Cleveland's Source for Dog Training News and Information
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NationalAdopt a Shelter DogMonth |
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From the Desk of Ed Dickson
October is adopt a shelter dog month. Shelters and rescues are always in great need of many resources including volunteers. Volunteer opportunities for these organizations are numerous and cover a wide range of areas. Anything from mobile events, administrative duties, kennel cleaning, to fostering of animals in your home are all possibilities. Volunteering or supporting a shelter is something that should be done only after research.
The decision on which organization you support should not be taken lightly. Each rescue organization or humane society should have their own mission statement identifying what they are trying to accomplish as a group. These goals can differ greatly from organization to organization. Depending on your beliefs, doing research to make sure that you support the cause of the particular organization can be very important.
There are city and county run shelters that accept stray animals, owner surrender shelters that take animals that have been surrendered by their guardian and breed rescue organizations that concentrate on a specific breed just to name a few.
The one sure thing about all these groups is that it takes people to accomplish all the work that is necessary to achieve the goal. Getting involved can be an extremely satisfying venture and only needs to take up the amount of time that you have available. If you decide to try to help out in some way, be sure to match yourself up with an organization that you can stand behind. A little prior research can go a long way to ensure that your time is not wasted and the organizations will operate smoothly.
Click on this list of 100 things you can do to help a rescue or shelter.
How to adopt a dog from a Shelter
You have made that decision to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue... Bringing a dog into your home should not be done on impulse. This experience could be a deeply, rich and rewarding one if you do 3 things first ~ RESEARCH RESEARCH and RESEARCH. The entire family should be on board with the decision. You are making a life long commitment to the dog. Know first off what you and your family can handle. Can your schedules allow for a high energy dog? Do you have the time and patience to dedicate to a puppy or young adult dog? Are you looking for a more mellow, laid back, older dog? If you have existing pets -- you will need to make sure the new addition is cat friendly and or dog friendly. Know that if the dog is a lesson for your kids in responsibility, you will have to be prepared to be the safety net when chores fall through the cracks.
You have your heart set on a certain breed and only know that it is awful cute….research the breed, make sure it is something that is going to be able to fit into the dynamics of your family. The internet is overflowing with information. Spend some time talking to breeders, vets, owners of the breed.
Once this has been accomplished go to the shelters, meet the dogs, AND grill the shelter personnel. What can they tell you about the history of the dog, what vetting-vaccinations-worming have been done AND do they have the paper work to show you, have they noticed any behavioral issues, have they done any training with the dog, what kind of assessments have been done, what kind of support do they offer after the adoption goes through…Be prepared for and expect them to grill you back.
Once you are satisfied with the shelter you are dealing with and you have your eyes on that one particular dog, go to a quiet place with it, away from the noise of the kennels. Sit quietly and see how it reacts to you and your family. Keep the kids calm. If all goes well continue on with the adoption process.
Your new dog needs some time to decompress and settle into the new, loving life that you and your family will be providing for it. Give it a few weeks to get used to you and then consider some obedience training to further deepen the bond between canine and human.
New Products
The new Fall issue of The BARk is out. Loaded as usual with great articles and artwork celebrating all that is Dog! Patricia McConnell writes about how important it is to have a mentally stimulating environment as well as a physically stimulating environment, and how to go about easily providing that for your canine companion. There are articles on dog rescue efforts in Kabul. New research with regards to dogs detecting seizures in children, and of course as always the great focus on arts. Amanda jones has a sweet spread of photographs....
Special Seminars and Fall Events
Friday, October 29th Fundraiser 7pm - 9pm Lakewood
The 2004 HOWL-O-WEEN Doggie Costume Party & Contest
Come and support our shelter of the month at the Howl-o-Ween Costume Party Fundraiser. There will be games, prizes, and photographs along with food, treats, and beverages provided for both canines and their human escorts. All proceeds will go to the Sanctuary for Senior Dogs.
Admission to the Party is $5.
Costume Contest Entry is $5.
Categories for best costume are Scariest - Funniest - Most Original - Best Inter-Species Duo
Safety Tips for Halloween
Halloween is a blast if you are 10 years old and got the cool costume to go out trick or treating in. For your dog it may very well be a different story. Imagine what may be going on in the mind of your dog when a pack of 4 foot goblins come racing down the street to your house.
Unless you have that magical, laid back dog that never frights over anything...here are a couple of tips to keep things stress free for the family’s four legged members.
Before night falls and the witches and goblins come out try to have your dog out at the dog park or for a long walk. A tired dog is always a good dog.
Keep the dog inside and away from the front door, use baby gates or a crate to restrict the dog to a quieter spot in the house. Have a supply of chewies around to keep them focused and busy. If you have a storm door remove the top window or screen to hand out treats, this will avoid the risk of the ever tempting open door escapes. If your dog is not comfortable with being dressed up then don’t force a costume on them. Be sensitive to their stress level.
If your dog has to be outside don’t leave him unattended. Halloween is also the season of pranks and unfortunately malicious behavior where some can cross the line and become cruel to animals.
Once the trick or treating is over and your house is flowing with human treats, be sure to keep the candy and chocolate out of the dog’s reach. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs if they consume enough of it.
Snaves 'Scoop' Lee ~ On the Rescue Beat
This month's organization.......The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs
~ Snaves Lee Watson
A big WAG O'THE TAIL to Greyhound
Rescue for a wooferful time! This reporter was dog-tired at the end of
the day from all the paw-shaking, but it was a good dog-tired. My guests
and I enjoyed meeting Skid Boot and his family and friends, but our real
high light was knowing that a whole bunch of very caring and loving people
came together with the common goal of helping homeless dogs. Two paws
up!!
This Halloween column is featuring another cool couple. Tanya
and Tucker got fed up with the Glen Campbellesq thing and struck out
on their own. Fortunately, they found their way to the Sanctuary for Senior
Dogs as an interim stopping place.
The Sanctuary for Senior
Dogs is a rescue organization which takes 7 year and older dogs who
need homes, (although there have been some younger dogs, as well.) The
founder, Deborah, has gathered a compassionate group of people who help
her save, nurture and love countless senior dogs. Through their tireless
efforts, many of these dogs have been placed with gentle, loving people.
Now Tanya and Tucker are looking for their forever home.
Not unlike a long-married, older couple, these two dance to the beat of
her/his own drummers. Tanya likes to play and stay active while Tucker
is happy to curl up and catch a quick cat(nap). At the end of the day,
they love being together and find security in each other. When going for
car rides, they enjoy sharing the same seat while watching the world go
by.
Tanya, a spayed 7 year, mostly black lab, has a soft, silky coat. She
is still prone to getting a bit scared by crowds (dogs & people),
but she loves her chew toys and being petted.
Tucker is 9 years old and neutered. He is a yellow lab who will be your
best bud ever in exchange for some love and attention.
Both Tucker and Tanya are housebroken and they will sit on command.
For more information and to see a picture of each, please go to www.sanctuaryforseniordogs.org.
This year for Halloween, be original. Don't buy that giant bag of candy
for yourself, take home a gift that keeps on giving...Tanya and Tucker!
Hey, for all of you cool cats...umm, dogs, we're having a Halloween costume
party the last Friday of October. Call 216/221-DOGS for more deTAILS!
(Get it? DeTAILS? I'm so clever!)
Want to make a sure-fire investment? Smile at the dogs and people you
meet on the street. You'll get back an incalculable number of smiles in
return!
Remember: Hugs will get you a lot further than hurts!
Want to drop Scoop a note? Share a rescue story with her, suggest a Rescue or Shelter?
Send emails to Snaves Lee.
Flyball Open House and Try Out
Saturday, October 23rd at 5pm
The North Coast Dogs Flyball Team WANTS YOU! You and your canine companion are invited to come check out what Flyball is all about.
There is no charge for this event but we do ask that you call ahead and reserve a space. 216.221.3647
Class Updates
New Volunteer/Intern Program ~
Are you or have you been a student at North Coast Dogs? Do you want to show others the "magic" of non-violent, reward based training? In our classes, you have learned it's not with magic but through innovative education and positive action combined with lots and lots of consistency and repetition that are keys to forming a sound, positive relationship with your canine friend. In addition to all of that, you still need to know how and when to be unpredictable and/or variable with your reinforcements. Have I lost you yet? Are you still interested in learning a way of teaching and training that will change your life? Are you interested in teaching others another way of training our favorite canine friends? Do you want to help change the world?
If the answer is yes to the above, then North Coast Dogs newly formed Trainer Guidance Program is for you. You, too, can learn how to teach canine obedience classes. You, too, can even learn how to teach behavior modification! To apply, you need to have taken a class or had an in-home session with NCD. If you are interested call Susanna Hamm at 216.221.DOGS or send an email expressing your level of interest.
