The Daily Bark: Pleas From the Pound and Other Happenings Volume5,Issue4,October23,2013

Teaching Your Dog Useful Commands and TricksBy Lauren Teske

Inside: Useful Commands 1 Upcoming Events 4 Pit Bull Myths 2 Pet-Friendly Housing 5Available Dogs 3 Contact Info 5Toxins to your Dog 4

Asadogowner,atsomepointyouprobablymarveledattheobedi-encedisplayedbydogsonTV.Mostofushavesaid,“Iwishmydogcoulddothat”or“Mydogjustisn’tsmartenoughtolearnthosecommands.”Whilehavingadogthatcansneezeoncommandorfetchyouasodafromthefridgeisdazzling,havingyourdogperformbasic,usefulcommandscanbejustasimpressive.

Afewyearsago,Igotmyfirstdog,aGreatDanenamedEcho.At2monthsold,sheweighedabout40poundsandthetopofherheadreachedmyknee.IknewthatifIwantedtosurviveGreatDaneownership,Iwouldhavetodomajortraining.IenrolledEchoinpuppykindergarten,whichcanbeveryimportantforsocializa-tion.“Sit,”“stay”and“laydown”arethebasiccommandsmanyownersthinkofwhentheyattenddogobedienceclasses,buttherearemanymorecommandsthatcanhelpcontroladog,especiallylargerdogs.“Leaveit”wasthefirst“trick”ItaughtEchoinadditiontothetraditionalcommands.Whenyourdogisasbigasasmallhorse,

thereisnosafeheightatwhichyoucanstorefood.Anythingonthetableorcountertopisfairgame.With“leaveit,”Iwasabletostop“countersurfing”immediatelyfromacrosstheroom.

“Off”isanothercommandthathashelpedmereclaimmyspotonthecouchorinbed.Nottobemistakenfor“down,”inwhichadoglaysdown,“off”commandsthedogtogetoffofwhateveritistheyareon.GreatDanesarenotoriouscouchpotatoes,andEcho,likemanydogs,isallowedtorelaxprettymuchanywhereshewishes.Echohasnoproblempark-ingher120poundselfwherevershepleases,anditdoesn’ttakemucheffortforhertostayrooted

toherspot.Ihavewatchedtheepicbattlebetweenfriendsandfamilyastheyattempttomovethe120poundgirlfromthecouch.Isimplysay“off”andshehopsoffwithoutcomplaint.

Manydogownerselecttonotken-neltheirdoginpuppyhood,butIbelieveittobeanimportantpartinsettingboundaries.Kennelingadogisoftenviewedas“cruel,”butinmyexperiencemostdogstreattheirkennelasasafezonewhentheybecomeoverstimulatedorfrightened.WhileEchosleepsinmybedwithme,sheisken-neledwhenIamawayorwhensheiseating.Whenguestsoreventhepizzadeliverymanarrives,itcanbeextremelychaoticforhertobebarkingandjumpingatthedoor.PizzadeliverymenhavebeenscaredoutofmydoorwaybyEcho’slargeblackfiguresurgingtowardtheminwhatappearstobehostility.Toavoidtraumatizingguests,orthepizzaguy,IinstructEchoto“kennel.”Whenthepizzamanhasleftortheguestissettledin,Iletherknowit’sOKtocomeoutandsheisabletogreetguestscalmly. Continued on page 2

Echo knows basic commands such as “off,” which Lauren easily taught her.

Page2 TheDailyBark:Volume5,Issue4,Oct.23,2013

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Debunking Popular Pit Bull MythsBy Antinea Ascione

Continued from page 1Iamnotanexperiencedtrainerandhaveonlyattemptedto“train”twodogs,butbydoingsomeresearchandusingbasicpsychology,Ihavebeenabletoclaimsomecontrolovermydog.Havingawell-man-nereddogcanalso,insomesitua-tions,saveyourdog’slife.“Leaveit,”forexample,cankeepyourdogfromingestingtoxicitemsthatmaybewithinreach.

Ifyouareinterestedinteachingyourdogcommandsthatmaynotbecoveredinaregularobedienceclass,consultatrainer.Withinfor-mationprovidedbyanexperiencedtrainerandone-on-oneworkwithyourdog,youcanteachcommandsthatarebothusefulineverydaysituationsandimpressivetoguests.

Soyou’vemetthecutestdog.Youlookedather,shelookedbackatyouandyoufeltthatinstantaneouspetconnection.Thoseexpressivepuppyeyestuggedatyourheart-stringsandyouaresorelytemptedtotakeherhome.Yourconcern,however,isthatthisseeminglyin-nocentdogisapitbull.Orpartpitbull.Andyou’veheardtoomanynegativestoriesaboutthatbreedofdogtowanttotakeachance.Well,youmayhaveboughtintothemediahypeaboutthebreed,andthereareafewthingsyoushouldlearnbeforemak-ingadecision.

InhonorofOcto-berbeingNationalPitBullAware-nessmonth,wewilltakealookatafewofthemostcommonpitbullstereotypes.

Pit Bulls are a “Special Breed”Theterm“pitbull”doesnottypi-callyrefertoanysinglebreedofdogandcanbeusedtodescribeawidevarietyofdogs.Amoreaccuratedefinitionoftheterm“pitbull”isadogthatisoneoftwobreeds:theAmericanPitBullTerrier(APBT)ortheAmericanStaffordshireTerrier(AmStaff).Oftentimes,peopleplaceBullTerriers,StaffordshireBullTerri-ersandAmericanBulldogsinthiscategoryduetothesimilarityinheadshapesandstrongbodytypes.However,theyaredistinctfromtheAPBTandtheAmStaff.Anumber

ofso-called“pitbulls”arejustmixed-breeddogsthatmayormaynothaveAmericanPitBullTerrierorAmericanStaffordshireblood.Thetermisusedloosely.

Pit Bulls are Naturally Vicious Thisisamisconceptionthatdefinitelyinfluencesthetypicalreactiontoapitbull.Thereareanumberofreasons,however,why

itisabsurdtoassumesuchacharacteristicisnaturalforanydog.Asmentioned,thetermpitbullisusedtorefertoavarietyofdogs.Bysayingpitbullsarevicious,onecouldbeattributingsuchachar-acteristicstoacouple,ormixture,ofbreeds.

Itisalsoimportanttounderstandthatdogshavepersonalitiesasdiverseaswedo.Al-thoughbreedsareoften

characterizedbycertainbehaviors,eachdog’spersonalitycanvarysignificantly.Whilephysicaltraitsarepasseddowngeneticallyfromparentstolitter,personalitiesareindividual.Ifapitbullisvicious,thisshouldbeviewedasacharac-teristicspecifictothedoginques-tionandnotthebreed,asvariedasitis.

Manypeopleopposedtopitbullsbeingkeptaspetsclaimthatpitsfailtemperamenttestingmorethananyotherdog.LindsayStordahl,adogblogger,walkerandpetsitter,saysthatthisisnotatalltrue.“TheAmericanPitBullTerrierpassestemperamenttesting81.7percent

Gilda, a pit bull terrier, available for adoption.

TheDailyBark:Volume5,Issue4,Oct.23,2013 Page3

RuckusRuckusisanadultBorderCollie/Labmixlookingforhisforeverhome.Heissuchawell-behaveddoganddoesnotgetintotroublewhenhe’sleftalone.Nocountersurfing,nochewingfurniture,noaccidents…justpurehappinessonhisfacewhenyoureturn.Ruckusiscontenttosleepinhisownbed.Heisveryquietanddaintywhenhemovesaroundthehouse.Ruckushasnoproblemwithcatsandisalsoverygoodaroundotherdogs.Helikeswalksbutdoesn’trequireatonofexercise.He’sagreatdog!

LolaLolaisa3-year-oldPitBullmixlookingforanactivehome,perhapswithsomeotherdoggies!Shelovesplayingfetch,isverysweetandlovestosnuggle.Sheplayswellwithherfosterhome’slabandisgentlewiththeirsmalldog.She’sfairlyquiet,correctseas-ilyandkennelswellatnight.Shecangetexcitedinpublicplaces,butisworkingonhermanners.Isshethegalforyou?

These, and many other dogs, are available for adoption with 4 Luv of Dog Rescue. Please fill out an adoption application today.

Available Dogsofthetime,”sheexplained.“Toputthisinperspective,Beaglesonlypass78.7percentofthetimeandGoldenRetrievers81.1percent.TheAPBTscoresjustabovetheGoldenRetrieverandjustbelowtheLabradorRetriever.”

TheNationalCanineResearchCouncil(NCRC)supportsthisview.Asclearlystatedontheweb-site,“Thereisnoscientificevi-dencethatonekindofdogismorelikelytoinjureahumanbeingthananotherkindofdog.”

Stordahlalsosaidthatthereareanumberoffactorsthatcomeintoplaytodetermineadog’soveralltemperament/personality.“Howthedogisraisedisonefactor,”shesaid.“Inaddition,oneshouldconsidergenetics,thedog’searlyrelationshipwithitsmotherandlittermates,theamountoftrain-ingandexerciseitreceives,healthandsomuchmore.Sometimesitisassumedthatanownercanraiseadogtobenasty.Anownercantreatadogpoorlyandthedogcouldstillbeverysweetandgentle.Oranownercouldraiseadogwithalotoflove,structureandsocializa-tionandthedogmaystillwanttofightwithotherdogs.NoticeI’musingtheterm‘dog’becausethisisthecasewithalldogs,notjustpitbulls.”

Pit Bulls are Unpredictable, Especially Around Children Thisisaparticularlypopularste-reotype,especiallyamongpersonstryingtoconvincethepublicthatpitbullsdonotmakegoodpets.Expertssaythatthereisnotruthtothis;thedogsareaspredictableorunpredictableasanyother.Pitbullsarestrong,well-builtdogsandaratherexuberantonemayknockayoungchildover.However,

strengthandexuberancearetraitsanyparentswithyoungchildrenshouldconsiderwhenadoptingapet.Notalldogsaresuitableforfamilieswithyoungchildren,andparentsshouldtakecaretoteachbothchildrenanddogshowtointeractwitheachother.

Whilemanydogsaregreatwithchildren,aparentahouldneverleavetheirchildunsupervisedwithanyanimal.

ArecentstoryonTaterTot,apitbullthatwasrescuednottoolongbeforeitwasabouttobeeutha-nized,revealshislovingandcaringnature.ReportssaythatwhileTaterTotwasbeingfostered,hesensedthatsomethingwaswrongwiththefamily’s4-year-oldson,Peyton.TaterTotkeptsniffingaroundtheboy,barkingandrun-ningbetweenhisparents.Peyton’smothercheckedonhersonandrealizedhewasbarelybreathing.Afterrushingtothehospital,itwasdiscoveredthatPeytonhadbeenexperiencingaseveredropinbloodsugarandTaterTothelpedtheboygetnecessarytreatmentintime.ThefamilyisconvincedthatTater-Totsavedtheirson’slife,andthepitbullnowhasapermanenthome.Pit Bulls Have Locking JawsNo.Dogsdonothavetheabilityto“lock”theirjawswhenfightinganotheranimal.Notevenpitbulls(whethertheAPBT,AmStafforanyothermix).Thisnonsensicalrumormusthaveemergedfromsomeonewhosuccessfullymixedanalliga-torwithadog,ordreamedhedid.Infact,indiscussingdogbitestheNCRCalsostates,“Notypeofdoginflictsatypeofinjuryexclusivetoit.Claimstothecontraryhavenomerit.”

Page4 TheDailyBark:Volume5,Issue4,Oct.23,2013

Upcoming EventsMeet the Dogs: Saturday, October 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. at West Fargo PetSmart

Pit Bull Walk and Social: Saturday, October 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. at 1523 23rd St. S., Moorhead

Silent Auction & Gala: Saturday, November 2, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Hilton Garden Inn, Fargo

Meet the Dogs/National Adoption Days: November 16 & 17, from 1 to 3 p.m. at West Fargo PetSmart

Pucks and Paws with the Fargo Force: Wednesday, December 4, details TBA

Meet the Dogs: Saturday, December 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. at West Fargo PetSmart

Find Us Online

twitter.com/4luvofdog

www.facebook.com/4LODRescue

pinterest.com/4luvofdogrescue

4luvofdog.areavoices.com

Terrible Toxins & Your PetBy Theresa Opatril

Manyofusareawareofsomethingsthataretoxictoourpets,suchastheonewehaveallheardabout—chocolate!Buttherearemorethingsthanyoumightrealizethataretoxictoyourpet.Accord-ingtothepetpoisonhelpline,thetop10poisonsinpetsare:

1.Medication--alwayskeepyourmedicineinasafespot2.Pesticides3.Antifreezeandotherchemicals4.Chocolate5.Alcohol6.Onionsandgarlic,whichcancauseanemia7.Grapesorraisins,bothofwhichcanbefataltoyourpet8.Avocado,includingavocadofruitandguacamole9.Vitaminsandminerals10.Nsaids(Ibuprofen,Naproxen)

Applesorappleseeds,apricotsorcherrypitsmayalsobeharmful,aswellascoffeegroundsorcoffeebeansduetothecaffeine.

Xylitol,asugarsubstitute,canhavewonderfulhealthbenefitsforhumans,butcancausearapiddropinyourpet’sbloodsugar.Xylitolcanbefoundinmanycommercial

products,includinggum,mouth-wash,mintsandothersweetprod-ucts.

Mushroomplants,tomatoleavesandstemscanalsobebadnewsforyourpet.

Moldyfoodscanalsobepoison-ous.Puttingleftoverfoodsawayandstoredproperlywillensureyourpetwillnotgetintothem.

Typicalreactionstopoisonarevomitingordiarrhea,irregularheartbeat,dilatedpupils,difficultybreathing,palegums,swollenab-domen,muscletremors,bloodyandpainfulurinationordefecation,andbleeding.

Ifyoususpectyourpethaseatensomethingtoxic,don’twaittoseesymptoms.GetyourpetinASAP,orcontactyourveterinarianortheASPCA.

Whilesomeoftheseitemsareverytoxic,someareminimallytoxic.Whenindoubt,callforhelp.ThePetPoisonhelplinenumberis(800)213-6680,orthelocalRedRiverAnimalEmergencyClinic’snumberis(701)478-9299.

Contact Information 4LuvofDogRescuePOBox9283Fargo,ND58106-9283

Phone:(701)205-0190

Pleaseunderstandthatourphoneismonitoredbyvolunteers.Ifnooneanswers,leaveusamessagethatincludes:

•Yourname•Phonenumber•E-mailaddress•Whyyouarecalling•Thebesttimetoreachyou

Wewillmakeeveryattempttorespondtoyourinquirywithin48hours.Ourpreferredmethodofcontactise-mail.E-mailusat:

info@4luvofdog.org—generalquestions

foster@4luvofdog.org—informationonfostering

volunteer@4luvofdog.org—tofindouthowyoucanhelp

donate@4luvofdog.org—informationondonationsofmoneyand/orsupplies.

Becoming a foster home is one of the most important things you can do to help our organization. Please consider becoming a foster today!

Applyonlineat:www.4luvofdog.org

Tear-off reply form for contributions via mail: Fillinyournameanddonationamount.----------------------------------------------------------------------------I,_____________________________wouldliketocontributeto4LuvofDogRescue.

$5_____$10_____$25_____$50_____$100_____$250___Otheramount$_____

Pleaseremitto:4LuvofDogRescuePOBox9283Fargo,ND58106-9283

orremitdonationviaPayPallinkatwww.4luvofdog.org

TheDailyBark:Volume5,Issue4,Oct.23,2013 Page5

ItmaysurpriseyoutolearnthatintheFargo-Moorheadarea,thereareatleast30rentalcompaniesthatrenttotenantswithdogs.That’snotevencountingprivaterenters!

Rentingwithapetusuallyrequiresanon-refundabledepositandthattheanimalbeuptodateonvacci-nations.Thedepositamountrang-es,itcanbeseveralhundreddol-lars,butwithaprivateowneryoumaybeabletonegotiate.theremaybeweightandbreedrestrictions,aswellaslimitsonhowmanypetsareallowed.

SomeofthepropertiesintheF-Mareathatrenttodogownersare:

Dogs under 20 poundsWindwoodEstates(701)235-3166CedarParkBlvd(701)236-8721KaeProperties(701)552-1652Dogs under 30 poundsJMRentals(701)293-0601S.S.Holdings(701)451-9113ParkWestGardens(701)282-2118VanRadenPrpts(218)233-2731Size limit varies or no restrictionValleyRental(701)293-7368PropertyRes.Grp(701)356-7007BaumbachPrpts(701)541-1541

Renting for You and Your Four-Legged FriendBy Heather Phillips

Afulllistisavailableontherescuewebsiteatwww.4luvofdog.org/wp/info-resources.

Then,thereareservicedogs.TheuseofservicedogsisprotectedbytheAmericanwithDisabilitiesAct(ADA),whichisafederallawthatstatesthedogmustbeallowedtoliveinthehome,eveniftheland-lordhasano-petpolicy.TheADAdefinesaserviceanimalas“anyguidedog,signaldogorotherani-malindividuallytrainedtoprovideassistancetoanindividualwithadisability.”ThatmeanstheADAprotectsananimalthathasbeentrainedtoperformtasksorworkforanindividualwithadisability,suchasguidedogs.However,animalswhoseonlyfunctionisprovidingemotionalsupport,comfort,ther-apyorcompanionshiptherapeuticbenefitsarenotconsideredtobeserviceanimals.Asaformerlandlord,Icantellyouthebestpolicyistobeupfrontwithyourlandlord.You’dbesurprisedathowfarhonestcommunicationandperhapsalookintoafurryfriend’seyeswillgetyouinyournegotiations.Goodluck!