Vol. 2, Issue 4 Fall/December 2011
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Fall/December 2011 Vol. 3, Issue 4
Publisher: K. Lisa Brooks
A Note from Boss Dawg...
Editorial Content: K. Lisa Brooks Erika Philips (Assistant)
Contributing Writers: Giselle Braeuel Roxane Bayette Melissa Doren Luanne Fairlie Michelle Grace Peter Jennings Lori Long
Lori McFadyen Dr. Bruce Meyer Selma Mulvey Erika Philips Kerry Vinson Joanne Whiteley George Lisa Woodward
Cartoonists Vince Grittani Jerry King Buck Jones
Photo Credits: Cover by Gail Burstyn of her dog Lily, 9 yr. border collie. Gail writes: Lily helps raise money (by doing tricks) and is a great foster model and mom for Home Again Rescue (Bancroft, Ontario). She loves being a Cottage Dog and swims every day in Paudash Lake. She is the love of my life. Thanks so much Lisa for seeing the beauty in this dog. She is divine.
Layout Artist: Craig Belanger
Ad inquiries: Lisa Brooks - lisa@cottagedog.com
Story Submissions: storysubmissions@cottagedog.com
Publisher Contact: Cottage Dog Publications 1393 Brunel Road Huntsville, ON P1H 2J3
Publication Agreement #: 42035032
To subscribe (8 issues, 2 years) visit us online at: www.cottagedog.com or send CDN $26.99 plus HST ($30.50 taxes in) to: Cottage Dog Publications 1393 Brunel Road Huntsville, ON P1H 2J3 Reproduction of any part of this publication without expressed written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.
Here we are sitting down together again to celebrate sharing our getaway and cottage lifestyles with our much loved family members and friends, our dogs! We’re delighted with our new issue. It is filled with stories to warm your heart and quite possibly bring a tear or two. There are cartoons to add levity and a new Pawzzle from Vince Grittani to make your coffee time stretch a little longer. Plus new articles to stimulate the grey matter with a little controversial sizzle and a few things that fell outside the box. Jumping off the dock as a fresh pup in the publishing world in 2010 created a huge learning curve for this media mongrel. A much wiser dog sits before you concentrating on giving you a strong quarterly magazine. Our savvy readership can expect their issue count plus a little extra in appreciation for their support. We welcome back Craig Belanger in this issue’s Magazine Design; he missed our 7th issue while enjoying a sabbatical in northern Europe. He’s come back a changed man. Starting as a feline fancier, Craig is a bonefide Dogs Rule Guy since expanding his family to include a rescue pup from Labrador, Newfoundland. Cottage Dog Magazine is excited about the future. In 2012 we meet our readership literally as we take to the roads with our Cottage Dog Media Hound Event Bus. (Read more in our bits and bites section). We step out literarily through the contribution of Dr. Bruce Meyer, an author and professor of journalism at Ryerson, and known advocate and promoter of Canadian Content. Bringing our readership more stimulation. Check our thought provoking story on the current Breed specific legislation and a controversial article about purebred vs. mixed breeds and the current pet over-population. Note our proud to be Canadian stance makes no bones introducing a new Salty Moose Tale about a ginger coloured New England Yacht Club Dog sailing the seas for a year on the Black Caiman. Simply said, Moose hails from Canada South (aka the province of USA). He’s a pup living life big doing what many have dreamt since our youth and years of televised programs like The Love Boat and Gilligan’s Island. Many of our writers and even our current issue Puparazzi stem from a growing CottageDog Facebook and web community. Check us out yourself and like our CottageDog Facebook page. Post some of your photographs and comments, and pitch some of your ideas, after all this is your magazine! We wish you all a happy tail wagging holiday and see you in the New Year. Lisa Brooks
Inside This
Issue
8 Bits & Bites 11 Cottage Barkery 12 Brierly’s Rover 28 14 “Moose” the Tail of a Salty 36 Puppies! Not Just For Dog
Christmas
18 A Senior’s Dog:
38 Where Have all the
My Mom’s Best Friend
Purebreds Gone?
22 My Brother is a Bird Head 42 Dock Dogs Canadians FLY High at World 24 Nature or Nurture Championship! 28 Coolie Island Dogs 44 Puparazzi 32 Dangerous Legislation that 46 Lunch with Leo in takes a Bite out of Being Canadian
Muskoka
22
50 Sanctuary Pups 54 Kerry Vinson’s Thoughts
56 Ask Rocky 60 Paw-zzled
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Bits & Bites Famous Writers and Their Dogs Flush was the name of the dog owned by the English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning immortalised in the movie the ‘ Barrett ’s of Wimpole Street ‘ starring Charles Laughton who played her strict father. Elizabeth Barrett was an invalid and confined to the house for many years. During this time she acquired a love of poetry and wrote the famous dog poem simply called ‘ To Flush my Dog ‘. Her love of poetry lead her to meet another famous English poet called Robert Browning. They fell in love and married despite the objections of her father. Our favourite dog poem of all time is The Song of Quoodle by G. K. Chesterton - a real treat for anyone who has never heard of this poem. Gilber t Keith Chesterton, otherwise known as G. K. Chesterton was an English Poet and Journalist who lived between 1874 and 1936. He was educated at University College and was first published in 1896. Luath was the name of the dog owned by the famous poet Robert Burns. Robert Burns came from Scotland and lived between 1759 and 1796. He was educated at home and his father was a gardener and farmer. The most famous poems by Robert Burns were A Red Red Rose and Auld Lang Syne ! Robert Burns was a Dog Lover who wrote a poem dedicated to dogs called The Twa Dogs
- 8 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
“You‛re right. I do feel a lot
better.”
Hi Cottage Dog Mag: Could you possibly send me an address or a phone number for Glen Garland at Rid e Dogs Ride Inc. who I saw featured in your Spring Cottage dog magazine? (I have no internet). R.D.R. was on pages 25 & 26 and on page 26 I saw the dog helmet in the background. I am seeking a dog helmet to fit my toy poodle for safe ty when she’s in her basket on my bicycle. Tho se helmets in the photograph looked exactly like what I’m looking for. If you like, you could just pas s my name and address along to Glen Garland and he can contact me rather than the reverse. Thank you, Morghynn Karenn Kilworthy, Ontario Hi Morghynn: Please check out Glen Garland’s Ride Dog Ride Inc. ad on page 59 He was so deli ghted with your letter he is advertising in Cottage Dog . Thank you , you’re the best, Cottage Dog
‘Boxy’ A small black Labrador puppy was rescued from the top of a freight train recently in South Carolina. A lady was sitting in her car whi le waiting for a train to pass at a crossing when she spo tted a small black dot. At first she thought it was a garbage bag until she noticed it move. Fearing the worst she immediately called 911 and followed the train for about 6 miles until she located where it stop ped. Firefighters used ladders to climb up on the train and rescued the puppy. She has since found a forever home and has aptly named Boxcar Hunter or ‘Boxy’ for short. No one knows how she manage d to get on top of the train!
PetSmart Charities of Canada Were you aware that since 1999, PetSmart Charities of Canada has granted more than $2.1 million to animal-welfare agencies and, by partnering with local Adoption Partners, have helped save the lives of more than 100,000 pets through our Adoption Centers located in ever y PetSmart store/ Help promote the adoption instead of sales of dogs and cats through pet stores! Purchasing purebred anim als shou ld only be purchased through responsible and caring Breeders and brought home no younger than 8-12 week s of age. NEVER purchase from mills or brokers whic h come through pet stores! To find rescue grou ps or responsible breeders contact the Canadian Kennel Club . Ask questions and do your research.
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 9 -
Cottage Dog Media Hound Event Bus Cottage Dog Magazine is pleased to introduce you to the Cottage Dog Media Hound Event Bus! Fully equipped to provide free MC services with a bark. We have own stage and sound system for shows so you can take out the scent work. Our Media Hound will visit dozens of events throughout 2012. You will smell us at Pet Festivals,
Fund Raisers, Pet Sporting Events such as Dock Dogs, Trials. As Agility, Disc Dogs and Sled Dog Races, Dog Shows and Obedience Community Festivals and Tourism well we will be sniffing around lots of Cottage and Boat shows, us to go across Canada if you Destinations though out Ontario and Quebec, you might even coax throw us a bone.
to say that we have made the media Cottage Dog may not be a media Mogul yet but we are proud chase our tails all the way to Mongrel Status! We’ll doggedly follow the scent and we will happily s from our sponsors..... No kidding the action. We promise to bring exciting new gadgets and freebie we’ll bring the poop! Just get out and find us!!! Contact us for more information.
This year, give the gift that keeps on giving for not only one year, but two Enjoy 8 issues over two years of Cottage Dog for only CDN $26.99 plus HST ($30.50) July 2010
ber 2010
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Vol. 1 Issue 4
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December 2010
Co Therap S Bigwinnd with PAW Dog ive: Isla Culinary addling TAIL rs Al theing FeaALath new life e DITION art a - MadUNCON Caninedo AlginPonquinMusParkoofkka LOVEn :Bre into an old bleSherma ita to ar ch Whatth the Family h s hs o! Strengt Ts u wi CA B Pi Family Ties How to Cottage? Snow go... WINTERIZE Skijoring’s Your cottage dog fun! y ys ries Itch Memo Da g r Do R mePupe of a GINGE razzi m IN u : S at W ry Sto + hurst ofs! tmas CALGARY’S artheChris Be sign s Deerw ring y a Igno Chibley’s Pet Expo Canine’s Guide Geta , toSKIING Travels villagegs! COLLINGWOOD ead: Aboard the RosseToauThTh e DeoRoad Ah Loss Gone Life afterPUPARAZZI DOCK DOGS PICTON CosyCottage DOG CESAR Take the theCASTLE Goes toDogs N e! MILAPlung Vol. 2, Issue 1
Mail a cheque to: CottageDog 1393 Brunel Road Huntsville, ON P1H 2J3
Or register online using Paypal, Visa or Mastercard at: www.cottagedog.com
splash
Winter 2011
Vol. 2, Issue 2
Spring 2011
Dogs COMBAT
Post-traumatic Meet Stress Canad a’sDisorder Newest COTTAGE DOGS from Kabul
AFGHANISTAN
Good Dog, Bad Dog?
QUIZtoTakeFINDour OUT
Cottage Barkery
by Lori Long of Gobbleyums, St. Johns, NFLD
Gingerbread Dogs & Cats (& Men) • • • • • • • •
3/4 cup real butter, softened NOT margarine ( margarine contains chemicals dogs should not have) 1 tbsp molasses ( adds a natural sweetness for color and taste can omit if necessary) 1 pkg. (4-serving size) Jell-O Butterscotch Instant Pudding powder not premade cups (do not use the sugar free variety as many artificial sweeteners such as xylitol will fatally harm the dog) 2 eggs ( good for skin and fur) 2-1/2 cups flour ( any variety can be used organic, whole wheat or regular) 1 tsp. baking soda 1 Tbsp. ground ginger ( is soothing on the belly and provides antiinflammatory relief) 1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon ( is merely a flavouring it will not harm the dog.)
BEAT butter, molasses and dry pudding mix in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs. Gradually add to pudding mixture, beating well after each addition. Refrigerate 15 min. HEAT oven to 350°F. Place dough between 2 sheets of parchment or waxed paper; roll to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into gingerbread-man shapes with 3- to 4-inch cookie cutter, rolling dough scraps as necessary. Place, 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheets. BAKE 10 to 12 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand on baking sheets 3 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely. Decorate with icing. ICING: potato flakes, 2 tbsp Greek yogurt - mix together with hot water until the desired amount and consistency has been achieved let cool then decorate using a piping bag.
Doggie Safe Snow Balls • • • • • •
1/2 cup real butter NOT margarine (margarine contains many chemicals dogs should not have) 1/2 cup milk (adds calcium) 3 cups oats ( is a great fibre for the belly and is great for the skin and fur) 1/2 cup unsweetened fine shredded coconut ( coconut has been researched and shows that its actually good for the dogs anal glands) 4 tbsp carob powder ( carob is a dog safe form of chocolate) extra carob to roll in and extra fine coconut to roll in
Boil milk and butter in a pan for 3 min let cool. mix in oats, carob powder and coconut. when cooled roll into balls and dip in the extra carob powder or the extra coconut
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 11 -
Brierly’s Rover “Shut that dog up in the chart-room, Mr. Jones - will you?” - Conrad Lord Jim More than just a footnote in Conrad’s Lord Jim shrivelling like a salt pond by a Malay lagoon and giving off that humid breath and all its life… More than just a wet nose on the sidelight as the door bolt tumbles shut to a whimper and the house falls silent as a winter forest… More than just a hang-dog look of loss that shivers through the mind in afterthought when a toss-stone breaks the surface of a pond… More than just the shadow at our heels through wet grass as sun ignites morning mist and a next footstep verges on the edge of heaven… More than just the story one leaves behind in a discarded map of a foreign city discovered years later stuck tight beyond reopening in a drawer… More than just the loyalty of the soul to self and the self to some redeeming virtue that won’t leave even though it is shown the way out and told to go… Here is the courage of waves rushing at shores, the dedication that covers hold for their texts though they reveal nothing and tell even less… Here are the eyes that stare at empty sea, the heart that would break if only it could find a place in which to empty itself and freely grieve… Here is the horizon seemingly as endless as hope, familiar words that beckon one to come, to sit, the voice one expects to hear without understanding. A special thanks to Kelly Johnson for the beautiful photography of her dog Gracie.
More than the simple intonations of love and warmth such things seas cannot give back or give away, that gift that cannot be received, wrapped in forgiveness.
Excerpt from Dog Days: A Comedy of Terriers by Bruce Meyer (Black Moss Press) “...celebrates the canine, but as a means of discovering the uncanny. Classically clear and rich with meditative feelings. Meyer’s lyrics leash pain and unleash beauty.” - George Elliot Clarke
- 12 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
From Cottage Dog’s
Extended Blended Family
(Love Me, Love My Dogs! Summer Issue 2011)
Photography by Kelly Holinshead Card Design: Johanne Stewart of Dreams Becoming Reality
“Moose”
the Tail of a Salty Dog by Lisa Woodward
- 14 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
H
i, I’m Lisa and my husband is Andy. We are recent empty-nesters on a mission to live this new chapter in our life’s story to the fullest, no holds barred. We have dedicated this year to living life consciously, and have made the decision to create the life we want by setting goals and going after them with gusto. We have moved south from New England, and in keeping with our newly set goals, we have purchased our first sailboat, a new 2011 Jeanneau 36i named the Black Caiman. Our family includes three active children in their twenties, two dogs, and three granddogs. We share our home with Moose, our one-year-old miniature poodle, and JD (Just Dog) our eleven-year-old yellow Lab. Moose is chicken soup for our souls and he reminds us every day of our commitment to live a carefree and fun-filled life and not sweat the small stuff. He is unbelievably cute and has the magnetic charm of a naughty ten-year-boy. JD is missing his tail; he has the greatest character and is always in trouble. He enjoys eating garbage, cleaning out the refrigerator and driving me nuts. As we were walking on the beach discussing this exciting new year ahead of us, Moose was zipping around acting crazy, and kicking up sand like he was mad in the head. We stopped and watched him go ripping by us, leaping high in the air, enjoying his day at the beach like there was no tomorrow, and we knew that this was our year to make Crazy Moose Tracks. So far it been the ultimate in travel and adventure for us and the dogs. Starting in January and throughout most of February, we toured the beaches and coastal islands between Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA. We spent the weekends looking for a marina or yacht club to keep the boat, and finding a few hotels that allowed dogs. What a time they had – beach in the morning, touring the yacht clubs/marinas in the afternoon and back to the beach for an evening walk. It’s amazing how fast dogs adapt to different environments. The morning Moose experienced his first trip to the beach, he was glued to JD’s side looking for guidance, and when we returned later that evening he was pulling, and crying to be released onto the dunes. Once off leash, he went wild, jumping, splashing, and acting the fool. As JD regally strolled onto the dunes, I could hear him calling Moose a rookie. Moose loves hotels and goes crazy when we finally open the door to our suite for the first time. Its fun to see him get so CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 15 -
excited, zipping around checking out his new digs, then finally jumping up onto a bed as if to say, “Look, look at this glorious new place . . . can I chew the comforter?” After two months of go-sees and interviews, we joined the South Carolina Yacht Club and rented a slip in Windmill Harbour, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. We spent March and April traveling between our home and Annapolis, MD for the commissioning process of our sailboat. Three trips in all, and Moose is now a traveling professional; he knows the routine at the airport and breezes through security as fast as a deadhead pilot does. He has definitely earned his wings. Thank goodness we used his travel carrier as his bed and security spot for the first four months of his life, because now when it’s time he jumps right in and goes to sleep or chills out and plays with a toy. We stayed at the same bed and breakfast for each visit, a supreme retreat just off the beaten path in downtown Annapolis. Pippa, the resident Border collie, and Moose became fast friends and enjoyed an occasional visit together to the local pet boutique. Annapolis is super dog-friendly, so when walking Moose downtown, we got used to meet-
ing lots of local dogs, dogs on vacation, and friendly dogloving people. Moose’s time in Annapolis was divided between exercise walks in the morning, touristy walks and sightseeing in the evening (including ice cream parlours and trendy trinket shops that give away biscuits freely) and every minute in between running around the marina, visiting with the contractors working on our boat or making friends with other boat owners and their salty dogs. There was also a children’s pirate ship/tour located in the marina, and every day when Moose would hear the laughter and shouts of rowdy children turned pirates lining up to board the ship, he would demand to go see the children. Near the dock he would sit and receive affection, loving pats on the head from each pirate that filed past, and by the end of the week, he became an honorary pirate. We celebrated the handover of the Black Caiman with a champagne toast and dinner from the Chart House delivered to our boat, which was docked there throughout the commission process. Unbeknownst to me, as I was taking a picture of our server, Daniel, Moose entertained the customers inside the restaurant who were looking out the windows at the scene, by jumping up and tasting my cream of crab soup. What a clown! Everyone inside erupted in laughter, This was the perfect ending to our Annapolis experience and the beginning of our maiden voyage down the Intracoastal Waterway. In May 2011, the Black Caiman was ready, and so were we. With Moose as our first mate, we left Annapolis, MD for our adventure down the Intracoastal Waterway to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Approximately 565 miles, eleven days, ten marinas, three bays, and numerous bridges, and Moose enjoyed
- 16 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
every minute. He was outgoing and friendly, jumping up on the captain’s seat to watch the boats pass by during the day’s travel (we thinks he’s a bit nosey). Moose’s favourite part of the trip was all the new friends he was able to meet: dock masters and hands, other boaters, their children and dogs, and the regular stream of people we would encounter when walking into town. Moose thrived in this environment and seems to be destined for this nomadic lifestyle. Moose settled into living aboard instinctively, developing his routine within days. In the mornings, we would ready the boat and cast off the lines, and by the time we were pulling away from the dock, Moose was at his post ready and waiting for the day’s adventure. We traveled all day, sometimes up to twelve hours, and the minute Moose saw the bumpers come out in the evening, he knew we were approaching the marina. He would stand on his seat with a general’s pose, as if giving instructions all the way in, till we were tied up and secure. Moose’s small size and great agility gives him an advantage for living aboard a sailboat. He is sure-footed, has no problem jumping from boat to dock, and moves around the boat like a circus poodle in a trained act. Most marinas have courtesy bikes, and Moose loves to ride in the basket, playing mouse on the motorcycle. He really leans into the wind and lets his ears flap in the breeze. I’m looking for a helmet and goggles for him! Most coastal communities are very dog-friendly, welcoming cruisers and their dogs into their stores, so very seldom is Moose asked to wait outside. When eating out we try to dine alfresco so he can join us. He loves to visit with the restaurant staff and the other
patrons when appropriate, and it gives him a chance to be off the boat and stretch his legs. The trip was a success, proving Moose to be absolutely the best sailing companion. We are so pleased that he has adjusted to traveling by cars and planes, sailing, and living on a boat so easily. Our goal is to cruise long distance and live aboard for extended periods of time in the future, and the past six months of travel and this maiden voyage confirms that Moose is the perfect fit for us and our new lifestyle. Our three years of researching dog breeds has paid off, and we could not be happier with our choice. With the trip down the Intracoastal Waterway complete, the Black Caiman delivered to her new home, commissioned into the fleet at the South Carolina Yacht Club.
The grand clubhouse is
centered on the fifteen-acre inland harbour and flanked on both sides by a variety of boats in their slips. Windmill Harbour is a lovely private residential community with gorgeous homes tucked away between moss-draped trees.
The club
and community combined create an all-inclusive resort-like atmosphere where the outside world melts away and the fun begins. Some dogs like to go to the lake, others to the mountains; but for Moose, spending his weekends on the boat at the South Carolina Yacht Club in Windmill Harbour is the ultimate in living life to the fullest. Whether it’s a full day of sailing, meeting his friends at the beach or hanging with his friends around the harbour, Moose has the best life a salty dog could ask for. For more of Moose’s adventures, please visit him at www.crazymoosetracks.com. CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 17 -
A Senior’s Dog:
My Mom’s Best Friend Dogs Enrich our Golden Years by Lori McFadyen
I
can picture the scene as clearly as if I was there: I’m phoning my mom from India, and the ringing is more likely to have woken her Shih-Tsu, Bandit, than her. Right about now, the third ring, her furry snout is nuzzling mom awake. “What time is it, Bandit?” she’d say. “Can’t see the numbers on the clock.” Sliding her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet slide into her slippers. Bandit jumps off the bed and stands at her side wagging her tail, then runs to the phone barking. “Hi Mom! How are you doing?” I ask. “Oh gosh, I overslept!” she says apologetically. “My little buddy here let me sleep too late. She’s falling down on her job. I might have to fire her.” She laughs. We talk for an hour, catching up on a week’s worth of news. She tells me my older sister comes to check on her every evening, and that my sister from Ottawa is coming for a visit on the weekend. She’s looking forward to that. But what she doesn’t mention is how long her days are when there’s no one to talk to, how difficult it is for her to read because of the pain in her eyes, that she’s losing her balance, that she often can’t remember things, and that she has to write sticky notes reminding herself to pay her bills, buy more milk, take her pills... She’s lonely, very, very lonely. She has so much time on her hands that it’s becoming more and more difficult to fill it all. But I feel comforted by the fact she’s got her little friend Bandit. We got Bandit 12 years ago when my mother was living with me in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island. From day one we knew she was a special little dog. She became a constant companion on our many adventures on the Island. Every morning we’d walk her to the beach where we’d sit
- 18 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
From early on, Mom and I both knew that one day soon it would be just her and Bandit spending their days together. She had come to live with me while I pursued my BA and Masters degrees as a mature student. After six years I finished my studies and moved back to Ontario to find work. Mom, realizing she was aging, didn’t want to stay in Western Canada alone, no matter how much she loved it, so she moved back to Huntsville, ON, where she’d spent most of her adult life running a business and raising her six children.
Photography by Kelly Holinshead
on a bench watching sea lions and eagles. We’d talk about life, discuss family issues, world news, and all the while Bandit would sit between us gazing up and down the beach.
“What time is it, Bandit?” she’d say. “Can’t see the numbers on the clock.” Early on, I would have little talks with Bandit. Whenever I was going on one of my yearly research trips to India, I would sit in front of Bandit, and say, “Ok, you know your job! Take care of Mom, ok?” She’d look at me with those big round black eyes and cock her head to one side. I knew she understood. And she did take care of Mom. She did her job well. She was Mom’s constant companion, as well as her ears, notifying Mom when someone was at the door or when the phone rang. She’d never settle for the night until Mom was in bed, forcing her to keep regular sleeping hours. Bandit was a constant source of entertainment, too, and knew how to make Mom laugh. She was always there to lovingly greet her when she returned from her trips around town. She would CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 19 -
listen to Mom, sitting directly in front of her cocking her head back and forth while she told her stories. More importantly, she gave Mom a sense of purpose everyday, a reason to get up in the morning. It was thanks to Bandit that my mom’s heart stayed as strong as it did for so long. Walking twice a day with the little dog kept her blood circulating, and her lungs strong.
peacefully slipped away from us. In her final days, Bandit lay by her side, and I would catch Mom, despite her weakened state, reach out and tussle Bandit’s head now and then. A smile would spread across her lips just knowing her little friend was close by. After my mother was gone, my older sister took Bandit to her home to care for her. I know how much my sister is going to miss Mom, and living in the same town there are so many reminders.
“Ok, you know your job!
One day, before I left to return to India, I took Bandit aside one more time. “You did a wonderful job taking care of Mom, my pet. Now you have just one more job to do.” She cocked her head as to ask, “What now?” I continued, “You need to look after Sue. Her heart is aching, and she misses Mom so much. Can you do that?” She nuzzled my face and gave me two or three slops with her tongue across my chin. I had my answer.
Take care of Mom, Ok?” Sadly, despite Bandit’s having done her job as a fourlegged caregiver, in her 87th year Mom finally succumbed to old age. In January of this year, in her own home, she - 20 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
My sister called me a few nights ago and told me how much comfort she was getting having Bandit with her. “What a special little dog. Now I know why Mom loved her so much.”
Lori McFadyen A PhD student in anthropology with McGill University, Lori McFadyen resides in India with her husband Kunwar. They live in the village of Sainji, in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, where they run an English medium school.
Cottage Dog and Lori McFadyen want to thank Stella Gopsill and her 14 year old Shih-Tzu, Brutus for being our models. Sadly, its a bitter sweet moment as they are moving into separate retirement homes. Mrs. Gopsill prepares to move into her new Senior’s apartment and Brutus into his home-away-from-home place many years Happy Tails Pet Resort where he enjoys his dog parks, regular hugs and cuddles, and the company of other little dogs.
The Pawsitive Therapeutic Connection The use of canines to help mankind is known throughout the world. They have been used for guarding flocks, tracking, hunting, search and rescue, leading the blind, and in assisting the deaf and physically challenged. The bond between dog and man dates back to early history, but it wasn’t until recently that a correlation was acknowledged between this bond and the emotional health of humans. Studies have shown that a person holding or petting an animal will cause a lowering of blood pressure, the release of strain and tension, and can draw out a person from loneliness and depression. Animals have been recognized as being a positive influence when it comes to lowering blood pressure, improving feelings of loneliness, reducing depression and raising self esteem. Some studies have shown people who are around dogs have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than someone who is not exposed to a dog. The fact is, dogs have a calming and therapeutic effect on people. As of 2007, there are approximately 18,000 Therapy Dogs registered with an organization called Therapy Dogs International. This volunteer organization is dedicated to regulating, testing and registration of therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers for the purpose of therapeutic visitations. In Canada, the most recognizable organization which evaluates and tests potential Therapy Dogs is called St. Johns Ambulance. In 2007, this volunteer organization had 2300 Therapy Dogs registered in their program and they visited an estimated 68,000 patients which translated into approximately 146,000 volunteer hours. There are a number of Therapy Dog facilities around the country that also specializes in training people and their family dog to become a Therapy Dog team.
My Brother is a Bird Head! He Flew the Coop for Cottage Country Life by Michelle Grace
- 22 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
F
ive hours north of Toronto, nestled into 45 acres of beautiful lush forest are where my parents and our animals reside. Three years ago I moved to Toronto to continue my education, I decided to go back to school for journalism as I have always loved to write and do research, I figured I would take a stab at this career path. My parents and I have always loved animals and since I’m an only child; I consider our pets as my brothers and sisters. We have three beautiful rescue dogs, two cats, fish and most recently my parents have managed to “adopt” a feathered friend, who they now call Pidge, who is a pigeon. “ This Christmas may be a little interesting up north in cottage country with having a new “brother” I may be having to compete for some attention, since the pecking order in the pack seems to have changed just a bit “
rry King
Cartoon by Je
Now, we all know that Pigeons primarily live in cities so I find it pretty funny how my new-feathered brother managed to find his way all the way up north. I started to think, “ Wow, has this bird become my replacement? Did we swap locations from me living up north to now living in the city, and Pidge who is from the city is now up north?” Seven months ago my new brother found his new home with my parents and from what I hear he is not the typical pigeon. He goes on walks with my dad and dogs throughout the forest, he greets my parents every time they come home by landing on their head, he has even been spotted drinking water out of the dog dish, and lets not forget about his regular sunbathing and swimming in the pool during the summer months.
r a o f p o o C e h Flying t istmas r h C y r t n u o Cottage C
I went to visit my parents a few months ago and I was greeted by Pidge who seemed to think it was OK if he just swooped in and landed right on my head, the constant cooing in my ear and fluttering of his feathers was hard to adjust to at first, just like a pesky little brother. However, since he is the newest addition to the family I opened my heart and let him in. After all, one can never have enough love from animals in their life!
NATUREORNURTURE Smiley lives up to his Namesake by Joanne Whiteley George
O
ur dogs mean the world to us. Whether you choose them, or they choose you, they have integrated themselves into our lives. But, no matter on what path we lead them, their breed instincts always shine through. My story is of a little Golden Retriever born into this world in a puppy mill. “Goldens”, as we call them are powerful, active and well put together. They are eager, alert It was winter when “Smiley” came into my life. The first and self confident. Primarily they are a hunting breed. My 4 months were filled with struggles and frustration, one “Smiley” wouldn’t become a hunting partner though, as he being that of housebreaking. It seemed like I would never was born without eyes. But, if we really think about it...... get to where I wanted us to be. ALL dogs are born without sight. Yes, they are blind, yet When the snow disappeared it was time to head north they are able to find their mother. They also find warmth to the family cottage on Kennisis Lake in Haliburton and food. During these first 2 weeks of life they rely on with fresh air, blue skies, clean water and no noise, only scent rather than sight. Then why should it be so difficult the sound of true nature. I for a dog to carry on after remember this day as if it that 2 week period without Living with this “magical” were yesterday. “Smiley” had sight? Their hearing will start never been to the cottage but to function in about 20 days. dog has become a when he got out of the truck Dogs don’t need their eyes to it was as though something see. They “see” with scent, highlight of my life. was drawing him down the hearing, touch and energy. big hill. He didn’t know what This explains why many peowas down there and had never had any experience with ple don’t even realize “Smiley” has an impairment as they water, except the bath! I held back as he made his way see him going about his doggy-business. down the hill. It was quite windy that day and there were Living with this “magical” dog has become a highlight of waves on the lake splashing up onto the rocks of the eastmy life. I often wondered how I would ever cope with a dog ern shoreline. “Smiley” probably heard them before I did. with this type of disability, but when he joined my pack at I took a seat half way down the hill on a rock as a spectator the age of 2, it wouldn’t take long for me to realize that I as I wanted him to experience this by himself. He hesiwas in for a “canine awakening”. tated before he got to the water’s edge and seemed to take - 24 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Photography by Darrin & Whiteley George
in the smell and sounds of the waves hitting the rocks. He pranced to the right where a wave had just broken on the shore, and then he hopped to the left where he had heard another one. This dance went on 4 or 5 times until he “high stepped” his little toes right into the water. He was playing with the waves! I remained quiet on my “observation deck” looking down at him. “Smiley” was now pouncing at the waves where the water was breaking at the shore. I wiped my tears, my tears of happiness. This
was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. It made me so happy to see him experiencing that which his breed is meant for....water retrieval. Now ”Smiley “ was stepping out into the water, deeper and deeper, until he just walked forward until he was dog paddling. I came down to join him in his fun, but it wasn’t long before I had to run up the hill to the cottage to tell the family what Smiley had done! From that day on, and to this very day, I still let him use his own senses to experience new things. There is nothing
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 25 -
that I can do or say that trumps the power of instinct and a dog’s natural senses. Maybe I have chosen to forget them, but after that first weekend at the cottage with “Smiley”,
Q : Does Smiley bump into things? A: Of course he does. I keep him safe, but I cannot warn him of all objects in his path. He must learn to use his other senses and to not become too dependent on me. He uses his sense of smell, touch, and hearing. He finds his way through doorways by sensing air drafts.
the behavioural issues that we were struggling with at home just seemed to disappear. I don’t remember any more accidents, any more chewed furniture or restless nights. Did I just learn something very important about the nature of dogs and how allowing my blind dog to just be a dog could be the best training of all? Or, could this lake have magical powers to make everything better?
Q: How is he with other dogs?
I believe both to be true!
Q: Do you think he knows he is blind?
A: He is cautious when meeting new dogs. He displays submissive behaviour by turning away slightly when being approached by a strange dog. He is calm and polite using his nose to check them out. This is the way all dogs should greet each other. Q: Can he retrieve? A: We have balls that have bells in them so he can follow the sound to where they land. A good, stinky tennis ball is also easily found. And, let’s say ... most of the time he brings it back!
A: Since he was born without eyes, I will assume he thinks he is normal. I encourage people to not speak to him with a “poor you” tone. I explain to people that we wouldn’t ever tell a blind man that we feel so sorry for them that they cannot see. Dogs pick up on our tone and I don’t want to let Smiley ever think there is something wrong with him. Smiley is a certified Therapy Dog with St John Ambulance. He visits home for adults with physical and mental disabilities. He has lived up to his namesake because he will always leave you with a smile on your face. He is currently undergoing the testing involved to work with children within the St John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program.
I have learned of another owner of a dog born blind. Joseph Mason of Halifax, Nova Scotia prides himself to also not take pity on his dog “Icarium”. He doesn’t see ANY disability at all. He and his dog go hiking off leash and has noticed how he uses his senses to detect how the footing changes from gravel to grass when he goes ‘off trail’. He carouses with other dogs at the park including a Newfoundland who out weighs him by 100 lbs! Joseph has taught “Icarium” several commands to assist him. “Careful” means he is approaching an object and should veer to the side. He has perfected the “Stop” command which means just that. The layout of frequently visited homes including his own and that of the entire Point Pleasant Park is forever ingrained into his memory. It is hard to see that this dog is actually blind, and that is the way Joseph likes it. - 26 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
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Coolie Island Dogs
- 28 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
S
usan MacDonald and her pack of dogs love the cottage and to say that they travelled a long way to get there would be an understatement. You see Sue was raised in Haliburton, the heart of cottage country in Ontario but she followed her husband to Australia in 1989. It was supposed to be a two year job assignment but nearly twenty two years later they still found themselves there. Sue has always been involved with dogs, In Australia she owed a very successful grooming shop and pet store in the heart of Mosman and twelve years ago Sue added a wholesale design and manufacturing business for high end pet products to her list of experience. Sue indulged her love of dogs and owned several different breeds including several Borzois and a Samoyed but it was the Australian working breeds that really caught her attention. “It was a Kelpie first and she actually found us,” Sue commented. Kelpie’s are intelligent, hard workers and very loyal to their handlers. Sue started to research other working breeds and discovered The German Coolie.
German Coolies are one of the oldest working breeds in Australia. They were bred for their working ability not their pedigree or looks. Coolies have much variety in their looks and that is what makes them look so interesting. They are real working dogs used by farmers to move thousands of sheep or cattle across huge stations. “We visited farms and country breeders but eventually found a great breeder in western New South Wales in a small gold mining town call Cobar” Sue explained. Our first Coolie was Snickers, a long haired blue merle male. He is a great herder as well as a great family dog. Sue describes Coolies as the ‘perfect active pet.’ “They are well rounded, loyal to the end, do anything for you, easy to train and high drive with an off switch”, Sue explains. Coolies are wonderful to live with especially if you are active and have access to off leash land. ‘Snickers’ was just the beginning for the MacDonald’s. In 2006, Sue and her family decided to take a year off and come back from Australia to her home town of Haliburton, Ontario. Sue’s family consisted of a husband, three children and two dogs, “there was never any doubt that the dogs were coming” Sue emphatically commented. Sue brought ‘Tricky’ a Kelpie and ‘Snickers’ a German (Australian) Coolie. The dogs arrived in winter and although having never seen snow they adapted very quickly. It was winter but rather the arrival of summer that changed everything for the MacDonald family. That first weekend, opening the cottage on Kennisis Lake wasn’t a weekend they will soon forget. Since the family cottage was on an Island the experience was a little hectic, getting all the people, gear, food and the dogs into the boat and across to the Island took a little consideration. “The excitement heightened the closer to the dock we got,” Sue’s husband explains. CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 29 -
“The dogs leapt from the boat, noses down and tails wagging, they were free!” The dogs explored the island like it was a treasure chest full of surprises. After several hours the dogs finally began to settle down, that was until the kids began swimming. This was a brand new experience for the Dogs but it wasn’t very long before the dogs were leaping off the rock and swimming with the children. To say the dogs love the cottage is an understatement, its heaven for them. The year ended and the happy dogs returned back to Australia. They had a pool to swim in their native land but somehow that just wasn’t quite the same. They did get plenty of exercise at the park and the occasional weekend away herding sheep but that didn’t compare to the freedom of the cottage. Enter 2009…. and the MacDonald’s were ready to move back to Canada permanently. Sue and her husband retired from their business careers and began preparing for the big move home “it wasn’t going to be easy because we had a whole house to move and the pack of dogs by this time had grown to five, one Kelpie and four Coolies.” Sue said. So with that she had two years to plan her future breeding program; ‘Canadian Cobar Coolies Kennel’. Choosing pups from proven parents was the plan. Driving nine hours from Sydney to a town called Cobar a second time to pick up her first female but second Coolie. She was aptly named Kiah which is aboriginal for "from a beautiful place". Kiah is a little tri merle; her mom was one of Australia's best herding dogs both on the farm and ‘Gypsy’ was also known by everyone in the competitions. - 30 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Kiah has her mother’s energy in the round yard yet she is a cuddler too. Kiah's pups are now proving themselves in agility, dock diving, flyball and obedience. Cobar was fifteen months old when we went to our breeder to pick up our puppy Kiah. “Cobar followed my husband around,” Sue explained, she jumped in the car as they were saying goodbye, “Cobar choose us.” Cobar was returned to the breeder by her original owner because she was said to “not be a worker,” "she has never shown me she can't work,” Sue says. “I have seen this dog bring me 200 head of cattle on her own and get them through a gate
“[Coolies] are well rounded, loyal to the end, do anything for you, easy to train and high drive with an off switch” faster than I could ever imagine, she reads my mind and does what I am thinking. She is truly amazing.” Sue didn’t originally plan to breed Cobar, she was meant to be a pet however she has proven to be the ultimate Coolie. She is an incredibly athlete, a tireless worker and loyal to the end. We decided to breed her and she had her first litter in August 2011 and all the pups are amazing. They all have her athletic build and herding eye. Jindabyne or Jindi as Sue calls her was a perfect addition to the family, "she is what I like to call my big boned
girl. She is a hard worker and my happy sweetheart" Jindi has all the breeding qualities Sue was looking for to balance all the working needs. “Jindi has a strong frame, she is not only athletic but she is extremely strong. Jindi is a great dog for skijoring or tracking, her longer legs would be good for rescue as well.” Sue mentioned. The family arrived back in Canada in winter but immediately began looking for a bigger boat. After the weather warmed and the cottage opening was being planned, Sue decided to add “Barcoo” a clever, calm, handsome long haired solid red male Coolie pup to her pack. So now there were six. “The first trip to the island was a logistical nightmare. Do we send the dogs all together on the first trip or mix dogs, people and food? Sue wondered. “To be honest I can’t remember what we eventually did but we all arrived safely.” The new dogs had never seen this place before, the two older dogs lead the pack all over the Island…….You could almost hear them saying… “But wait until you see this.” Sue had always exercised the dogs by throwing a ball so she instinctively threw a ball into the lake. The dogs bolted and leapt off the rock jumping into the lake as if they had been doing it all their lives. Ball throwing gets loud when six dogs are excited so Sue had to devise another way to exercise the dogs. One day, Dakota, our youngest daughter was out in the Kayak and the dogs began to follow her around the island. This became a new routine. Sue decided to join in and get all the dogs into the lake and then they would begin to paddle from Small Island to Small Island with all six dogs following close behind. Sometimes she would paddle for an hour or two and the dogs would follow her everywhere.
they hear the boat coming they wait for us on the rock. “We often wonder what they get up to when we are away but there is never any damage and they are always dry.” Sue is one of only three breeders of German Coolies in North America. With a few very successful litters under her belt, Canadian Cobar Coolies has, at times, had up to 18 dogs on the island. It is no wonder the Island is becoming known as Dog Island. Sue has provided her pups to professional handlers, leaders in Canine sports and families all over the world. She has dogs in Holland, USA, all across Canada and Sweden, keeping the Coolie travelling gene strong.
Then after a break they would join the family for an afternoon swim, well that is, all except Kiah. Kiah didn’t like swimming she was uncomfortable in the water so Sue got her a life jacket. That jacket gives her all the confidence in the world now and she never misses out on a swim. The island became home to the pack of dogs and they have full run of the island. When the family goes out visiting we can leave the dogs there and when CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 31 -
T
Dog owners march from Queen’s Park to Dundas Square October 1, 2011 to protest Ontario’s “pit bull” ban.
Photography by Beth Mischitelle he controller for a multinational company was at work one day when they came and took his dog. Animal control officers in his GTA city believed that Roy White (not his real name) owned a “pit bull” that was too young to be alive in Ontario. Six police cars arrived, his front door was kicked in, his brother was threatened then his dog was abducted. A grandmother up the street had her dog seized under threat on the same day.
There are many such stories in the files of the Dog Legislation Council of Canada, a not-for-profit corporation which has been at the forefront of the fight to kill Ontario’s breed-specific legislation since it was first proposed in 2004. The DLCC has been contacted by hundreds of dog owners who don’t know where to turn when their pet is identified as a “pit bull”. Some give up and allow their dogs to be put to death. Some hire lawyers and go through the courts to save their dogs. Others fight to have their dogs shipped to more enlightened provinces. Whatever the outcome, it is always painful and leads to cynicism and distrust of government officials over the senseless persecution of a beloved companion. Think it can’t happen to you? Think again. The three breeds banned by the Ontario Liberals are very rare indeed. There are fewer than 50 CKC-registered American Staffordshire terriers in Ontario and only a few hundred Staffordshire Bull terriers and American Pit Bull terriers (the latter UKC or ADBA-registered). There are fewer than 1,000 banned purebreds in a province with an estimated three million or so canine pets. Only one of the thousands of people targeted by this legislation owned a purebred dog. It was a 12-year-old Staffordshire Bull terrier than left her front porch and approached the sidewalk when another dog walked by. There was no interaction between the dogs, but she was reported to authorities as a dangerous “pit bull”. The owner hired a lawyer, went though the courts and was able to save her dog’s life.
- 32 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Dangerous Legislation that Takes a Bite out of being Canadian
by Selma Mulvey
I’ll let you in on a secret: there is no such thing as a “pit bull”. It is a slang term for a shape of mixed-breed dog. According to the Canadian Kennel Club, over 80% of dogs in Canada are mixed breeds. The Ontario “pit bull” ban is legislated discrimination that governs physical appearance, not behaviour. It creates a two-tiered justice system; one for dog owners in general and another for owners of short-haired, medium-sized dogs. Most of these so-called “pit bulls” are just randomly bred mutts, likely with retriever, terrier or working dog ancestors - the most popular types in Canada. Since purebred animals are marked and registered to an owner in accordance with the federal Pedigree Act, dogs in shelters are almost never purebreds. How can mixed-breed dogs from different geographical areas with unknown, unrelated ancestry possibly exhibit like characteristics? They can’t, and don’t. How can there be all these so-called “pit bulls” when the three very different pure breeds to which they supposedly belong are so rare? There can’t be. How does banning a common shape of dog, which in Toronto, for example, was only responsible for 2 - 4% of reported bites over the years, protect anybody from anything? It doesn’t. What this law does is cast a pall over dog ownership and erode civil and property rights. In Canada we do not have a constitutional right to the ownership, enjoyment or protection of private property, which includes dogs. While the DLCC had parts of the law struck as unconstitutional at the Superior Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal reversed that and said, in essence, that the government has the right to ban property, it doesn’t have to be able to define it and it doesn’t need a valid reason. Furthermore, it can reverse the burden of proving a negative - in this case an impossible one, that their dog is not a breed that doesn’t exist - on to a defendant.
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 33 -
Brit, who was seized by authorities, sleeping next to her mother.
Photography by Rui Branco
kill him and there’s not a lot you can do about it unless you have thousands of dollars to spend fighting through the courts.
This government did not ban a breed when it banned “pit bulls”. It banned a very vaguely defined shape because it expected the public to believe that physical appearance predicts behaviour. As a Canadian, I find this disturbing. In Ontario, for the crime of owning a dog, any dog, we now have: • Warrantless entry into a residence on a pretext • Restrictions on mobility • Warrantless search and seizure in public • The burden of proving a negative in court • Over-breadth • Vagueness Once the great government machine begins to roll over individual dog owners, things are badly stacked against them. The law is rigged to give inordinate power to animal control officers, police officers and even annoyed neighbours who feel like making someone’s life miserable by labelling their dog a “pit bull”. None of these people are experts on dog breeds or behaviour. The Dog Owners’ Liability Act has been on the books in Ontario since the late 19th century. The problem a lack of will to enforce it. As we heard at the Committee Hearings, especially with the two horrible mauling cases the government managed to dig up and attribute to “pit bulls” (ignoring similar cases involving other shapes), nobody was ever charged under the Act. “Pit bulls” make a great red herring when you want to whisk away citizens’ rights in front of their eyes, since they have been mythologized for over 20 years now. Everybody likes to talk about “pit bulls” and most of it is nonsense. And then one day the police are at your door with their guns drawn, pushing their way into your house, taking your unoffending mixed breed dog because they want to - 34 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
This is un-Canadian & unacceptable. Please ask your MPP to support Hershey’s Law, a private member’s Bill that removes the breed-specific sections of Ontario’s law. It is being brought forward by MPP Cheri Di Novo, hopefully before too many more innocent dog owners are victimized in Ontario, and before too many more harmless mutts are killed for the way they look. I urge you to take a few minutes to read Ontario’s “pit bull” legislation, imagining it is your dog that is being targeted. It will make you realize just how dangerous this law is and how, rather than contribute to public safety, it actually threatens it.
The Ontario “pit bull” ban is legislated discrimination that governs physical appearance, not behaviour. Dog Owners’ Liability Act, ‘Pit Bull’ regulations are available at: http://www.e-s.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/ elaws_statutes_90d16_e.htm#BK10 As for Roy White, his dog and his neighbour’s languished at the pound for three months until a prominent vet chosen by Animal Services told them the dogs were not “pit bulls” within the meaning of the legislation. Both owners got their dogs back but not until they agreed to put dangerous dog signs on their houses and to muzzle their pets in public. They also had to agree not to sue the city for damages.
Selma Mulvey is a native Torontonian who now lives in Ontario’s farm country with three dogs. She is a lifelong dog lover and has become a social activist over the past seven years fighting the Ontario “pit bull” legislation. She is a member of the Dog Legislation Council of Canada and has blogged at Caveat since 2005.
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Just For Christmas by Erika Phillips
Ahh the smell of chestnuts roasting on an open fire (does anyone actually do this?) and the smell of apple pies, of pine trees and all that’s merry. It comes from somewhere deep inside us, the generosity of giving presents and getting all our little heart’s desire, everything we could wish for at Christmas time! - 36 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Like all things exploited and overdone, Christmas has to be the most commercialized holiday of the year. With pictures and paintings and television, we stand no hope of living modestly or humbly. We want it now and we want it all. This is great for the manufactures and companies, we keep them in business and we keep people employed.
Photography by Scruffy Dog Photography
Puppies! Not
We also get what we want. Not such a bad deal. Everyone is happy. Except for the animals! Sadly every year thousands of animals are victims of this holiday shopping phenomenon and not only at Christmas but also at Easter and Birthdays. Bunnies, ducks, chicks, reptiles, cats and hamsters are all subject to the irresponsible actions of people filled with the joy of Holiday giving. However for the sake of this article let’s concentrate on Puppies at Christmas. Pure chaos! And it’s never a good way to introduce an animal into our lives. Personally I believe that commercialization should not be a part of the decision making when dealing with living breathing things. When did it become all right to use spontaneity and whims with the life of an animal? Bringing home a living being requires dedication, education, responsibility, commitment, understanding, research and sensibility. Let’s break it down; • •
• •
• •
Dedication - to the training and nutrition needs from ALL family members. Education - keeping the pet happy and healthy and learning proper and humane training methods, nutritional options, health care and others requirements. Responsibility - for the life of the Animal Commitment - to do anything necessary to ensure your new pet stays with you for its entire life, to keep them out of shelters and from the devastation of re-homing. Understanding of all the requirements necessary to have a well-adjusted pet. Research - The breed or species of animal you are interested in comes with specific information. Research your chosen pet and find out everything you can before you bring him home. Research breeders, shelters and rescue organizations to find the best option for you.
The holidays, with their hustle and bustle, vacations, visitors, travel, strangers, make for a very traumatic existence for pets, especially puppies. Every year hundreds of puppies are mass produced to supply the demand that pet stores have. Hundreds of poorly bred; poorly treated unsuspecting innocent animals are crowded into unfit conditions and shipped all across the country. Puppy mills are at their highest production rate and unscrupulous
breeders start planning their litters just at that time so puppies can be available for those people wishing to give a child or other family member a new puppy for Christmas. Aunts, uncles, grandparents and parents rush out to buy a puppy without any consideration to its needs, without thinking if the entire family will be accepting of the present. Who will be responsible for the pet’s emotional, mental and physical well-being? All animals have the same requirements as humans. Are the adults in the household willing to care for the animal when the children are unable to do so? Giving animals during the holidays is contributing to the huge population found in shelters, found chained outside in the backyard, banned from the house because there was no time to teach it how to behave. Not only is the busy nature of the holiday season a bad idea but the time of year is also not so nice. Are you prepared to be outside with a new puppy at midnight in a blinding snowstorm? After the holidays are over, the kids are back in school and the rest of the family are back to work, will you the significant time to make arrangements for the new family member? Do you have fencing, dog sitters, dog walkers, doggy daycare or other things in place? Leaving a puppy unsupervised in frigid temperatures is not an option. Those are just some of the things that are needed to make for a happy, well-adjusted family member. Bringing home a puppy can be a great experience with just a little bit of thought and sensibility. If you feel you and your family are ready for a dog or puppy choose it carefully and take your time. Get one from a reputable breeder or an experienced rescue group. Ask lots of questions about the dog; expect the breeder or rescue volunteer to ask you a lot too. If they don’t, be wary. A store clerk or amateur/irresponsible breeder who simply hands you a dog in exchange for a credit card or uses PayPal is not your friend or a friend of that puppy. Experienced dog people know their dogs and place them appropriately with the right families and in the rights homes. Responsible rescues and breeders get to know the people and offer support long after the sale or adoption of a dog. And don’t worry if the Puppy comes to you in April instead of on Christmas morning. It will be just as adorable without the tree and the bow. CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 37 -
Where
have all the Purebreds Gone? Are Purebreds The Problem? by Erika Phillips
- 38 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Photography by Scruffy Dog Photography
W
here have all the purebreds gone? This seems a rather strange question as I sit writing this and beside me, curled up on the sofa and at my feet, are six purebred dogs of multiple shapes and sizes. I am not going to deny that I am a purebred fancier, exhibitor and occasional hobby breeder or as I like to refer to myself as ‘a breed preservationist’. As of late however, I have not participated in two of those venues, dog shows and breeding. Both have not been a large part of my life in the last year or so quite simply because I have lost my lustre to show and breeding seems to be taboo. All of my show dogs have either finished their show careers or have simply carried on my lack of enthusiasm for showing. Not that I do not enjoy showing, I do, immensely. It is my greatest passion and my meaning in life but the sad fact is nobody appreciates a well-bred dog anymore. It used to be such an important part of breeding; to show your well-bred animals to judges that in turn compared them to the ideal standard of the breed, a breed standard that takes years to be written and perfected. Lots of hard core consideration on the part of the breed secretaries and breed preservationists. So many people have so little knowledge of what goes into developing a breed standard that the explanation here will simply be lost. I will say however that contrary to popular
belief by the lay people it is not simply based on looks and beauty. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to those with the untrained eye, beauty may be the first thing you see but let me tell you that beauty comes from form and function. A dog that is built to do a job is beautiful not because it has long eyelashes and a particular coat color but because it has correct structure and movement that enables it to do the job it was bred to do. Now before I carry on and take flack for calling them it’s instead of he’s or she’s. I will explain that even though I am a breeder, I am not so cold as to not recognize that they are indeed male and female and I certainly do refer to my dogs and him and her. However, for the sake of the article, I am simply referring to them as ‘it’ for sake of being non-sexist. I hope you all can accept that.
Never adopt or purchase an animal as a gift. Living things should never be considered for this purpose. Now so far as to refer to us show people and breeders as callous and greedy I must wholeheartedly defend that description for those of you who know us know very little. Responsible breeders NEVER EVER make any money. Us breed preservationist are at best dog poor and some of us are dog tired of defending our desperate plea to have our beloved breed be in our grand-children’s futures. When I grew up I read every book there was on dogs. There was ‘Lad of Sunnybrook’, a series about a fantastic Rough Collie, ‘Big Red’, a gorgeous Irish Setter, ‘Rin Tin Tin’, a German Shepherd. The Littlest Hobo, another GSD, ‘The Shaggy Dog’ , an Old English Sheepdog and later a Bearded Collie. Of course nobody will ever forget ‘Lassie’. You didn’t see many cockapoos, labradoodles, shipoos, chi weenies or puggles back then! What on earth has the world come to when it is considered a sin to buy a purebred dog from a responsible breeder, a person that has years and years of pedigree information, genetic testing, DNA samples, conformation and obedience titles and heaven knows what else under their belt. Yet it is perfectly acceptable to pay some in- 40 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
experienced nobody that decided to make a little money from the breeding mutts and labelling them; ‘Designer’ Dogs, an interesting and fitting description. These are the sad victims of the greed and selfishness of human beings and to have their Fads satisfied even at the expense of the animal! The purebred dogs are those that have been in existence and perfected for hundreds of years through the blood, sweat and tears of dedicated, committed and knowledgeable people. I had an excellent story told to me once by a long time respectable breeder. She was walking on a beach one day when she was approached by an individual with the same breed of dog. He inquired about using her very accomplished male dog as stud for his female in waiting. The respectable breeder asked him if he had performed any health testing on the female and as to whether or not the dog was registered in the Kennel Club’s purebred registry. He replied “oh I am not a professional, I am just doing it for the money, I simply want to have a litter to sell.” In turn the Lady replied back with the simple comment. “In fact sir you are the professional breeder as I never make money breeding my dogs, I am lucky at best if I ever break even, I do it for the love of the breed.” So while this inexperienced individual would sell his puppies for the same amount as the responsible breeder; A.) He would not have spent the thousands it takes to finish a dog with a conformational and/or working title, which helps keep the standard in place and how we make sure that a poodle looks like a poodle and a setter looks like a setter and they can do the job they were bred to do. B.) He did not spent the average thousand dollars or more on health testing his potential breeding bitch ( yes female dogs are called bitches and I don’t care how many of you have misused the name by referring to your ex-wife or mother-in-law as one. Also parents it really is not a bad word when used in the proper context.) If you haven’t seen the point so far keep reading. So many people are under the illusion that they do not need registration papers for their “pet” or they don’t want to spend what a well-bred dog costs. That the costs incurred by a breeder when importing new lines or better dogs into their breeder program are of no concerns of theirs. What many of you fail to realize is that eventually these dogs will be the very foundation of what the future holds for these breeds.
Great breeders do not contribute to the warping and mutations that appear in certain breeds. The public does so by buying from irresponsible, greedy dog brokers, the ones that get named ‘breeders‘, in which we get painted with the same brush. It is in fact the responsible breeders who have to clean up the mess. These ‘backyard’ breeders are the very people that move away from the breed standard and breed less quality animals both in structure and in health. Chihuahuas start to look like Rat Terriers; Great Danes start to look like Mastiffs, Border Collies like Aussies and so on. Most backyard breeders start their breeding “programs” on the dogs that are meant to be scratched from the breed ring. Not up to the standards for that breed. Dogs that were sold on non-breeding contracts with their registrations withheld until proof of spay or neuter. For those of you that have ‘bought’ a dog without papers. This is what you have contributed to. There is a big movement by the Humane Societies and rescue groups to perpetuate the myth of pet overpopulation. They play on your emotions to get you in the door to adopt puppies and dogs. There isn’t a pet overpopulation problem; there is a pet retention problem. If there was truly a problem then why would these societies be importing dogs from other states and countries to keep them full? Hasn’t anyone ever thought for a second what kind of revenue is brought into these “businesses”? Every shelter in every country could be sitting empty right now if every individual would simply promote a responsible breeder. How you say? Responsible Breeders; •
Insist on responsible homes.
•
Insist on Spaying and Neutering pets to not allow for unwanted breeding
•
Perform intensive interviews of potential pet homes to weed out and to help people make the right decision for them.
•
Offer continuous support throughout the life of the puppy so people never feel frustrated and alone to leave them to do something desperate and potentially inappropriate for the animal.
•
Are involved in groups, organizations and clubs that promote and take on issues that face their particular breed.
•
Are constantly involved in further education and learning.
•
Eliminate, as best of their ability, any health issues.
•
A responsible breeder would never breed a litter if they didn’t have room to keep the entire litter if suitable homes couldn’t be found and most won’t breed unless they have a waiting list.
•
Breed preservationist would never sell to a puppy broker or pet store.
•
They only breed to better the breed and to offer something for the future.
There isn’t a pet overpopulation issue; there is a pet retention problem. The number one reason that shelters would be empty is that a responsible breeder would never allow a puppy of theirs to ever be surrendered to an animal shelter. The door of a responsible breeder is always open for one of their dogs to be returned. Did you know that pets adopted from animal shelters almost NEVER stay in their adoptive homes? Nearly 50% of adopted animals are returned within the first month!!! Why? Because people are impulsive and are highly emotional and pet stores and puppy mills play on the emotions of people. There are never enough questions asked. No one will tell you to go away and sleep on it. Or, come back in the morning, if you still feel this is the right pet for you and we will be happy to help. Please do not make the mistake of purchasing from these places because you think you are ‘saving’ a life, you are not, you are contributing and promoting the sale of an animal. Never adopt or purchase an animal as a gift. Living things should never be considered for this purpose. Buy an inanimate object and make getting an animal a learning and educated decision made by everyone in the family not just a single individual, it makes for a much more harmonious experience. Enjoy your Dogs! CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 41 -
T
he Dock Dogs World Championships were held in Canton, Ohio at the Stark County Fair this past Labour Day weekend featuring some of the best dogs from North America in Big Air, Extreme Vertical, Speed Retrieve and Iron Dog. This event was invite only and invites could be earned through winning at a world qualifier event (there was one in Ontario in February and one in Alberta in July) or by having a top Canadian ranking in one of the disciplines. Five Canadians represented Canada at the World Championships and they were: •
Natasha Henlein and Epic (Border Collie) from Sutton West, Ontario for Big Air
•
Melissa Doren and Guinness (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever) from Mississauga, Ontario for Big Air
•
Sheena Stark and Bosco (German Shepherd) from West Flamborough, Ontario for Extreme Vertical
•
Karin Apfel and Storm (Belgian Malinois) from Bradford, Ontario for Speed Retrieve and Iron Dog
•
Toni Schraa and Riley (Labrador Retriever) from Lisle, Ontario for the Youth Handler Invite
Although none of our Canadians advanced on to the final rounds, everyone had a great time and enjoyed the experience of competing with and watching some of the world’s most talented canine athletes. - 42 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Photography by Kathryn Doren
CANADIANS FLY HIGH AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Karin Apfel and Storm (Belgian Malinois) from Bradford, Ontario for Speed Retrieve and Iron Dog
Sheena Stark and Bosco (German Shepherd) from West Flamborough, Ontario for Extreme Vertical
Natasha Henlein and Epic (Border Collie) from Sutton West, Ontario for Big Air
Melissa Doren and Guinness (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever) from Mississauga, Ontario for Big Air
Toni Schraa and Riley (Labrador Retriever) from Lisle, Ontario for the Youth Handler Invite
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 43 -
Casey Guner, nephew of Arzu
Miska Hunting
Ruffy Cooper aka The Ruffster!
PUPARAZZI! Cottage Dog Facebook Fans Once again our Pupparazzi section is a big hit. Every month we welcome the canine antics of all our beautiful 4 legged canine buddies, captured in still life!
Moose and Friend
This month we welcome the many faces of our Facebook followers. We are proud to boast over 4000 followers at the time of this printing. We challenge each and everyone of our readers to “like” our page and while you’re there send along a picture or a comment and you may be lucky enough to see Bowser or Fido in print!!
Miska, best friend of Roxane B.
Pippa from Annapolis bed and breakfast
Lily and Little Man
Jasper McMurray Louie, Moose, Scupper, Maggie, & Duncan
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Diesel & Dennis
Royce Johnson
Lil Kate V, best friend of Karen
Diesel on Siesta
Maggie and Duncan cruising with Moose and Scupper
Halo and Cash on a Girlfriends Weekend
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 45 -
Lunch with
Leo in Muskoka By Giselle Braeuel
Thank you Ken & Barb Stronach of Seven Main Cafe, Huntsville for catering our “Lunch with Leo”. It was delicious!
Corporal Nicholas Glas (Canadian Military Police)
Christopher Braeuel (Senior Analyst in Canadian International Development Agency)
A Letter from Corporal Nicholas Glas: Good day; I was informed by a friend of mine who works at the Embassy in Afghanistan, that a Dog by the name of Leo had an article written about him. When I did a Google search for it, I came across a Facebook page “Leo and Cottage Dog at All About Pet Show...” Unfortunately, I don’t maintain a Facebook page so I couldn’t leave a comment on the post, but thought I would send this email instead. I served at the Embassy in Kabul from 2009 until the fall of 2010, and over that time I came to know Leo very well. While I have many stories about him, my foremost memories of Leo came from the security night shifts I worked alone... with the exception of Leo. He stood by my side, always insisting to go ahead of me if he felt something was amiss. Leo was very loyal and never really seemed to want anything more than good belly rub in return for his good deeds. However, despite his modesty I felt Leo deserved a little more...I would make regular trips to the market -when safe to do so- to purchase the little guy wet food, plus how could I not get him a few dog treats; also I managed to get him bowls for water and food. When it wasn’t safe to make the trip, I would save portions of my meals to bring to him and feed him at the road side. I noticed too, that some of our employee’s at the embassy would do the same. I wanted to thank you for posting the pictures of Leo up on Facebook! I knew his owner Jodi -who I am sure is a great Puppy Mom- and was elated to hear that she had him sent to Huntsville shortly after I left. I had wanted very badly to take him home with me, but was unable at the time due to my intended living arrangements when I arrived back in Canada. I had heard little bits of news here and there of his progress, but I cannot describe to you the smile that came to my face when I saw the pictures on Facebook. I love that lil guy to bits, he was a loyal friend who always looked out for me. Thanks for making my day. CHEERS! P.S. If you see Leo, give him a pat for me.
Nicholas Glas
Corporal Canadian Military Police - 46 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Leo and Christopher Braeuel in Kabul, Afghanistan
Leo and Christopher Braeuel met up again in Muskoka
W
hen we left Ottawa on Labour Day weekend, my son Christopher Braeuel and I were excited. Our destination was the Happy Tails Pet Resort in Huntsville where there was to be a party for a dog. Yes, it’s true, a very special party for a very special dog. We realized it would be a long drive, a trip of several hours. But we also knew that having lunch with Leo, the adopted Embassy’s dog from Afghanistan would be worth it. Christopher could hardly wait to see his buddy again. It had been many months since he had worked at the Canadian embassy in Kabul. Through a great deal of effort on several levels; goodwill, charity and a deep love toward a very special dog, made it possible for Leo to make the long journey from his own war-torn country to Canada in February of 2011. After a long drive spent in pleasant conversation and anticipation we finally arrived in that tranquil, pastoral cottage country of Muskoka, well renowned for its magnificent fall colours. The sunshine made it all look glorious for our splendid momentous day. The last time my son saw Leo, he had been a very sorry sight: limping, undernourished, lonely, abused, with his ears partly cut off and a terrible scarring wound around his neck. Chris insisted there was something special about him, something that made the Canadians in the compound like him and take him under their wings. Corporal Nicholas Glas and his wife Ha were also on route to Muskoka from his posting in Camp Borden. Nick had served in Kabul, Afghanistan with the Canadian Military Police that guarded the Canadian Embassy. Nicholas, like Chris, wanted to see the dog who had meant so much to him again and they were both so excited and thankful for the efforts of Jodi McMurray who found a way to send Leo to Canada. Jodi had done her homework well when seeking a place to leave her two much loved cats Lily and Piper while she worked with the Canadian Embassy in Kabul, and there was no other place she would consider sending Leo.
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 47 -
When we drove into Happy Tails we were pleased and surprised to find it right in the middle of a beautiful, wooded piece of land. This large, wonderful haven for dogs is surrounded by majestic pine trees, ponds, meadows and quiet bliss. Chris was thrilled to see that Leo had been so fortunate. As previously agreed, true to military discipline, Nicholas and his wife arrived in the parking lot at the same time.
“The difference is unbelievable. And look, just look how happy he is!” It was obvious that the two men were delighted to meet again in their home country. Both had their arms filled with presents for Leo, a bag of huge chewing bones, a big pillow and special treats. At this point none of us had seen Leo yet. You could tell how very curious and serious the two men were. Lisa, the owner, took us inside the building, cautioning us, preparing us that the dog perhaps may get very excited at
his re-union with the two people known to him. When the moment arrived and she opened the door to a sunroom grooming room, and out popped Leo, very happy, very wild, smelling wonderfully, his rusty coat shiny and fluffy clean, his eyes bright and shining. Did he remember them? The guys were stunned, they couldn’t believe their eyes at the change that had taken place since the last time they had seen him. Again and again they kept saying to Lisa and me: ”The difference is unbelievable. And look, just look how happy he is!” And all the time Leo was barking like crazy. Of course, we all had cameras, clicking away like crazy too. Leo, at that moment, was the most photographed dog of all times. To make this celebration even more special, the Seven Main Specialty Coffee Café in Huntsville graciously provided delicious sandwiches, cakes, iced tea and wonderful coffee. While the five adults partook of the delicacies in the gazebo on the patio, Leo joined us, the adopted dog from Afghanistan. He had a ball being hugged and soaking up more attention than ever before in his life. He returned all the love by licking everybody’s face. Yes, miracles do happen!
Leo the Dog Leo and Giselle Braeuel becoming acquainted.
From another continent, from barbed wire, rubble and dusty roads hailed the canine hobo. Maimed and scared he was, used to the sound of bullets and bombs assaulting his ears. That was Leo’s world. He came to the Muskokas into the arms of safety, welcomed by majestic trees and serene lakes, to be loved and cared for, to be restored. Transformed was his dirty, matted fur into a rusty coat of healthy shine. He knew only loneliness, danger at every turn, fending for food, for daily survival. A twist of fate – serendipity. Through the charity of strangers Leo’s world changed. Giselle Braeuel
- 48 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Did you know that the Ontario SPCA, Muskoka Branch rescued and provided care to 696 cats and 179 dogs last year? This is a 16.6% increase over the last two years.
With intake numbers like these, the Ontario SPCA Muskoka Branch is bursting at the seams! The existing animal shelter is no longer large enough to accommodate the needs of the communities we support. With assistance from the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Stimulus Fund under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, and from our supporters, construction of a new facility on Hwy 118 West, Bracebridge will be completed in 2011. Your gift to the capital campaign will help to improve the quality of care rescued animals receive, giving them a better chance at a new life.
Help Raise the Woof by making your donation today!
MUSKOKA ANIMAL CENTRE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
To learn more about naming opportunities, off-leash dog park and other shelter amenities or to make your donation please call (705) 645-6225 or visit our website at www.muskoka.ontariospca.ca.
SANCTUARY by Peter Jennings
- 50 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Photography by Kelly Holinshead
PUPS
A
utumn intrudes on the summer’s warm hold over the land in cottage country. The early morning sun squints atop the horizon as Ripley, a small tan and white shorthaired terrier, awakens and rouses her mistress, Marilyn Cole. The former Office Manager at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary – now a regular volunteer with the charity – looks down at Ripley: “I suppose you’ll be wanting breakfast.” Ripley, a Jack Russell terrier, is a survivor of cruel abuse. A week after Marilyn picked her up from Jack Russell Rescue of Ontario, they set out “Thelma and Louise style” to see the world, traveling across North American for two years before ending up at Aspen Valley, surely a haven for dogs of all kinds. Being a Sanctuary Pup carries with it certain restrictions. The staff and volunteers cannot allow their dogs anywhere near the animals being treated: the wildlife they rescue have enough stress to deal with without a dog aiding and abetting in the initial investigation. Established in 1982, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has grown significantly to become a Registered Canadian Charity guided by a Board of Directors and managed by a dedicated, experienced staff. Rehabilitation operations are fulfilled by knowledgeable professionals supported by loyal volunteers who care for hundreds of animals yearly. (Aspen Valley receives
L to R: Peter Jennings, Chairman of the Board of Directors with Molly; Jock McPhee, Maintenance; Ed Harris, Director and Volunteer with Mandy; Brenda Kingshott, Interim General Manager with Koda; Janalene Kingshott, Director of Animal Care with Max and Guinness.
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 51 -
no government support and relies on donations from the public: you can help by donating at www.avws.ca.) All hail! Are you ready to meet royalty? Salute the king of the Sanctuary: Koda, a great big huggable white giant of a dog weighing approximately 100 pounds (the name means “bear”). Koda, a Great Pyrnese, is always eager for cuddles and kisses, especially from his beloved owner, Brenda Kingshott, Interim General Manager at Aspen Valley. From her early days on a farm to her role as Vice-President of Parry Sound Animals Rescue, Brenda’s commitment to wildlife welfare is only exceeded by her incredible energy. Here comes Guinness and Max, beautiful Shepherd Cross dogs belonging to Janalene Kingshott, the Sanctuary’s Director of Animal Care. She is responsible for wildlife rehabilitation including large mammals like bear, deer, wolves and coyotes. As a direct result of her efforts, the Sanctuary’s beautiful wolves have literally taken on a new lease on life. “After a day of working to improve life for Muskoka’s wonderful creatures,” says Janalene, “ it’s nice to spend some down time with Guinness and Max. They remind me how animals have as much a right to enjoy this earth as we do.” A shrill phone’s ring breaks the morning stillness: the first call of the day initiates the non-stop activity that percolates throughout the team’s activities. A young bear must be picked up. A summons goes out to Ed Brown who with his trusty side kick Mandy, a thirteen year old Labrador Cross, is always ready and willing to rescue a stranded bear cub, mindful that Mandy will remain in the truck and get nowhere near the cub once they arrive on the scene. No visit to Aspen Valley would be complete without meeting Tater, a seven-year-old Labrador Shepherd Cross belonging to Joe Morin. Joe and Tater are at the Sanctuary every Saturday morning to mend whatever needs to be fixed or building whatever needs to be built. Members
of the Board of Directors have come to know Tater well: Joe is a Board member and Tater is never far away when meetings occur. And lest you think all the Sanctuary Pups are local stories in cottage country, meet Thurber, a 5-year-old Bassett Hound. He joined Hannah de Somveile and Thomas Paelinck from Belgium while they traveled across Canada this year as part of a worldwide network of organizations linking volunteers with organic farmers sharing sustainable ways of living. Before coming to volunteer at Aspen Valley, Hannah and Thomas encountered a woman with too many animals. Thurber was one of the assortment and he was constantly being beaten up by farm dogs. The couple promptly fell in love with him and ended up taking the lovable dog off her hands. “Most of the staff and volunteers have dogs,” comments Board of Directors Chair Peter Jennings, a rescue dog owner himself. “They are a respite from the pain and suffering they see and endure every day with injured wildlife. The Sanctuary Pups offer unconditional love and the staff give it back. Their jobs saving Muskoka’s wildlife would be much harder without their beloved pets.” Like to know more about the Sanctuary Pups? Just visit Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and discover the work the tireless crew carries out. You can also become part of The Sanctuary Solution – helping to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned Ontario wildlife – by volunteering or donating at www.avws.ca. Peter Jennings is an author and marketing consultant who makes his home on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka with his wife Louise and their border collie-husky mix Molly. A community-minded individual focused on helping others, he works for several charities while writing two books, nurturing a singing career and handling several corporate communications projects.
L to R: The Sanctuary Pups: Molly, a border collie/husky mix; Koda, a Great Pyrenees; Mandy, a Labrador Cross ; Max & Guinness, both Shepherd Crosses.
The Sanctuary Solution This little fawn Eve was found in a pothole at the side of the road.We bottlefed her and raised the tiny orphan in one of our new enclosures.Then we returned her as a healthy deer to the area where she was first discovered – another successful rehabilitation for Aspen Valley! The Sanctuary Solution – Rescue • Rehabilitate • Release – only happens because of donations from people like you. Your contribution to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary charity will ensure the beautiful animals we share Muskoka with have a chance to enjoy a healthy freedom. Please donate today at www.avws.ca.The Sanctuary Solution just isn’t possible without you. Check our website for visiting hours
Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
1116 Crawford Street, Rosseau, ON P0C 1J0 Phone: 705.732.6368 • Fax: 705.732.1929 Emergency: 705.644.4122 info@avws.ca • www.avws.ca Charitable #11879 1193 RR0001 Tax receipts available for donations.
Kerry and his dog Sugar Bear, a rare breed Caucasian Ovcharka.
A
Kerry Vinson’s Thoughts...
s television shows about animals, particularly about dogs, have become very popular during the last decade, I thought I would take the opportunity to share some of my experiences as well as some of the conclusions I’ve drawn about this. Over the last dozen years or so, I’ve had the opportunity to appear on several nationally broadcast programs about dogs and their behaviour, as well as on some local broadcasts just in Ontario. I can most assuredly say that I’ve learned some things about the media from these opportunities. Certainly one of the main things I’ve learned is that things aren’t always the way they appear to be on television, unless of course you’re doing a live broadcast. While I have done a few live broadcasts, the most noteworthy being a segment in the Canada AM studio in 2005 with one of my dogs, most of my TV experience has been in shows that were filmed in advance and edited for whatever the subject of the show was. And there’s the rub. Most people who watch dog shows on television do not realize how much film and editing is used to create a relatively short sequence that is the final product. For example, if you’ve ever seen a particular very popular show on solving dog behaviour problems (I won’t mention any names) you may have seen a very aggressive dog become a compliant non-aggressive dog during a 20 minute segment of the show. While this makes for good viewing, to say it is unrealistic would be a gross understatement. In all probability filming was done over a period of hours, days, or even weeks to achieve the finished product. Of course, skillful editing may obscure this fact and make it appear that such transformations are relatively simplistic in nature. The facts of dog behaviour (based on Learning Theory) are that serious behaviour problems take time to develop, and likewise they take time to rectify. Many dog behav- 54 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
iour problems, e.g. aggression, are the result of genetic pre-dispositions, and/or early learning experiences combinrd with the lack of sufficient socialization, as well as inconsistent time and effort put into teaching a dog what is appropriate behaviour and what is not. Unfortunately, there are no magic words to accomplish changing this by making it a quick and easy proposition.
“In the world of TV, sometimes entertainment value is more important then science based knowledge.” Getting back to the television theme of this article, my own personal experience has shown me that for a 5 minute TV segment, several hours of filming has been required. The most recent program that I have appeared in was the CBC Doczone and was broadcast in November of 2010. For this particular one hour documentary, which featured the top animal behaviour experts in the United States and Japan, as well as a Veterinarian from Canada and one behaviour person from Ontario (me), the subject was whether it is better to use prescription medications or behaviour modification to affect problem dog behaviour. Although my part is about midway through the program and is only about 5 minutes long, the crew took about 3 hours of film and editied it down to that. Generally speaking, I felt this documentary was very professionally done, although I would have liked to have seen a little more of the film taken in North Bay of my part, as I thought a couple of relevant comments were edited out.
Photography by Neville Ottey, White Pine Pictures
Pictured in a scene from the Pet Pharm documentary is Ian Dunbar, a well respected authority on canine behaviour throughout North America.
In the program several case studies were profiled, essentially looking at the behaviour of dogs before and after they were treated with either medications that can effect behaviour, or just behaviour modification techniques. Also examined is the question as to why there seems to be a growing number of dogs displaying serious behaviour problems. If you would like to watch this documentary (entitled Pet Pharm) it can be viewed at: http://www.cbc. ca/documentaries/doczone/video.html?ID=1633780618 . An alternate method is to access the CBC Doczone website and then click on to “watch full episodes”. Both dog owners and veterinarians I know who have seen it have told me that they found it quite interesting.
In summation, I would assert that viewers of dog behaviour shows on television should always keep in mind that what you’re seeing on the screen may not always be all of the things that actually happened in the order that they took place. In the world of TV, sometimes entertainment value is more important then science based knowledge. And if you have a dog yourself with a behaviour problem, be aware that it takes an investment of time, energy, and work to change dog behaviour; but in the long run I think they’re worth it! Dog’s are not referred to as man’s best friend for no reason.
Kerry Vinson Kerry Vinson holds a BA Degree in the field of Psychology, and has studied Learning Theory as it applies to both people and animals. Since getting into the animal behaviour business on a full time basis in 1998, he has authored over 70 articles on dog behaviour issues for veterinary publications and pet magazines in Canada. He has been designated an Expert Witness in the area of canine aggression in Ontario, and has testified in several high profile court cases as well as a Provincial Inquest. He has appeared on Canada AM, CBC’s Doczone, The Outdoor Life Network, The Discovery Channel, TV Ontario ,etc., and presents lectures at Colleges throughout Southern Ontario. Kerry currently resides in the Northumberland Hills east of Toronto with his four dogs (three German Shepherds and a Caucasian Ovcharka) and can be contacted through Animal Behaviour Consultants, which provides formal assessments of dog behaviour, at (905)352-3353 or on the web: kvinson@consultant.com.
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 55 -
Ask
Rocky
ADVICE FROM A DOG’S POINT OF VIEW
Dear Rocky... How can we keep our dog active and entertained at the cottage? - Wattodo In Wasaga
Responses are typed by Roxane B. as Rocky’s paws are too large for the keyboard buttons.
Whattodo: Please tell me you’re kidding! We dogs love to do almost everything you like to do at the cottage! We sleep. We eat. We boat. And we’ve even been known to wakeboard! We’re also quite happy to hang around a campfire as long as no sparks come our way and keep in mind that too much smoke makes us sneeze. If you find a dog-friendly recipe for S’Mores, please let me know! If you have access to a dock, check out www.dockdogs. com ! You can practice on your own property and enter some awesome competitions! We at CottageDog look forward to seeing pictures of you and your dog enjoying the cottage lifestyle!
- Rocky
Hey Rocky... Someone had a little accident on their dog toys and now they’re covered in well, you know...solid brown stuff. How should they be cleaned so that they can be enjoyed again? - Stinky Squeakers Stinky: You haven’t said whose poop it is. If it’s human, bad dog for allowing your human to use your toys in such a manner – now you know why you should put your toys back in the basket when you’re done playing with them. If it’s dog poop, well, I guess someone was just marking their territory…right? …Right? Presuming you wish to actually play with your toys again, you need to consider the type of toy. Hard toys can go in the dishwasher – top rack only and no-heat dry setting. Normal dishwasher soap will work. Soft toys and toys that are a combination of hard and soft can probably go in your washing machine and ammonia can be used to get rid of the germs (and the smell!). Let them air dry outside if the weather is nice enough – not only will they dry but they’ll collect all those wonderful outdoorsy smells to keep you entertained at night!
- Rocky
- 56 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
Hi,Rrocky … We just bought a cottage and will be travelling there every weekend with our dog. Is there anything we should do to keep this stress-free for her? - Cottagebound Cottagebound: Nice humans! I wish all humans wanted to be as prepared as you! I’ve created a ‘bare bones’ checklist for you to help in the packing. Make sure you take along your vet’s information but also find a vet that’s open on weekends near your cottage. Local kennels may be able to help you in this search. Pack enough of your dog’s normal food or, if you’re leaving it at the cottage, make sure it’s stored so that the little rodents don’t have all allthey-can-eat buffet.
Cottage Checklist
Home vet information Cottage vet information Food / Water Dog dishes Dog toys Bed / Blankets
Collar Short leash Long leash Stake Life jacket First aid kit with dog-friendly supplies
By packing two different leashes, you’ll be covered for any situation like boating or a party or going for a hike in the woods. Having a long leash attached to a stake or a tree will allow your dog a sense of freedom without providing the ability to chase raccoons or, worse, skunks! Bring meds. Bring toys. Bring beds and blankets. Bring your energy! Most important of all, however…HAVE FUN!
- Rocky
(PS Send CottageDog some pictures!)
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Paw~zzled
Written by Vince Grittani
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- 60 - CottageDog - Fall/December 2011
ACROSS
DOWN
2. Sweetened dairy-based beverage
1. When they ring “Are you singing?”
3. Assortment of flowers, leaves, fruit and twigs hung to greet
3. Type of hot cider
4. Small gifts hung 11. A box carved of stone or wood used to hold food for animals
5. Fake icicles 6. Santa’s door 7. First name to No. 6
13. Game rarely scheduled on Christmas day
8. Xmas bird
14. State in which individual holds that facts are true
9. Praise sometimes spelt with an “H”
15. Decorative Xmas deciduous
10. Hamlet’s breed 12. The red nose one
16. Canine hunting assistant
18. Why some breeds matt easily
17. Sheep watcher
19. Heinz 57 breed
20. “White Christmas” crooner 21. Purebred’s family tree
23. Although poisonous placed above promotes smooching
22. Papa pooch
24. Able to run up to 36 mph
27. Not a gift of clothes
26. Alpine lifesaver breed and life of the party
28. Upon which chestnuts are roasted
28. Wood, glass, ceramic or metal baubles
29. Before snowmobiles these guys ruled
30. Carnivores have canine ones
31. Mixed up poodle 32. In the end he sings “I’ll be back some day”
Last Issue’s Answers ACROSS 5. shore 7. hotspots 8. blackflies 9. weeds 10. pizza 11. screendoor 13. chum 16. labradoodle 18. loons 19. outboard
23. Katherine Hepburn 27. kennel 28. Peart 29. hitch 31. dangle 32. bitch 33. sandy 34. woodpile 35. agility 38. kayak
DOWN 1. thunderstorm 2. dockspider 3. spritzer 4. stash 6. rabid 12. eel 14. heel 15. mono 17. On Golden Pond
20. tree 21. Down by the Bay 22. beavers 24. rain 25. Portuguese 26. snapping 30. poison ivy 36. ink 37. yak
CottageDog - Fall/December 2011 - 61 -
LADY THE LIGHT
Advertorial
BROWN DOG.
By Luanne Fairlie
Lady loved her new home. It had kids and toys and good food. Everybody rubbed her belly when she rolled on her back. She even got to sleep in the big white fluffy bed with Rachael. Rachael was ten in people years and Lady ten in doggy years. They did everything together. They watched TV on the couch, ran around the back yard and went for long walks to the park.
“Oh my!” said Rachael’s mom, “then why don’t I hear any barking?”
One day Rachael’s mom told Lady that they were going on a little trip in the car. She told Lady that she was going to come for the ride but stay in a different place. Lady didn’t like that idea. She didn’t ever want to leave Rachael. The mom packed up Lady’s food and she was put in between Rachael and her brother on the back seat. Rachael attached Lady’s seatbelt.
Then she took them to see the big dog area. As they peeked through the trees they could see how the dogs were running around the pond and some swimming in it. None of them barked. They just played happily.
The ride was 2 hours long. When they stopped Rachael walked Lady into a house with a beautiful garden. The sign out front said “Happy Tails Resort”. Lady was picking up a scent with her big nose and pulled Rachael inside the house. Her mom and brother quickly followed. A pretty girl named Melanie greeted them. She welcomed them all to Happy Tails. She asked some questions about Lady and took off her leash and collar. “She won’t be needing this around here”, she said. She went on to explain that Happy Tails is a place for dogs to run free and enjoy themselves without people around. It was a place where they could just be dogs and get food and water given to them. There was even a nap time with a biscuit. Rachael felt sad when she saw Lady go out the back of the house. Her mom asked Melanie how many dogs were out back with Lady. “ Twenty three”, said Melanie.
1393 Brunel Road Huntsville, ON P1H 2J3 705-789-9181 www.happytails.on.ca
“The dogs are just happy playing and don’t need to bark”, replied Melanie. She told them that the dogs were in three large areas. One for the little lap dogs, one for the medium size like Lady and a big dog area.
Well it was time to go to the hotel and Rachael’s dad came inside the house now eager to go. Lady was in an area they couldn’t see so they just hoped for the best. After three nights Rachael and her family returned to pick up Lady. Melanie brought Lady into the house. Lady had a huge smile! Melanie told them how Lady had made best friends with another dog named Shadow. The two were playing together the whole time. But now, it was time for Lady to go home and be with her family again. For there is no place like home after all. However, Happy Tails is a wonderful place for dogs to visit! The End
Are you f o r y d a re
? s a m t Chris
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