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In This Issue

Dog Park Etiquette & Safety TipsBe sure your dog is ready

Education is PowerHow one vet is empowering her world

Agility Series - Part IIMastering the art of weaving

Bounce, Soar, RollPlay it safe when choosing dog toys

Healthy TailsSubtitle

Tail EndEasy peanut butter dog treat recipe

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14

22

24

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26

hen I started Urban Paws magazine, mygoal was to provide pet owners with

valuable information and be a resource for res-cue and adoption efforts. Over the years, we’vecovered many topics and highlighted many greatpeople who work to make a difference in ourcommunity. While you won’t find local celebri-ties gracing our pages, you will find relevant arti-cles on keeping your dog healthy and happy.Many of our advertisers also share the same

passion as we do about animals and we encour-age you to check out their products and servic-es.In this issue, we feature an interview with Dr.

Westwood, a veterinarian and professor at theVet Tech Institute. As an advocate forspay/neuter, Dr. Westwood volunteers her time

Editorial

w

Issue 4: Volume 5www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

to help with the needs of our community. Toread Alison’s interview, turn to page 14.Also in this issue is part two of our agility

series with Lesley Young. Weaving can be a chal-lenging, yet fun activity for you and your dog. Tolearn more about getting started, see page 22.I would personally like to dedicate this issue to

my pal, Peanut, who passed away at the ripe oldage of 18. He was my solid companion that Icould always count on and he will be greatlymissed. Cherish every moment that you havewith your pets. They love you more than youwill ever know.

Jennifer Kitchens

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

Design and layout by:ZOECOCREATIVE

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

Please tell our advertisers you heard about them inUrban Paws!

On the CoverBuster, photographed byAshlee Newman Photography.

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

6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Calendar

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

MAY 7Meet & Greet event. Come see the adoptabledogs from Greyhound Pets of America -Houston at Petco, 6883 Highway 6 N from 1-6:00 pm.

MAY 7Bring Your Own Beagle party will be held atPawty Palace in Katy. Bring the whole familyfor games, contests, food and fun, all benefit-ing Houston Beagle & Hound Rescue. $10 perperson or $20 for a family of four. 2:00 - 6:00pm. To RSVP, email Elizabeth at [email protected].

MAY 8Meet & Greet event. Come see the adoptabledogs from Houston Beagle & Hound Rescue atPetco, 19507 I-45 North in Spring. Noon -4:00 pm. For more information, visitwww.houstonbeaglerescue.org.

MAY 14Discount Vaccine Clinic at Four SeasonsVeterinary Hospital, 3730 FM 2920. Noon -4:00 pm. First come, first served.www.fourseasonsvet.com

MAY 14Rally for RescueWalk and Spring Bark atNorthshore Park in The Woodlands. 8:30 am -4:00 pm. Walk registration begins at 7:45 amand the entry fee is $25. Come for pet adop-

tions, contests, silent auction, raffles and muchmore. Visit www.thewoodlandsdogparkclub.orgfor more information.

MAY 14-15PetsJam at Tom Bass Park, 3452 Fellows Road.9:00 am - This two day music and pet festivalwill benefit the Houston Humane Society.Activities include pet attractions, demonstra-tions and exhibitions as well as over one dozenof todays hottest music stars live on stage per-forming 12-10:00 pm on Saturday. and 10:00am - 6:00 pm on Sunday. For more informa-tion, visit www.petsjam.org.

MAY 21Paws for a Cause - Abandoned Animal Rescue’sFirst Annual Dog Walk and Cat Capers will beheld at Juergens Park in Tomball. 8:00 am -noon. $20 fee includes a two-mile dog walkand virtual cat walk, t-shirt, a poker hand draw,consultation with a dog behaviorist on leashtechniques, and 5 booths with water and treats.Other fun stuff includes a Doggie DoubleContest, Cat Photo Wall with prizes for funni-est and cutest cat pictures, Dog HandlingDemonstration, Pet Photographer, Flea-lessFlea Market, Doggie Sundaes and Bruster’s IceCream. To register and pledge, visitwww.aartomball.org.

The Scoop

News &Happenings in the Houston Area

and become the best they can be.The first three requirements of the award

help build skills and prepare them for thefourth requirement, a Girl Scout Bronze AwardProject. The name of the project for Troop#9249 of Humble was “We Love Animals”.All of the girls in the troop worked with

VAP (Volunteers for Animal Protection) overthe last several months to complete the project.They distributed fliers, collected dog and catdonations for the VAP shelter, helped makegoody bags for a VAP fundraising event,donated a pet-themed basket to the VAP silentauction and volunteered at PetSmart to assistwith Santa pictures.Lynn Keng, Volunteers for Animal

Protection's Secretary, presented a Certificateof Appreciation to the troop for their help andparticipation in last year's fundraiser and fortheir successful collection of donations. Manyabandoned cats and dogs will benefit fromtheir efforts.

HOUSE BILL 3450 INTRODUCEDThe Texas Companion Animal Protection

Act (CAPA), H.B. 3450 was recently intro-duced by Representative Jessica Farrar. The billwould require shelters to follow practices thathave allowed communities like Austin, Texas tosave 92% of all dogs and cats. To learn moreabout the bill and sign the petition to supportit, visit www.nokillhouston.org.

Urban Paws Magazine 7

NATURAL PAWZ TOADDNEWLOCATION LOCATED INNORTHWESTHOUSTONNatural Pawz, a one-of-a-kind pet health

food store, is excited to announce the additionof their seventh and newest location in VintagePark, a lifestyle shopping center located offHighway 249 and Louetta Road. The new loca-tion will occupy a 1,500 sq. ft. space within thecenter and will be located at 142 Vintage ParkBlvd. Ste D.Build out on the space has already begun and

the new location is scheduled to open theirdoors in early May, with a grand opening eventtentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 14. “Weare very excited to become a part of theVintage Park community,” said Biff Picone, co-owner of Natural Pawz. “We look forward togetting to know area residents and are thrilledto provide healthy and affordable pet foodoptions to our new neighbors.”

LOCAL GIRL SCOUT TROOP AWARDEDTHE BRONZE AWARD FOR THEIRWORKWITHANIMALSWendy Rawlins, troop leader of Girl Scouts

Troup # 249 presented the troop with the GirlScout Bronze Award on February 7, 2011.The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest

award a Junior Girl Scout can earn. It showsthat the scouts have made a promise to helpothers, improve their community and world,

12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Dog Park Etiquette& Safety Tips

Have realistic expectations about your

dog’s suitability for going to a dog park. If

he isn’t polite or friendly with others, get help to

change his behavior before you take him to a

dog park. Dog parks are not a place to rehabili-

tate fearful or aggressive dogs or those that just

don’t know how to play well with others.

Before you take your dog into a dog park,

spend a few minutes watching the other

dogs and how they are playing and interacting

with others. If the dogs seem to be too rough in

their play or are intimidating other dogs, come

back some other time.

If your dog has never been around other

dogs before – don’t go to a dog park until

he’s had a chance to be around other dogs in

other situations so you have a better idea of how

he reacts to other dogs.

If you aren’t sure how your dog will

behave, don’t be ashamed or embarrassed

to muzzle your dog the first few times he goes

to a dog park. Better safe than sorry.

Introduce your dogs to other dogs gradu-

ally – allow your dog to greet other dogs

while he’s still in the separate entry area available

at some parks, or let your dogs sniff around the

fenced boundary.

Be careful entering a dog park gate. Other

dogs tend to crowd around to greet arriving dog.

This jostling and crowding can be quite intimi-

dating to many dogs and may result in a skir-

mish, or worse.

Do not take your small children or babies in

strollers to a dog park. Dogs and children can

easily frighten one another and bad things can

happen to either of them in the blink of an eye.

Supervise your dog. This is not the time for

you to be distracted talking with other owners

or burying yourself in a book. You must be

monitoring your dog’s activities to be sure she

isn’t being badly and other dogs are not behaving

badly toward her. This is another reason not to

take young children – you can’t adequately super-

vise both dogs and kids at the same time.

Be particularly watchful of small dogs

around big dogs. Don’t let big dogs frighten

or threaten small dogs. Aggression between big

and small dogs is especially likely to result in

injuries to the small dog.

Don’t take any toys to the park your dog is

not willing to share.

While tidbits can be a great way to reward

good behavior, be careful about giving them

to your dog when other dogs are nearby. If your

dog can’t tolerate other dogs crowding around

her wanting to share the goodies, treats may not

Dog parks can be a lot of fun for you and your dog. It’s a great socialization opportunity foreveryone. Just remember, it is important to make sure that your dog is ready for the dog park.


be a good idea. If you are attempting to give

treats to a crowd, require that all dogs sit and

stay while eating.

Pick up after your dog. You don’t want to

step in another dog’s poop anymore than

someone else wants to step in your dog’s mess.

Avoid grabbing your dog’s collar when your

dog is playing or interacting with other dogs.

Such tugging can sometimes trigger threats and

aggression toward nearby dogs.

If your dog seems to be fearful or is being

“bullied” by other dogs, don’t let her stay,

thinking she will “get over it”, that she will learn

to “stand up for herself ”. Chances are greater

her behavior will get worse.

Don’t let other dogs threaten or scare your

dog. If they won’t leave, then remove your

dog.

If your dog is being a bully, being threaten-

ing or aggressive, or just seems to be overly

excited, remove him from the park, either tem-

porarily or permanently. It is not fair to put

other dogs at risk. Make the safety of other dogs

and people as high a priority as the safety of

your own.

Know how to break up a dog fight. Direct

Stop™, a harmless but effective citronella

spray or a small hand-held air horn are your best

bets. Don’t scream and yell at your dog, try to

pull her off by the collar, or get in the middle of

the fight as this only adds to the general arousal

and greatly increases either the dogs’ or your,

chances of injury.

Always take your cell phone and have the

phone number of the local animal control

agency. Call animal control or the local police

and report any aggressive person or dog that

won’t leave the dog park. These individuals are

dangerous to people and dogs.

Be knowledgeable about dog body pos-

tures, communication signals and social

behavior. You should be able to recognize stress,

tension, fear, play, threats and aggression. Know

the difference between play (which can be very

active and sound violent) and real threats. Know

when to intervene and when to stay out of an

interaction among dogs. If you feel uninformed

about canine behavior, learn more before taking

your dog to a park. Harm can come to your dog

if you under-react as well as over-react.

Recognize that by taking your dog to a dog

park, you are accepting a degree of risk that

your dog may be injured or may injure another

dog. Don’t be naïve and think that a dog park is

a safe place for your dog to be around other

dogs. This may not always be the case.

Daniel Q. Estep, Ph.D. and Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D. CertifiedApplied Animal Behavioristswww.AnimalBehaviorAssociates.com


Healthy Tails

Preventing Snake Bites

pring and summer are wonderful times to

enjoy the “Great Outdoors.” Usually

when we are outside, our pets are outside with

us. And, in warmer months, so are the snakes.

Our pets, who are naturally curious, don’t realize

that a snake can bite. They

just want to chase or play

with it. Most of the time,

the snake does not want to

play, biting our pet in

defense.

Venomous snake bites

may be life threatening to

our pets - in general, the

larger the pet, the less risk

of death or severe disease.

Variables such as the loca-

tion of the bite, the type

and size of the snake,

whether venom was inject-

ed into the wound also determine your pet’s

snake bite risk. Most snakes in the Houston area

are non-venomous; however, a few venomous

snakes such as the Copperhead, Rattlesnake,

Water Moccasin, and Texas Coral Snake also live

here.

Snake bites may cause severe pain, infection,

swelling and sloughing of tissues. In more

severe cases, snake venom can affect the victim’s

blood cells and nervous system. Each year in the

U.S., approximately 150,000 dogs and cats need

veterinary care for snake bites from

Copperheads, Rattlesnakes and Moccasins.

Symptoms can occur immediately or can be

delayed for several hours. Symptoms also include

prolonged bleeding,

weakness, dizziness,

shock, nau-

sea/vomiting and

severe lethargy.

Antivenin is the only

specific treatment for

these snake bites.

While very expensive,

antivenin therapy can

produce side effects

including severe aller-

gic reactions. If bite

symptoms are mild,

your veterinarian may

not recommend antivenin therapy. If symptoms

are moderate or severe, antivenin therapy will

most likely be recommended. In the past,

antivenin has also been in limited supply and

may not be readily available.

Red Rock Biologics (www.redrockbiologics.com)

has developed a vaccine made from the Western

Diamondback Rattlesnake venom. The vaccine

protects against most species of Rattlesnake and

Copperhead bites, but it does not protect against

Moccasin bites. The likelihood of death or seri-

S

ByDr. Jim Amyx,Four Seasons Veterinary Hospital

Photo courtesy of Mauro Luna

ous illness from these bites is greatly decreased

if your pets are fully vaccinated. Serious infec-

tion, resulting from a snake bite, can occur

regardless of any preventative vaccination so all

snake bites should receive veterinary care.

Eliminating snake habitats - tall grass and weeds,

large piles of rocks and wood, and any unneces-

sary trash or debris prevent your lawn from

being a source of danger. Become familiar with

dangerous insects and snakes so you can readily

identify them. Internet sites www.enature.com

and www.venombytes.com - are two good

resources to identify local fauna and snakes.

Most importantly, see your veterinarian for reg-

ular checkups and discuss with him or her

whether the rattlesnake vaccine is appropriate

for your pet.

Snake Bite Symptoms:Prolonged breathing

WeaknessDizzinessShock

Nausea/VomitingSevere Lethargy

Snakes Found in Texas:CopperheadRattlesnake

Water MoccasinTexas Coral Snake

If you suspect your pet is the victim of a snakebite, see your veterinarian immediately.

Things We Love!

Pee Happy merchandise includes hats, toys, shirts and otheritems that provide financial assistance for dogs in transitionat Shultz’s Guest House. To learn more about the cause andshop for items, visit www.peehappy.org.

All Terrain now offers a pet care line for theactive, outdoor lifestyle. The expanded productline includes Pet Hot Spot Helper, a gentle cool-ing spray which hydrates and soothes a pet’s skinand Pet Herbal Armor, a Deet-free formulaproven effective in preventing bug bites andstings. Both are all natural and free of harsh

chemicals. www.allterrain.com.

Buckle-Down, the maker of unique products made withseatbelt buckles, announces a line of funky dog collarsand leads that will make any four-legged friend stand outfrom the pack. Each stylish collar has a mini version ofBuckle-Down’s signature seatbelt buckle and comes inhundreds of prints and color combinations. Featured areLove Love Pink and Death or Glory. Made in the U.S.www.buckle-down.com.


Education is Power:How One Houston Vet isEmpowering Her World

INTERVIEW BY ALISON TERRELL


Meet Dr. Roberta Westwood, the 33-year-old

veterinarian and professor at Vet Tech Institute,

who is blazing her trail through Houston’s pet

community one student and one volunteer hour

at a time. When I first heard of the opportuni-

ty to do an interview piece on Dr. Westbrook, I

was intrigued by the yet-to-be-known veterinar-

ian. Little did I know of the power-house of

education, philanthropy and sincerity that truly

all-encompasses this vet from San Antonio.

Throughout the interview, Dr. Westbrook spoke

passionately about many topics, but if any two

stood out clear above the rest it would be these:

The importance of educating the community

and getting involved.

Q To begin, I’d like to get a little background

information first. Where did you go to vet

school?

A I went to the University of Missouri in

Columbia, Missouri.

Q So, now you’re at the Vet Tech Institute as a

professor.

A Before coming to work here, I was a part of

the school’s advisory board that helps institute

protocol that the school wants to put in place.

When I left my last job, at the shelter, they had

an opening here. I’ve always wanted to give

teaching a try, because I think I’m good at help-

ing people understand, so I decided to give it a

shot.

Q What courses do you teach?

A I teach a course in surgery and anesthesia,

which teaches students how to monitor patients

under anesthesia and how to assist the veterinar-

ian in surgery. I also teach a course in biology,

since I was a biology major in college. I have

also taught canine and feline clinical manage-

ment. The essence of the course is diagnosing

and recognizing diseases in dogs and cats. I also

teach laboratory animal science which teaches

students about the importance of laboratory

animals.

Q So, do you have a practice on the side or is

the Vet Tech Institute your main focus?

A Vet Tech Institute is my main focus, but

occasionally, as in once or twice a month, I do

relief work for several practices in the commu-

nity. My husband is a veterinarian and he does

surgery only, so once a month I volunteer at his

clinic to help him out.

QWell, the reason we came in today is because

we heard that you are involved in the communi-

ty, and here at Urban Paws, we love to feature

people that are involved in the pet community.

Could you speak a little about that?

A Definitely -- even through the school we get

the students to volunteer outside their studies,

especially at the SPCA. Even this weekend, a

few of the students are going to volunteer at the

Spay/Neuter Clinic that my husband works at.

It’s a great program, especially the Adopt a Cat

Program, which is a rescue organization that

rescues and rehabilitates cats and places them in

homes. They also have a spay/neuter clinic

which spays and neuters animals at low costs,

and they even have feral cat days once a month

where they capture feral cats and spay or neuter

the stray cats then release them back into the

community. That’s one of the things I’m

involved in is the spaying and neutering of feral

cats in order to help control the pet population.

And this is the first weekend that my students

will be able to come and see how the process

works.


care for the animals, being able to find

them a new home, that was great.

Q If you could give some advice to peo-

ple about shelters, maybe someone who

doesn’t see shelters in a positive light,

what would you say to them?

A I would say to please don’t blame the

shelters, the shelters are there because of

the negligence of people, and often

times the shelters are the ones to get crit-

icized because they have so many ani-

mals, or so many animals in poor health,

but the other side of that door is how

did those animals get in there, or in poor

health for that matter. Somebody at

some point didn’t spay or neuter their

pet. Somebody at some point didn’t take

their dog to the veterinarian. Somebody at

some point starved their dog, or let it run free

without a leash. So, shelters are their as a haven

for animals where other people failed at keeping

them. If you talked to anyone in the shelters,

they would love for their intake numbers to be

lower, they would love for all animals to have

permanent homes. It’s just a different mentali-

ty. You want to save as many as you can, but you

have to be realistic. So, the main theme in shel-

ters is trying to educate the community. Why it’s

important to spay and neuter, why it’s important

to be responsible, because ultimately it comes

down to that.

Q I think it’s important that you’re not just a

veterinarian but you’re also intelligent on the

needs of the shelter and community. If you

could speak towards the North Houston area,

what do you think we could use to help us bet-

ter ourselves as a pet community?

A More education, for example: Responsible

Q That’s great; not only are you participating in

the community, but you’re paying-it-forward in

getting your students to volunteer as well.

A Yes, not only does it help the animals, but it

also helps them fine-tune their skills as well.

Q Earlier you mentioned you worked at a shel-

ter.

A Absolutely, I worked there as a relief vet for

about 2 ½ years. I went into shelter medicine

because I wanted to feel that I could help or

save animals that needed a second chance. And,

I learned so much while I was there, especially

that I have soft spot in my heart for the shelter.

It can be a difficult job to do, especially when

you see so many hurting animals, you definitely

have to keep your composure. I love the shelter,

and it was such a great way to help the commu-

nity, especially whenever someone maybe cant

afford to treat their animal, and maybe they did-

n’t have a choice and didn’t want to give their

animal up, so being able to provide that kind of


breeding and spaying and neutering. I mean if it

were up to me, I would prefer that people breed-

ing would only be able to do so if they are bet-

tering the breed standard and not breeding

because they want to see more puppies, or more

income. Really, just informing the public on

what are those things that constitute responsible

pet ownership: spaying/neutering, vaccinating,

preventative health care, providing food and

shelter and socialization.

Q Where would like to see the community

donating their time?

A I would definitely say the shelters. There are

so many animals and frequently not enough

help. Even if it’s just walking the dogs – they

need to be socialized. Even when adopting

them out, so many come

back because maybe

they’re not socialized or

not potty trained or wont

walk on the leash. So, if

the community would

help the animals by inter-

acting with them – creat-

ing that human-animal

bond, that relationship

between human and pet;

the human animal bond is

important. I would say

that the shelters need help

all the time.

Q If you would like to

highlight one part of your

career that you think

defines you as veterinari-

an – what do you think

that would be?

A I would say, what I hope that I’ve done in my

career is educate the people that I’ve come into

contact with that everyone has their place in this

little world of making animal life better.

Everyone has something they can do. It’s so

important for everyone to do his or her part.

All of us have the same goal – we all love ani-

mals, just donate your time to help the commu-

nity.

Q What would you like to leave Urban Paws

readers with?

A Please, get involved and stay educated.

Chew on This!

Mutt Census Revealed

2010 was the year of the U.S. Census, but notjust for humans. For the first time ever, the esti-mated 38 million mixed breed dogs in the U.S.had a chance to be counted in the first ever 2010“National Mutt Census” conducted by MarsVeterinary. The Mars Veterinary geneticsresearch team collected DNA samples frommore than 38,000 mixed breed dogs to deter-mine the breed history of each dog, and com-bined it with survey results from 16,000 mixedbreed dog owners.

Published results officially named the GermanShepherd as the most common breed identifiedin our nation’s mixed breed dogs. What’s partic-ularly interesting about the data is that the mostcommon breeds registered by the AKC are notnecessarily those found most often in mixed


The top 10 most popular breeds found inthe nation's mutts.

1. German Shepherd

2. Labrador Retriever

3. Chow Chow

4. Boxer

5. Rottweiler

6. Poodle

7. American Staffordshire Terrier

8. Golden Retriever

9. Cocker Spaniel

10. Siberian Husky

breed dogs. For instance, the Chow Chow, apopular breed in the 1980’s and the third mostcommon breed identified in mixed breed dogs,is only the 63rd most popular purebred accord-ing the AKC.

Angela Hughes, veterinary genetics researchmanager at Mars Veterinary, explains why there'sa discrepancy in common breeds found inmixed breed dogs and popular AKC registereddogs, “The results of this poll provide a vividsnapshot of past and present trends in mutts.The DNA of America’s mix-breed dogs tells astory of which breeds were popular in pastdecades. If a breed was trendy in the past, buthas fallen from popularity, it may still representa large portion of the current mixed breed pop-ulation.”

Photo courtesy of Elliott Asbury

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

Your enrollment helps homeless pets!

GoHealthyPaws.com/UrbanPaws

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


Buster is an adorable, one-year-old toyShih Tzu that was rescued from a kill shel-ter. He was picked up as a stray and his furwas matted and covered in urine and feces.Buster always has a smile on his face. He isa happy go lucky guy with personality. Heloves to play with toys and his foster sib-lings and is great with other dogs, kids andcats.

Buster also loves to go visit the dog parkand meet new two-legged and four-leggedfriends.

Ideally, Buster needs a home with some-one who is home most of the time to givehim all of the attention that he deserves.He also wouldn’t mind another dog com-panion to pal around with. He requiresdaily walks and/or exercise since he isyoung and full of energy to burn off.

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

Ourcover dog,Buster!

Tiny Paws Rescue

www.tinypawsrescue.com

Tiny Paws and Chi Rescue is an all volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue,rehabilitation and re-homing of abused, abandoned and neglected small breed dogs. Each dog is currenton vaccinations, flea preventive, and on heartworm preventive. Adoption fees are to assist us with theirtransports, sterilizations, vaccinations, medications, micro-chipping, tests, grooming, feed, toys, doggyblankets and general care. Tiny Paws Rescue operates on adoption fees solely as a solution to a huge petoverpopulation problem, and not to make a profit.

RUBYMeet Ruby, a two-year-old Pomeranian.Ruby was rescued from a high-kill shel-ter. When she first came to us, she test-ed heartworm positive and had patchesof missing fur from her flea infestedbody. Ruby has since gone throughtreatment and is now heartworm free.Her coat is coming back beautifullyafter some tender loving care and med-icine. Ruby is a true sweetheart. She is avery gentle girl who loves to give thesoftest kisses. She does well with herfoster siblings and is fine with largerchildren due to her small size. If youare looking for the sweetest dog in theworld, Ruby is your girl!

BANDITCome and see Bandit, theYorkie/Maltese mix little boy! He’sabout 1 ½ years old and sure to be thecutest thing you’ve ever seen. Banditwas rescued from a high-kill shelter andcame to Tiny Paws Rescue in a verysickly state. It only took a few trips tothe vet to get this little guy perked up,however. He gets along with otherdogs, cats and older kids. Bandit’sfavorite activity is cuddling under thecovers. He is crate trained, fully vettedand working on his housebreaking.Don’t let this cute guy pass you by!He’s currently looking for a warm lapto make his forever home.

JOSIEPretty Josie is a two-year-old ChineseCrested/Maltese mix. She was seizedfrom a puppy mill, and is in the processof being socialized, as she has neverknown human companionship before.After just a week with her new fostermom, Josie is already asking to be lovedon. What an improvement! She is goodwith dogs and cats, but not small kids.Josie needs someone who is willing tobe patient and work with her. She doesnot bite; she is just a little timid at first.Josie is also fully vetted. Wont youshow this little girl how special she real-ly is?

LUCYMeet Lucy, A one-year-oldChihuahua/Rat Terrier mix who hascome such a long way since beingfound in a school parking lot emaciatedand ravaged with mange. Today, youwill find Lucy much recovered with atrue smile on her face. She has gainedweight and grown back much of thehair that was missing. She’s even start-ing to play and jump around, as anytypical one-year-old puppy should.Lucy gets along great with other dogsand loves people, especially children.She is looking for her special foreverhome – could that be yours?

DRAKEDrake is a 1-year-old fawn Chihuahuamix that weighs 14 lbs. He was foundroaming the streets, and brought toTiny Paws Rescue. Drake’s favoritething to do is smile and play tug-of-war.He is very loving and gets along withother dogs and people, especially chil-dren. He loves to be happy and is veryplayful. rake is housebroken and cratetrained. If you are looking for a dogthat is easy to care for, loves to go onwalks and would make the perfect fam-ily dog, Drake is for you! Won’t yougive him his second chance hedeserves?


RASCALAdorable Rascal is a 4-5 month oldChihuahua/Terrier mix who is current-ly looking for his forever family. Poorlittle Rascal was saved from almostbeing hit by multiple cars. He wasfound hungry, dirty and covered withflees. He is such a sweetheart and lovesto play. He gets along perfectly withother dogs and children, though hewould prefer kids older than 10because he is so small. Rascal loves tocuddle and play with toys. He does wellwalking on the leash. Rascal is alsohousebroken and crate trained. Comeand see how sweet this little boy is!

n this article – the second in our series of

fun ideas for your Obedience and Agility

Training - we introduce weaving. In agility,

weaving entails negotiating a ‘slalom’ series of

weave poles. In obedience training, weaving

through your legs can be a great way to add

sparkle to your heel work practice; is excellent

for strengthening back muscles or warming your

dog up to work; or is even just a really neat trick

to impress friends and family. (You know your

dog loves the applause!)

Training your dog to walk at heel can be pretty

intense and tiring for you and your dog.

Enlivening your practice with ‘surprises’ can

help keep your dog alert and focused on you and

avoid it becoming a chore for both of you.

You can start by luring your dog through your

legs with a treat or their favorite toy, “marking”

performance with a positive “Yes”, “Good” or

clicker. Gradually reduce (‘fade’) the lure until

your dog performance on your voice cue only.

Remember to work on both the left and the

right, putting them together (like a figure of

eight) when your dog is confident. Just do a few

repetitions to keep the game really fresh and

enjoyable!

Mastering The Artof Weaving


By Jennifer Kitchens

IByLesley Young, Dog Angels U.S.

In agility, the dog must enter from the right (left

shoulder to the first pole). Several methods have

evolved over the years including ‘2 x 2’ (effec-

tively training the entry with just two poles,

gradually adding another two… then another).

Another method is the channel, entailing two

lines of poles (often on two bases or ‘stick in the

ground’ poles) forming a channel. Again, the

key point is that it makes learning easier – espe-

cially finding the entrance – finishing is quicker

so your dog gets rewarded sooner and you slow-

ly raise the bar by bringing the two bases in line.

Of course, there’s more to it than that. You are

sure to find examples on the Internet and a

more detailed guide is available, along with last

edition’s Introduction to Targeting, on

www.dogangels.us. Happy Training!

Lesley Young (MA Hons), has 17 years experi-

ence of Dog Training - relocating to The

Woodlands, Texas in 2009. Lesley runs Pet Dog,

Puppy and Agility classes and is an AKC Canine

Good Citizen Evaluator. www.dogangels.us.

Special thanks to Kimma, a Finnish Spitz,and her owner Katie for demonstrating.

BOUNCE, SOAR, ROLL

PLAY IT SAFEBy Jennifer Kitchens

oys. They are a must-have for dogs.

They make a canine’s world go round,

make it bounce, roll and fly. These objects

inspire play, ease boredom, enrich training and

curb behavioral problems.

Although the media comments on how much

we pamper our pets, toys are no mere luxury.

According to experts, dogs need them, and

more than just one kind. Toys can help with a

bad day, much like a stress ball that you squeeze

when you’re angry. Softer toys can satisfy more

gentle instincts. Balls, tug toys and Frisbees are

great for sharing fun, while squeaky objects cry

out for attack.

With a growing pet economy, one might ask

“Which toys?” Pet aisles are loaded with persua-

sive advertising. The readable text is generally

aimed at grabbing your attention and is not

information about the safety of the toy. Some of

it can be downright deceiving.

Unfortunately, the manufacturing of pet toys

relies on the honor system and for less scrupu-

lous companies, it’s trial and error. Often times,

errors discovered through consumer complaints

are ignored. If chosen carelessly, our dogs maypay the hidden cost of a toy. Among the most

common hazards are choking and intestinal

obstruction. Parts and pieces may be ingested.

And, since our dogs use their mouths to play,

toxic materials and coatings can also pose a risk.

The Food and Drug Administration does not

regulate dog toys. The Consumer Product Safety

Commission only regulates toys that can be

T


Smart Toy Choices

Planet DogThis values-based company headquar-tered in Maine offers a full range of non-toxic, recyclable U.S. made toys. Checkout the website’s “Chew-O-Meter” tofind the right toys for your dog.planetdog.com

West Paw DesignA Montana-based company that focuseson environmentally friendly production.Their proprietary material “Zogoflex”utilizes 10 percent post-industrial waste.Their toys are recyclable, non-toxic anddurable. westpawdesign.com

Kong CompanyBased in California with manufacturingfacilities in China. The original Kong is anearly indestructible, treat holding toywith an odd bounce. Kong toys aredurable for power chompers. To helpshoppers determine the right size toy,their website offers a breed search.kongcompany.com


proven to put humans, not dogs, at risk.

Concerns don’t end with choking hazards and

injuries. Dyes, preservatives and chemical

residue also pose a risk for our pets. A couple of

years back, Chinese imports sparked worry

amongst pet owners when toys tainted with

toxic heavy metals, like lead and chromium were

detected. These chemicals are released from the

tainted toys when dogs chew on or lick them. As

if that weren’t enough, other lead containing

toys are made from latex - a material that is often

used instead of plastic. It may contain phthalates

and BPA (a hormone disruptor). Adding to the

threat of contaminates is the level of toxicity for

dogs. What may be safe for a 40-pound child

may prove deadly for a tiny Chihuahua.

Knowing your dog can help you make wiser

choices when selected toys. Is your dog a Type-

A chomper? Dogs don’t technically chew toys,

but rather tear them as they would prey, using

their premolars which are located farther back in

the mouth. Any toy that ends up in this set of

Safe Toy Tips

• Supervise play• Choose toys that fit your dog’s size andavoid those that can be worked to theback of his mouth• Keep a variety of toys on hand; rotatethem to spark your dog’s interest• Select toys that match your dog’s playstyle• Don’t use toys as a substitute for interaction• Avoid balls with single air holes, whichcan create a fatal suction trap; sticks;stones; heavily dyed toys; toys treatedwith stain guard or fire retardants; softplastic toys

grinders could be a victim, so look for toys that

are sized appropriately so that your dog can’t

work it to the back of his jaws. A small dog can

be a powerful a chewer just as a giant breed can

be gentle on them.

From puppyhood to the senior years, it’s

important to know your dog and select toys

based on his or her life stage. A teething puppy

doesn’t chew and play the same as an older dog

whose teeth have become worn.

Before selecting a toys, use your senses. Avoid

strong chemical smells as they may indicate

chemical residue. Brightly dyed fabrics could

contain toxic ingredients and leach dye when

they are wet. Avoid toys that are treated with

stain guard or fire retardants, as they could con-

tain formaldehyde and other chemicals. Study

the labels and visit the manufacturer’s websites

for more information. Companies who have

nothing to hide are transparent out their toy

making processes.

As long as the toy industry remains unsuper-

vised, it’s up to us to keep our eye on the

ball...and the squeaker.

Tail End

Canine News. Reviews. Cool Stuff !

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Have you ever met a dog that doesn’t like peanutbutter? Neither have we. These treats are sure tomake your pooch lick his chops!

Directions:Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Whisk flour, oats

and baking powder in a bowl. Gradually stir in

milk, peanut butter and molasses.

Knead dough on a floured surface. Roll the

dough into a 1/2 inch thickness and cut with a

dog boned shaped cookie cutter.

Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool overnight in

the oven or on a wire rack.

Ingredients:1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup rolled oats

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cup milk (reduced or fat free preferred)

1 cup peanut butter (chunky or creamy)

1 tbsp. blackstrap molasses

�Healthy Tip:Select a peanut butter that isboth salt and sugar free.

For more healthy dog treat recipes, visitwww.dogtreatkitchen.com.


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