june2014

Issue 5: Volume 8

Photo by Paw Prints by Jamie Pet Photography.

contents

EVENT CALENDAR 6June 2014

THE SCOOP 7Canine News and Happenings

BEHAVIOR 10In Dogs’ Play, Researchers See Honesty andDeceit, Perhaps Something Like Morality

TRAINING 18Barking: the Facts

HEALTH & WELLNESS 20Ouch! You Bit Me!

ADOPTION 24Gulf Coast Cocker Spaniel Rescue

PublisherJennifer Kitchens-Street(281) [email protected]

Advertising(281) [email protected]

Contributing WritersDavid GrimmJennifer Brown, DVMBob Williams

Staff PhotographerJamie Fincherwww.pawprintsbyjamie.com

Urban Paws MagazinePO Box 1556Spring, TX 77383www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Web: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

© Copyright 2014. No part of thispublication may be reprinted orotherwise reproduced without thepublisher’s written permission.Urban Paws magazine assumes noresponsibility for unsolicited manu-scripts, feature and idea submis-sions, or photographs, and suchmaterial will not be returned. UrbanPaws magazine assumes no liabilityfor the contents herein and has theright to refuse advertising for anyreason. Urban Paws magazine doesnot endorse any specific product orservice contained herein; we doencourage you to support ouradvertisers whenever possible.

Please tell our advertisers thatyou heard about them in UrbanPaws Magazine!

BE A PART OFOUR DOG LOVINGCOMMUNITY!

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FIND US ONFACEBOOK

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ARTICLES, EVENTS, CONTESTS & MORE!

COMING INJULY:

7th Anniversary Issue

COMING INAUGUST:Nutrition Issue

Contact us forspecial advertising opportunities

at 281.384.5431

JUNEevent calendar

JUNE 1-30Adopt a Shelter Cat Month.

JUNE 1Fix a Feline for Free Day at Texas Litter Control

clinic. 55 cats will be altered for people who are

on public assistance. These free services are

underwritten by the Homeless Pet Placement

League’s Philanthropy Fund. Pet owners who qual-

ify simply need to book online via the website

www.texaslittercontrol.org or call the clinic at

(832) 510-7622 to book an appointment.

JUNE 5S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition’s FUNdraiser at

Capone’s Bar & Oven, 4304 Westheimer Road.

5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Capone’s will be donating

$1.00 per drink and there will be a silent auction.

For more information, visit www.saverescue.org.

JUNE 7All Border Collie Rescue’s Dancing for Dogs. Join

ABC for dinner, dancing, and a spectacular ball-

room exhibition featuring world-class profession-

als, including Top 24 International Latin competi-

tors Katia Kuznetsova and Cristiano Callegari.

Houston’s own Shern-Min Chow, news anchor and

reporter for KHOU TV will be the evening’s emcee!

Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Lofts, 909 Texas Ave.

6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Visit www.allbordercol-

lierescue.tix.com for individual event tickets ($55).

JUNE 7Tails & Trails event benefiting Montgomery

County Animal Society. The large green space will

provide plenty of room to showcase vendors, dogs

for adoption, educational booths, activities for

children, musical entertainment, and food ven-

dors. Rob Flemming Park in the village of

Creekside Park in The Woodlands. 11:00 a.m. -

5:00 p.m. For more information, visit

www.mcaspets.org.

JUNE 20On this day, thousands of pet lovers will work with

their dogs to celebrate the 16th annual Take Your

Dog To Work Day®. For more information, visit

www.takeyourdog.com.

JUNE 30Lone Star Animal Welfare League’s Mutts & Putts

Open. Spend the day playing golf, networking and

enjoying a great lunch and fabulous dinner, bene-

fiting LSAWL’s Fixing Montgomery County Lab

Rescue Program. The Woodlands Country Club,

Palmer Course, 100 Grand Fairway. Check-in time

is 10:30 a.m. with a 12:00 p.m. shotgun start. To

register, email [email protected].

SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 30Mah Jongg Tournament benefiting Abandoned

Animal Rescue. Cisco’s Restaurant, 209 Commerce

St. in Tomball. For more information, contact bon-

[email protected].

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

For a full list of events, visit:www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events

6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

the scoop

Dog Lovers Delight Returns to Houstonfor 37th Year

The Houston World Series of Dog Shows (for-

merly Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows),

is back to celebrate its 37th year at NRG Park

(formerly Reliant Park), July 16-20, 2014. Voted

“Show of the Year in 2013” by Purina® Pro

Plan® and Dogs in Review Magazine, this fur-

tastic event offers canine-loving families the

chance to enjoy an array of dog-centered events

and learn more about responsible pet owner-

ship.

Beginning Wednesday, visitors can catch the

Houston Working Dog and All-Terrier shows.

Thursday offers an all-specialty group of shows,

as well as the Working Dog and All-Terrier

shows. Friday through Sunday, each show cul-

minates with a “Best of Show” winner, chosen

from finalists among the seven variety groups

with more than 150 different breeds represent-

ed. Besides Conformation (breed judging), spec-

tators watch agility dogs race through obstacles,

Frisbee® dogs soar through the air, flyball

teams hurdle to beat the clock, outstanding

dancing dogs and more.

One of the highlights of the show is Meet the

Urban Paws Magazine 7

Breeds, created for people who are considering

adding a new furry friend to the family. More

than 110 different breeds are presented with

experts on hand to answer any and all questions.

Nearby, the McScotty Market features some fo

the newest canine products from around the

country along with booths from several local

and national canine welfare organizations.

The Mari Jon Filla Student Art Exhibit puts

the artistic talent of Houston’s youngsters,

grades K through 12, on display. Presented by

Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP), a non-

profit organization dedicated to providing shel-

ter and services to Houston’s dogs in need, the

competition offers spectators the chance to bid

on beautiful dog houses with proceeds benefit-

ing CAP.

The Houston World Series of Dog Shows,

sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, super-

vised by Onofrio Dog Shows and sponsored by

Purina® Pro Plan®, is Houston’s must-see dog

event attracting more than 40,000 spectators,

participants and vendors. Adult admission is $15

per day at the door. Tickets for senior citizens

are $10, and children 12 or younger are admitted

free with adult. Parking is $10, cash only. Visit

www.houstondogshows.com for the latest infor-

mation.

Montgomery County Animal Society InSearch of Board MembersMontgomery County Animal Society

(MCASociety), the official non-profit organiza-

tion in support of Montgomery County Animal


Shelter (MCAS) in Conroe, TX, is looking for

board members specializing in fundraising and

business outreach. The board is looking to fill

two spots. Board participation is voluntary and

members are not compensated. All applications

are confidential and will be reviewed by the cur-

rent board membership.

The application process consists of a ques-

tionnaire (including an essay). Applicants who

pass the questionnaire phase will submit to one

or more one-on-one interviews with board

members.

Applications are due Tuesday, July 1, 2014,

but applicants are encouraged to apply now.

The link to apply is: www.mcaspets.org/board-

application.html.

Best Friends Animal Society Announces‘Strut your Mutt’ Events in CommunitiesNationwide

Best Friends’ Strut Your Mutt event returns to

Houston for the second year on Saturday,

September 20, 2014. The walk and family

friendly doggie festival will be held again at TC

Jester Park, 4201 W. TC Jester Blvd, Houston,

TX 77018.

What makes this event special in the world of

non-profit organizations is that Best Friends

Animal Society provides the infrastructure for

the scoop

the events, but allows local organizations to ben-

efit from funds raised. For many small, grass-

roots animal welfare organizations, proceeds

from Strut Your Mutt provide an important part

of the groups’ annual operating funds.

The “Strut Your Mutt” concept is built around

a community dog walk and festival that allows

people to raise funds in advance, and then cele-

brate together with fellow animal lovers and

multiple rescue groups/shelters. The event

includes doggie themed activities like doggie

yoga and massage, paw readings, food, contests

and much more.

Funds raised through Strut Your Mutt are uti-

lized locally to fund adoption programs,

spay/neuter services and other life-saving pro-

grams, which dramatically impact the number

of pets entering and leaving the shelters. In

2013 Strut Your Mutt took place in 11 cities

across the country, including a virtual Strut

Across America (now called the Strut Your Mutt

Challenge). More than 13,000 people turned out

to strut with 9,200 dogs. The event raised near-

ly $1.7 million, with around $1.2 million of that

supporting No More Homeless Pets Network

partners. The national goal for 2014 is $2 mil-

lion.

In Houston, the 2013 Strut Your Mutt was

participated in by more than 560 people and 500

dogs. The event raised a total of $77113, with

$48,149 raised for 11 Best Friends® No More

Homeless Pets® Network partners — local res-

cue groups and shelters in the Houston area.

For more information, visit www.strutyour-


mutt.org.

Rover Oaks Pet Resort LaunchesOperation: War Dogs

Rover Oaks Pet Resort has officially launched

its fourth annual month-long donation drive,

Operation: War Dogs, to support non-profit

organization United States War Dogs

Association (USWDA). The drive officially

began on Memorial Day and ends on

Independence Day, July 4, 2014. Last year,

Rover Oaks raised over $15,000 for USWDA

through Operation: War Dogs.

USWDA exists to provide much-needed sup-

port to the Military Working Dogs serving in the

United States Armed Forces. They facilitate

adoptions of retiring War Dogs; support return-

ing troops and service dog organizations such as

Military Working Dogs, Police K-9 units and

Search and Rescue units; establish War Dog

Memorials, and educate the public on the histo-

ry of all U. S. Military War Dogs from all wars.

During Operation: War Dogs, donors can stop

by Rover Oaks Pet Resort in Houston near

Reliant Stadium or Rover Oaks Katy near Katy

the scoop

Mills mall to make a contribution or mail a

check to Rover Oaks made out to United States

War Dogs Association. Rover Oaks will be giv-

ing away a free night of lodging at their facilities

to every donor who contributes $100.

Donations of $25 will receive a commemora-

tive army dog tag necklace or USWDA bandana.

In addition, Rover Oaks will decorate their facil-

ities with patriotic paw prints presenting the

names of the clients and community members

who contribute to USWDA. Every dollar

counts and anyone interested in donating is

encouraged to stop by either Rover Oaks loca-

tion to make a contribution in their name or in

honor of a soldier or war dog they wish to rec-

ognize. These donations will provide an abun-

dance of critically needed items including K9

medications, food, grooming tools, bedding and

other necessities. The donations also cover trav-

el costs and facilitate adoptions to bring our war

dogs home.

Donations will be accepted at either Rover

Oaks location. Rover Oaks Houston, 713-662-

2119, is located at 2550 West Bellfort, Houston

77054. Rover Oaks Katy, 281-693-7687, is

located at 24250 Kingsland Blvd., Katy 77494.

To learn more about Rover Oaks or for direc-

tions, visit www.roveroaks.com. For more infor-

mation on United States War Dogs Association,

visit: www.uswardogs.org.

behavior

In Dogs’ Play, Researchers See Honesty and Deceit,Perhaps Something Like Morality

By: David Grimm, Author


A shaggy brown terrier approaches a large

chocolate Labrador in a city park. When the ter-

rier gets close, he adopts a yoga like pose,

crouching on his forepaws and hiking his butt

into the air. The Lab gives an excited bark, and

soon the two dogs are somersaulting and tug-

ging on each other’s ears. Then the terrier takes

off and the Lab gives chase, his tail wagging

wildly. When the two meet once more, the

whole thing begins again.

Watch a couple of dogs play, and you’ll probably

see seemingly random gestures, lots of frenetic

activity and a whole lot of energy being expend-

ed. But decades of research suggest that

beneath this apparently frivolous fun lies a hid-

den language of honesty and deceit, empathy

and perhaps even a humanlike morality.

Take those two dogs. That yoga like pose is

known as a “play bow,” and in the language of

play it’s one of the most commonly used words.

It’s an instigation and a clarification, a warning

and an apology. Dogs often adopt this stance as

an invitation to play right before they lunge at

another dog; they also bow before they nip

(“I’m going to bite you, but I’m just fooling

around”) or after some particularly aggressive

roughhousing (“Sorry I knocked you over; I did-

n’t mean it.”).

All of this suggests that dogs have a kind of

moral code — one long hidden to humans until

a cognitive ethologist named Marc Bekoff

began to crack it.

A wiry 68-year-old with reddish-gray hair tied

back in a long ponytail, Bekoff is a professor

emeritus at the University of Colorado at

Boulder, where he taught for 32 years. He began

studying animal behavior in the early 1970s,

spending four years videotaping groups of dogs,

wolves and coyotes in large enclosures and slow-

ly playing back the tapes, jotting down every nip,

yip and lick. “Twenty minutes of film could take

a week to analyze,” he says.

The data revealed insights into how the animals

maintained their tight social bonds — by

grooming each other, for example. But what

changed Bekoff ’s life was watching them play.

The wolves would chase each other, run, jump

and roll over for seemingly no other reason than

to have fun.

Few people had studied animal play, but Bekoff

was intrigued. “Play is a major expenditure of

energy, and it can be dangerous,” he says. “You

can twist a shoulder or break a leg, and it can

increase your chances of being preyed upon. So

why do they do it? It has to feel good.”

Suddenly, Bekoff wasn’t interested just in

behavior; he was interested also in emotions

and, fundamentally, what was going on inside

these animals’ heads.


the big dog often rolled on her back to give the

smaller dog an advantage, and she allowed the

other dog to jump on her far more often than

she jumped on him.

Bekoff also spotted a number of other blink-

and-you’d-miss-them behaviors, such as a sud-

den shift in the eyes — a squint that can mean

“you’re playing too rough” — and a particular

wag of the tail that says, “I’m open to be

approached.” Humping a playmate during a

romp, meanwhile, was often an invitation to

nearby dogs to come join the fun.

Such signals are important during play; without

them, a giddy tussle can quickly turn into a

vicious fight.

In the wild, coyotes ostracize pack members that

don’t play by the rules. Something similar hap-

pens in dog parks: If three dogs are playing and

one bites or tackles too hard, the other two are

likely to give him the cold shoulder and stop

playing with him, Bekoff says. Such behavior, he

says, suggests that dogs are capable of morality,

a mind-set once thought to be uniquely human.

Even morality hints at something deeper, how-

ever. To enforce moral conduct, dogs must be

able to experience a spectrum of emotions,

from joy to indignation, guilt to jealousy. They

must also be able to read these emotions in oth-

ers, distinguishing accident from intent, honesty

Darwin’s dogsBekoff wasn’t the first scientist to become

intrigued by the canine mind. Charles Darwin in

the mid-1800s had postulated that canines were

capable of abstract thought, morality and even

language. (Darwin was inspired by his own

mutts; he owned 13 of them during his life.)

Dogs, he wrote, understand human words and

respond with barks of eagerness, joy and

despair. If that wasn’t communication between

the species, what was?

Two of Darwin’s contemporaries had suggested

that dogs could even sniff out someone’s social

status and read words. But by the time Bekoff

turned his attention to canines, scientists had

long deemed them unworthy of study. Because

they no longer lived in their natural environ-

ment, the thinking went, their minds were cor-

rupted and could not shed light on the bigger

question, the evolution of human intelligence.

The only animals worth studying were wild

ones.

But when Bekoff began looking at videos of

dogs romping in super slow motion, he began to

realize that there was more going on in the

canine mind than science had acknowledged. He

noticed the “play bow,” for example.

What’s more, he found that canines “role-

reverse” or “self-handicap” during play. When a

big dog played with a smaller one, for example,


from deceit. And indeed, recent studies by other

scientists have shown evidence of these abilities

(confirming what many dog owners already feel

about their pets).

Scientists have found, for example, that dogs

trained to shake hands with humans will stop

shaking if they notice that they aren’t being

rewarded for the trick although a nearby dog is

— a sign, the researchers suggested, that dogs

can sense inequity.

Other studies have revealed that dogs yawn

when they see humans yawning and that they

nuzzle and lick people who are crying; scientists

consider both behaviors displays of empathy, a

rarely documented trait in the animal kingdom.

Dogs have even been shown to be pessimistic:

When a group of canines in one study learned

that a bowl placed on one side of the room con-

tained a treat and a bowl on the other side con-

tained nothing, some of the dogs just sat there

when the empty bowl was placed in the center

of the room; they figured it was empty and did-

n’t waste their time. These same dogs evinced

what researchers said was a similar pessimistic

attitude when their masters left for work: They

were more likely to howl and tear up the couch

when their owner disappeared, possibly because

they didn’t believe their master would return.

Bekoff ’s recent work suggests another remark-


able canine skill: the ability to know what anoth-

er animal is thinking — a so-called “theory of

mind.”

Dogs seem to display a rudimentary form of

this skill during play. He has noticed, for exam-

ple, that one dog won’t begin trying to play with

another dog until he has her attention. To get

her to notice, he may nip the other dog or run

into her field of view. That, Bekoff says, shows

that the one wanting to play knows that she’s

not paying attention to him. Though this may

seem like a simple skill, it’s incredibly important

to our species. Without it, we can have a hard

time learning or interacting with the world

around us.

Interestingly, dogs even outsmart chimpanzees

on some theory-of-mind tests. When a

researcher points at one of two cups, for exam-

ple, dogs almost always run to the cup that is

pointed to, a sign that they have intuited what

the scientist was thinking — i.e., that the

researcher was trying to show the dog some-

thing. Chimps, by contrast, have no idea what

we mean when we point at something.

“Dogs have an amazing relationship with us,

and Marc [Bekoff] has done a beautiful job help-

ing us understand them,” says Brian Hare, a bio-

logical anthropologist at Duke University and

one of the world’s foremost experts on canine

cognition. “Play gives us a peek inside their

heads and helps us understand how they became

the species they are today.”

Hare, one of the first scientists to show that

dogs could understand human pointing while

chimpanzees could not, says that Bekoff ’s stud-

ies add a new dimension to the canine personal-

ity: Dogs aren’t just smart, they’re also emotion-

ally complex. “That’s why we can have such a

deep relationship with them,” says Hare.

It’s also why studying dog play is so important,

Bekoff says. It reveals far more than just the

emotional lives of the animals involved. It could

ultimately shed light on the evolution of human

emotions and how we came to build a civiliza-

tion based on laws and cooperation, empathy

and altruism.

Play may seem a frivolous activity, but because it

is not simply a survival reflex, it provides the

best opportunity to explore who the animal real-

ly is, to peer perhaps into her soul. “When we

study play in dogs,” Bekoff says, “we study our-

selves.”

David Grimm is a deputy news editor at Science and theauthor of the new book “Citizen Canine: Our EvolvingRelationship With Cats and Dogs” which is available athttp://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Canine-Evolving-Relationship-Cats/dp/1610391330.

et Sitters International’s 16th annual Take

Your Dog To Work Day® is Friday, June

20. Businesses around the globe will

open their doors to employees’ canine co-work-

ers to celebrate the great companions dogs

make and to promote pet adoption.

To ensure a peaceful, productive day of human

and canine camaraderie, Pet Sitters International

(PSI) has made a free 2014 Take Your Dog To

Work Day Action Pack available at takeyour-

dog.com.

PSI also provides pet owners these seven tips to

ensure a successful office visit:

1. Do an office check. No one will mind your

dog being in the office, right? Well, maybe.

Check with management and co-workers to see

if anyone is allergic, afraid of or opposed to you

bringing your dog to work on this special day. Be

respectful of those you work with and plan an

alternate celebration, if necessary.

2. Puppy-proof your work space. If you plan on

working with your dog, make sure your office

environment is safe. Remove poisonous plants

and pesticides, hide electrical cords and wires

and secure toxic items such as permanent mark-

ers. Any office items in question should be

placed out of paw’s reach.

3. Make sure Fido is fit for work. Even dogs

don’t get a second chance to make a first impres-

sion. Be sure your dog’s shots are current. Make

plans to have your dog bathed and groomed

before accompanying you to work. Be mindful

of your dog’s “work readiness.” You know your

dog’s demeanor, so if he is aggressive or overly

shy, it’s best to leave him at home. Consider how

your dog has behaved in the past around

strangers before making the decision to bring

him. If your dog has shown fear, irritability or

aggression, or if your dog has never met

strangers, the workplace is not the best place for

him.

4. Prepare a doggie bag. Include food, treats,

bowls, toys, leash, paper towels, clean-up bags

and pet-safe disinfectant. If you are routinely in

and out of your work space, consider bringing a

baby gate for your doorway or a portable kennel

for your dog’s comfort and your peace of mind.

5. Plan your pet’s feeding times carefully.During an important sales call is probably not


P

7 Tips For a Successful

Take Your Dog to Work Day

the best time for a puppy potty break. Plan your

dog’s feeding time around your work schedule

and be sure to choose an appropriate area for

your dog to relieve himself afterward.

6. Avoid forcing co-workers to interact withyour dog. Dog lovers will make themselves

known. Sally from accounting and Joe in human

resources may not want to play fetch or offer

belly rubs, so be mindful of fellow

employees’ time and space. To

avoid pet accidents, monitor the

amount of treats your pet is

being given from your co-

workers. Remember that chocolate, candy

and other people food should not be shared

with dogs and that not all non-dog owners

will be aware that these items can be very toxic

to your pooch.

7. Have an exit strategy. Although most dogs

enjoy TYDTWDay, your pet may not. Should

your dog become overly boisterous, agitated or

withdrawn, consider taking him home or

plan in advance for your professional pet

sitter to offer a midday check-in visit.

Never, under any circumstance, leave

your pet alone in a vehicle while you

work.

For more information about planning a success-

ful TYDTWDay event, to download a free

action pack or enter the 2014 Take Your Dog To

Work Day Photo Contest, visit www.takeyour-

dog.com.



training

hile many people consider barking to

be a normal behavior, excessive bark-

ing is a behavioral problem and is

often a sign that your dog is stressed–not to

mention that it can cause great stress for you in

public places with your dog, or if you live in a

community where your neighbors can hear your

dog bark too.

Dogs bark in a variety of situations:

• When their owners arrive home

• When their owners leave home

• When visitors come to the house

• When they hear other dogs barking

• When playing

• To demand attention from their owner

• When they want to go outside

• When they want to be fed

• When scared or startled

• When getting their owners to play fetch

• When fighting

• at passersby or animals outside

...or for no obvious reason at all!

If you have been telling your dog to stop bark-

ing, yet he continues or stops but immediately

starts again, you are not getting through to him

or getting to the root of what is causing him

stress. Some other important facts to know

about your dog’s or puppy’s barking:

• Dogs that bark at birds, dogs, people, falling

leaves or clouds aren’t watchdogs. They are nui-

sance barkers and are less likely to be taken

notice of when a real threat is present.

• A quite, intelligent watchdog is the dog intrud-

ers need to be wary of, as he is aware of any-

thing out of the ordinary that could be per-

ceived as a threat to your family pack–and will

have your immediate attention.

• Barking at passersby that pose no threat to you

IS considered nuisance barking.

• It’s never too late to teach your dog to stop

barking.

• As they reach maturity, most dogs will natural-

ly protect their owners when needed and where

necessary, but a puppy that barks without being

stopped is a potential nuisance barker in the

making.

• A puppy that barks at his owner when being

corrected vocally needs training as soon as pos-

sible. He is challenging his owner’s authority,

and this could be the making of a dog that

becomes more difficult to control as he matures.

Barking: the Facts

W

By: Bob Williams, Bark Busters Home Dog Training


Having your dog assessed by a professional to

ascertain why he is barking should be the first

step you take toward permanently changing his

behavior and turning him into a more relaxed,

happy family member that will be more capable

of sounding the alarm appropriately when a real

emergency arises.

Bob Williams is a Master Dog Trainer and BehavioralTherapist for Bark Busters Home Dog Training. To schedulean appointment, call 713.771.2275

Ouch! You Bit Me!

health & wellness

By: Jennifer Brown, DVM, North Houston Veterinary Specialists


he story normally goes... you went to

the shelter, found a cute puppy and two

years later, “Fluffy” is in the hospital

due to bad behavior (dog fights, human bites or

a foreign body). We are then left looking back,

wondering "Where did it all go wrong?"

I truly believe that the first moment a new

puppy walks in the house is when training

should begin. Now, at the beginning, there is

some leniency for mistakes. But, as with chil-

dren, the rules need to become more rigid as

they get older. Think of a new puppy as a one

year old child. There are some basic guidelines

that need to be established, such as learning to

walk on a leash, no chewing on hands and allow-

ing an owner to play with his paws. When pup-

pies are a couple of months old, they are like a

young child. This is where sit, stay, come, wait,

and lay down need to be introduced. They

should all have basic commands learned by one

year of age - teenage years!

A dog's social structure is different from

humans because it is based on a pack mentality.

This type of mentality has a leader (alpha dog)

that controls the pack. Because dogs live in the

house and not in a true pack, you are part of

their pack and you must be able to communicate

effectively from the beginning to help prevent

bad behavior. This establishes YOU as the alpha

dog. Subtle behavior can prove one as dominant

and therefore, it is important to learn what these

behaviors are. It is like learning a new language,

it takes some time, patience and careful obser-

vation. Some dogs naturally want you to be the

leader and can be easily trained. It is not that

they are necessarily smarter, but they are more

willing to follow commands. There are some

breeds that are very “hard headed” and are most

often the ones with behavioral problems. They

are usually the hardest to train but are the

brightest. These are typically the terriers, dachs-

hunds and bully breeds. With these particular

breeds, it is essential you are the alpha to prevent

severe injury or even death in a family house-

hold or public environment.

The earlier you start training, the more fun you

will have with your dog. Remember, they com-

municate as a pack and it is essential for you to

learn to speak their language (body language). It

is best to read training books and see what

works for you. Just like children, they don’t

come with instructions and not every way

works. Sometimes you have to tweak training

methods to fit your dog. Life becomes so much

more enjoyable once you have a well-trained

dog.

T

mutt mugs

“Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark

violently at nothing right in your ear.”

- Dave Berry22 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Join us in helping our four-legged friends

find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!

Gulf Coast Cocker Spaniel Rescuewww.gulfcoastcockerspanielrescue.com

Founded in June 2010, Gulf Coast Cocker Spaniel Rescue (GCCSR) has saved the lives of 230 cockerspaniels and cocker mixes. These dogs come from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana shelters, as well asindividuals who can no longer care for their family pet(s). Unlike other rescues, GCCSR only boards itsdogs for medical necessity or board & train arrangements. Cockers sometimes have quirky personali-ties, and we believe it is in their best interests to keep them in foster care so we can learn what kindof family will be the best fit for them going forward. We are never in a hurry to find a home for ourdogs, but instead focus on quality placements in hopes these matches will truly be their FOREVERhomes.

adoption

Estimated at 14-15 years of age,

Cody is a great spokesman for

GCCSR, and the first one in line for

belly rubs at our monthly adop-

tion events. He is the epitome of

all we stand for–the ones others

deem ‘too old, too sick, or too

challenging’. Our sweet Cody

wins the hearts of everyone he

meets.

Photos by Paw Prints by Jamie Pet Photography.

Our cover dog,Cody!


Trinity

I’m Trinity, a tiny little firecracker of a cocker mix.I’m 2-3 years old, and I only have three legs, butthat doesn’t slow me down one bit. I had a bro-ken femur in my third leg when GCCSR rescuedme from the shelter, but I had surgery and I’vecompletely healed since then. I love everybodyand most other dogs, but I’d do best in a homewithout small children who may accidentally hurtme.

My name is Rosie, and I’m about two years old. Iwas the victim of an animal cruelty investigationin Lake Charles, and I spent the first one and a halfyears of my life in a crate. Because of that, I don’tdo well in crates. I love my people, but I can’t beexposed to too many new people or too muchnew stimuli in a short period of time. If you have aquiet, routine home you’d like to share with abeautiful, snuggly girl, I’m the one for you!


Hi, I’m Precious and I’m about six years old. Myowners surrendered me to a shelter in NewOrleans because they couldn’t afford to take careof me anymore. I have the typical cocker allergies,so will need to be on a high-quality diet.Otherwise, I’m described as gentle, cooperative,and fully housebroken. I’m a well-mannered girlwho longs for someone to take care of me. I’ll beyour best friend if you’ll give me a chance.

Rosie

Precious

vet directory 2014

Veterinarians

Clara Scott, DVMMy Family Vet20120 Kuykendahl RoadSpring, Texas 77379(p): 281.288.0500(w): www.myfamilyvet.com

Sunset Blvd Animal Clinic 2525 Sunset Blvd.Houston, Texas 77005(p): 713.526.5881(w): www.sunsetblvdanimalclinic.com

Veterinary Specialists

Laurie Noaker, DVM, DACVIMVERGI8921 Katy FreewayHouston, Texas 77024(p): 713.932.9589(w): www.vergi247.com

Nicholas J. Millichamp, BVetMed, PhD,DVOphthal, DipECVO, MRCVSEye Care for Animals17395 Tomball Parkway #3-HHouston, Texas 77064(p): 281.890.3937(w): www.eyecareforanimals.com

Christie Cornelius, DVMLast Wishes In-Home Pet Hospice and Euthanasia1302 Waugh Drive, Suite 968Houston, Texas 77019(p:) 713.452.0474(w): www.petslastwishes.com

North Houston Vet Specialists 1646 Spring Cypress Road #100Spring, Texas 77388(p): 832.616.5000(w): www.nhvetspecialists.com

If you are interested in having your veterinary practice featured in our Vet Directory,please contact us at 281.384.5431 or [email protected].


june2014

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