Teeth Cleaning For Dogs

Brushing your dog's teeth is a good habit to begin when they are still puppies.   If you get an adult dog, slow introduction to the use of a special toothbrush and toothpaste is always a good idea.  The paste used on the brush can be purchased online or at a dog supply store and is usually flavored.  Introducing the brush should be done slowly in both puppies and adults.   This is a job you will be doing for the duration of your pet's life and the last thing you want is for them to be afraid.

I recommend getting a couple of brushes to begin.   Find something your dog really likes and is not allergic to, maybe creamy peanut butter or cream cheese, and put a small amount on your finger.  Let your pet lick it off then move to lifting the muzzle in all places, allowing the reward for you manipulating their face to be the treat you have on your finger.  Soon your companion will look forward to seeing those fingers coming to their mouth.   After the dog allows this movement of their muzzle, then introduce the brush with the creamy treat on it.  Let the dog lick that off and use lots of praise.   When they have made the connection between praise, food, the brush and your hand, then place the brush, with nothing on it, onto their teeth and slowly make a few strokes.

There are some dogs who have no objections to tooth brushing and this process will go very fast, others who may have been abused, lack self confidence, or are very dominant, will take longer.   Let them taste the toothpaste from your finger then place it on the brush.   For a dog who has issues with you handling its mouth and muzzle take as long as the dog needs to reinforce the positive side of this exercise.   Little dogs often have major tooth decay issues throughout their lives.   Sometimes they even require vet care for cleanings as often as once a year.   Larger dogs seem less likely to need this yearly vet dental work, but keep an eye on the teeth as rotten or broken ones will need immediate attention.   Brushing does not eliminate the need to have a vet check the teeth and when one gets yearly shots for their pup would be a good time to address this concern.

If patience and time is taken to teach the dog tooth brushing is not something to fear, doing this once a week will not be such a chore.   One can also add treats that clean the teeth on a daily basis.   I used to believe that feeding only dry food would help clean the teeth but my vet said a study performed recently showed this not to be the case.   Good dental hygene is simply a matter of putting it into you and your companions daily and / or weekly routine.


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Search and Rescue Dogs...9-11-01

As the memory of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 come to mind on this twelfth anniversary, it would only be right to speak about Search and Rescue dogs.    Often one sees German Shepherd Dogs (as pictured above), Bloodhounds and Labrador Retrievers doing the search work on television, but many breeds and mixes can qualify for this job.   It is the determination, prey drive (desire to seek and catch prey) and tenaciousness of the individual canine which creates the basis for a SAR (search and rescue) dog.

Once a candidate for SAR has been identified, there is a long, ongoing training process.   Some start as puppies, others adults, some found in shelters, others bred specifically from a long line of active working dogs (ones of great pedigree, sound temperament and health with parents who participate in a working sport to win honors).  After the animal is chosen, the handler devotes a huge amount of time to training which is ongoing for the life of the dog.  Most training takes place in the worst of weather conditions, rain, fog, snow, high heat and humidity along with all the external hazards of sharp debris, biting bugs, and possible collapses.   During  training sessions, a few dedicated owners and their companions meet to set scent trails, create hiding places in debris, bury themselves in snow drifts, or hide in mosquito filled woodlands until each dog has had many opportunities to seek out and find the "lost" or "buried" person.    This all takes place in locations that are safe for the animal but not usually in comfortable environments.   The canines are also worked in sessions of agility training, not the type where there is a course to follow at top speed, but a carefully put together collection of real ladders, rocks, tunnels, jumps and balancing type of wooden beams.   The dog grows in self confidence and only positive reinforcement of the animal is used.

They are taught to find a human or specific animal, living or not, by use of their excellent scenting and hearing skills by zoning  into what is called "the scent cone" of a missing person.   Trailing back and forth, usually with their nose in the air (called air scenting) they hone in on the scent, then when close, they drop their nose to the ground to pick up the exact location.  Some dogs are taught to sit, bark, lay down, or dig when a hidden person is located.   Avalanche dogs actively dig the human out of the snow while the handler makes sure to watch them closely, running to the spot and helping to dig as well.  There are dogs who are used in water search that sit inside a boat, scenting, as they are slowly motored around a body of water.  A dog can smell and locate, depending upon exterior conditions, a few babies tears placed on a football field of grass, as well as a one drop of bleach in 100 gallons of water.   Canines sense of smell is so discerning that some are used to detect cancer cells, determine the chemical changes in our body to predict the onslaught of seizures, low blood sugar, angina, panic attacks, and a host of other internal health issues.

Once the SAR dog is trained, they practice regularly in the most hostile of conditions so when they get the call to come and help, there will be no hesitation.   Dozer was my main search and rescue dog although Spirit and Echo were also trained.   Many of our searches were to locate lost children or the elderly in urban environments.  Each animal sees the person they are locating as "prey" (not to be confused with attacking or killing anything) and the locating of the prey is its own reward.  Some trainers use a specific toy only given after a successful search is completed, others use high levels of praise from the rescued person.   No matter what method used, situations in training are always geared for the canine to become successful.    This creates a willingness to never give up even when nothing is being found.   The SAR dogs who searched in 9-11 and the Oklahoma bombing became depressed when they were not finding any live people, so the handlers created smaller searches where another handler was hiding and the canine found them, in order to boost the morale of the dogs.

Search and Rescue dogs are so dedicated they often pursue until they have bleeding paws, forsaking food and driving themselves to near exhaustion.   The handlers are just as committed  but have to stop their pets and force them to rest.   It is an honor to watch a canine detect and rescue a missing person in any circumstance and we should celebrate all the heroes, human and canine who are devoted to locating lost loved ones. 


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A Forever Home

Meet Rascal, found running loose in my neighborhood and I was called to see if I had room to take him.   Assisted by the local humane society, this bundle of energy found a forever home.    Such an adorable little man, he blended into my home and routine seamlessly.   He was happy go lucky, bouncy, and totally house broken.

I always wonder why people dump pets of any variety, but when one comes along who has everything going for him... I really scratch my head.    About a year old, Rascal was teaming with fleas and had intestinal worms, very matted fur and diarrhea; but those issues are an easy fix and if the owner had maintained him properly the cost would be minimal.  The humane society paid for all the vet bills of heart worm check, fecal, exam, medications and neutering.   Quite a chunk of change there.   Our local humane society is non profit, staffed by only the owner of the land and her husband (who live on the expansive property) and a few come and go volunteers.   Hard work and many fund drives later, she was able to erect a beautiful building, complete with large exersize pens, concrete floor, big, chain-link pens inside the building, heating and air conditioning, beds for every pet, as well as a very large section of all grass that is divided into huge pens for the dogs to get out, run, play and socialize with each other for company.   It is a no kill shelter, thus, no animal is euthanized except for severe physical trauma cases that stand no chance of recovery.    Thus, there is not a lot of room for taking in new animals.   Each potential owner goes through an extensive screening process.   The only cost is to pay back for shots, spay and neuter, and a minimal adoption fee.   If adopting a dog or cat, you get a healthy animal, they completely cleared by the vet, altered, taking heart worm preventative and have flea/tick treatment already on them.   It is a huge bargain.

There are some very lucky dogs who get to go live in foster homes.   This is the service I provide to do my part.  I take them to the vet if needed, keep up their monthly medications, give bathes if needed, grooming, and most of all training.   I take ones who have been abused, maybe showing signs unacceptable temperament and might have much less of a chance for adoption because of poor behavior.   Teaching them the basics of sit, down, come, as well and house breaking and raising self esteem, they become good citizens of the canine world.

Rascal was already house broken and he loved to snuggle in bed.   Having high self esteem and a dominant personality and learned the doggie door quickly.   He loved to go for walks and didn't mind the grooming (which was daily brushing as his fur was so soft and would tangle), but his favorite thing was to ride in the car.   His size afforded a perfect travel companion and a couple who's dog had recently died of old age adopted him.   I still hear back or see them at sponsored events and they tell me how he is doing and bring pictures.   Truly, Rascal was a mans dog.  Some dogs prefer women, others men, and some love everyone.   Rascal's new owners wanted him to be in all parts of their life.  The husband was especially fond of taking his new buddy out on long rides.

I have heard people say it must be difficult to let a foster dog go to a new home after one has put so much love and time into them.   To these people I would answer a resounding, yes, it is very hard on the heart.   But on the other hand, it is extremely rewarding.  I am able to give a shelter dog a house to live in, walks, time at the park, rides in my car, interaction with other species and thoroughly
determine the type of new family home the pet would best fit into.   The benefits to the adopter is getting a dog who has many "shelter kinks" worked out and will usually blend seamlessly into their home and routine.  Do the dogs miss me?  Honestly, I am not sure. I know they do not forget me, for I have seen them with their new owners and I am greeted with many kisses and a warm welcome.   But dogs live in the moment, and when the chemistry between pet and owner is good, they seem to flick their tail in a last wave of goodbye as they load up into their new guardians car.   Rascal is now king of his new castle, getting everything a dog ever dreams of, and boundless love from his new family.  The successfully placed foster animals have left indelible footprints on my heart, were cried over when they left, but their placement into a forever home allowed me to open my family to Spike and Grace as foster additions.  I am grateful and honored for the time I shared my life with Rascal, may his new family receive the warmth, love, and joy this sweet boy showed to me.


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