Fetch Dog & Cat Bakery Bo utique, Sunday, May 12, noon - 4pm, Occoquan VA. This is a new place to host NVSR, and we're looking forward to meeting these new friends and showing off our Shelties. It's Mother's Day, so bring Mom to lovely Occoquan for some great shopping in their eclectic shops, and stop in to see your NVSR friends at the bakery. More info ...  Mark your calendar NOW for the fabulous and not-to-be-missed NVSR Annual Picnic, September 28 at Curtis Memorial Park in Hartwood VA. (Same place as last year.) Bigger and better than ever, and we'll have a barkin' good time!! If you have something special to donate to the Silent Auction, please let us know. |
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Foster Providers Workshop
|  On April 20, most of the NVSR foster providers got together for our second annual workshop on fostering. We had lots of fun sharing our experiences and knowledge about Sheltie health and behavior, and methods for finding the perfect home for each dog. We had lots of time to get to know one another, and played with several visiting Shelties.  With this kind of strong support and communication, NVSR can ensure that each of our rescued Shelties will get the best of care, as well as the best possible adoptive home. We also tried out many of the dog puzzles collected by our host volunteer. Here's Luca showing us how it's done! Would YOU be interested in fostering for NVSR? Let us know. |
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News and Notes
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2013 Calendar Cover
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We're busy collecting photos for the 2014 calendar. Our 2013 calendar, with all those gorgeous Shelties on it, sold out (and made $$ for us, too). We have guidelines for submitting your photos for the next edition. Click here to get them. The deadline is June 30. Questions?
If you purchase one of those collapsible hoses that are advertised on the Web, don't use it to fill your dog's water bowl!! It is coated inside with a substance that can make the water dangerous to drink. Don't YOU drink from the hose, either!
 Are you interested in getting your Sheltie into therapy work? Would your little darling be a good dog to visit nursing homes, hospitals, and other places where residents and patients might love to pet and talk to a dog? There are also opportunities in libraries for children to read to a dog. (Some find it easier to read to a dog than to a human.) Check out the requirements for therapy dog certification on the Therapy Dog International website. It's a good place to start.
Looking for one of our e-newsletter articles or links from past issues? You can find them in the e-Spin archives.
 One of our Sheltie friends sells custom-made jewelry with YOUR darling Sheltie(s) on it. Choose from a lovely large oval pendant with the photo encased in glass and gold or silver metal, or a  charm with the photo encased in a lucite cube. You could string one of these for each dog on a nice leather cord (included). Contact Zandra Starliper at Belle Fleur and ask for the 20% discount (coupon code "starfish") until July 31. More info ...
Here's another artist friend-of-NVSR offering to help us out with a donation for every pet portrait she sells. This might be a great holiday or birthday gift. Read all about it ...
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Dog Treat of the Month
|  We'll try to give you a new recipe each month for making your own dog treats. You'll know exactly what's in them, since you'll make them yourself. (Avoid those store treats that are suspect!) If you have a favorite recipe, send it in to us, and we'll feature it. Banana Biscotti5 c. flour 1/4 c. peanuts chopped fine 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 egg 1/4 c. vegetable oil 1 1/2 c. mashed ripe banana 2 tsp. vanilla water Oven at 325. Place dry ingredients in large bowl and make a well in center. Combine egg, oil, banana. Pour mixture into the well in dry ingredients and begin to mix. Add water 1 tsp. at a time as needed. Knead by hand on table until thoroughly mixed. Form into logs 2-2 1/2" high and flatten so the log is 6-7" wide and 1" high. Place on lightly greased baking sheet and bake 30-40 minutes. Remove and cool for 10 minutes. Slice into 1/2" slices. Return to baking sheets and bake for 20 minutes more or until golden brown. Cool. Store in airtight container. |
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New Arrivals
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These beautiful Sheltie newcomers are on our website. Check there for updates about them and when they'll be available for adoption.
Bear, M, 4 yo
Blaze, M, 4 yo
Flash, M, 5 yo
Jimmy, M, 10 yo
 Scotty, M, 2 yo |
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Donate to NVSR through CFC or CVC
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NVSR is a listed charity with the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC). If you work for the Federal or Virginia government, please consider signing up to give to NVSR through payroll deduction. Our designation numbers are on the logos above. Many thanks!
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Learn More About Canines
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Spring is here. Time to teach some new tricks to your Sheltie. This month we suggest a terrific book to get you started with clicker training to teach simple tricks, like "Shake" to complex ones like "Put away the laundry" and "Ride the skateboard." It's written by Mary Kay - we included her video last month with her highly trained border collies.  Dog Tricks: Over 50 Fun Tricks to Teach Your Dog
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| Quick Links | |
Check out The Whole Dog Journal for great tips on training, quality dog food, canine health and dog activities. No advertising, only solid, reliable information that really makes sense! The February issue includes their annual survey of dry dog foods. Don't miss it! WDJ has lots of excellent e-books, too.
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NVSR is on Facebook and LinkedIn!
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Check out our NVSR FB page and "Like" us, so that you'll receive the postings and news automatically.
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We're also on LinkedIn, so check in there, if you use that social network.  Thanks to our volunteers, Gregg Bender, Jessica Frost, and John Winslow, for helping with these.
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| Donate to Help NVSR |
NVSR is a 501(c)(3) organization, and your donation is fully deductible. Donate through PayPal or send a check (address below). We appreciate every dollar we receive - and every dollar goes to help our Shelties!
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| Contact us ... | |
703-912-4002
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