DogBoston

The Beagle is a breed of medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game. They have a keen sense of smell and tracking instinct that often sees them employed as detection dogs for prohibited agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine around the world. They are popular as pets because of their size, even temper, and lack of inherited health problems. These characteristics also make them the dog of choice for animal testing…

Although beagle-type dogs have existed for over 2,000 years, the modern breed was developed in Britain around the 1830s from several breeds, including the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier.

Beagles have been depicted in popular culture since Elizabethan times in literature and paintings, and latterly in film, television and comic books. Snoopy of the comic strip Peanuts has been promoted as “the world’s most famous beagle”.

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Invisible Fences – Good or Bad? | Jo Jacques

We have several small dogs, they are used to fencing in our large, great yard. We will soon be moving to a new place, same town, but will want to be investigating Invisible Fencing.

Our dog is not with a puppy but 4 years old, so we are curious how older dogs can adapt to this. How long does it take for the dogs to become familiar, and how trustworthy is it.
Any info you have is useful as we do our research to consider this. Our dogs have had free run of their large fenced yard.

thanks,
Invisible Reader of DogBoston

Hi Invisible,
You have hit on a subject I’ve done a LOT of research on, as I’ve had many clients who’ve used these.

It is very popular right now, especially with the large subdivisions that have gone up — mostly because it’s relatively inexpensive. While it does have its good points — it doesn’t detract from your property, it’s inexpensive for large areas, and you don’t need to take your dog out on a leash.

But, the bad points FAR outweigh the good with these devices, I’m afraid.

Let’s look at the physical aspects first:

1) they don’t stop anything from coming INTO your yard to take or hurt your dogs.
2) they are susceptible to damage from electrical storms.
3) the collar units have a very high rate of malfunction, especially in this area of the country — malfunctions that can (and have) caused the collars to shock (yes, shock — these are SHOCK devices, remember) their dog repeatedly, causing physical (and emotional) damage to the dog.

That leads us into the behavioral problems with Invisible Fencing (IF) — an area that I see a LOT. Small dogs, especially, seem to have more issues, due to the fragile nature of their neurological systems — sometimes, the neurological damage is lasting to these little guys.

1) Since dogs take the entire environment into consideration when learning, they really don’t know where the pain is coming from so they see what’s around them. If joggers run past, or you have children in the yard, or if YOU’RE in the yard when they receive a shock, they are very likely to redirect to that stimulus and develop deep-seated fear responses that are incredibly difficult to remove. Even if no one is outside, I’ve worked with dogs that refuse to go out in their back yards to eliminate after receiving a shock.

2) You never know just how much shock the dog is getting at any given time. Not to mention, dogs — like people — are all different, and have different pain thresholds. The more sensitive a dog is to the shock, the more likely the dog is to develop redirected pain aggression — there are quite a few lawsuits (the IF folks don’t like to tell you about those) regarding previously wonderful family pets (like goldens) attacking the family’s kids when outdoors with the fencing. And, you can’t tell how sensitive your dog is before you use the collar, or even while you are using it in most cases — dogs, as a species, do not show pain as we think they would. In the wild, an animal showing pain is usually attacked as being weak.

3) When it comes to training with the fence, most dogs very first experience being leash-walked by a stranger is when the installer puts the leash on and takes your dog out for training. Research has shown that this training can have a serious lasting effect on a dog — a huge percentage of these dogs develop an intense fear of strangers while on leash, culminating in aggression issues, requiring hours upon hours of remediation and in a lot of cases, medication to keep the dog from attacking others while on walks. You end up with a HUGE emotional and legal liability.

There is plenty of scientific and legal research out there showing the dangers of these fences. As well, many well-known veterinary behaviorists, such as Dr. Karen Overall and Dr. Ian Dunbar, have come out against their use. These devices are banned in many countries as being inhumane; many feel they will be banned here, too. I, for one, won’t be upset if they are.

A year after their beloved yellow Labrador retriever, Lancelot, died of cancer, Edgar and Nina Otto welcomed a cloned copy into their home Tuesday. They spent $155,000 to create Lancelot Encore, and admit getting “some negative feedback.”

Full article on MSNBC at address below.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28892792/

A lot of coverage has been placed on pit bull attacks over the years.   Just today, there was a news story on MSNBC covering this issue.

What side are you on?

Now what if your child had just been attacked, does that change your answer?

The Apartment Dog | by Diana Bocco

“I want a dog, but I live in an apartment.”

How many times have you worried that apartment living means you can’t get a dog? The truth is that a lot of breeds do surprisingly well in apartments and many actually thrive there. Apartment living has many benefits, including a reduced risk of injury and accidents (less exposure to the elements or risk of escaping) and a closer animal-human bond. It also has its drawbacks.

EXERCISE PROBLEMS

When it comes to choosing an apartment dog, make sure you pick a breed with a low to moderate need for activity. Size is not as important here, as some large dogs (including French Mastiffs, Chow Chows and St. Bernards) do well in apartments if walked at least twice daily. High-energy dogs, on the other hand, may end up with behavioral problems if confined to apartments all day long. “I’ve seen this sad mistake far too many times with my clients; people who get a particular breed without researching it first,” says dog trainer Victoria Schade. She mentions the case of a young apartment dweller who got a German Shorthaired Pointer because she thought it seemed like a cool dog. “I walked in the door to her tiny apartment and knew without a doubt that this woman, still in the throes of the early 20’s party lifestyle, was not going to be able to keep the dog. It was re-homed two weeks later.”

The keys to successfully living with a dog in an apartment are to make sure you choose the right breed and to exercise the dog enough on a daily basis. Most hyperactive dogs are that way because their owners skip walks or limit outside time to a five minute run.

TRAINING

Having a well-behaved dog is essential to living in an apartment and keeping a civil relation with neighbors. Nothing spells trouble faster than having a skittish dog that barks every time somebody steps off the elevator or that gets scared by the comings and goings outside your door.

SOCIALIZATION

Because of the reduced living space, it’s imperative that humans and dogs learn to live in harmony if they are going to coexist in an apartment. “Whether or not there are children in the apartment can be a huge consideration,” says Paul Owens, author of The Dog Whisperer. For children under three years of age, it’s equally a matter of protecting the dog as much as the child. Young children can be taught how to gently pet toy dogs (dolls). They should be taught to never hit a dog but to always play gently. “Children can be taught about a dog’s ‘safe spot.’ This is an area that is off limits to the child and the dog must be left alone. These safe spots can be a kennel or under the kitchen table or the dog’s bed.”

According to Owen, the most important thing for the parents to realize is that they will, in essence, be bringing another “child” into the home with the same needs of feeding, educating, socializing, protecting and caring for them as their own human children. “The parents will be the primary caregivers and if they do not have the time, energy and money, a dog should not be adopted.” Bringing an animal into a home is a major commitment. As one saying goes, “A dog is not just for the holidays…it is a lifetime commitment.”

BEST APARTMENT DOGS: Spaniels (English and American, Sussex, Clumber), Beagles, Boston Terriers, Chihuahuas, Dachshund, Bichon Frise, Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pomeranians, Pugs. Despite what you may think, large breeds also do well in apartments because they usually tire fast and need little to no exercise to burn excess energy.

DOGS THAT DON’T DO WELL IN APARTMENTS (includes high-energy and noisy dogs; some guardian dogs may become agitated by the coming and going of neighbors and end up causing a lot of noise and destruction): Dalmatians, Jack Russells, setters and retrievers. The German Shorthaired Pointer and the Alaskan Malamute are perfect examples of large dogs that needs a yard to thrive.

Joel Brown from the Boston Globe and I chatted before the holidays.  A nice guy who, along with his wife, recently had commissioned a painting of their dog.  He noticed how many options were available, and how many of them weren’t cheesy or painted on velvet - in fact they had an incredible degree of quality.  You could find almost any style to match your individual tastes in reproduction whether it be modern, classical, photorealistic, or surreal.

See the pet portrait by Kathy Weller at left.  Her website is Weller Wishes.   Picture your dog done up like that!  

Anyway, Joel wrote an article about dog photos today, and I was mentioned/quoted twice!   Very cool!

My quotes:

With young couples postponing having children - especially in the current economic environment - their pets get even more of their attention and disposable income than ever. “People are devoting more attention, spending more money, getting them better gifts,” said Brian Henderson, editor of DogBoston webzine (www.care.dogboston.com).

Of course, nearly every pet owner now has gigabytes of hard-drive space devoted to digital snapshots of their beloved collie or cockatoo, just like every parent has a zillion baby pictures. “I think having [a painting] done really slows down the capture process and lets you stick something on the wall that you can actually remember, instead of breezing through a couple of digital camera photos,” Henderson said.

Link to Boston Globe article

1. A Shiny Coat is a Healthy Coat. A healthy coat starts with nutrition. So, feed your dog a high quality dog food. Often generic dog foods use cheaper ingredients which may not always be great for your dog. (Pet food recalls, anyone?) Remember to compare ingredients, and when in doubt, talk to your vet (but they also can be influenced). Limit the amount of treats your canine receives – especially if you are training her.

2. Checking your Dog’s Fur on a Regular Schedule
Thorns, burrs, fleas, and ticks interfere with a healthy coat, and can turn into very serious health problems for your canine. Make a habit of checking your dog’s fur weekly and especially after long walks in grassy areas. Regular Frontline is said to be better against ticks than ‘Frontline Plus’.

3. Consider Using Baby/Tearless Conditioner
Some people think it sounds strange, but it can work wonders. Look for a dog conditioner that is tearless, so if it gets in your dog’s eyes, it won’t hurt.

4. Don’t be Tempted to Share Your Shampoo
You paid a fortune for your shampoo, so it must work wonders on your dog.right? Wrong, often human shampoos are too harsh for dogs. Make sure to purchase a shampoo that is specifically designed for dogs.

5. Bathing Tips
Some dogs require baths more often than others. If your dog is one that requires fewer baths, this may interfere with a shiny coat. Check with your vet on your specific bread.

And remember, if your dog continues to have a dull luster to his coat, talk to a groomer or vet. They may have additional suggestions based on your dog’s unique breed and circumstances.

Angell’s Hikers: Tom and Atticus Finch

By Brian Henderson

What if I told you there was a man named Tom that is attempting to hike each one of New Hampshire 4000-foot mountains this winter. You probably would think “not a big deal” or “been done before” or worse “hope we don’t see that guy on the news…”

But what if I told there were 48 of those peaks? And what if I told you Tom’s partner is a Miniature Schnauzer named Atticus Maxwell Finch? And that they are attempting to summit each of the 48 4000-footers twice – 96 peaks in 90 days – and are being sponsored by ordinary people who love dogs and other animals, and giving 100% of the money they raise to Angell Memorial Hospital – the same hospital that treated Atticus when he had a cancer scare this past spring.

I think it’s a nice story – too long to try and summarize here – but when you read the details and between the lines, I believe it’s about more than just the dog itself. It’s about Tom who left the town of Newburyport, struggling with his own weight control issues and direction, who found himself up North.

To learn of the Tom and Atticus story is to learn a bit about the kindness and compassion of others and about the trait that so few of us have these days: raw determination. I will stop talking about their story and instead point you to two specific blog posts that were really memorable to me:

1. Why Angell Memorial Hospital (placed below)
2. Thinking About Bears http://tomandatticus.blogspot.com/2007/12/i-woke-up-thinking-about-bears.html

Why Angell?

Atticus and I will be attempting to hike each of New Hampshire’s 48 4,000-foot mountains twice in winter. That’s 96 peaks in 90 days, starting on December 22, 2007. This is not just an endurance event for us but also a fundraiser for a very special place, Angell Animal Medical Center.

It’s about hope. When we had none this past spring, when Atticus was rapidly going blind and two blood tests showed hyperthyroidism and I feared I may lose him to thyroid cancer, the most wondrous thing happened. People of all shapes and sizes, of all ages, of all economic backgrounds came to the aide of this little dog who loves his eyes and these mountains.

Because of the generosity of a couple of hundred people, Atticus received the best care possible: from Dr. John Grillo at Newbury Animal Hospital; to Dr. Ruth Marrion of Bulger Animal Hospital, the Ophthalmologist who operated on his cataracts and saved his eyes; to Dr. Maureen Carroll at Angell Animal Medical Center who was wonderful to deal with and restored our hope; to Angell’s Dr. Gregg Rapoport, a Cardiologist, who was equally great to work with; to Dawn Price at the Natural Dog in Newburyport, an animal nutritionist who has seen that Atticus eats healthy to stay healthy.

In the end, modern medical science had a lot to do with saving this little dog’s eyes, but to me there seemed to be something more—perhaps the power of prayer or of faith or maybe even more importantly…the power of friendship—that helped to raise the money, showered a dog and a man with love, and mysteriously took his hyperthyroidism away as if it never existed.

So many people helped us I feel the least we could do would be to return the favor this winter by raising money for Angell Animal Medical Center. Angell was great to deal with. And it wasn’t just Dr. Carroll and Dr. Rapoport, it was everyone we encountered from the techs to the receptionists. The people at Angell may be great at what they do with medicine and therapy and surgery, but I think the key thing about this wonderful place is that they give hope. So, this winter, perhaps we could bring a little help to those who bring hope where it is often most needed.

As far as just how important Atticus’s eyes are, see for yourself by clicking on the bold letters in the last sentence. This is for those who helped save his sight and his life…his numerous friends. Thank you all for touching this little dog’s life. This is for you.

Please take the time to visit the blog at http://tomandatticus.blogspot.com/ and for only $50 Tom and Atticus will hike a mountain for you, and send you a 4”x6” photo with Atticus atop the summit. Check the Mountain Dedication page to see which mountains are available and then email them with your dedication.

from Jo Jacques

Ever want to know what pro dog trainers read? How about knowing the best of what they read… The absolute BEST?

Here is the cream of the crop, what’s on every GOOD professional trainer’s bookshelf:

The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller
Clicker Training for Obedience by Morgan Spector
Family Friendly Dog Training by Dr, Patricia McConnell
The Dog Whisperer By PAUL OWENS (NOT Millan!!)
Positive Puppy Training Works! by Lt. Joel Walton
The Complete Idiots Guide to Positive Dog Training by Pamela Dennison
How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks by Dr. Ian Dunbar
Outwitting Dogs by Terry Ryan
How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves by Dr. Sophia Yin
Don’t Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor
How Dogs Learn by Mary Burch and Jon Bailey
The Other End of the Leash by Dr. Patricia McConnell
EXCEL-erated Learning by Dr. Pamela Reid

As well, if you REALLY want to learn about canine cognition and learning, there’s Stephen Lindsey’s 3 volume set on Applied Behavior and Training (at a cost of 300-400 for the three), Domjan’s Principles of Learning and Behavior, Schwartz/Wasserman/Robbins’ Psychology of Learning and Behavior, and Sidman’s Coercion and it’s Fallout.

Make sure you get your dog license if you haven’t. Here are some quick facts on who needs a license, where to get one, how much they cost

Who Needs a Dog License?

Dogs aged six months and older are required to be vaccinated and licensed. You need to renew your license every year.

What Do You Need to Get a Dog License?

• Unspayed/unneutered dogs need proof of current rabies vaccination.
• Spayed/neutered dogs need proof of rabies vacc and record of spay/neuter.
• Pit bulls and PB mixes need proof of home ownership or letter from landlord stating that you are allowed to have a pit bull or pit bull mix, a photo of your dog that is no more than 30 days old, and a photo of yourself (the owner) that is no more than 30 days old.

How Much Does a Dog License Cost?

* Unspayed/unneutered dogs: $17
* Spayed/neutered dogs: $6
* Pit bulls/pit bull mixes: $50

Where Do You Go to Get a Dog License?

There are two places you can go to get a Boston dog license. Bring all required paperwork and a check/money order (not cash).

1. The Property Management Department
Boston City Hall, Room 811
1 City Hall Plaza, Boston

2. City of Boston Animal Shelter
26 Mahler Road
Roslindale, MA
Hours: Mon-Sat 8 am to 4 pm & Wed 8 am to 8 pm

You can also purchase a dog license by mail if it is more convenient for you. Print the dog license application and fill it out. Mail the completed application, a copy of your dog’s rabies vaccination certificate, a check for the fee, and proof of spay/neuter (if applicable). You will receive the license in the mail.

Mail to:

Boston City Hall
Animal Control - Room 811
1 City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA 02201