Frosty Whiskers and the Hypothermic Half-Marathon!

Fundraising for the Winnipeg Humane Society

2017/2018 update:

In February 2018, Jillian will be joining some brave colleagues from The Winnipeg Humane Society to run in Manitoba winter weather!  Some will be doing the Half-marathon, and some of us will be trying to beat our best time in the 10K.  

You can donate directly to this fundraiser on the Winnipeg Humane Society's webpage 

Stay tuned to the Frosty Whiskers' Facebook page and the Pawsitive Pet Care Facebook page for exciting fundraising goals and updates!  

Original Post from November 29 2014:

Those who know me know I am a coffee addict. Recent increases in coffee prices had me thinking: I spend a good $2 every single day buying drive-thru coffee. That comes to at least $60/month!  It just so happens that my wonderful co-workers on the Behaviour Team at the The Winnipeg Humane Society are doing the Hypothermic Half Marathon in support of the WHS on February 22nd. I have decided that, starting today, I will brew my coffee at home and set $2 aside each day to donate towards this worthwhile cause. That's 85 days, $2 per day, equalling $170 to help animals in the care of the WHS! 

My last drive-thru coffee for 85 days.

I welcome anyone who wants to help fundraise for this worthwhile cause to join me.  Please donate at http://www.gofundme.com/frostywhiskers and share this page to help our animals in need.  It costs an average of $400 PER DOG in the care of the WHS and they rely solely on donations from the generous public. Thank you and happy training 

Learn more by visiting the Frosty Whiskers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frostywhiskers

 And visit our Facebook page at Facebook.com/PawsPetMB

Getting the Most from your Dog Walker

Here are some helpful tips for getting the most from your dog-walking service:

First and foremost, your dog walker is there for your dog to have fun, get some exercise, and be safe :)  Here are some friendly tips for ensuring the process goes smoothly.  Feel free to comment with tips of your own!

• Please ensure your dog has ID tags with an up-to-date name and phone number, as well as rabies vaccine tag and city license tags.  Owners are responsible for any fines if the dog is found without a city license.  
• Please ensure the dog has a properly-fitting collar.  The collar should not be able to slip on and off over the dogs head as this means it is loose enough for the dog to back out of it.  The collar should be tightened so that you can comfortably slide 2 or 3 fingers underneath it.  
• Please provide a regular, 6-foot nylon leash, or let us know if you do not have one and we will supply one of our own.  While retractable leashes are tempting as they give the dog more room to roam and explore, they are dangerous and make it very difficult to control the dog should your dog-walker encounter an unexpected situation, such as an off-leash dog or a cyclist trying to pass on a narrow path.  Similarly, if the leash is too short, this prevents the dog from sniffing and getting the most enjoyment out of his walk.  
• Be up-front and honest about your dog's health and behaviour.  Dog-walkers often walk many dogs in a day, so it is very important you let them know if your dog has anything that could be contagious.  You may need to cancel that day's walk, or your dog-walker may need to bring a change of clothes so as not to spread any illness to other dogs.  Your dog's health and safety are the first priority.
• Don't be afraid to tell your dog-walker if your dog is reactive or has a challenging behaviour you are working with.  Knowledge will help your dog-walker be well prepared and keep everyone safe.  
• If your dog pulls on leash, please provide a properly-fitted head-collar or anti-pull harness.  Your dog-walker wants your dog to enjoy his walk, not to be choking himself trying to pull his way down the street.  Ask for help if you are unsure as to what is the best tool for your dog or if you need help fitting the collar.  
• If you have any questions or concerns at all, please ask!  Your dog-walker is there for your peace of mind and for your dog's enjoyment.  If you are ever unsure of anything or have any suggestions, don't be afraid to communicate with the owner or supervisor, they are there to help and ensure everything is to your satisfaction. 

Please keep in mind that these are suggestions and not "rules" - you are your dog's advocate and are the final say in how your dog is cared for :)  Pawsitive Pet Care (formerly Sturgeon Park Pet Care) provides personalized notebooks to all our regular clients to facilitate communication between clients and their dog-walkers.  If you are a current client, please feel free to use those notebooks or contact Jillian any time.  Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for allowing us to do what we love!

Before You Hire a Dog-Walker:

If you're reading this blog and are thinking of hiring a dog walker for the first time, here are some suggestions for ensuring the right fit:

• Ask questions about how they handle challenging behaviours such as jumping up, pulling on leash, barking at other dogs, etc.  Your dog-walker should know how to handle these in a safe and positive manner, without using harsh corrections or punishment on your dog.  
• Ask for references from other clients, they should be more than happy to provide this for you.
• Ask about insurance and bonding.  A professional service should have business insurance and bonding for employees. 
• Ask how they would store your key.  Your key should not be stored with your address so that if the key is ever stolen it is not able to be matched with the house it belongs to.  
• Ask how many dogs they walk at a time.  Although it is common in metropolitan cities for commercial dog-walkers to walk up to 8 dogs at a time (each municipality has its own laws about the maximum number of dogs), this is a potentially dangerous situation and may not be enjoyable for the dogs.  You want someone who can give individualized attention to your dog and to ensure he is safe and enjoying himself.
• Ask about emergency situations.  Does the dog-walker have emergency pet first aid?  What would they do if your dog were sick or injured?  They should also be asking you about your dog's health information and should know where the nearest vet clinics are located. 
• Ask about their off-leash policy.  Would the walker take your dog to an off-leash dog park?  While this may sound like a great opportunity for your dog to have a good time, are you 100% sure they would come back to your dog-walker if you weren't there?  What about the greater risks involved in visiting dog parks?  

As mentioned previously, having a dog-walker should bring you some peace of mind that your dog is getting company and exercise while you are busy at work or otherwise away from home, so you can come home from a long day at the office to a happy, relaxed pooch :) 

  To learn more about Pawsitive Pet Care's Dog Walking services, please visit PawsitiveCare.ca/Dog-Walking

  To learn more about us and read our reviews, please visit www.Facebook.com/PawsPetMB 

Thunder Phobia & Fireworks

Looking for professional pet care services? 

Visit our newly designed website at www.PawsitiveCare.ca

Originally posted on July 1, 2014

Happy Canada Day!

As much as many Canadian humans enjoy the festivities that come along with celebrating our nation's birthday, many dogs are afraid of the fireworks that are often part of the celebrations.

While we cannot prevent the fireworks, we can certainly make this potentially stressful night much easier on our canine companions.  Here are a few suggestions, and please feel free to add your own in the comments :)

1. Close your windows and play the radio, TV, or some form of white noise to help drown out the noise of the fireworks.  Some studies have shown that talk radio, classical music, and other calm & soothing music works best to reduce stress.  
2. Keep your dog indoors to prevent him from panicking and escaping from your yard, if he absolutely needs to go out, please go out with him and ensure your gate is secured.  If possible, take your dog for a nice, long walk earlier in the day to tire him out and let him get all his business done before dark.  
3. Kennel train your dog so they have a safe place to go & hide.  If they are not kennel trained, allow them access to a comforting area.  Maddy likes to go in her kennel, but she also will curl up under the couch if we are sitting on it.  She has even curled up in the closet!  Some dogs hang out under the kitchen table or in their owner's lap.  Allow the dog to choose a preferred location and make it as quiet and comfy as possible.  Do not lock your dog anywhere, allow them freedom of choice.  
4. A Thunder Shirt can be helpful for some dogs.  I won't go into this at length in this blog post, but I encourage you to do your own research on this and/or ask your veterinarian or professional dog trainer if you think this may be a good option for your dog.  
5. Please do not be afraid to comfort your dog!  It is a myth that comforting a scared dog will reward his fear.  It is not possible to operantly condition fear, meaning we cannot punish the fear out of the dog, nor can we reward the fear and make it worse.  If your dog finds petting and cuddling comforting, please go right ahead.  If your dog prefers to be left alone and curl up somewhere quiet, please allow him to do so.  
   
   For more about classical conditioning and how positive associations can help reduce your dog's fear, check out our blog post on Pavlovian Conditioning (Classical Conditioning), called "Remember Pavlov?".  
6. Desensitization & Counter-Conditioning.  This refers to helping to change how your dog feels about the loud noises.  Providing your dog treats and other things that he enjoys (play, attention, food, etc.) during fireworks can help your dog realize "this isn't so bad after all".  You can also do desensitization exercises by playing recordings of fireworks at a very low level (so low that your dog can barely hear it and does not react negatively), and pair this with reinforcing things (treats, toys, games, pets, whatever your dog enjoys).   
7. Distract your dog and provide pleasant distractions to redirect his attention.  Stuffed Kongs or other "stuffable" interactive toys are a great tool.  Visit our Boredom Busters blog for more information on interactive toys.  

Kongs!  

Measure out one meal for your dog.

Mix in about a 1 /2 can of canned wet food.

No canned food on hand?  No problem, simply pour a small amount of water over your kibble - just enough to soften it - then let it sit for a few minutes while the water is absorbed.  

Spoon the mixture into Kongs and place in the freezer.  You can add a spoonful of peanut butter over the top to seal it off if you like.  I prefer to use all-natural peanut-butter with no sugar added.

Why the freezer?  This way the mixture freezes and takes longer for your dog to work through.  The bonus is that you can make up as many Kongs as you have as far in advance as you want and they will stay fresh in your freezer and are ready to go any time you need them.  This is fantastic for unexpected thunderstorms or any situation in which you need your dog to keep busy or distracted. 

If your dog gets frustrated with the frozen Kong and gives up, or if your pet finds the cold unpleasant, you can keep them in the fridge.  You can also freeze it while it's half-full and then add fresh when you take it out of the freezer.  By the time your pet works their way through to the frozen part, it will have begun to thaw and will be easier to eat.  

(For Reference, our Maddy gets 1 1/2 cups of kibble per meal.  This mixed with a 1/2 can of wet food filled two large Kongs and two small Kongs, plenty to keep her busy for quite some time!)

Other options for filling Kongs or other stuffable toys: 

• canned pumpkin - high in fibre (make sure you get 100% pure pumpkin and not pie filling!)
• all-natural peanut butter (keep in mind this is high in fat and be sure it does not contain xylitol) 
• all canned wet food (without the kibble) can be done up more quickly if needed
• anything safe that your dog enjoys - treats, left-over turkey, etc. 

Final step: serve and watch your dog enjoy :) 

 What NOT to do:

• Please never punish your dog for being afraid, even if he has an accident in the house.  An angry owner is scary and will only increase your dog's fear.  You want to be the source of comfort and reassurance for your dog.  
• Please never force your dog to "face his fear" by forcing him to be flooded by the fearful stimulus all at once.  Gradual counter-conditioning and desensitization can be done with the help of a compassionate and competent trainer and this process involves keeping your dog under threshold (comfortable enough that they are not showing signs of fear) and should be done with the guidance of a trained professional.   
• Please never make your dog drowsy with sedatives.  Imagine you are afraid of spiders and one is crawling towards you, but you have been given a very strong medication and are so sleepy you are unable to get up and move.  Your dog may appear outwardly calm but could be panicking internally.  
• There are some more appropriate medications that can certainly help with noise phobias, please talk to your veterinarian about these, but please never use sedatives.  A good, more in-depth article on this topic is available at http://fearfuldogs.com/acepromazine/

Jillian Enright, CPDT-KA

Visit our website for more information about Jillian and Pawsitive Pet Care.

Visit us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PawsPetMB 

For more information on dog behaviour, visit

www.pawsitivepooch.blogspot.ca