R&R Rescue ReaderVolume 5, Number 3 August 2012

On Saturday April 21st, we had our annual Spring Herding Fun Day at Ellen and Cliff Beasley’s house. As always, it was enjoyed by hu-mans and canines alike. The weather was perfect for a day of watching Cattle Dogs do what they do best – herding! Ellen’s unlucky flock of sheep dread the enthusiastic car loads of barking dogs that descend upon their pasture for this event. Each dog was given the opportunity to try out their instinctive skills. Some dogs needed encouragement while others raced to the sheep like they were old pros. From every size, age and color of Australian Cattle Dog to a Boxer and a Border Collie, Ellen patiently worked with each dog until the very last one has had its turn. We stopped for a break at lunch to enjoy a potluck featuring Cliff ’s barbeque and many other delicious things that people

brought to share. The sheep enjoyed the lunch break as well hoping that we’d all gone home but, much to their dismay, we came back for more afternoon herding fun. The last few runs were dampened by a rain shower but the dogs enjoyed it just the same.

As a rescue, events like these are also a great time to catch up with some of our former fosters. This year twelve of our alumni came to Herding Fun Day along with three of our current fosters. It was great to see them all, especially Ruthie who came with her mom Patty all the way from New Jersey! Other alumni in attendance were Jillaroo, Maxwell Smart, Colby, Dixie (#1), Raylan, Phantom, Da-kota, Stryker, Blue, Jack (Jax) and Bunny Beasley. It is always encouraging for those of us who played a part in their rescue to see our former foster dogs in happy, loving homes and doing well.

Herding Fun Day is something we look forward to year after year. We appreciate Cliff and Ellen, her sheep, and Luna, Ellen’s right hand gal, for letting us use their home to celebrate our dogs and what they were bred to do!

Herding Fun Day By Leah Scarborough

The American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test (CGC) is a certification program that evaluates how dogs behave and react in everyday situations. The purpose of the CGC program is to encourage responsible dog ownership by ensuring dogs are trained to be respected members of their communities, and to behave polietly in the home, in public places and in the pres-ence of other dogs. Dogs that pass the CGC test are deemed to be reliable family and community members and will receive a certificate from the AKC. Earning a CGC is also a good way to establish a strong foundation for training in other activities such as obedience and agility.

The Canine Good Citizen test takes about fifteen minutes and consists of the following ten activities which are designed to determine if your dog has the skills that are needed to be a well-mannered dog:

• Accepting a friendly stranger

• Sitting politely for petting

• Appearance and grooming

• Walking on a loose leash

• Walking through a crowd

• Sit, down, and stay

• Coming when called

• Reaction to other dogs

• Reaction to distractions

• Supervised separation

If your dog performs all of these tests, a CGC title is in your near future! If your dog needs a little work on his/her behaviors, think about joining a basic obedience class to prepare! This is a fun way to interact with your dog and to promote responsible dog ownership. Let your dog become an ambassador for canine manners!

To find out about CGC classes near you, just visit the AKC web-site at http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/cgc_schedule.cfm.

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Canine Good Citizen

Rescue Reader June 2011 Page 3

Obesity is not a problem only for humans. Dogs can also suffer from obesity and are more prone to injury and respiratory problems during hot weather and exercise, have more stress on their internal organs and joints, and can develop diabetes. This is no way for your family pet to live!

Your dog’s ribs should be easily felt, and the waist and tuck-up (the belly area between ribcage and rear end) are discernible without being prominent. The dog in ideal condition has a thin layer of fat over the ribs. Overweight dogs have increasing amounts of fat over the ribs and minimal or absent waist and tuck-up.

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Health Tips: Overcoming Obesity

Tips to Keep Your Best Friend in Tip-top Shape!• You must be in control of the amount of food and snacks your

dog gets.

• At the very least, cut back a bit on the kibble in the food bowl. The dog food company’s recommendation may be too much food for your dog. Green beans, carrots, or other unsalted low-calorie vegetables can be added to help your dog feel full.

• Feed appropriate snacks. Low-calorie snacks like unbuttered popcorn, orange or apple slices, pretzels or bits of banana are good snack options. Be sure to scale back on the size of their meal if you have given a bunch of snacks.

• Provide prolonged exercise a couple of times a week. Long walks, play sessions, and strenuous training sessions help use the calories your dog consumes.

• Watch the fat content in the food you buy. Fats are energy sources. Sedentary dogs needing a lower percentage than active dogs.

• Check the calorie content of the food you are feeding and look for a diet with similar ingredients but fewer calories. Watch for changes in your pet’s coat, energy levels, and general condition because dietary changes can influence overall health even while reducing weight.

• Don’t blame weight gain on hormone changes after being neutered/spayed. Some altered dogs may gain weight because of a combination of hormone changes, lowering of metabolic rate, lack of exercise, and consumption of too many calories, but the key is the combination of influences.

• Keep your dog away from the table at mealtime, separate him from snacking youngsters, and don’t let the kids feed him without supervision.

• Be prepared to visit the vet to make sure there are no underlying medical conditions causing your dog to continue to gain weight once you have made both dietary and exercise changes.

Chip’s Story

When Chip’s own-ers, Di & Carey Ed-wards, realized he was a little on the heavy side (left), they put him on a diet and exercise regimen. Now he’s lookin’ and feelin’ good (right)!

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Welcome to R&R! Meet our Newest Foster Kids!

Mick

OpieAmos

Beamer

Lucy

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Welcome to R&R! Meet our Newest Foster Kids!Lily DeuceBrynn

Josie Ringo

Hi! My name is Isabella but you can call me Bella or even Bella-boo as my foster dad does. I found myself in rescue when my owner passed away and am looking for another family. Overfed on human table scraps, I arrived an extremely overweight girl but on a strict diet and lots of ball play time, I am almost back down to my ideal weight. Although I can catch a Frisbee with ease, I am a ball fanatic so my new home must be prepared for plenty of games of fetch. Attending the rescues agility fun day, I found out that I can do all the obstacles so if you want to take me to agility class, I can do that, too! You could say I am velcro to the core always wanting my human in my sight I watch my foster dad through the screen door if he is inside the house and I am outside in the fenced

Featured Foster

Isabella

yard. I’m eager to please yet pushy if I think I can get away with it. I completed an Obedience 101 class courtesy of The Learning Canine and have a diploma and manners to prove it! I know sit, lay down, heel, and stay. My impulse control still needs a little work but I have definitely im-proved in that department, too, through my training classes. I am an alpha female so its a good idea if I’m the only female dog in the house. I will bark at strangers and anything that makes me anxious. I have plenty of energy but also have an off but-ton. I shouldn’t be in a home with young children or cats and it would be best if my new family has had my breed before so they are familiar with ACD quirks and energy levels. Bella is a spayed, 5-year-old blue female weighing 36 pounds. She is current on her vaccinations and heart-worm preventative and microchipped. Bella is being fostered in Pineville, SC.

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Forever Home! Rescue Reader August 2012 Page 7

Our Recent Adoptions!

Poppy

RouxWindy

CharlieWyatt

Forever Home! Rescue Reader August 2012 Page 8

Brody Rudy

Belle

Our Recent Adoptions!

Blue Man

Rainbow BridgeRescue Reader August 2012 Page 9

It is with a sad heart that we share the news that our adopted foster girl Sheila has gone to the Rainbow Bridge. She was about 12-13 years old, blind since birth, an inspiration to other handicapped dogs, and very much loved by her family. She was an amazing girl and we are so thankful that she could have a great life the last few years. Run free, run fast, Sheila girl!

SheilaIn early June, we received the sad news that our beloved Rebel, whom we had fostered from July 2011 to January 2012, would not be returning to us. We had learned in May that he would be coming back to the rescue, and immediately agreed to welcome him back to our family. Only days before he was to re-join our family, we learned he had gone to The Bridge. The entire family was heartbroken; we had so looked forward to being his Forever Home. We will miss his silly grin, sharing “family howls,” and the way he always made us laugh with his antics. Although she won’t admit it, Bella, his fursister, will miss him alternating between herding her and dragging her around by the collar. Run free, sweet boy...you are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten.

Rebel

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Upcoming EventsRescue Reader August 2012 Page 11

November 15th – 18th

R&R Booth!

Greater Monroe Kennel Club - Speedway Classic of the Carolinas

Cabarrus Arena and Event CenterConcord, NC

Conformation, Obedience, Rally and AgilityRaffle!