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“The great pleasure of a dog is that you may makea fool of yourself with him and not only will he notscold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. “

- Samuel Butler

Photo courtesy of Augusto Serna

e can learn a lot from our dogs. Theycan teach us forgiveness, how to loveunconditionally, and see past the fur.

Conversely, our dogs rely on us to help guideand teach them how to behave socially. Since wedon’t speak the same language, it’s often difficultto convey our expectations. Connie’s article onpage 14 offers some tips how to effectively usevoice tones to properly communicate with yourdog.

If you’ve been following our agility series andhave hit a few obstacles along the way (no punintended), turn to page 22 for some guidelineson how to regroup and obtain positive results.This month’s handsome cover dog comes to usfrom Houston Boston Terrier Rescue Group ofGreater Houston. Boris was such a sport during

Editorial

W

Issue 5: Volume 5www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

the photo shoot! To learn more about him andother available dogs, turn to page 20.

Summer is finally here, and that means flea sea-son. If you’re looking to save a few bucks (andwho isn’t?) check out Pet Armor’s new flea pre-ventative on page 18. It sells for about half theprice of Frontline™, with the same active ingre-dient.

If you like free stuff, don’t forget to enter theZuke’s treat giveaway! Three lucky winners willreceive a custom tote bag filled with $100 worthof treats. To enter, visit our website atwww.urbanpawsmagazine.

Jennifer Kitchens

URBAN PAWSMAGAZINEP.O. Box 1556Spring, Texas 77383www.UrbanPawsMagazine.com

Design and layout by:ZOECOCREATIVE

© Copyright 2011. No part of this publication may bereprinted or otherwise reproduced without the publish-er’s written permission. Urban Paws magazine assumesno responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, feature andidea submissions, or photographs, and such material willnot be returned. Urban Paws magazine assumes no lia-bility for the contents herein and has the right to refuseadvertising for any reason. Urban Paws magazine doesnot endorse any specific product or service containedherein; we do encourage you to support our advertiserswhenever possible.

Please tell our advertisers you heard about them inUrban Paws!

On the CoverBoris, photographed byAshlee Newman Photography.

Follow us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the mostup-to-date information, news and events!

6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Calendar

June 2011 Events For a full listing of events, visit:www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events

JUNE 1-30Adopt a Shelter Cat MonthVisit your local animal shelter or rescue organi-zation to view adoptable cats.

JUNE 11City of Conroe’s Dog Days of SummerBring your four-legged friend out to McDadePark for a morning of fun in the sun. Pet con-tests, agility demonstrations and pet adoptions.Admission is free. For more information, visitwww.cityofconroe.org.

JUNE 12Houston Beagle Rescue’s Meet & GreetCome by and meet some of the adoptableBeagles at Petco in Spring, 9507 I-45 Northfrom noon - 4:00 p.m. For more information,visit www.houstonbeaglerescue.org.

JUNE 14Summer Y.A.P. (Youth & Agility Program)Presented by Bed Bath and Biscuit. 9:00 a.m.Y.A.P. pairs youth and dogs with a family-friendly sport, concentrating on teamwork,sportsmanship and communication. Classeswill be held every Tuesday for 6 weeks. Formore information, call 936.890.3647.

JUNE 20-24Companion Animal Camp at HHSThis is an opportunity for children ages 7-13 towork hands-on with the animals cared for by

the Houston Humane Society. Register onlineat www.houstonhumane.org.

JUNE 24National Take Your Dog toWork DayFor more information on how to get involved,visit www.takeyourdog.com

Have an event that you would like to add toour calendar? Just send us an email at:[email protected] sure to include the event name, date, timeand location.

The Scoop

News &Happenings in the Houston Area

LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER RECEIVESSURPRISE DONATION FROMTOMBALLBUSINESSAbandoned Animal Rescue staff were pleas-

antly surprised recently when Kim Williamsarrived at the rescue center and presented adonation check of $500 to Barbara Schultz,one of AAR Board Members. Resale With aPurpose is a Tomball resale shop ministry thatgives its proceeds to community non-profitgroups.

HELP YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL SHEL-TERWIN $15,000 BY VOTINGONLINEAdopt-a-Pet has teamed up with Care2 and

ASPCA to promote pet adoption and recog-nize outstanding animal shelters and rescuegroups throughout the U.S. If you volunteerfor or support and animal shelter or rescueorganization and would like to see them winthe 2011 America's Favorite Animal Sheltercontest, cast your vote! Voters can search byzip code to find shelters in their area by visitingwww.care2.com/animalsheltercontest. The con-test runs from May 16th to July 10th so startvoting! Shelter winners will be determined bythe number of supporters voting on the Care2contest page.

Urban Paws Magazine 7

HOUSTONAREACOMPANIESWILLGO TOTHEDOGSON JUNE 24THFirst celebrated in

1999, Take Your Dogto Work Day is anationally recognized

day created to celebrate the great companionsdogs make and to encourage adoptions fromshelters and rescue organizations.Pet lovers are encouraged to participate by

planning a workplace event to show off theirpooches and promote pet adoption. The offi-cial web site offers helpful resources for con-vincing companies to participate as well assteps for organizing an event. Companies caneven partner with a local shelter or rescueorganization and invite them to bring adopt-able pets and information about adoptionopportunities. To get involved, visitwww.takeyourdog.com.

HOUSTON FLEA INFESTATIONCAN BEBLAMEDONDROUGHTPet owners may find themselves purchasing

flea preventative for the first time. Houstonarea veterinarians are seeing more pets suffer-ing from fleas this year. Sometimes up to fourcases a day. Blame it on the lack of rain thatHouston has received over the last couple ofmonths. Homes with irrigation systems areattracting wildlife, wildlife that more than likelyhas a flea problem. Animals like squirrels andopossums are on the move with dry weather.Your best bet is to keep your pet on flea pre-ventative to control the flea population.

12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

dog park is a facility set aside for dogs to

exercise and play off-leash in a controlled envi-

ronment under the supervision of their owners.

Parks vary in accoutrements, although a typical

dog park offers a fence; separate, double-gated

entry and exit points; adequate drainage; bench-

es for humans; shade for hot days; parking close

to the site; water; tools to pick up and dispose of

animal waste in covered trash cans; and regular

maintenance and cleaning of the grounds.

Off-leash dog areas, or dog parks, provide a

community setting in which people can gather

and socialize and where they can observe the

interaction of groups of dogs at play. Dog parks

allow owners and their dogs to spend time

together while the dog satisfies its cravings for

canine play and companionship.

Houston is lucky enough to have over 25 dog

parks and that number continues to grow.

Organizations such as the Houston Dog Park

Association are dedicated to educating people

about the responsibilities and benefits of pet

ownership. They also help to support and

encourage new dog park developments.

If you’re new to the dog park, we’ve compiled a

list of all Houston bark parks. Each dog park is

governed by the rules set forth by the entity that

built it. Some parks have age limits and restric-

tions on children. We recommend researching

each park to see which one is the best fit for you

and your dog.

While dog parks are intended for carefree fun,

pet owners are always encouraged to keep an eye

on their dog at all times and be sure your park is

open before you head out.

AA

UUNNLLEEAASSHH tthheeFFUUNN aatt tthheeDDOOGG PPAARRKK!!


BaytownBaytown Bark Park4334 Crosby Cedar Bayou

BellaireOfficer Lucy Dog Park4337 Lafayette

DowntownDiscovery Green1500 McKinney

Deer ParkElla and Friends Dog Park500 W. 13th Street

East HoustonMaxey Bark and Run Park601 Maxey Road

GalleriaTanglewood Bark Park5801 Woodway Drive

Inner LoopDanny Jackson Bark Park4700 Westpark

Ervan Chew Dog Park4502 Dunlavy

Levy Park Dog Park3801 Eastside

West Webster Bark Park1501 W. Webster Street

KatyKaty Dog Park5414 Franz Road

KingwoodKingwood Dog Park619 Lakeville Drive

Northeast HoustonGene Green Beltway 8 Dog Park6500 E. Sam Houston Parkway N.

Northwest HoustonTC Jester Bark Park4201 TC Jester Blvd.

PasadenaBay Area Bark Park7500 Bay Area Blvd.

PearlandIndependence Dog Park3919 Liberty Drive

Southdown Dog Park2150 County Road 94 (Smith Ranch Road)

South HoustonTom Bass Regional Dog Park...coming soon!

Spring/TomballBurroughs Park Dog Park...coming soon!

Sugar LandPawm Springs Bark Park15300 University Blvd.

The WoodlandsBear Branch Dog Park5200 Research Forest Drive

Cattail Park9323 Cochrans Crossing Drive

Terramont Dog Park8500 Terramont Lane

West HoustonCongressman Bill Archer Bark Park3201 Highway 6

Millie Bush Bark Park16756 Westheimer Parkway

HHoouussttoonn AArreeaa BBaarrkk PPaarrkkss


Pet Safety

Stop. Drop. Roll Over?

s pet owners, the mere thought of our

home catching fire is terrifying.

According to the US Fire Administration’s web-

site, more than 1.7 million uncontrolled fires

occur annually in the US. it’s estimated that

more than 500,000 pets

are killed by house fires

each year. That’s a stagger-

ing statistic. The best way

to prevent tragedies is to

prevent the occurrence of

a fire.

Many of us rely on the

window decals that say

something like “In case of

fire or emergency–animals

inside!” to alert emergency

response teams to the

presence of pets. But, how

well do these decals really

work? Are they even visi-

ble in the event of an emergency?

While firefighters are trained to look for win-

dow alert sings, in many cases of fire, the loca-

tion of the fire determines where the firefight-

ers will enter the home. It may be through a side

window where decals are not present or visible.

Smoke can even render them unreadable. There

are many reasons that the decals can be unno-

ticed amidst the chaos of a home fire. What is,

then, the best way to indicate that pets are inside

the home?

Firefighters say that in many cases, a neighbor

has alerted them to the pets inside. This tactic

has resulted in many successful pet rescues. It’s a

good idea to get to know your neighbor’s pets

and vice versa.

Smoke detectors alert humans that’s it time to

evacuate, but pets

don’t know what that

high pitched alarm

means. To make mat-

ters worse, the sound

can even scare a pet

into hiding, increasing

the risk for harm as

we frantically search

for them.

Many groups are

working to improve

the survival chances

of pets caught in

house fires. Alarm

monitoring compa-

nies, such as ADT, local veterinarians and

humane organizations are looking to save the

half a million pets that are lost each year.

While firemen attempt to get pets safely out of

burning structures, they are not able to revive

them unless they have the proper equipment —

pet oxygen masks. These specially-designed ani-

mal masks can be used both on conscious pets

that have suffered from smoke inhalation and

pets that need to be resuscitated after losing con-

sciousness from exposure to the dangerous toxic

fumes.

ABy Jennifer Kitchens

Fire departments have to concentrate all of

their own funding for human equipment. That

means it is up to us to provide for our pets. Pet

retailers such as Wag’N (www.wagn4u.com)

offer the necessary gear to first responders to

effectively care for pets in emergency situations.

The O2 Fur Life® Program allows pet owners

to sponsor their local fire department or donate

kits to emergency crews.

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to pet

proof your home and be aware of potential fire

hazards. Always extinguish open flames before

exiting your home and keep younger dogs, espe-

cially puppies confined to prevent them from

accidentally starting a fire.

FIRE SAFETY TIPS

Extinguish open flames

Remove stove knobs

Invest in flameless candles

Keep pets near entrances when away

Secure young pets

Consider using monitored smoke detectors

Affix a pet alert window decal

Be sure your neighbors know that you havepets and how many are in the home

Barking Lot

Houston Beagle & HoundRescue’s B.Y.O.B. (Bring YourOwn Beagle) Party

Houston Beagle & Hound Rescue recentlyheld its 3rd annual B.Y.O.B. party at PawtyPalace in Katy. Previous Beagle adoptersbrought their new pals to socialize with thosewaiting for their new homes.


Guests mingle with the Beagles

Do I smell hot dogs?

Eager contestants anxiously waiting


By Connie Archer,Bark Busters Home Dog Training

IT’S NOT WHATYOU SAY,IT’S HOW YOUSAY IT

Photo courtesy of Rebekah Pavlovic


Training & Behavior

The Command Tone: When giving commands, use a normal, nice

voice tone. Remember that you are instructing

your dog, not screaming at her for doing some-

thing wrong. Simply say the dog’s name and a

one-word command. Examples would be

“Abby, sit”, “Abby, stay”, “Abby, come.” Your

dog will learn these short one-word commands

much more quickly than something like, “Abby,

will you sit down for me, Sweetie?” It is confus-

ing to your dog if you say, “Abby, come”, one

day and then “Come on over here, Sweetie” the

next.

The Praise Tone: When praising your dog, the high-pitched,

happy voice tone is best. Dogs love to please us

and well-delivered praise is usually all that is

needed to reward your dog. The exception to

using the high-pitched tone would be if you are

praising a very excitable, “hyper” type dog. In

this case, use a more calm and soothing tone

when you praise.

If you commit to working with your dog, paying

close attention to matching the correct voice

tone to the correction, command, and praise,

you will be amazed at how quickly your dog will

respond. Remember, it’s not WHAT we say, but

HOW we say it that counts.

ur sweet, four-legged friends

seem to really listen when we talk

to them, but do they always

understand what we are saying?

Remember, dogs do not come into this world

understanding English. When you say to your

dog in a high-pitched, happy voice tone, “Oh,

Abby, you’re the cutest little puppy”, her entire

body wiggles with excitement. But, try this. Use

the exact same high-pitched voice tone and say,

“Oh, Abby, you’re the ugliest, dumbest, little

puppy”, and her body will still wiggle with that

very same excitement. The point is that it is not

WHAT we say, but HOW we say it, that gets the

point across. The proper use of three basic

voice tones will get the best and fastest results

with your dog.

The Correction Tone: When correcting, use a voice tone that is low

and growly. A dog gives a low growl to warn or

correct another dog, so by using this same tone,

you are speaking to your dog in a language she

already knows. Also, keep it simple. One consis-

tent correction word, said in the right tone, will

do the trick. Why complicate things by using

many different corrections like “No Bark”, “No

Bite”, “Off ”, etc. By using one word said in the

right voice tone, your dog will quickly learn

when she hears your correction, it means “Stop

whatever you are doing right now.”

O


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Pet artist LarryWatkins creates won-derful pieces of artfor pet lovers. Usingphotos of four-legged friends, hedigitally creates aone-of-a-kind keep-sake to be treasuredfor years to come. PetArt by LCW offerslimited edition printsas well as customprints.

Visitpetartbylcwcom to view samples,sizes & prices

Co-Pilot Protection PlanProtect your Pet’s Health with Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

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Gimme ShelterJoin us in helping our four-legged friends find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!


Hi, I’m Boris, a three-year-old, black andwhite Boston Terrier. I am one handsomeboy and I have the personality to match! Iwas dropped off at a local kill shelterbecause my owners were no longer able tocare for me. Geez, people can be so cruel.I’ve been a big hit with all of the BTRGHvolunteers because I am so sweet. I am areally quick learner and have alreadylearned how to use the doggy door. I amlooking for my forever home with a fami-ly to love me. Could that be you?

Please note that these dogs may have been adopted by the time you visit them; however, there are many more wonderful dogs in need of forever homes.

Ourcover dog,Boris!

Boston Terrier Rescue Group of Greater Houston

www.houstonbostonrescue.org

Boston Terrier Rescue of Greater Houston is a well-established group that hasbeen rescuing Boston Terriers (and sometimes Pugs and French Bulldogs) for

over 11 years. Started as a one-person operation in early 2000, the group has grown to a solid base ofvolunteers across the country who work together to get abandoned, abused and neglected dogs into theirforever homes. Boston Terrier Rescue takes in the old, the injured, the sick - the dogs that society hasmany times discarded. All rescues are given immediate veterinary care, including vaccinations, heartwormtests and spay/neuters. If the dog requires extraordinary care, most commonly heartworm treatment,Boston Terrier Rescue addresses those needs immediately.

MIKEYHi, I’m Mikey and I am just under ayear old. I was found with Mallory, tiedto a pole when animal control saved us.We were both schedule to be eutha-nized, but were rescued by BTRGH.Mallory and I were inseparable until Iwas taken to be treated for heartworms.Now I am quite independent andwould do best as an only dog. I enjoyrunning and playing and would lovenothing more than to find my foreverhome with a nice, big yard to run in.

MALLORYMallory here. I am a sweet girl justunder a year old, who is currently livingin a temporary foster home in Austin. Iam a bit quieter than Mikey, but I alsolove to run and play.I get along a littlebetter with others too, and would prob-ably be fine in a home with other dogs.

BUCKLEYI'm Buckley and I'm new to BostonTerrier Rescue. My owners didn’t wantme anymore so they sent me to a killshelter in Waco. I'm only 8 months oldand I'm a happy boy now that I'vefound lots of friends who love me. I’mnow ready for my forever home now.

MARGARETTEHello, I’m Margarette, a seven-year-oldBoston Terrier. I was sent to a local killshelter, where I was left by my ownersbecause they could no longer keep me.I am a beautiful, serious girl who canstill kick up my heels – when I have anopen yard! Although I am about 90%deaf, I am still very alert and observant,and just as sweet as can be.

CLANCYIt’s Clancy! I’m an adorable little guythat came from a kill shelter outside ofHouston. When I arrived at BTRGH,the discovered that I had a huge chem-ical burn on my back that was not visi-ble in my shelter photos. I was taken tothe vet immediately, where I receivedurgent medical care. I’m only about ayear old, and will be going through thehealing process for a few monthsbefore I am ready for my forever home.


FRIDAYI’m Friday, a beautiful, French Bulldogwith attitude! I was found a stray on abusy Houston highway and picked upby a good samaritan. My foster momthinks that I probably need to be anonly dog.

ith the best will in the world,

sometimes stuff happens – once, training my

dog to weave, with her dinner bowl at the end, I

slipped and fell flat on my backside kicking the

bowl right out from under her as I squealed in

panic! Result: Flying treats and dog hiding

behind the oleander bushes. Not good. So, what

to do?

This month’s example features Chica, the

cheeky Chihuahua. Chica loves agility – particu-

larly the contact equipment – ‘A’ frame, Dog

Walk and Seesaw (Teeter). We teach these start-

ing low and gradually raising the height. Last

Fall, Chica veered off-course and made a bee-

line for the see-saw, flying up it without noticing

it was higher than she had experienced. It

banged down and scared her. Following week

she made it very clear that she wasn’t at all happy

OOPS! What do to whentraining goes wrong


with the see-saw. These guidelines helped get

her through it.

1. Take a break. Trying to work a scared dog or

force it to perform is like scratching at a wound

– it never has time to heal. Taking a break from

that exercise allows you to plan your approach

and the dog time to calm down. How long? It

depends. Sometimes a few minutes are enough.

Sometimes a month is good. In similar circum-

stances I once lent a friend my see-saw for their

Labrador. After a month I asked if they had

practiced. “We didn’t have time” she said. “But

you know what? Last week he was playing in the

back yard and did it all on his own!” Now, I’m

not advocating dogs using equipment unsuper-

vised, but this does show that, given time, they

can sometimes work things out.

By Lesley Young, Dog Angels U.S.W

2. Go right back to basics. We reintroduced

Chica to the see-saw at very low height, intro-

ducing her at the pivot with the see-saw already

tipped. Over a few weeks Chica performed the

tip herself and was readily running onto the see-

saw. We are now in the process of very gradual-

ly increasing the height again.

3. Take your time. Often problems can be avoid-

ed by simply taking more time to train some-

thing. This includes very gradually raising the

standard of performance (working separately

on elements like speed, duration or level of dis-

traction) and proofing each stage in different

locations.

4. Try to offer the dog a choice. Never coerce a

dog into position, this can generate lasting fear.

Chica was briefly and gently restrained when she

tried to back off – to prevent her instinctive

‘flight’ response and allow her rational brain to

take over. After that she had the choice to go

forward and get her treats or to stand still or

jump off the side. Provided the task you are ask-

ing of the dog is small enough, they will usually

choose to do it.

5. Make it highly rewarding. Know what your

dog values the most. Chica loves roast chicken,

lesser dog treats simply won’t do. Doggy Math is

very simple: How much effort is this going to

cost me? What’s in it for me?

If performing takes a huge effort (including the

effort to stop doing something or overcome an

emotional response) then the reward needs to

be really great! Know what your dog loves most

and don’t over-use it.

Thankfully, today, Chica is happily well on the

way to full height. (And my youngster is back

weaving).

Lesley Young (MA Hons), has 17 years experience ofDog Training - relocating to The Woodlands, Texas in2009. Lesley runs Pet Dog, Puppy and Agility classesand is an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.www.dogangels.us.

CGC Certification:The Foundation for Good Behavior

By Alison Terrell

amie Fincher is no novice when it comes

dogs. Not only is she extremely active

among North Houston’s rescue commu-

nity, she also finds time in her busy

schedule to promote the ideals of good dog

behavior through the Canine Good Citizen cer-

tification. Put on through the AKC, the Canine

Good Citizen certification is presented to those

dogs that excel in the basics of obedience and

behavior. Calm around strangers and new stim-

uli, these dogs are the epitome of well behaved.

Jamie decided to have her Doberman Pinscher,

Prime, go through CGC testing in order to bet-

ter promote the breed and help remove it’s neg-

ative connotation as a “dangerous breed.”

Today, Prime is CGC certified and well on his

way to many more obedience accomplishments

thanks to Jamie’s guidance and the CGC certifi-

cation for it’s positive foundation.

A: What is your dog’s name?

J: Prime.


J

Photo courtesy of Robyn Arouty Photography


A: What breed is he?

J: He’s a Doberman Pinscher.

A: How old is he?J: 16 months.

A: Did he receive the CGC (Canine GoodCitizen) at 16 months?

J: Yes, he did.

A: So, what is the CGC and why did you decideto certify Prime in it?

J: The CGC is a behavioral certification test thatthe AKC offers. Basically, it tests a dog’s tem-

perament, how they act in public and determines

how well behaved they are overall. For some

dogs, being well behaved and displaying a posi-

tive affect comes naturally, but for others it may

be a challenge. Luckily, those requiring extra

coaching for the CGC examination can find

trainers that offer CGC prep tests. Personally, I

decided to have Prime certified as a CGC due to

his breed, the Doberman Pinscher, which nor-

mally carries a negative connotation with it. I

think it’s especially important for owners of

those dogs classified as “dangerous breeds” to

seek out CGC certification in order to rectify

their dog’s reputation among the public. A CGC

certification would be valuable to someone with

a “dangerous breed” dog, or any dog for that

matter, due to the fact that the certification acts

as validation for the dog’s good behavior.

A: Besides the “dangerous breeds” do you thinkthe CGC certification would be beneficial for

any dog?

J: Definitely. It’s an easily achievable goal thatspeaks volumes about your dog’s overall behav-

ior.

A: So, what would you tell other dog owners todo to prepare for the CGC test?

J: I would suggest some obedience training,specifically your basics: Sit, stay and how to walk

on a leash. It’s also important that your dog

learn to be calm when strangers approach.

A: What would CGC test day look like?

J: There are many parts to the CGC exam, but,basically, the test consists of having your dog sit

and stay still for an examiner to groom him,

loose leash walking your dog, introducing your

dog to numerous stimuli such as medical equip-

ment, plastic bags being thrown in the air, etc.

These are all events designed to test your dog’s

reaction. Theoretically, a CGC examiner would

like to see a calm and collected dog during the

entire testing period. Should the dog react nega-

tively, he could fail the exam and be asked to

retest.

A: Would you recommend the CGC test to alldog owners?

J: Yes, most definitely, it shows your responsibil-ity as a dog owner to have well behaved pets that

would excel in public situations. Also, it helps to

rectify the reputations of “dangerous breeds,”

which is vitally important for the public.

A: Where can dog owners find more informa-

tion about the Canine Good Citizen certifica-

tion, such as where they take place and how to

prepare?

J: The AKC website – www.akc.org

Tail End

Tackling Taboo Topics

You notice that you friend’s pug has become abit pudgy. You can’t just blurt it out, but youhave to say something because you truly careabout the canine in question. So, how do youbroach such delicate matters? Your friendsneeds to hear the truth and better that they hearit from you.

YOU MEAN“Your dog is fat.”

DON’T SAY“When is she having puppies?”

DO SAY“Ever thought of vertical strips?”

Pet obesity can be associated with thyroid dis-ease, cancer and diabetes. It complicates jointdisease from arthritis to hip displaysia. Fooddoes not equal love.


YOU MEAN“Your dog needs to learn some manners.”

DON’T SAY“Who socialized your dog? Gordon Ramsey?”

DO SAY“My dog really enjoyed his Canine Good

Citizen class.”

You may think it’s cute when your Bulldogjumps on your lap to kiss you, but some peoplemay find it intimidating, or even rude.Obedience class teaches social graces and allowsyou to bond with your dog.

YOU MEAN“Your dog has bad breath.”

DON’T SAY“Does your dog drink out of the toilet?”

DO SAY“People who feed raw call bones Nature’s

Toothbrush.”

Pet dental hygiene is important. Problems canlead to heart failure, liver disease and tooth loss.Bad breath is usually a serious warning sign.

YOU MEAN“Your dog has gas.”

DON’T SAY“Phew! That’s the worst odor I’ve ever

smelled!”

DO SAY“I too like baked beans.”

Gas can be a sign of gastrointestinal issues andmay be an indicator of bloat, which can be fatal.Simethicone products can reduce simple flatu-lence.

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