I wrote a Bubblews post the other day on 5 Helpful Uses for Teaching Your Dog Place. I wanted to share it with you guys! Place can be an extremely handy thing for your dog to know and is so easy to teach. In the picture, you see our dogs; Crash (Weimaraner) and Blackjack (Black Dog) on place at the lake! A nice way to keep your dog out of trouble.
Take a look at our Bubblews post; 5 Helpful Uses for Teaching Your Dog Place
Amy @ Talented K9 Dog Training talentedk9dogtraining@gmail.com Talented K9 Website Facebook Page YouTube Channel
Finding the right dog isnt always easy. There are nearly 500 dog breeds recognized by kennel clubs throughout the world. With so many choices, purebred and mixed, how do you find the right dog for your lifestyle? Basically, its a combination of common sense, doing your homework on breeds, and understanding that some dogs can be harder to handle.
Purebred or Mixed?
You want to feel comfortable around your dog. The first thing to consider is why you want a dog. Secondly, do you want a purebred or a mixed breed? If cost is a consideration, visit your local shelter or rescue groups for purebreds and mixed breeds, or contact breed specific rescues for purebred dogs. Buying from a responsible breeder is more expensive, but you will learn about your pups history and health, see his parents, and have someone happy to answer all of your questions. They will have questions for you, as well.
Energy Level
Do you want a dog that watches you toss a ball and then gives you a look that says, “Youre the one who threw it over there. Im not going to get it,” one who is eager and ready for a five mile run, or something in between? Regardless of size or breed, all dogs need some daily exercise and some need more than others. How much exercise are you willing to give your dog each day? A bored dog can be destructive if he isnt given an outlet to get rid of pent up energy. A daily walk adds stimulation to your dogs mind. We would get bored doing the same thing every day, and so do dogs that never get outside their enclosed area.
Living Space
Size can matter when it comes to space inside and outside your home, and so does the location of your home. Do you live in an apartment, small house, large house, the suburbs, a small town, downtown, or in a rural area? Is there a spacious backyard or one just large enough to justify owning a lawnmower? Is there a fenced-in secure area? How close are your neighbors?
Size of the Dog
If you have an apartment that reminds you of a closest, a Great Dane might not be your best choice, although as long as you provide him with plenty of exercise on a daily basis, it might work out if you dont mind having furniture rearranged when you get home. Your biggest consideration when it comes to size is can you control the dog and will he be comfortable in the space youre asking him to live in? Getting the right sized dog to fit your comfort level makes it easier for you to control him and keep him safe if you have a family that likes to rough-house. Size also matters when it comes to mealtime. A premium quality dog food like CANIDAE Life Stages is less expensive in the long run than lower quality brands because it doesnt take as much food to fill him up.
Coat Type
Some breeds require more time spent on grooming than others. A dogs coat can be wiry, long, short and with an undercoat, or single coat. Some coats need to be trimmed and some dont, and some breeds shed more than others.
Time for Training
All dogs should be taught basic commands, which gives you better control and helps you keep him safe. They all need to be socialized with other pets, people of all ages, and in different environments. Its not difficult to train a dog if you work with him on a daily basis until he learns what you are teaching and then reinforce it so he remembers. You might be surprised how quickly most dogs learn commands when youre consistent, dedicated, patient and respectful. Five or ten minutes a day is all you need. Its important to be able to handle your pet. Not all dogs are easy to control, and certain breeds should not be owned by someone who doesnt understand how powerful and strong willed they are.
Other People in the Home
Do you have young children or an elderly person living with you? No matter what kind of dog you decide on, young kids and dogs should never be left together unsupervised. Some dogs may not get along with older people who dont always interact well with them. Its important to make sure everyone in the home is comfortable with the size, breed, temperament and energy level of a dog before you bring him home.
Choose a dog wisely, for the right reason, and for your specific lifestyle. Its worth the time and effort when your perfect pet snuggles next to you on the couch, happy you picked him.
Your last post about aggression and what we can learn from and about it WITHOUT the need to experience it was spot on.
Are you THIS attached to your dog?(source)
You’re also right that my head is filled with glorious meta-analysis results right now, as well as perceptions and other measures (#allthemeasures!) as I start preparing my abstracts for submission to be part of the Canine Science Forum.
One of the small but quirky things I’ve noticed in the results of the perceived welfare of dogs survey, is that people seem to think their own pet dog has a much higher level of welfare than everyone else’s pet dog. Why would we think we take better care of our own dogs than anyone else? Now, this could be to do with the self-selected convenience sample of people who took the online questionnaire. Perhaps the 2,146 people who were interested and motivated enough to take the time to do the survey really are the very top of the pile of all dog owners, but I found it interesting all the same.
It got me thinking about our relationships with dogs (Ha! What’s new, right?!). I also happened to have a chat with Hal Herzog (while recording an upcoming episode of Human Animal Science) and, amongst many other things, we talked about how animals and pets aren’t universally beneficial for all people. Some people don’t even like their dogs. We know from extensive research into human psychology that our attitudes are major predictors of our behaviour. So are people who really love their animals more likely to take better care of them? (The answer is no, not always). Why is it that even people like us, who really find dogs fascinating and work with them daily, can feel more of a connection with one individual dog, but not so much another?
Definitely attached to dog (source)
When faced with a question like this, how do we measure these differences scientifically? We can look at (usually self-reported by the human) measures, such as time per day spent in the company, or interacting/sharing activities with pet dogs. This is valuable, but does not necessarily indicate emotional closeness of a person to their dog.
Lucky for me, plenty of psychologists, including earlier members of the Anthrozoology Research Group have tackled this and worked hard to create scales that measure the human-animal bond. The Monash Dog-Owner Relationship Scale, or MDORS as it’s more affectionately known is a great example. MDORS is a series of questions that form a psychometrically sound and validated scale. This scale was developed with the assistance of over 1,000 participants and comprises 28 items (statements that you agree/disagree with on a 5 point likert-style scale) across three subscales: Dog–Owner Interaction (e.g. “How often do you play games with your dog”), Perceived Emotional Closeness (e.g. “I wish my dog and I never had to be apart”), and Perceived Costs (e.g. "It is annoying that I sometimes have to change my plans because of my dog"). A scale like this can be used not just to assess how attached people are to their pet dogs, but also to explore how these attachments might vary between dogs, and with different groups of people (e.g. from different countries, with different cultural, work experience or education backgrounds, etc.), making it a very powerful tool for researchers.
(excerpt from Dwyer et al, 2006)
Used in conjunction with other questionnaires to investigate areas like grief at the loss of a pet, responsible pet ownership practices by owners, oxytocin levels in dogs, or human health benefits derived from pet ownership; attachment measures, like MDORS, can help us learn more about the importance of attachment to successful relationships for both human and dogs.
How many dogs are you attached to? (Flickr)
You might remember Tammie Kings research, that used a modified version of the Ainsworth Strange Situation to see what dogs did when separated from their familiar person and approached by a stranger (in her case, helping to measure the canine trait of amicability through their reaction toward the stranger). Tammie also asked owners to complete the MDORS and used the results in interpreting the canine behavioural data analysis for her PhD. So often in our research, its important to measure both sides of the story, because weve learned the experience of the human, or even the humans perception of the dogs experience, just dont match up to the dogs experience. Im pleased to see youll be tackling topics like these this weekend in San Francisco at the Canine Science Symposium event - yet another great line up of fantastic canine scientists sharing science for everyone:
(Source: Photo Lab Pet Photography)
Meanwhile, Im getting back to my research and pondering if attachment might relate to perceived welfare of dogs. Looking forward to your next update, Mia
Further reading:
Dwyer F., Bennett P.C. & Coleman G.J. (2006). Development of the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS), Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 19 (3) 243-256. DOI: 10.2752/089279306785415592
There are many dog magazines available today, and the mix is interesting. Some are just traditional ink and paper publications with no online presence, some have traditional and online offerings and some are simply online magazines/blogs. So whichever way you like to receive your information, there’s a dog magazine for you.
In this lineup I’ve only included general dog magazines. If you’re looking for a breed-specific magazine, there are plenty to choose from. Here are five dog magazines that I think are worth reading.
Best Friends Magazine
A publication from the respected Best Friend’s Animal Society —the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary— this general-interest animal magazine is as impressive as the organization itself. The bi-monthly publication is filled with important information, tips and advice, heartwarming stories and beautiful photographs. This is a subscription-based magazine that you’ll receive for making a nominal donation to Best Friends. What I love about this magazine and this organization is that all of the proceeds from the publication support the animals at the Sanctuary. Further, it helps Best Friends’ mission to reach a time when there are no more homeless pets. That’s a mission I can stand behind.
Modern Dog Magazine
With a strong online presence as well as a thriving traditional publication, Modern Dog magazine reaches the masses. They tout themselves as the best dog magazine ever and I know people who say the same thing. This truly is a lifestyle magazine with charming features, health and wellness articles and advice from veterinarians, dog trainers and behaviorists. There are DIY craft projects as well as reviews of the myriad dog-targeted products. They get a lot of celebrities and their dogs as cover models. The blog-style online magazine is a go-to for many animal lovers.
The Bark
Another online and traditional offering, Bark magazine is written for people whose motto is “Dog is my co-pilot.” Topics in each issue include dog culture and community, wellness, behavior, recreation and travel, and art and literature. What strikes me about this magazine is its modern, hip attitude. It seems as if they are talking to a new generation of dog lovers, and I like that. The archives are deep and the information extensive. This is a good general dog magazine that covers the gambit.
Dog Fancy Magazine
It seems to me that Dog Fancy Magazine is primarily focused on pedigreed dogs, and covers some dog show type issues. The Dog Writers Association of America named this traditional publication the Best All-Breed Magazine. With monthly distribution, Dog Fancy is known as a dependable and informational publication that features in-depth breed profiles, a Best Behavior section, and important tips and how-to instructions on dog training and behavior. A reader’s favorite is the Checkup section, where readers can send in their questions, which will be answered by top veterinarians. Each issue also has a centerfold poster of a featured breed, and the images are stunning.
Dogster
I have to include the online magazine/blog called Dogster in this lineup. The voice of this site is warm and interactive, with plenty of space devoted to Q & A’s as well as an entire community section. They also have the ever popular lifestyle, product review, health and wellness, and behavior and training sections. One of the things I like about Dogster is their friendly and humorous presentation; the information is delivered in an upbeat, heartfelt manner. As an online magazine, they also have the opportunity to include videos and reader photos.
It’s easy to satisfy your craving for cute dog photos and interesting anecdotes, tips and suggestions and all things dog-related. Did I miss any of the good ones? What is your favorite dog magazine?
Top photo by Vivian Chen Middle photo courtesy of Modern Dog Bottom photo by Spacecat
Well, I did it. I successfully tracked every dime spent on the dogs in 2015. I really enjoyed tracking my spending, seeing the trends, ect, and will do this again for this year. Its a great way to monitor where your money goes! I am so much more conscious of just what Im spending when its tracked here on the blog.
Here are the dog costs for this year:
2015 Dog Costs: $2,042.37
Vet costs were by far the biggest money eater, and nearly all of them were from Roxie. My dogs were around $250 (no yearly vaccines for mine, so it was mostly exams and flea/heartworm meds), with Roxie totaling just $1,000 in the 9 weeks she was here.
Food was the second highest cost at just under $400.
Miscellaneous items, including dog gear, a bird cage, and shipping/tax, was the next, at just over $300.
Toys and treats were quite low, at around $50 for toys and $25 for treats. Blogging has greatly reduced my costs in those areas.
Health (supplements, for the most part) was under $30.
Hmmm...not too terribly bad, I dont think. I was doing quite well until Roxies vet bills came along, haha. Oh well, she was worth it. ;)
The Challenge will run from March through May 2013. This is by popular demand from presenters who have
requested to be part of the Challenge but schools want to book in March and April.
Doggone Safe challenged its presenters to visit schools and educate 50,000 children about dog safety during March-May. So far 52 presenters have pledged to educate over 30,000 children in six countries, six Canadian provinces and twenty four US states.
The Be a Tree Program
The “Be a Tree” program is a dog bite prevention presentation for school children. The program is delivered by Doggone Safe presenters, veterinary technicians, dog trainers, dog behaviorists, public health nurses, emergency medical services personnel, animal control officers, police officers, teachers and humane educators. Presenters use a teacher kit which contains large format photographs showing dog body language signs, games and activities. Program sponsors can purchase supplementary branded learning materials such as coloring books, paint sheets, a story book, a poster, stickers, bookmarks and fridge magnets. Over 700,000 children worldwide have experienced the Be a Tree presentation since 2004. Through the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge Doggone Safe intends to increase this number significantly.
Help Us Promote
We need your help with promotion! We would love it if you would go right now and click on the icons below to follow and like us on social media (especially our new Twitter and Pinterest):
Write a blog post about the Challenge
If you want to write about the Challenge in your blog, we have pre-written articles with images that you can copy, or edit. Our experts love to give interviews too!
Tell the Media
We have press releases that you can use as is or edit to include your information if you are a Be a Tree presenter. Visit our Media page
Doggone Safe offers some radio PSAs to help keep kids safe around dogs over the holidays. Radio stations in North America must devote some air time to PSAs. Contact your local radio station to see if they are interested in playing any of these.
Link to this information on our main website.
These dog bite prevention Public Service Announcements can be read live and some can be downloaded as recorded WAV or WMA files. Some of these are specific for the holidays and some are general for use any time. The WAV files have been professionally recorded, ready for radio play.
Download a zip file containing the PSA scripts and just the holiday PSA recordings in high quality WAV format, suitable for radio play.
Download a printable version of all scripts (holiday scripts are marked as such)
Download a zip file contained printable version of scripts and all recorded PSAs in WMA format. These are suitable for listening to with a computer or posting to a web site.
Download a zip file containing scripts and high quality WAV files for all PSAs (holiday and anytime)
Download or listen to individual PSAs produced by Doggone Safe and view each script
Thanks to Theresa McKeon and Brian McKeon for donating their time to creating the recorded PSAs
Listen to PSAs produced by Big Dog 92.7 in Regina, Saskatchewan
Thanks to Tracy Block of Big Dog 97.2 and Sally Cleland for their time in creating these. If other radio stations would like to air any of these, please contact Tracy Block for broadcast quality versions.
PSAs Produced by Big Dog 92.7
26 Stitches
Adopt a Classroom
Learn to Be a Tree
Relearn ABCs
Straight Facts
Strange Dogs
SVMA 100th Anniversary
PSAs and Scripts Produced by Doggone Safe
To download individual files right click and choose "save target as" to download.indicates holiday PSA
PSA1
Listen
Celebrations at Grandma’s house over the holidays are the stuff of fond memories. Noisy gatherings can make Grandma’s dog very anxious. Even the most docile pet may bite if provoked. Supervise!
Download high quality(WAV)
PSA2
Listen
Ho! Ho! Ho! A man in a red suit coming down the chimney may be very scary for the family dog. More dog bites occur during holiday times than any other time of the year. Supervise!
Download high quality(WAV)
PSA3
Listen
Did you know that dogs talk to us all the time? A happy dog pants and wags his tail. A bossy dog has his ears forward, his mouth closed and his tail held high. This dog does not want to meet you.
Download high quality(WAV)
PSA4
Did you know that dogs talk to us all the time? A happy dog pants and wags his tail. A scared dog has his mouth closed and holds his tail between his legs, he may even be wagging it or backing away. Give a scared dog his space, he might be scared enough to bite or growl to get you to go away.
no recording
PSA5
Did you know that dogs talk to us all the time? A happy dog pants and wags his tail. A bossy dog stands tall, leaning forward with his ears forward, his mouth closed and his tail held as high as he can get it. This dog does not want to meet you, he wants you to leave his place and his stuff alone.
no recording
PSA6
Listen
If you are visiting a friend with a puppy and the puppy is too frisky and jumping , you should…
A. push the puppy away
B. pick the puppy up by the scruff of the neck
C. Be a Tree and stand still
The answer is C. Be a Tree. Trees are boring and the puppy will soon lose interest.
Download high quality(WAV)
PSA7
Listen
If a strange dog comes over to you, you should…
A. yell at the dog to go away
B. Be a Tree and stand still
C. try to make friends with the dog
The answer is B. Be a Tree. The dog will most likely sniff around you and move on. Never touch a strange dog.
Download high quality(WAV)
PSA8
Listen
If a dog is loose and barking at you, you should…
A. Be a Tree and stand still until he gets bored and goes away
B. run away screaming
C. try to pet him to calm him down
The answer is A. Be a Tree. Stand still and look at your feet.
Download high quality(WAV)
PSA9
Listen
Did you know that dogs don’t like hugs and kisses, especially from kids or strangers?. Your dog may tolerate many hugs before finally snapping.
Download high quality(WAV)
PSA10
Did you know that most dog bites to children are by a family pet in someone’s home and that hugging the dog is a common cause if these bites? Dogs warn before they bite and you can learn to speak dog and recognize the signs of a dog that is tolerating, but not enjoying attention from a child. Keep kids and dogs safe this holiday season, watch for signs of anxiety in the dog and intervene if you see them.
Halloween is lots of fun for kids, but many dogs will be confused or upset by kids in strange costumes and by lots of people coming to the door, but never being invited in. Doggone Safe offers the following tips for dog owners, kids and parents:
Dog owners:
Secure your dog behind a closed door or in a crate in a room away from the front door or the party if children are meeting at your house.
Give him a Kong stuffed with hotdog, Rollover or other soft dog treats, Greenies or other long lasting chew. Ask your vet if you need advice on safe and nutritious chews for your dog.
Play music or leave a TV or radio playing in the dog’s room to help mask the sounds of the activity at the front door.
Close drapes so that the dog does not see people coming and going through the window.
If you have a dog that barks at the sound of the doorbell, disconnect it or watch for trick-or-treaters so that they do not have to ring or knock.
Puppies and dogs that like to chase can get overly excited by costumes with dangly bits or streaming material. Supervise very carefully if you have a dog that may try to play with your children’s costumes while they are wearing them. Teach kids to Be a Tree and stand still if the dog does start nipping at their costume since the more they move, the more exited the dog will get.
Keep your dogs (and cats) indoors around Halloween time. Pets have been stolen, injured or poisoned as part of Halloween pranks or other rituals.
Kids and Parents:
Avoid houses if you can hear a dog barking behind the door, you can see a dog behind a screen door or you see a dog tied up in the yard or barking behind a fence.
Never approach any dog, even if you know him. He may not recognize you in your costume.
If an owner opens the door and there is a dog there, just stay still and wait for the dog owner to put the dog away. You can tell them you do not want to come near the dog. Do not move toward the person and dog. Wait for them to come to you to give you your candy. Wait for them to close the door before you turn and leave.
If a dog escapes just stand still and Be a Tree (hands folded in front, watching your feet). He will just sniff you and then move on. Wait for the owner to come and get the dog before you turn away.
If you meet a loose dog, Be a Tree and wait until it goes away.
It is best to ignore other people’s dogs on Halloween if you meet them out walking. The dog may be worried about all the strange creatures that are out and about. Even if you know the dog, he may not recognize you in your costume.
Doggone Safe wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween!
How would you like to be able to trust your dog to stay in the areas you designate, indoors or out? You can train your dog to respect the boundaries you set with this simple method.
Imagine how convenient it would be to trust your dog to stay within the boundaries you set! In the house, your ideal pet would go only in the rooms or areas you’ve designated. No more copious pet hair in the bedroom or muddy prints on your best rug. Outdoors, your well-behaved pooch would stay in the yard or a special part of the yard. The dog would keep away from the road and leave your garden alone. Sound too good to be true? It’s not only possible to train your dog to respect boundaries; it’s actually a fairly easy process!
As with any complex behavior, boundary training relies on the lessons learned early in puppyhood. Basic obedience training is a must. Your dog needs to have a foundation of respect for you, the owner. It must understand the simple commands “no,” “come,” “sit,” and “stay.” Ideally, the dog should also be trained to heel and walk on a leash. These basic skills can become the necessary tools that will allow you to train the dog about boundaries, indoors or out.
Most families have areas of the house that they’d like to declare “off limits” to pets. These may include bedrooms, food preparation areas, or carpeted rooms. Ideally, you will make these decisions before the dog ever sets foot in the house. It’s much easier for everyone if you decide where the dog is allowed and which parts of the house will be declared as dog-free zones. If you can make these decisions before your pet comes home to live, your dog is less likely to become puzzled and confused. It is also less likely to challenge your authority and test the limits vigorously.
To train your dog, you need to start by barricading or closing off the areas that are off limits. You can use furniture, large pieces of plywood, or baby gates, as well as existing doors or other strategies. It’s important that your dog never have access to these areas when you are occupied elsewhere. The idea is to praise your pet for staying in bounds and eliminate any choice for misbehavior from the start. Of course, with time and training, you will be able to remove the physical barriers as you come to trust that your pet will not break training when your back is turned.
When you are ready, choose a time for a lesson when you feel calm and patient. You’ll want to be completely focused on the task at hand. Remove the barrier but keep the dog under control. Use a leash if need be. Keep the dog in its designated area while you praise and pet it. Make being in the right place a positive experience.
Gradually allow your dog more freedom. Lengthen the leash or stand a bit farther away. When the dog wanders across the boundary, respond firmly with the correction methods you used for other training. For example, you could pull back on the leash, reprimand the dog, or physically restrain it. Be consistent! Each and every time the dog crosses the boundary, you will need to apply correction immediately. With time and patience, you should be able to give the dog verbal correction from across the room and eventually you will be able to trust it to stay on the right side of the boundary. Consistency is your most powerful tool, so be sure to catch the dog each time the boundary is inadvertently crossed. If your dog is allowed to stray even once, you may set up a situation where the dog tries to see what it can get away with. You must convince the animal that you always know when the boundary is crossed and that you will always respond with corrective measures.
Training a dog to outdoor boundaries requires a bit more patience and effort. As with indoor boundaries, it’s important to choose the area where you want the dog to stay in advance. It will make training much easier if your dog has never been allowed beyond the boundaries in the first place rather than having to unlearn what was previously acceptable. You’ll also need to make sure that you can see the boundary clearly. It will not help the dog if you use a different boundary each time you train! Finally, make sure your dog is on a leash without fail whenever it is taken outside of the boundary area. The leash will become a signal that special permission has been given to cross the boundary.
Put the dog on the leash and keep it in the “heel” position. Walk all the way around the area where the dog is allowed, keeping it just inside of the boundary. Make several circuits during each training session. When your dog is cooperating, loosen the leash a bit. If the dog strays over the boundary, apply your correction sequence. As with training to indoor boundaries, the idea is to convince the dog that stepping over that line leads to correction.
Gradually allow more and more freedom while keeping the dog on the leash. When the animal has been respecting the boundaries on your walks around the edge of the area, give it free rein and allow it to lead you on the leash. Continue correction when the boundary is crossed. Use a longer lead and continue training in this manner. When your dog remains within the boundary consistently and without error, try leaving it off of the lead for short periods while you are paying close attention. Needless to say, the dog must be well-trained to come or sit on command so that if the boundary is crossed, you can still maintain control and can return the dog easily to the correct area.
Many young dogs will train to boundaries fairly easily and quickly, but will break training when provoked or excited. You will need to guard against this by watching carefully whenever your dog is outdoors so that you can instantly return the animal to the correct area and apply correction. Common causes for crossing boundary lines include chasing cars, visitors, bicycles, joggers, or other animals. Be sure that you are watching carefully so that you can prevent your pet from frightening or bothering others, or from getting hurt in traffic.
As the dog matures, consistent boundary training will pay great dividends. You will be able to place increasing amounts of trust in the dog’s obedience and will eventually get to the point that you can rely that the boundaries will not be crossed even when you are not right there to supervise. The dog will enjoy the freedom of roaming in the areas that you designate, and you will have the peace of mind to know that your dog is safe and where it belongs.
Although I’m not in the market for a new dog at the moment, when the time comes I will get a rescue dog. There are plenty of great dogs in need of a forever home out there. But what if you’re looking for a rescue dog to adopt, yet still want to get a purebred or a specific breed? That’s when you need to know how to find a rescue program for the type of dog you’re looking for.
Check with Breeders
Many dog breeders are approached when a dog needs a home, but they can’t take in all the dogs of a breed so they need to be able to tell people who to get in touch with for a rescue. Because breeders specialize in a specific breed, they often know a lot of people who deal with the same kind of dogs. When a person cares deeply about a breed and wants to be helpful, they will know of a reputable rescue where you can find the dog you’re looking for.
Look Online
Simply use your search engine to find rescue groups and then narrow down the search with the breed you are looking for. BUT keep in mind that not all rescues are the same. Do a little research, check out their website, and try to locate people who have worked with the rescue to make sure it is a reputable program. Facebook is a great way to find out what people think of an organization and what their experiences have been.
Call Your Vet
Veterinarians are often involved with specific rescue programs. Many donate their services to reputable rescues and would be happy to refer you to the right program to find your new dog.
Rescues handle dogs of all ages and in all conditions. The health evaluation and behavioral screening is an important factor in making rescue dogs available to families. If you visit a rescue and they can’t provide you with this important information, then you should find another program.
CANIDAE has donated their premium quality pet food to many rescue groups over the years, helping to provide countless dogs and cats with the proper nutrition and care they need. Feel free to utilize this page on the CANIDAE website to help you locate a great rescue.
Things to Consider
The kennels at the rescue should be clean and neat without the overpowering scent of excrement. The dogs should be bathed and healthy if they are in place for adoption. You want to find a rescue that has taken the time to learn and work with the dogs to determine their temperament. You want a rescue that keeps the place clean so that the dogs will remain healthy. When you look at the dogs, of course you will want one that seems friendly and eager to see you. Just keep in mind that a dog in a rescue kennel may be frightened and shy, so don’t pass over the ones that hang back, because you could miss out on a real connection. Set aside plenty of time to visit and get to know the dogs; you don’t have to decide in one day.
There are fees involved in adopting rescue dogs, after all most rescues are nonprofit and it takes money to provide food, shelter and care for these dogs. Be prepared to pay a fee and fill out paperwork before you can take your dog home. Really thorough pet rescues will even do a home visit or accompany the dog to your home the first time. This is a great way for the rescue group to ensure that you are providing the dog with a wonderful and forever home. Just as you’ve checked out the rescue group, expect them to check you out as well. Be prepared to answer questions and to be observed while you are getting to know your dog.
If a rescue group just hands a dog over to you with no investigation, no questions, etc. then you’re likely dealing with a group that also hasn’t done a thorough job of vetting the dog for adoption. Check around, listen to what others have to say and do your own research on a rescue before you choose to adopt from it. The extra time and care will help make sure that you, as a responsible pet owner, find the perfect dog for your family.
I’m coming to you hopped up on 3 cups of coffee, a chocolate chip cookie and a barrel of excitement. This weekend, I’m participating at Science Hack Day: Science in the City, an event in its second year running. The host is Francois Grey (Twitter:@FrancoisGrey) a physicist and the head of Citizen Science at NYU’s Center for Urban Science and Progress.
This two-day event is built on a simple premise:
Life in the city is complicated, and sometimes the only way to solve an urban problem is with a hack–a science hack, that is.
Science hacks are low-cost, elegant workarounds that create useful scientific projects. Science Hack Day is a two-day event that brings together scientists, designers, developers and innovators who will invent, build and test their projects.
On Saturday morning, thirteen hacks were pitched, and anyone who is interested can drop by to participate in Downtown Brooklyn. I’m surrounded by people either tinkering away on computers or other robotic-looking structures. Others took to the streets to record the sounds of the city or set-up hi-tech trash cans. Tomorrow I have the pleasure of sitting on a panel that will give out awards for the best Science Hacks.
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You know exactly what Im talking about because you were all jazzed after attending Science Rewired (and covered the experience here), and a while back, I listed some of my favorite #citsci projects, including projects involving laughing babies, otters and clouds.
For those less familiar with public participation science projects, here’s a short, quick and dirty video describing the wide range of projects that anyone can join. Being involved is not only about participating in research and helping researchers, its also about learning more about local communities, collecting relevant data (say on air quality in your neighborhood), and in some cases, making new discoveries:
But what about dogs? Much of the canine research in recent years is conducted in academic lab spaces or owner homes, but over the last few years, we’ve seen immense growth in virtual, online projects that require active participation from anyone in the world. As examples, weve previously blogged about Project: Play With Your Dog as well as Poo Power!
Here are online, public participation dog science projects that anyone in the world can join: C-BARQ (Free) A questionnaire designed to provide dog owners and professionals with standardized evaluations of canine temperament and behavior.
Dognition A variety of science-based games that Dognition members can sign up for and play with their pup.
Emotional Content of Vocalizations(Free) What is the emotional content of dog and human vocalizations? Listen and submit your answer (I covered this study on Scientific American, dedicating a lot of words to making fun of Bret Michaels, as is appropriate).
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Howl Coder(Free) The Canid Howl Project is the work of a large number of scientists, trying to understand the range of different vocal behaviours of canids, primarily wolves, dogs, and coyotes. Participants listen to vocalizations and analyze the recordings.
Woof! (Free) The Woof! experiment explores how people respond to dog barks. The study is trying to better understand how we respond to everyday sounds.
Risk factors for low-appeal shelter dogs (Free) This online study investigates how descriptors and physical appearance affect shelter dog length of stay and adoption success. Participants help by tagging images of dogs.
Factors contributing to aggressive impulsivity in the dogs(Free) This is a serious welfare problem for both humans and dogs. PhD student Fernanda Fadel is trying to identify genetic risk factors in dogs which may allow researchers to develop a simple test to identify at-risk individuals. These dogs may need specific management measures to help them live happy and fulfilling lives, at minimal risk to others. Participate by completing a short questionnaire.
Canine Researchers! Do you have an online, public participation project that we havent listed here? Email us, and let us know! doyoubelieveindog@gmail.com ~~
Projects often revolve around researchers and participants, and each group can have slightly different needs.
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RESEARCHERS! I imagine that many of our colleagues are looking for study participants. Hooking up with citizen science project aggregators, like those listed below, is a great way to find interested participants. Researchers spend months and months on project design and methods, but recruiting and engaging participants is an entirely different bag of worms. Some of the below websites focus on participant recruitment and engagement. For example, SciStarter has many tools and resources for citizen science projects seeking participants.
PARTICIPANTS! Its not just about dogs, although dogs are very excellent. Many public science projects need help collecting and analyzing data on a wide range of topics. Interested in plants? Interested in birds? Interested in whale vocalizations? Theres something for everyone. Take a look below:
SciStarter
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“SciStarter is the place to find, join, and contribute to science through recreational activities and citizen science research projects. Our database of citizen science projects enable discovery, organization, and greater participation in citizen science.” CitSci.org “CitSci.org supports your research by providing tools and resources that allow you to customize your scientific procedure - all in one location on the internet."
Cornell Lab of Ornithology "Anyone who watches birds, from backyards to city streets to remote forests, can help researchers better understand birds and their habits."
Zooniverse "Zooniverse contains projects produced, maintained and developed by the Citizen Science Alliance. The member institutions of the CSA work with many academic and other partners around the world to produce projects that use the efforts and ability of volunteers to help scientists and researchers."
Scientific American An aggregator of many public engagement projects.
Your Wild Life Many projects that "explore the biodiversity in our daily lives." I’m pretty psyched about the new Cat Tracker project. These are just a sampling of non-canine projects flying around the Internet. If anyone has contributed to public participation projects, wed love to hear about your experience. See you in T minus 2 weeks!!!!
It seems to me that Dog Fancy Magazine is primarily focused on pedigreed dogs, and covers some dog show type issues. The Dog Writers Association of America named this traditional publication the Best All-Breed Magazine. With monthly distribution, Dog Fancy is known as a dependable and informational publication that features in-depth breed profiles, a Best Behavior section, and important tips and how-to instructions on dog training and behavior. A reader’s favorite is the Checkup section, where readers can send in their questions, which will be answered by top veterinarians. Each issue also has a centerfold poster of a featured breed, and the images are stunning.
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