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TO SUBSCRIBE: www.whole-dog-journal.com Copyright 2006, Belvoir Media Group, LLC THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL |

December 2006

The Whole Dog JournalVOLUME 9NUMBER 12

TM

FEATURES

A monthly guide to natural dog care and training

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

2 Editors Note22 Letters23 2006 Editorial Index24 Product and Expert Resources

3 Positively AustraliaTrainer Pat Miller travels Down Under tospread the message of positive training. . .and finds Aussie dog owners to be wayahead of us in many respects.

6 Diet and the Older DogNew research is changing the way seniordogs are fed (and the way progressivepet food companies now formulate theirsenior diets).

11 Leaping to AttentionHow to use basic agility skills andtraining to rehabilitate a reactive dog.

14 Eeek! Dont Eat That!How to deal with a dog with pica orcoprophagia . . . Is he really missingsomething in his diet?

18 Practice ManagementVeterinary visits are far more productivewhen you intentionally nurture andmanage the vet/owner relationship.

$5.95

Protein, fat,and math. . .page 6

Dingos,raw diets,and flat collars . . .page 3

Putting a stop

to poop-eating. . . page 14

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2|DECEMBER 2006 Copyright 2006, Belvoir Media Group, LLC TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL (800) 829-9165

EDITORS NOTEEDITORS NOTE

Setting out on a long drive the other day,I turned on my radio just in time to hearthe host of a show introduce his guest:Cesar Millan, the controversial dogtrainer and star of the National Geo-

graphic Channels television show, DogWhisperer. Grrr. Im nota fan. But as muchas I hated it, I had to listen to the interview and then I hadto call in, also!

Ive avoided commenting on Millansshow in WDJ, because I honestly thought thatgiving it any attention would just reinforce it.I hoped that if I ignored it, the show might

just go away! But the show is in its third sea-son, and Millans book, Cesars Way, has beena best seller for many weeks.

I do think Millan is a skilled handler; hesable to quickly alter the behavior of many dif-ficult dogs. He also handles people well; hessupportive of their efforts to improve theirlives with their dogs. So whats my problem?

I dont like Millans techniques. Many areantiquated and dangerous, for dogs andown-ers, in my view and that of many dog behavior

experts I respect (such as Drs. Ian Dunbar,Patricia McConnell, and Nicholas Dodman,as well as our own training expert, Pat Miller).Also, the theory he uses to guide most of his

precepts is an oversimplified reading of be-havioral studies conducted on captive wolvesdecades ago. Modern behavioral scientists un-derstand that there is lots more to canineinteractions than constant displays of domi-nance and submission, and that humans are

probably at their least effective as trainerswhen they try to act like a dominant dog.

Another thing that bothers me about the

show is the reductionist premise it suggests,

BY NANCY KERNS

Dont WhisperWe favor behavioral science over showmanship.

that solving a dogs behavior problems is fastand simple if only you have the right energy.This makes Millan look like a magician, andmakes people think all they have to do to fixtheir dogs behavior problems is to walk andact like him. I fear that in trying to emulateMillans assertive brio, especially with scaredor defensive dogs, without a foundation of ex-

perience and in-person guidance, many peopleare going to get hurt. And when people gethurt, dogs tend to wind up dead.

Millans ideal is a dog who exhibits calmsubmission to its owner. In contrast, most petdog owners I know, myself included, want anaffectionate, trusting, respectful coexistencewith our dogs, not wary subservience. We wantthem to wantto do what we want them to do!The most effective way to accomplish this,with the least fallout or dangerous side effects,is with the dog-friendly behavior modifica-tion techniques we regularly detail in WDJ.

As I listened to caller after caller on theradio describe problems they were having withtheir dogs, I was reminded how people are

hungry for expert advice. But as appealing asit might appear, there is no magic when itcomes to dog training; quick fixes rarely

provide a long-term solution. Real experts willconfirm that improvingyour dogs behaviortakes time and practice,and that preservingyour trust in andaffection for each otherwill be paramount foryour and your dogs

success.

THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL

(ISSN #1097-5322) is published

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THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL makes every effort toprovide information on dog health, care, andtreatment that is authoritative, reliable, and practical.It is not intended, however, to replace diagnosis or

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MISSION STATEMENT: WDJs mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information

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discuss will endeavor to do no harm to dogs; we do not advocate perpetrating even minor trans-

gressions in the name of greater good. We intend our articles to enable readers to immediately

apply training and healthcare techniques to their own dogs with visible and enjoyable success.

All topics should contribute to improving the dogs health and vitality, and deepening the ca-

nine/human bond. Above all, we wish to contribute information that will enable consumers to

make kind, healthy, and informed decisions about caring for their own dogs.

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BY PAT MILLER

Positively Australia

J

A trainer travels Down Under to proselytize about positive training . . .

and is happy to find the natives already converted!

PERSPECTIVE

ust a few days ago, my husband, Paul,and I were strolling Darling Harbourin Sydney, Australia, hand in hand. Ihad been offered a once-in-a-lifetimeopportunity to be the main speaker at

the annual conference of the AustraliaAPDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers),expenses paid! Of course, we couldnt passup the chance to make it a family vacationand explore some of the exquisite country.

Im a strong proponent of positive train-ing; Paul is executive director for theHumane Society of Washington County, inHagerstown, Maryland. As eager as wewere to explore Australia, we were just asinterested in finding out more about thestate of the dog care and training profes-sions in a country whose animal ethicincludes a ban on shock collars. We werentdisappointed.

Flat collars everywhere!Our first glimpse of Australian canines

came immediately upon our arrival atSydney International Airport, as a detec-

Hotel in Kings Crossing, only to face anew concern.

I had somewhat blindly selected thehotel over the Internet, trusting that 3.5stars would be more than adequate, andseizing on a hot deal with reduced pricesSince the APDT was paying my conferencerelated expenses, but of course not any oPauls nor our add-on vacation, we werelooking for opportunities to economize.

When we drove up the street past ourchosen accommodation, we realized thaKings Crossing was located in a somewhaBohemian part of town, as tour guides

politely described it. The street walkers outon the sidewalk at 8 am were a giveawayas were the numerous girlie shows withhawkers already inviting passers-by tocome have a look. We checked into thehotel, and then quickly hopped back intoour rental car to get our bearings.

Sydney is enormous, with an astoundingfour million inhabitants. We ran for the

suburbs, tripped over our first national park(Georges River NP) where we gawked a

tion dog a Beagle happily worked thebaggage claim area at the end of hishandlers leash, on a flat collar. Nice!

A short time later, as we were convert-ing U.S. dollars to Australian ($.76 U.S. =$1.00 AU), an equally happy yellow La-brador Retriever detection dog wandered

past. I was a bit concerned theyd be at-tracted to our luggage given the multitudeof doggie smells our bags must carry, but,as they say in Oz, No worries! The dogsclearly knew what they were looking for,and it wasnt Essence of Canine.

The 20-minute trip to our hotel pre-cluded any dog-scouting, as Paul was busylearning how to drive on the left side ofthe road on motorways markedly narrowerthan ours, while I was having multiple coro-naries at his near misses as he hugged theleft side of the road. My gentle, Youre alittle close on this side, quickly deterio-rated to a shouted, Watch that truckmirror! as my adrenaline and cortisol lev-

els rocketed up from the stress. Wemiraculously arrived unscathed at the Crest

How Pat and Paul Miller spent their autumn vacation: Checking out the sights andHow Pat and Paul Miller spent their autumn vacation: Checking out the sights andHow Pat and Paul Miller spent their autumn vacation: Checking out the sights andHow Pat and Paul Miller spent their autumn vacation: Checking out the sights andHow Pat and Paul Miller spent their autumn vacation: Checking out the sights andsigns but mostly dogs, dog owners, dog-related businesses, and animal shelters insigns but mostly dogs, dog owners, dog-related businesses, and animal shelters insigns but mostly dogs, dog owners, dog-related businesses, and animal shelters insigns but mostly dogs, dog owners, dog-related businesses, and animal shelters insigns but mostly dogs, dog owners, dog-related businesses, and animal shelters in

Australia. An observation at theAustralia. An observation at theAustralia. An observation at theAustralia. An observation at theAustralia. An observation at the gorgeousgorgeousgorgeousgorgeousgorgeous Royal National Park? No dogs on the beach?!Royal National Park? No dogs on the beach?!Royal National Park? No dogs on the beach?!Royal National Park? No dogs on the beach?!Royal National Park? No dogs on the beach?!

PERSPECTIVE

Kangaroos are considered something oKangaroos are considered something oKangaroos are considered something oKangaroos are considered something oKangaroos are considered something oa pest species in parts of Australia, anda pest species in parts of Australia, anda pest species in parts of Australia, anda pest species in parts of Australia, anda pest species in parts of Australia, andare a common ingredient in pet food.are a common ingredient in pet food.are a common ingredient in pet food.are a common ingredient in pet food.are a common ingredient in pet food.

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sulphur crested cockatoos and snapped nu-merous photos only to later discovertheyre as common as pigeons here andconsidered a nuisance, as they rip off roof-ing and pull rubber insulating strips out ofcar doors.

We also found our first Australian com-panion dogs. Lots of poodles, tons ofCavalier King Charles Spaniels (the breedwe saw most frequently in the cities), aGolden Retriever, a couple of smallPoodle-Terrier mixes, numerous Pits andPit mixes (excuse me, American Stafford-shire Terriers Pits are restricted in NewSouth Wales), Boxers (with beautiful long

ears and tails, by the way, as cropping anddocking are also now banned there) . . .and our first Australian Kelpie. We have aKelpie ourselves, Katie, so were particu-larly interested in finding them in theirnative habitat.

I caught a glimpse of the dog out of thecorner of my eye and my brain leapt toGerman Shepherd mix. It was a black-and-tan (we have a red) and longer-leggedthan ours as were several of the Kelpieswe saw there. But on second look I yelledKelpie! We pulled over and asked the

gentleman on the other end of the leash ifit was, indeed, a Kelpie. He beamed andsaid, Yup best dog Ive ever owned!

Several days later we made our bestKelpie find a handsome dark red fellowtethered outside a bank. Smitten, Ischmoozed him up until the couple whohad tied him there returned. They were just

pet-sitting for him, a retired champion showdog, until his owners came home from va-cation, but they enthusiastically went on

about what a superb dog he was and howmuch they enjoyed caring for him.

As it turned out, our hotel selection wasa blessing in disguise. The classier hotelswhere APDT had arranged for us to stayfor the last several days of our trip (threenights in Sydneys Olympic Park and thelast at Darling Harbour) were fantastic and not a dog in sight. By contrast, at KingsCrossing we encountered a wide variety ofdogs.

We saw dogs on and off leash. Idestimate that 99 percent of them were withtheir owners and under excellent control;we saw very few strays.Allof the dogs we

saw wore flat collars or harnesses; therewas not a choke chain (or check chain, asthey call them), prong collar, or shockdevice in sight. I didnt even see a yank ona flat collar or angry word to a dog ourentire visit, although Im sure that happens,especially more in the rougher, rural areasof the vast country.

Pet touringAustralia is vast. Imagine a country the sizeof the U.S., with seven states instead of 50(including the island of Tasmania) and a

total population of only 20 million, com-pared to our 300 million. If Pauls and myexperience there is any gauge, Australianslove their companion dogs and treat themwell.

Culturally, as far as dogs go, Austra-lians seem more on a par with parts ofEurope. While we didnt see any dogs in-side of restaurants, we saw many who

joined their owners for meals at the out-door cafes in Kings Crossing, and several

who accompanied their owners into shops.No one seemed to give them a second look.

We found a wide selection of dog maga-zines in the news shops. Not one of the dogmagazines contained a single advertise-ment for check chains, prong, or shockcollars, nor was there asinglephoto of adog wearing one, not even in theNational

Dog, which appears to be the show dogenthusiast magazine. Photos of dogs dis-

played with the light chain often used inthe conformation ring showed the collaralways conspicuously loose on the dogsneck, often with the handlers hand slippedthrough the loop to emphasize the loose-

ness. Lots of dogs posed for their showphotos wearing no collar at all.

The final article in the October issue ofthis magazine, written by Honey Gross-Richardson, is titled, Compulsion: Forand Against, and contains this paragraph,with the first sentence in bold type:

Positive punishment has no

place in our training. In moderntraining we teach our handlers, everystep of the way, how to use POSITIVEREINFORCEMENT and NEGATIVE

PUNISHMENT to shape their dogsbehaviour.

A writer/trainer after our own WDJhearts!

Pet supply stores are very common, andmost offer an array of fresh raw meat (in-cluding Kangaroo) and bones for dogs andcats; these foods are displayed in their ownrefrigerated meat cases, right at the frontof the store.

Pat falls for a Kelpie parked outside a bank. His sitters saidPat falls for a Kelpie parked outside a bank. His sitters saidPat falls for a Kelpie parked outside a bank. His sitters saidPat falls for a Kelpie parked outside a bank. His sitters saidPat falls for a Kelpie parked outside a bank. His sitters saidhe was a retired show champion.he was a retired show champion.he was a retired show champion.he was a retired show champion.he was a retired show champion.

Fresh, raw dog and cat foods are featured in many pet supplyFresh, raw dog and cat foods are featured in many pet supplyFresh, raw dog and cat foods are featured in many pet supplyFresh, raw dog and cat foods are featured in many pet supplyFresh, raw dog and cat foods are featured in many pet supplystores. Kangaroo and mutton varieties are most common.stores. Kangaroo and mutton varieties are most common.stores. Kangaroo and mutton varieties are most common.stores. Kangaroo and mutton varieties are most common.stores. Kangaroo and mutton varieties are most common.

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Again, there was a refreshing paucityof prong, choke, and shock collars, and awide selection of dog toys and accessories.

We found only one store with live pup-pies for sale sadly typical, overcrowdedpuppy mill puppies a good days driveinland from Sydney, near Bathurst. Thissame store had scruffy-looking Galahs beautiful pink, grey, and white parrots thatare native to Australia also in over-crowded, dirty cages. But that was the onlysour note on our otherwise purely positivecanine experience.

Shelter visitsWe visited the RSPCA shelter in Yagoona,

just outside Sydney one of many RSPCAfacilities in the country and were given agracious behind-the-scenes tour. While theshelter recently gave up a government con-tract to house strays, its still a full-serviceshelter, accepting any animal brought in,and rarely euthanizing dogs for space.

With more than 300 kennels (and somenew ones nearing completion), there werelots of dogs there. We saw, among others,a long-tailed Rottweiler, a Saluki loungingregally on her bed in the back of her ken-

nel, an overweight yellow LabradorRetriever, a very perky Papillon, and asweet Pomeranian who was sucking hisblanket to relieve stress . . . would that Icould have tucked him into my carry-onbag to take home with me!

The RSPCA has a behavior department,whose staff conducts behavior assessmentson all dogs prior to adoption, and who fol-low through with training and behaviorwork with the dogs while they are there.

Pat Miller, CPDT, is WDJs Training EditorMiller lives in Hagerstown, Maryland, site

of her Peaceable Paws training center. She

is also the author ofThe Power of PositiveDog Training and Positive PerspectivesLove Your Dog, Train Your Dog.For book

purchasing or contact information, seeResources, page 24.

Many of the shelters also have positivetrainers (lots of them APDT members) whoconduct training classes at the facilities.

Positive bear trainingAfter 11 days of holiday, it was time tosettle in for the conference. We said good-bye to the Crest Hotel, having survived theneighborhood in relative peace.

Our room at the Novotel in OlympicPark was like a different universe. Welooked down from the King Suite on the15th floor onto the acres and acres of park,and could see Sydney in the far distance.But no dogs!

We moved in on Wednesday, and thefollowing day APDT member Peta Clarketook us on another behind-the-scenes tour,this time at Taronga Park Zoo, a short ferryride from Circular Quay in downtownSydney.

There we got to see positive training inaction, as the bear keepers proudly dem-onstrated how theyd desensitized andshaped the Kodiak bears to offer their sub-stantial claws for trimming. (They usedbear treats, and the word Good! for a re-ward marker instead of a clicker, so they

could keep their hands free!)They also showed us how theyd taught

one of the Sun bears to offer her teeth forbrushing, also with shaping and reward-marking.

Getting to workThe APDT conference started Friday, andwas a delight. My hosts all 250-plus ofthem were unfailingly gracious, friendly,attentive, and hungry for information about

positive training in the U.S.As we chatted on breaks, lunches, and

at the conference dinner, I realized thaAPDT AU members seem far more philo-sophically aligned than APDT US membersPerhaps it is because shock collars arebanned and check chains and prong col-lars not as widely used; perhaps becauseAPDT AU has done more to promote thedog-friendly part of its mission. Thereseemed to be wide, if not universal acceptance among them that positive is, simplythe way to train.

But maybe part of it is cultural. As Pauand I made our way through the rigors of

customs and security at the Sydney airportwe both commented on how nice the peopleof Australia were. Few horns blew, even inrush hour traffic. People seemed more laidback, relaxed; we heard very few rude orangry comments during our stay. Airportofficials were not only kind, they wereefficient; there was no line at securitydespite a process that was actually morethorough than U.S. airport security.

No wonder that a culture producing aless-aggressive population of humansappears to be more accepting of non

aggressive training methods. No worriesmate!

One of the few stray dogs the Millers sawOne of the few stray dogs the Millers sawOne of the few stray dogs the Millers sawOne of the few stray dogs the Millers sawOne of the few stray dogs the Millers saw, this well-manner, this well-manner, this well-manner, this well-manner, this well-manneredededededCattle Dog waited patiently for a handout at an outdoor cafe.Cattle Dog waited patiently for a handout at an outdoor cafe.Cattle Dog waited patiently for a handout at an outdoor cafe.Cattle Dog waited patiently for a handout at an outdoor cafe.Cattle Dog waited patiently for a handout at an outdoor cafe.

The shelters toured by the Millers were clean, comfortable forThe shelters toured by the Millers were clean, comfortable forThe shelters toured by the Millers were clean, comfortable forThe shelters toured by the Millers were clean, comfortable forThe shelters toured by the Millers were clean, comfortable forthe dogs, and well-attended by staff and volunteers.the dogs, and well-attended by staff and volunteers.the dogs, and well-attended by staff and volunteers.the dogs, and well-attended by staff and volunteers.the dogs, and well-attended by staff and volunteers.

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BY MARY STRAUS

Diet and the Older Dog

W

New research is changing the way the senior dog should be fed.

NUTRITION

e all want our dogs to enjoythe highest quality of life forthe longest possible time.Proper diet, adequate exercise,weight control, appropriate

supplements, and good veterinary care canall help our dogs remain active and vibrantwell into their senior years.

Nutrition can make a significant differ-ence in how long our dogs live, and howhealthy they remain as they age, but there

are a lot of misconceptions about what typeof diet is best for older dogs.

Fundamental principles widelyaccepted in the past have been discreditedby research done in the past 15 years. Thisresearch has revolutionized what we knowabout canine nutrition and profoundlychanged our ideas about what older dogsneed, not just to survive, but also to thriveand be as healthy as possible. It takes time,though, for this new knowledge to filterdown into the veterinary, pet food, and petowner communities.

tionally been recommended for senior dogsbased on assumptions such as those above,we now know that a protein-rich diet isespecially important for older dogs, due tothe fact that their systems are less efficientat metabolizing protein. Recent studiesshow that healthy older dogs may need asmuch as 50 percent more protein than theiryounger adult counterparts.

Protein is valuable for many reasons: itsupports the immune system and the cen-tral nervous system, contributes to woundhealing, helps build lean muscle, and is

required for skin and coat health.When dogs are not fed enough protein,

their bodies will break down their ownmuscle tissue to get what they need, lead-ing to muscle wasting and other serious

problems. Even mild protein deficiency cansignificantly impair immune function. Dogswho get too little protein are also more sus-ceptible to stress, including stress frominjury or infection.

But what about the kidneys? Doesnt a

Protein for senior dogsHeres a quiz: which of the following arethe most important reasons for feeding alower protein diet to senior dogs?

A: Senior dogs need less protein thanyounger adult dogs.

B: Lower protein diets help to protect thekidneys, especially in older dogs.

C: Replacing protein with carbohydrateshelps to prevent older dogs, who may beless active, from gaining weight.

D: Carbohydrates help dogs being fed alower calorie diet feel full, so they wontbe hungry and crave more food.

Answer: None of the above.

The truth is that there is no reason tofeed a lower protein diet to senior dogs.

While lower protein diets have tradi-

What you can do . . .

Feed your senior dog a high

protein diet, but reduce her daily

quantity of food (and perhaps the

amount of fat, if needed) to help

her stay lean.

Select foods that contain high-

quality animal protein; a meat

source should be first on the listof ingredients.

If you notice changes in your

senior dogs sleeping or eating

habits, or if your

dog is slowing

down, schedule

a vet exam. He

may be ill, not

just old.

Shown here at 14 years old,Shown here at 14 years old,Shown here at 14 years old,Shown here at 14 years old,Shown here at 14 years old, wet from swimming in a creek, author Mary Straus dog,wet from swimming in a creek, author Mary Straus dog,wet from swimming in a creek, author Mary Straus dog,wet from swimming in a creek, author Mary Straus dog,wet from swimming in a creek, author Mary Straus dog,Piglet,Piglet,Piglet,Piglet,Piglet, continues to thrive due to her high-protein diet and beneficial supplements.continues to thrive due to her high-protein diet and beneficial supplements.continues to thrive due to her high-protein diet and beneficial supplements.continues to thrive due to her high-protein diet and beneficial supplements.continues to thrive due to her high-protein diet and beneficial supplements.

NUTRITION

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low protein diet lessen the workload on thekidneys and help protect older dogs fromkidney disease?

Again, the answer is no. Research doneon dogs has now proved that protein doesnot damage kidneys, and feeding a lower

protein diet does not protect them. In fact,senior dogs fed high protein diets livelonger and are healthier than those that are

fed low protein diets, even when one kid-ney has been removed. Studies conductedat the University of Georgia in the 1990sdemonstrated that feeding protein levels of34 percent (on a dry matter basis; seesidebar, below) to older dogs with chronickidney failure and dogs with only one kid-ney caused no ill effects.

These same studies did raise the issueof whether low-protein diets may causeharm. The mortality rate was greater forthe dogs fed 18 percent protein than forthe ones fed 34 percent protein. Anotherstudy done on dogs with only one kidneyshowed that protein levels up to 45 per-cent of the diet had no harmful effect onthe remaining kidney.

My own dog Nattie, who was diagnosedwith early kidney disease at age 14, actu-ally improved over the next two years on adiet that was more than 36 percent proteinon a dry matter basis, before I lost her to

problems unrelated to kidney failure.

More myths bustedThe same is true of liver disease. Althoughlow protein diets were recommended in the

past for dogs with liver disease, recent re-search has found that protein is requiredfor a healthy liver and a low protein dietcan be harmful to dogs with liver disease.The only time that protein needs to be re-stricted is when hepatic encephalopathy(neurological problems caused by excessammonia) is present.

So, if a lower protein diet is not neces-sary or desirable for health reasons, whatabout weight loss? Wont lowering proteinand increasing carbohydrates help preventan older dog from becoming overweight?

Doesnt a diet high in carbs, such as grainsand vegetables, help a dog on a low calo-rie diet feel fuller?

Once again, the answer is no.Protein and carbohydrates supply ex-

actly the same number of calories: fourcalories per gram. Replacing protein withcarbohydrates does nothing to reduce calo-ries, but it does reduce nutrition.

Dogs have no nutritional need for car-bohydrates, as even the veterinary text-

books admit. Diets high in carbohydratescontribute to inflammation, which in-creases arthritis pain, and can cause medi-cal problems, including obesity andmaldigestion.

It is far better to feed protein, whichdogs efficiently convert into energy as wellas muscle, than to feed carbohydrates,which are more likely to be converted to

fat. In one study, 26 English Pointers rang-ing in age from 7 to 9 years were fed either15 percent or 45 percent protein over sev-eral years. The dogs fed the high proteindiet maintained a higher percentage of leanbody mass and a lower percentage of bodyfat.

It is also likely that protein helps to sat-isfy the appetite more than carbohydratesdo. Several studies done on people haveshown that high protein diets reduce appe-tite, and a recent study found that meat,eggs, and cheese trigger a protein that

makes us eat less.While the pet food companies have

added indigestible fiber to bulk up theirfoods so the dogs would supposedly feefuller on a lower calorie diet, this turnedout not to be true.A study done on dogs bythe Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition con-cluded that the addition of soluble orinsoluble fiber had no beneficial effects on

satiety (feeling full), nor did they increaseweight loss.In Canine and Feline Nutrition, authors

Case, Carey, and Hirakawa state, Dietsthat contain increased levels of indigestiblefiber and reduced levels of protein are norecommended for weight loss or for long-term weight maintenance of sedentary dogsand cats. If a diet is simultaneously high inindigestible fiber and low in fat and/or othernutrients, it is possible that long-termfeeding may result in nutrient deficienciesin some animals.

Every commercial pet food is required by federal and state laws to exhibit a guar-anteed analysis (GA) on its label, listing the minimum amounts of protein and fatand maximum amounts of fiber and moisture in the food. These are listed as a

percentage. These numbers are referred to as the as fed percentages, meaningthe food as it is presented in its current form contains at least that percentage of

protein and fat, and at most that percentage of fiber and moisture.Sometimes, however, nutritionists or other pet food experts will refer to a

products protein or fat levels on a dry matter basis, that is, with the (nutrient-empty) water removed. Converting the amounts of nutrients in foods to a dry

matter basis allows us to compare the levels of nutrients in dry foods to the amountsin canned or raw foods.

To compute dry matter percentages, start by subtracting the amount of mois-ture from the total, leaving the amount of dry matter. Then divide the amount of

protein or fat (for example) by the amount of dry matter.For example, if a canned or raw diet is 78 percent moisture, subtracting that

from 100 leaves 22 percent dry matter. You can then compute the protein or fatcontent by dividing it by 22. If the label says it contains 9 percent protein, itcontains 41 percent protein on a dry matter basis (9 divided by 22). If the foodlabel says it contains 6 percent fat, it is 27 percentfat on a dry matter basis (6 divided by 22).

Dry foods have much less moisture, so theas fed percentages are closer to the dry matter

percentages. For example, if the label of a drydog food says the product contains 10 percent moisture, it is comprised of 90percent dry matter. If the label says thefood is 18 percent protein, it contains20 percent protein on a dry matterbasis (18 divided by 90). And its stated14 percent as fed fat is 15.6 percentfat on a dry matter basis (14 divided by90).

Know the Difference:As Fed vs. Dry Matter Percentages

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A family of ChowsSouthern California resident MindyFenton, owner of the SeniorRawFeedinglist on Yahoo, has raised several Chows, abreed that normally lives to between 10 and12 years of age. Of Mindys last three dogs(none of whom were related to each other),two passed away while still extremelyhealthy at age 14 (one due to pet sitter neg-

ligence and the other to a fat embolismfollowing surgery for a broken leg). Thethird dog, Maggie, lived to age 16 before

passing away naturally on her own.These were not dogs who were simply

existing in their very advanced years;they had clear eyes, perfect hearing, andfar more energy than many dogs halftheir age.

Even in their last years, thesedogs had tremendous vitality, stillracing around the house, jumpingon furniture, and pulling to go fasterduring their walks. At the beach,Mindy and her husband couldhardly keep up with the dogs, whowould still run with thewind. People who met Mindys se-nior dogs could never guess theirage. We should all be so lucky inour advanced years!

Mindy attributes her dogs on-going vitality to feeding ahigh-protein raw diet. While wesometimes see dramatic changes inyounger dogs who are switched toa raw diet, she believes the real pay-

off comes during a dogs senioryears after having been fed a raw food dietfor many years. Common sense tells us thatwhen a dog has eaten a lifetime of species-appropriate food, inherently his body isgoing to function better during those latteryears.

Even dogs who are switched to a rawdiet at an older age will benefit. Maggie,the Chow who lived to 16 years old, wasnine years old when Mindy originally be-gan feeding a raw diet. My oldest dog was13 when I made the switch in 1998. While

he lived only one more year, he becamecompletely allergy-free during that year,after suffering from environmental allergiesmost of his life.

Mindy fed her senior dogs exactly thesame diet as her young adult dogs. Spe-cifically, her dogs eat a wide variety of

proteins including chicken, turkey, beef,lamb, venison, buffalo, tripe, ostrich, quail,and duck. She use a mixture of ground rawfood (meat, bones, and/or organ meat) and

whole bones, extras such as eggs and dairy,plus organic vegetables that consist of nomore than about 10 percent of the overalldiet. Needless to say, her dogs eat a veryhigh protein diet, which is consistentthroughout their lives.

Weight controlAll in all, there is nothing to be gained and

much to lose by feeding a reduced proteindiet to older dogs. Other dietary changes,however, may be beneficial. As dogs age,they usually become less active, and may

put on weight if fed as many calories asthey received when they were young.

It is important to keep older dogs lean

and not let them get fat; overweight con-tributes to joint problems that may slowthem down even more. This can create avicious cycle, and make it difficult to re-turn them to a normal weight.

To control weight, you can feed yourdog less of his regular diet, or look for waysto reduce the fat if you are feeding a high-fat diet. Fat supplies 9 calories per gram,compared to 4 calories per gram suppliedby protein and carbohydrates.

Limit the dietary fat to moderate levels

for inactive dogs, but dont feed a low-fatdiet, which will make your dog feel hun-gry and crave more food. Fats are neededto maintain healthy skin and coat, supportthe immune system, and transport fat-soluble vitamins, so it is important not toreduce fat to levels that are too low.

Senior dogs who are underweight maybenefit from a higher-fat diet, particularlybecause fat makes food more palatable,which may encourage them to eat more.

My dog, Piglet, will be 15 years old thismonth. She has severe arthritis in both el-bows, which has slowed her considerablyfrom her younger years, though she stilltakes one- to two-hour walks every day.Piglet is fed a raw, home-prepared dietsimilar to what is described above. I con-tinue to feed the same foods that I did whenshe was younger, but I have reduced the

quantity that she gets, and I now removevisible fat from the meats and chickenbacks and necks I feed her. I also removesome of the skin, which is where most ofthe fat in poultry is found.

I feed low-fat yogurt and cottage cheeserather than the whole milk varieties that I

used to give her when she wasyounger. Her diet is not low fat, butits considerably lower than it waswhen she was more active andburned off calories more easily.

In Piglets case, I use a scale tohelp me control her portion sizes.Due to her arthritis, it is critical thatI keep her lean so that her bad jointsdont have to support any moreweight than they must. I found thatwhen I eyeballed her portions, she

tended to gain weight. Ipurchased an inexpensivepostal scale from an officesupply store and now Iweigh all of her food. Thescale also makes it easy forme to adjust her diet if shebegins to put on weight.

It is important when re-ducing the amount of food that you feed todo so gradually, in increments of about 10

percent or so every one to two weeks, untilyou begin to see slow, gradual weight loss.Once you reach that point, continue to feedthe same amount as long as the weight losscontinues, decreasing further only if yourdog stops losing weight but still has someextra pounds to lose.

If you try to reduce the amount fed tooquickly, the body will go into starvationmode, which changes the metabolism and

makes weight loss more difficult. Slow andgradual weight loss is healthier.If you feed a dry or canned diet, look

for varieties that are moderately lower infat and calories for your overweight or lessactive senior, while maintaining proteinlevels of at least 25 percent on a dry mat-ter basis (see sidebar, page 7).

Unfortunately, the majority of seniorand weight loss diets on the market are highin carbohydrates, sometimes using indi-

TTTTT wo of Mindy Fenton wo of Mindy Fenton wo of Mindy Fenton wo of Mindy Fenton wo of Mindy Fentons extrs extrs extrs extrs extremelyemelyemelyemelyemelyhealthy senior Chows: Above, Bekki athealthy senior Chows: Above, Bekki athealthy senior Chows: Above, Bekki athealthy senior Chows: Above, Bekki athealthy senior Chows: Above, Bekki atage 11. Right, Maggie at age 13.age 11. Right, Maggie at age 13.age 11. Right, Maggie at age 13.age 11. Right, Maggie at age 13.age 11. Right, Maggie at age 13.

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gestible fiber such as peanut hulls to bulkup the food without adding calories. Thisdoes nothing to satisfy your dogs appe-tite, despite the manufacturers claims tothe contrary, and provides no nutrition;avoid those foods.

Exercise is also important for keepingyour older dog fit and at the proper weight.Exercise should be increased gradually, as

your dog becomes accustomed to it. Dontpush your dog past his comfort level, tothe point where he is more tired or sore thenext day. Two or three short walks may beeasier than one long one. Its a good ideato have your vet do a routine exam beforebeginning a diet or exercise regime.

Remember that weight gain can be re-lated to physical problems such ashypothyroidism, Cushings disease (par-ticularly if appetite has also increased),arthritis, and more. Your vet can help iden-tify any conditions that may requiretreatment or restricted exercise.

Commercial senior dietsHappily, there are some newer senior dietson the market that do not feature decreased

protein levels. This seems to be particu-larly true of large breed senior foods,

probably because these formulas were de-veloped more recently.

For example, Innova has two new se-nior dry foods: Large Breed Senior, whichis 26 percent protein (as fed), and SeniorPlus with 24 percent protein (as fed).Innovas older product, Innova Senior, is

18 percent protein (as fed), which is muchlower than I would recommend.

I see no reason why the higher-proteinlarge breed formulas cannot be used for alldogs, as the main difference between themappears to be the addition of glucosaminefor joint problems, which can benefit smalldogs as well.

As with all commercial foods, there isa big difference between the high qualitysenior diets and the lower quality brands,which may have higher protein levels butare using poor quality plant proteins to

achieve them. Avoid foods that contain corngluten meal, a waste product from the hu-man food industry that provides incomplete

proteins for dogs. Its appearance, espe-cially high on the ingredients list, is ahallmark of lower quality food.

High-quality foods have high percent-ages of protein from animal sources. Ifoverweight is a concern, look for productsthat contain moderately reduced levels offat around 10 to 14 percent (as fed) for

dry foods and 4 to 7 percent (as fed) forwet foods; less than that is excessively lowin fat.

For more tips on selecting high qualityfoods, see Moist and (Probably) Deli-cious, January 2006 and The RightStuff, February 2006.

In addition to Innova Large BreedSenior and Senior Plus mentioned above,

other senior diets that have higher percentages of animal proteins includeEagle Packs Holistic Select Senior CareFormula, Chicken Soup for the Pet LoversSoul Senior Dog Formula (canned and dry),and Champion Petfoods ACANA SeniorLight and Orijen Senior (made in Canada).Innova EVO now offers a high-protein,reduced fat version.

This is by no means a complete list ofhigh-quality, commercial senior foods, andthe number should increase as the knowl-edge that senior dogs benefit from high

protein levels becomes more widespread.Remember that there is no needto feed asenior diet; it is fine to continue to feedfoods approved for adult dogs or for alllife stages.

Rather than trying to find a single,best food, choose at least two or threedifferent brands, using different proteinsources, and rotate between them every few

weeks or every few months. Variety is al-ways better than feeding any single food,as it helps to guarantee that all your dogsnutritional needs are met and is more in-teresting for your dogs.

Its also a good idea to add some freshfoods to the diet, no matter what you feed,such as eggs and meat (raw or cooked),canned fish with bones (jack mackerel,

pink salmon, sardines), dairy (yogurt, kefir,cottage cheese), and healthy leftovers.

These foods can also be used to increase protein levels in a diet that might otherwise be too low.

Supplements for senior dogsSome commercial senior diets, particularlythose designed for large breeds, have addedglucosamine for dogs with arthritis. Thisis fine, but if you have a dog with arthritis

it is best not to rely on dietto provide theglucosamine and related ingredients thacan help to rebuild cartilage and restoresynovial (joint) fluid.

Instead, give a glucosamine-type prod-uct separately. Start with high doses so thayou will be able to tell whether or not yourdog responds. If you see improvement, reduce the dosage to see if the improvementcan be maintained on a lower dose.

If you dont see any change within threeto four weeks, try another supplement. Different dogs respond differently to thevarious supplements.

Some brands that have worked for dogsI know include Arthroplex from ThorneResearch, Syn-Flex Glucosamine Com

plex, DVM Pharmaceuticals Synovi-G3B-Naturals Flexile-Plus, and Liquid HealthK-9 Glucosamine. You can also use prod-ucts made for people that containingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, green-lipped mussel (pernacanaliculus), and hyaluronic acid. The useof manganese in the supplement may helpwith absorption.

Commercial senior diets also often con-

tain antioxidants, which help to fighdamage caused by free radicals and mayreduce cancer risk. Antioxidants are provided by some vitamins and mineralsincluding vitamins C, E, and A, carotenoidsuch as beta-carotene, and selenium, foundmainly in fruits and vegetables. Other an-tioxidants include CoQ10, alpha-lipoicacid, lutein (which may help to preventcataracts), and pycnogenol.

While adding antioxidants to commer-cial foods is a good idea, it is questionablehow much value these additions to the

foods offer. Dry foods in particular canhave a very long shelf life, and lose somevitamins to degradation over time.

It may be more productive to add anantioxidant supplement, whether or not youfeed a diet containing them. Suggestedbrands include Cell Advance 440 and 880from Vetri-Science, and Small Animal An-tioxidant from Thorne Research.

Herbs can also be helpful for seniordogs. Both of my seniors responded wel

Most overweight older dogs wouldMost overweight older dogs wouldMost overweight older dogs wouldMost overweight older dogs wouldMost overweight older dogs wouldbenefit from a diet with higher levels ofbenefit from a diet with higher levels ofbenefit from a diet with higher levels ofbenefit from a diet with higher levels ofbenefit from a diet with higher levels ofprotein and moderate levels ofprotein and moderate levels ofprotein and moderate levels ofprotein and moderate levels ofprotein and moderate levels offat.fat.fat.fat.fat.

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to Animals Apawthecarys Senior Blend,for example. Tashas Herbs also makes aSenior Support supplement. Invigor fromThe Honest Kitchen, Organic Green Alter-native from Animal Essentials, and GenesisResources Canine Antioxidant Formula arewhole food herbal supplements that pro-vide antioxidants and other benefits.

When is a dog a senior?There is a chart in my vets office that com-pares dog ages to human ages. It shows thefirst year of a dogs life being equivalentto 15 years in human terms, the second yearequivalent to 24 years, and then they add 4dog years to each human year after that.

This timeline is fairly accurate for amedium-sized dog, though larger breedsage faster and smaller dogs more slowly,once adulthood has been reached. The partthat makes me chuckle is their division ofthe chart, showing middle age starting at 4years (equivalent to a 32 year old person),and senior classification beginning at age7 (equivalent to a 44 year old person). Canyou imagine how you would feel if youwere told you were a senior at age 44? Agiant breed dog, such as a Great Dane, maybe a senior at age 7, but many smaller

breeds would still be in their prime of life.So, when is a dog a senior? Is it when

they start slowing down, becoming lessactive, sleeping more? While these thingsmay come with age, they are often symp-toms of conditions that can be treated andsometimes cured. Never assume that yourdog is slowing down or sleeping more justbecause hes getting older.

Arthritis may be decreasing his activ-ity, but arthritis can be treated, both bynatural methods that include weight lossand supplements, and by anti-inflammatorydrugs when needed, so that your dog cancontinue to be active and enjoy his life aslong as possible.

Sleeping more is often a symptom ofpain and should never be dismissed as sim-ply a sign of aging. Have regular vet checksdone on older dogs, and discuss anychanges youve noticed with your vet. Ifyou see any sudden changes in activitylevel, sleeping habits, weight or appetite,etc., see your vet right away.

Ive been surprised at how many signsof aging actually improve with propercare. Piglets arthritis has slowed her down,but Ive continued to try different supple-ments and medications, and several have

made a significant difference. For example,her lameness increased at age 11, but sheimproved when I added dl-phenylalanine(DLPA), an amino acid used to treat chronic

pain. I use Thorne Veterinarys Arthroplex,which includes DLPA, because it makes iteasy to give the proper dosage for a me-dium-sized dog; you can use human DLPAsupplements for larger dogs.

Piglets activity level also increased andshe began taking much longer walks aftershe had a broken tooth removed. Teeth be-come more brittle with age, so even if yourdog has never had problems with brokenteeth before, you may find yourself deal-ing with them when your dog gets older.

We cant stop our dogs from aging ormake them live forever, but we can do alot to ensure that they live the longest andhealthiest lives possible. We can help ourolder dogs to enjoy their senior years with

protein, exercise, weight control, supple-ments, and good veterinary care.

Mary Straus does research on caninehealth and nutrition topics as an avoca-

tion. She is the owner of the DogAware.com

website. She lives in the San Francisco Bay

Area with her 14-year-old dog, Piglet.

Arthroplex and Small Animal AntioxidantMade by Thorne Research, Inc. Information available at thorne.com.Thorne sells its products through veterinarians; ask your vet to order.

Also available from wellvet.com, (303) 702-1986.

Bertes Naturals Flexile-PlusMade and sold by B-Naturals, b-naturals.com, (866) 368-2728.

Syn-Flex Glucosamine ComplexMade by Syn-Flex America, Inc. Information available atactivexamerica.com. Product available from many retailers; the bestprice weve found is from k9rawdiet.com (818-888-6983).

DVM Pharmaceuticals Synovi-G3 tablets, granules and chewsMade by DVM Pharmaceuticals. Information available atdvmpharmaceuticals.com. Available from KV Vet (kvvet.com or 800-423-8211) and other retailers.

Vetri-Science Cell Advance 440 and 880 Antioxidant Formulas

Made by Vetri-Science Laboratories of Vermont. Information avail-able at vetriscience.com. Available from VetAmerica(vetamerica.com or 888-838-2637) and other retailers.

Liquid Health K-9 Glucosamine and K-9 Glucosamine & HAMade and sold by Liquid Health, liquidhealthinc.com,(800) 995-6607.

Animals Apawthecary Senior BlendAnimal Essentials Organic Green Alternative Herbal BlendMade and sold by Animal Essentials, animalessentials.com,(888) 463-7748. Also available in some pet supply stores.

Tashas Herbs Senior Support SupplementMade by Coyote Springs Company, (800) 315-0142.Available from many retailers. We found the best prices from Equilite,

Inc. (equilite.com, 800-942-5483) and Botanical Dog, LLC(botanicaldog.com, 843-864-9368).

The Honest Kitchen InvigorMade and sold by The Honest Kitchen, thehonestkitchen.com,(858) 483-5995.

Genesis Resources Canine Antioxidant FormulaMade by Genesis Ltd., genesispets.com. Available fromOnly Natural Pet Store (onlynaturalpet.com, 888-937-6677) and other retailers.

Eagle Pack Holistic Select Senior Care Formulaeaglepack.com, (800) 255-5959.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul

Senior Dog Formulaschickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com,(800) 658-0624.

Champion Petfoods ACANA Senior Light andOrijen Senior, championpetfoods.com,(780) 939-6888.

Innova Large Breed Senior,Innova Senior Plus, andInnova EVO Reduced Fat Drynaturapet.com, (800) 532-7261.

Resources Mentioned in This Article

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TO SUBSCRIBE: www.whole-dog-journal.com Copyright 2006, Belvoir Media Group, LLC THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL | 1

BY ANGELICA STEINKER

Leaping to Attention

O

Agility training can be therapeutic for challenging dogs.

TRAINING

wning an aggressive, fearful, orother type of special needs dogis stressful. When your dog over-reacts to other dogs or just thestimulus of being out in the world

your dog will acquire and benefits he willreap along the way:

Increased attention is one of the manybenefits resulting from agility training. If adog is looking at you, she cant be lookingat another dog or a person at the same time.This makes attention a behavior that isbeautifully incompatible with most aggres-sive behaviors.

The process of learning agility can betherapeutic for a difficult dog by buildinghis confidence if hes shy or fearful; manydogs who exhibit aggression are actuallyfearful and lacking in self-confidence.

Self-control is taught and reinforced inevery phase of agility training.

Finally, because its fun for dogs andtheir people, it can help repair damagedone to their relationship,anddeepen thebonds between them.

How to get there from hereIn many cases, people with difficult dogsspend most of their time trying to get theirdogs not to do something dont jump,dont bark, dont pull, dont lunge. Agilitygives those dogs something easy and en-

joyable to do, and do with enthusiasm!Agility is a game that you play with your

dog. Play is emotionally incompatible withthe emotions linked to aggression. If yourdog is playful she is less likely to bark orlunge at a person or other dog.

Just as rope courses build confidencein people, agility course training buildsconfidence in dogs. At first you are certainyou cant possibly scale the wall; once youhave done it you feel empowered and moreconfident. As dogs learn to leap overhurdles, run through tunnels, and balanceover planks, their confidence increases.Since most aggression is based on fear, thisincrease in confidence is helpful. A moreconfident dog is usually a less fearful dog.

TRAINING

The happy expression on the face oThe happy expression on the face oThe happy expression on the face oThe happy expression on the face oThe happy expression on the face oTTTTTurbo, a Miniatururbo, a Miniatururbo, a Miniatururbo, a Miniatururbo, a Miniature Pinschere Pinschere Pinschere Pinschere Pinscher, is common, is common, is common, is common, is commonin agility dogs. (Note: Front-clip controin agility dogs. (Note: Front-clip controin agility dogs. (Note: Front-clip controin agility dogs. (Note: Front-clip controin agility dogs. (Note: Front-clip controharnesses can inhibit a dog from beingharnesses can inhibit a dog from beingharnesses can inhibit a dog from beingharnesses can inhibit a dog from beingharnesses can inhibit a dog from beingable to jump frable to jump frable to jump frable to jump frable to jump freelyeelyeelyeelyeely.).).).).) PHOTO BY TONY RIDERPHOTO BY TONY RIDERPHOTO BY TONY RIDERPHOTO BY TONY RIDERPHOTO BY TONY RIDER


Teach your dog basic skills, such

as a very quick recall and a go

cue. Thats a bare minimum for

agility training, even if its only

played in your living room.

Keep all your practice sessions

light and fun and always positive.

Agility competitors have a saying,

Agility dogs dont make

mistakes; only their handlers do!

Reinforce your dogs attention and

self-control as frequently and

generously as

possible,

especially

when hes first

learning these

important skills.

by barking, lunging, and exhibiting over-excited, out-of-control behavior, it canbecome so unpleasant that you start leav-ing him at home more and more. Of course,this coping mechanism will only contrib-ute to your dogs behavior issues becomingworse.

Agility may just be the thing for you!Agility is a fun dog sport that involves thedog running over planks, through tunnels,and leaping over a variety of jumps, whilethe nearby handler walks quickly or runsalong directing his activity. In competitions,the dog being judged is the only dog in thering, so with some self-control training andgood management you may even be ableto compete with your difficult dog. If thatsounds like a huge leap, consider the skills

Every part of agility requires a certain

amount of self-control some parts requirea lot! which is always a benefit for anaggressive dog. Once a dog has learned thaagility is a fun game, she will be eager tostart performing the obstacles. Before sheis allowed to play, however, she has to waiat the start line until her handler releasesher. This is just the kind of self-controgame that is beneficial to a dog with aggression issues.

Dogs also have to exhibit extraordinaryself-control at an obstacle called the tableAt this obstacle, the dog is asked to leap

onto the table top and sit or down, holdingthat position for five seconds. Most dogsconsider it more fun to be moving. Learn-ing to hold still earns her the reward(positive reinforcement) of getting to con-tinue with more running and jumping.

Agility can even help canines who donenjoy the company of other dogs learn toignore them. They may even learn that dogsnear agility equipment signal impendingfun a little classical conditioning.

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Stress is like gasoline to the fire of aggression. The movementand exercise provided in agility play are superb ways to helpmost dogs to de-stress.

That said, some dogs are so stressed that playing agility,especially around other dogs, is overly arousing for them. Forthese dogs a different game, individual (not group) classes, or

maybe even a game that is played at home is more appropri-ate. But dont give up on them! Find a good agility instructorto help you; cleanrun.com featuresa wealth of information on agilitytraining schools.

An excellent trainer will helpyou determine what works best foryour dog, adjusting what sheteaches as you all work together.Good agility trainers do not usechoke chains, prong collars, squirtguns, shock collars, or excessivecrating for any reason.

Aggressive dogs can be care-

fully managed in an agility class

Stress and Agility

Therapeutic games that areuseful in agilityEven without having agility equipment, youcan play the following games to help yourdog learn some therapeutic skills. Be sureto play these games with a happy attitude.Dogs are truth detectors; if you fake hav-ing fun, they will know. Play with your dogonly when you truly are feeling playful andwant to have fun!

While you are playing, observe yourdog and use her behavior as a method offeedback. If shes playing the game slowlyand methodically, bump up your own en-ergy level to encourage her.

Eye contact game

This is a fun way to teach your dog topay attention to you. With your dog on aleash, and with you standing on the end ofthe leash, take a piece of food in an obvi-ous way, so she sees that you havesomething delicious, and hold it out atarms length from your head at eye level.

If she looks at your face, mark the be-havior (with a click! of a clicker or verbal

marker, such as the word, Yes!) and feedher the piece of food. Watch her carefully.Most dogs will look at the food for a fewseconds, and then look at your face forclues as to why you are doing something

so odd!The second she looks

at you, click! and treat. Ifshe only stares at thefood, hypnotized, hide itbehind your back for a

second, and thenhold the food an

arms length awayfrom you again.Most dogs willlook at you atsome point whenthey realize thatstaring at the foodyields nothing.

Once the doghas the idea thatlooking at your

face earns her clicks and treats, raise thecriteria slowly by requiring a slightly longer

period of eye contact before she gets theclick and treat.

As soon as its clear that she gets thegame, you can increase the difficulty of theexercise. Move the food closer to yourhead, and, as she consistently succeeds,wiggle the food around, making it progres-sively more challenging for her to ignore

the food and make eye contact with you.This is a very fun game that teaches self-

control, eye contact, and how to ignoreenticing distractions, all at the same time.These are especially valuable skills for adog who has issues with people and/ordogs; you now have a behavior (eye con-tact with you) that is incompatible withbarking and lunging. Instead of scanningthe area looking for things or other beingsto bark at, your dog can look at you andearn clicks and treats instead!

Restrained recall gameTo play this game you need two people.

One person holds the dog, gently restrain-ing her from getting to the trainer. Thetrainer runs away from the dog calling hername. When the dog strains against the

person holding her back, this person re-leases the dog to dash to the trainer. Thetrainer can then click as the dog is runningto her and feed her a delicious treat or, ifshe is more motivated by play, play with a

Physical issues can be a significant barrier to agilitytraining being useful as a training or rehabilitationtool. Loose knee caps, dysplastic joints, back pain,or injuries can inter-fere with your dogs

enjoyment. Mostagility trainers rec-ommend a detailedveterinary physicalexam of every single

joint of your dogsbody prior to startingan agility training

program.

If Pain, No Gain

(and should be, of course!). The instructor should make it veryclear to the entire class that the reactive dog should not beapproached by other dogs and/or people. All participants in aclass that includes a reactive dog should be briefed on how torespond if there is an aggressive encounter between dogs. Also,the training area should be equipped with a safe place for

the reactive dog and his handler to retreat to, where he canrelax without having to see or deal with other dogs.At no time should a dog who

exhibits aggression be correctedwith leash pops or hitting; thisonly confirms his bad feelingsabout the activity and presence ofothers. Instead, care should betaken to move him to a greater dis-tance from the rest of the class, andmore time spent working on self-control games and behaviors thatare incompatible with barking andlunging. This takes time but is wellworth the effort.

Reactive dogs should have a safe place so theyReactive dogs should have a safe place so theyReactive dogs should have a safe place so theyReactive dogs should have a safe place so theyReactive dogs should have a safe place so they

can rcan rcan rcan rcan retretretretretreat freat freat freat freat from the rom the rom the rom the rom the rest of the class periodicallyest of the class periodicallyest of the class periodicallyest of the class periodicallyest of the class periodically.....

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ting your dog to chase after it, jumping theobstacle in the process. She gets to playwith the toy or enjoy a few treats beforeyou repeat the game.

After a number of successful repeti-tions, as she anticipates your throw and runsahead to the jump, you can start adding acue, such as Go! or Go jump!

As she continues to succeed and seemsto enjoy this game, slowly and progres-sively add a little more distance until youcan send your dog to the jump from 30 ormore feet away. Be sure to teach your dogto play this game from both sides of yourbody.

Also, move the jump around and makeit look different; drape a sheet over thebroom, or put pillows underneath it. This

The benefits of agility do not end with the training session. One extremely helpful

technique for modifying aggressive behavior is teaching a dog to relax. Some ofthe more active dogs (herding, terrier, and sporting types) can benefit tremen-dously by the relaxing aftereffect of exercise. After a good agility workout mostactive dogs curl up for a nap.

Make it a habit to sit quietly for at least 10 to 15 minutes with your dog in acomfortable place after your agility practicesession. Sit on a blanket or pad, or, if you arenot at home (and if your dog is reacting to otherdogs or activity nearby), sit in the back seat ofthe car together.

When she is sitting or lying quietly with you,reward her with treats and calm petting or mas-sage strokes that is, if she enjoys petting. (If

she ducks your touch or becomes more ener-getic when you stroke her, dont pet her duringthis quiet time.) Ignore her if she is active orrestless. Reinforce only the desired behavior:tuning into you and calming down.

Keep yourself calm and quiet, too! Donttune out with the cell phone or socializing.Take some deep breaths (in andout!), relax allyour muscles, and just be with your dog for afew minutes.

Learning to Relax (Both of You!)

Angelica Steinker owns and operates

Courteous Canine, Inc., a clicker trainingand agility school in Lutz, Florida. She is

the author ofAgility Success (2000) andClick and Play Agility (2006). SeeResources, page 24, for book purchaseand contact information.

Prior to the strenuousPrior to the strenuousPrior to the strenuousPrior to the strenuousPrior to the strenuousphysical activity of agilityphysical activity of agilityphysical activity of agilityphysical activity of agilityphysical activity of agility,,,,,FerFerFerFerFerris, a Rat Tris, a Rat Tris, a Rat Tris, a Rat Tris, a Rat Terererererrierrierrierrierrier, was too, was too, was too, was too, was toowired to unwind like this.wired to unwind like this.wired to unwind like this.wired to unwind like this.wired to unwind like this.

will help your dog generalize the behav-ior, making it more likely that your dog wil

play the game even if the jump looks different or is in different locations.

Endless games

Its not immediately apparent to thecasual observer, but there are literally hundreds of games that you can play with yourdog in the process of teaching him to runan entire agility course. Thats agoodthingfor a dog who enjoys playing games! Eachskill he learns can be applied in many agility activities.

Find a positive trainerAgility is about bonding and connectingwith your dog. It is a fun learning processfor both humans and dogs. If you are in anagility class and are concerned your dogisnt having fun, discuss this with your in-structor immediately.

Any forceful training (the use of chokechains, prong collars, shock collars, watersquirt guns, or excessive crating) is not parof playing the agility game. Screen instruc-tors and schools carefully, finding a goodmatch for yourself and your dog.

Agility is not a substitute for a behav-ior modification program, or medication iit is needed, but it can be a wonderful ad-

junct that will likely speed the progress ofyour dogs path to better mental health. Iyou have a dog with issues, consider find-ing an agility clicker trainer familiar with

fear, aggression, and learning theory. It wilmake you both feel better!

toy when the dog reaches her.This game can help train your dog to

come when called at light speed veryhelpful if you find yourself in an emergencysituation with your dog off leash.

Running side by side game

In this game, your dog learns to runalongside you, in a loose heeling position.

The goal is for him to keep his eye on youfor direction, so he doesnt run in front andtrip you!

Its easiest to start by running in a smallcircle, with your dog on the outside. Carryone of your dogs favorite toys or somescrumptious treats, and click! and treat fre-quently at first, to engage and hold herattention. Practice in clockwise and coun-terclockwise circles.

Go game

The object of this game is to get yourdog to run and jump a small obstacle oncue. This doesnt have to be fancy; you canuse a broomstick and two piles of books tomake a little jump! To start, position yourdog by your side, with both of you facing asmall jump. You should be equipped witha toy the dog really likes, or a bait bagfull of treats.

The idea is to throw the bag over thejump, with the intention, initially, of get-

In the go game, your dog learns to run and jump over an obstacle on cue. At firstIn the go game, your dog learns to run and jump over an obstacle on cue. At firstIn the go game, your dog learns to run and jump over an obstacle on cue. At firstIn the go game, your dog learns to run and jump over an obstacle on cue. At firstIn the go game, your dog learns to run and jump over an obstacle on cue. At firsthehehehehes actually chasing a toy or bag of trs actually chasing a toy or bag of trs actually chasing a toy or bag of trs actually chasing a toy or bag of trs actually chasing a toy or bag of treats that the handler threats that the handler threats that the handler threats that the handler threats that the handler throws over the jump.ows over the jump.ows over the jump.ows over the jump.ows over the jump.

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BY CJ PUOTINEN

Eeek! Dont Eat That!

A

Dealing with dogs with pica or coprophagia.

norexia, bulimia, and weird preg-nancy cravings are common inhumans, but did you know dogshave eating disorders, too?

Dogs with pica (pronounced

PREVENTION

Nothing is quite as disgusting to dog owners as catching their dogs eating poop.Nothing is quite as disgusting to dog owners as catching their dogs eating poop.Nothing is quite as disgusting to dog owners as catching their dogs eating poop.Nothing is quite as disgusting to dog owners as catching their dogs eating poop.Nothing is quite as disgusting to dog owners as catching their dogs eating poop.HoweverHoweverHoweverHoweverHowever, pica the consumption of nonfood items such as dir, pica the consumption of nonfood items such as dir, pica the consumption of nonfood items such as dir, pica the consumption of nonfood items such as dir, pica the consumption of nonfood items such as dirt or rt or rt or rt or rt or rocks is actuallyocks is actuallyocks is actuallyocks is actuallyocks is actuallymore dangerous. These eating disorders may resolve with supplementation.more dangerous. These eating disorders may resolve with supplementation.more dangerous. These eating disorders may resolve with supplementation.more dangerous. These eating disorders may resolve with supplementation.more dangerous. These eating disorders may resolve with supplementation.

PIE-kuh) consume indigestible nonfooditems like rocks, concrete, wrought iron,glass, ice, coins, screws, upholstery stuff-ing, batteries, soda cans, gravel, dirt, clay,and other objects. Young puppies oftenchew on inappropriate items in an effort to

ease the discomfort of teething; this is dif-ferent. Adolescent and adult dogs whoexhibit pica compulsively chew and con-sume inappropriate items, sometimesresulting in their deaths.

Chewing hard or sharp objects candamage teeth, gums, or digestive organs.Objects that become stuck or cause block-age can require surgery. And itemscontaining zinc or other toxic minerals can

poison the dog.

Dog owners more frequently complainabout another disturbing habit of canineconsumption: coprophagia (pronouncedcop-ra-FAY-jee-a) or dung eating.Though dogs with coprophagia may eatonly deer droppings, cat box contents,horse manure and the like, people are mosthorrified (and frustrated) with dogs whoeat their own or other dogs stools. Bleh!

What causes these eating disorders, andwhat can be done about them?

Most veterinarians consider pica and

coprophagia behavioral problems havingnothing to do with nutrition because theirpatients are fed a 100-percent nutritionallycomplete canned or packaged dog food.

But while its true that you are what youeat, its even more true that you are whatyou absorb, and not every dog has a per-fect digestive tract. In many cases,improving a dogs diet and/or digestion hasresulted in significant behavior changes. Inaddition to using positive reinforcement to

encourage dogs to consume appropriatefood items and leave other things alone, afew simple adjustments to the dogs dailyfare may solve the problem.

A closer look at picaWhen pica is caused by a nutritional defi-ciency or imbalance, other symptomsaccompany the condition. In the May 1996

Journal of the American Holistic Veteri-

nary Medical Association, MartinSchulman, VMD, reported that mineral

deficiencies often contribute to the devel-opment of seizures.In a review of the medical histories of

patients diagnosed with epilepsy in hisclinic, Dr. Schulman discovered that anastonishingly high percentage showedsignificant manifestations of pica. In onecase, a female German Shepherd Dog hada history of licking wrought iron and eat-ing Christmas tree lights and glass. Treatingthe patient with an improved diet supple-


Upgrade your dogs diet by

replacing his grain-based kibble

with a high-protein, low-

carbohydrate food.

Consider giving your dog a raw

diet that includes whole or ground

raw bone.

Supplement your dogs food with

enzymes, probiotics, minerals,

and other products that improve

digestion and assimilation.

Pick up after your dog and other

dogs in your area. Use

a covered cat box

or keep your

cats box where

your dog cant

reach it.

PREVENTION

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mented with plant-derived colloidal min-erals, digestive enzymes, and probioticfoods cured the pica within 21 days, andthe dog had no additional seizures.

Other conditions that can coincide withpica include hair loss, dry or flaky skin orcoat, pigment problems, infertility, eclamp-sia or other problems with pregnancy orwhelping, birth defects, bone and growth

problems, anemia, fatigue, muscle spasms,irregular heartbeat, respiratory illnesses,allergies, digestive disorders, immune sys-tem problems, slow wound healing,glandular disorders, and chronic ill health.

Advocates of home-prepared diets of-ten claim that a well-balanced raw dieteliminates or prevents pica, but occasion-ally the condition occurs even in well-feddogs.

In Riverside, California, Jacki Panzikhas been breeding Standard Poodles for 15years, feeding a raw diet and using mini-mal vaccinations. She recently dealt withtwo litters born within a month of eachother that were sired by the same stud dog,in which the puppies at age 12 to 16 weeksshowed symptoms of pica, including theconsumption of dirt.

Pica is often demonstrated in autisticchildren, she says. I am in the field ofalternative medicine, and I see a lot of simi-larities between the physical condition ofsome dogs today and autistic children.

Panzik and her husband do energy bal-ancing, so they worked with the pups andtheir sire energetically to correct the

problems underlying causes. In addition,they suggested adding bone meal to the dietfed to the pups. Within a week, the pup-

pies from both litters stopped eating dirt.Wendy Volhard, author of the bestsell-

ingHolistic Guide for a Healthy Dog, hasobserved symptoms of pica in dogs whohave a tendency to bloat. When they areoutside and a bloating episode is about tostart, she says, you sometimes find themeating grass, leaves, and dirt without stop-

ping. If confined indoors, they may eat thefringes of carpets, curtains, and whatever

else they can reach. This is true aberranteating behavior, and in every case I haveobserved, the result has been bloat.

Years ago, Volhards Briard, DJ, waswith her at a training camp, and when shereturned to her room after teaching a class,she was horrified to find DJ pulling cur-tains through the top of his wire crate. Hehad swallowed more than half of one be-fore she could get him out and untanglethe mess.

DJ was the portrait of a dog going intobloat as he stood panting with his headdown and his left side brick-hard andslightly protruding. Volhard treated himhomeopathically and did acupressure on hisstomach meridian while someone drovethem to the nearest veterinarian. The ex-amination and x-rays showed that DJ hadsuffered no damage, but he went on to ex-

perience several more episodes, includingone in which he ate large quantities of au-tumn leaves.

We went back and forth to the vetmany times, says Volhard, and each timehe was okay. Taking care of it is one thing,but I wanted to stop it entirely. I discov-ered that dogs with this condition seem torespond very well to the addition of hy-drochloric acid and pepsin at every meal.

This made me think that they donthave the capacity to make enough stom-ach acid to break down their food. In myexperience, adding this simple supplementhas been very successful in stopping pica.

In DJs case, a hydrochloric acid and pep-sin capsule twice a day in his meals, plus aspleen glandular supplement during thechange of seasons, did the trick. It tooksome trial and error but he never again hada problem with bloat or showed any symp-toms of pica.

Stool eatingIn the wild, dung eating is common. As LDavid Mech, Ph.D., explained in What aWolf Eats (WDJ March 2005), wolves areopportunistic omnivores. They will eat lit-erally anything that is remotely edible, hesays. The same is true of all canines.

In his popular bookGive Your Dog aBone, Australian veterinarian Ian

Billinghurst reminds readers that all dogsare scavengers.They receive valuable nutrients from

material we humans find totally repugnant, Billinghurst says, things like vomitfeces, and decaying flesh . . . Feces are ahighly valuable food consisting of the deadand living bodies of millions upon millionsof bacteria. To replace feces requires a teamof ingredients like yogurt, brewers yeasteggs, oils, an enzyme product, and crushedraw vegetables as a source of fiber.

Mother wolves, like mother dogs, in-gest the fecal matter produced by theiryoung puppies. Some researchers say thisis an attempt to hide the litter from predators, while others say it provides the mothewith nutrients.

Both theories are probably correct. Themanure of herbivores such as deer, elkcattle, sheep, geese, and other grass-eatinganimals contains B-complex vitamins, vitamin K, minerals, beneficial bacteriaessential fatty acids, enzymes, antioxidantsand fiber.

Although most dogs who indulge re-main healthy, veterinarians warn that feca

matter may contain parasites such as giardia, coccidia, roundworms, or whipworms

Some dogs become interested in theirown stools only after they eat raw carrotsor other foods that they cannot completelydigest. Withholding hard-to-digest foodsfrom your dogs diet is a simple solution.

Because grain-based foods are difficulfor dogs to digest, a high-carbohydrate dogfood can cause a dog to produce largeamounts of feces containing only partiallydigested ingredients. Feeding a grain-freefood or home-prepared food that is high in

protein and low in carbohydrates can result in more complete digestion andsmaller, less appetizing stools.

Those who feed raw bones report thathe end result of a meal that includes rawbone is small, hard, dry, and less interest-ing than fecal matter that does not containbone.

In herComplete Herbal Handbook forthe Dog and Cat, Juliette de Bairacli Levy(see Grandmother Nature, July 2006)

When two litters of puppies began eatingWhen two litters of puppies began eatingWhen two litters of puppies began eatingWhen two litters of puppies began eatingWhen two litters of puppies began eatingdirt, Poodle breeder Jacki Panzikdirt, Poodle breeder Jacki Panzikdirt, Poodle breeder Jacki Panzikdirt, Poodle breeder Jacki Panzikdirt, Poodle breeder Jacki Panzik

recommended giving the pups a bonerecommended giving the pups a bonerecommended giving the pups a bonerecommended giving the pups a bonerecommended giving the pups a bonemeal supplement and used energymeal supplement and used energymeal supplement and used energymeal supplement and used energymeal supplement and used energybalancing and the pica stopped.balancing and the pica stopped.balancing and the pica stopped.balancing and the pica stopped.balancing and the pica stopped.

PHOTO BYJACKI PANZIK

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writes, Dogs should never have their natu-ral instincts thwarted in the matter of diet.They should not be prevented from eatingthe droppings of grass-fed cattle and horses,from which they can get many vital ele-ments derived from the herbage on whichthe animals have grazed and in a form eas-ily assimilated by the dog . . . Only eatingits own or other dogs feces is a depravedhabit and should be checked at once.

Commercial products with names likeFor-Bid, Deter, and SEP(Stop Eating Poop)are designed to make stools unappetizing.

For-Bid contains wheat gluten and mono-sodium glutamate, which are said to workwith the digestive tract to give stools a badtaste. Deter tablets contain a natural veg-etable extract. SEP (Stop Eating Poop)

powder contains dicalcium phosphate, riceflour, glutamic acid, peppermint, Yucca

schidigera extract, beef liver, oil of pars-ley, and natural flavoring.

Do-it-yourself treatments include sprin-kling monosodium glutamate (MSG, orAccent flavor enhancer) on the dogs food,adding a drop of anise essential oil, or add-

ing garlic, pumpkin, meat tenderizer,pineapple, zucchini, or Fig Newtons to thefood. By all accounts, these methods workfor some dogs but not for all.

Ive never had much success breakinga dog of this habit, says canine health re-searcher Mary Straus, who lives in the SanFrancisco Bay area. Interestingly, its ahabit that can be learned as an adult, not

just as a puppy. My Nattie was a stool-eater,but Piglet never was until she started ob-

serving Nattie. Shes now as bad as Nattieever was.

While debate continues as to whethercoprophagia is a behavioral problem,theres no doubt that dogs who are bored,receive little aerobic exercise or interest-ing play, and have unlimited access to theirown or other animals droppings will bedifficult to discourage. Increasing the dogsactive exercise, giving him a larger assort-ment of interesting toys to play with,keeping the dogs exercise area clean andfree from excrement, keeping cat litter

boxes out of reach, and giving the dog sev-eral small meals per day rather than onlyone large meal can all help reduce his in-terest in coprophagia or at least reduce hisopportunity to indulge.

Improve your dogs digestionIn addition to improving your dogs diet,start using supplements that can improveher digestion.

For example, try an enzyme productlike Prozyme. The heat of processing de-stroys enzymes in food, making the food

more difficult to digest. Enzyme powderssprinkled on food supply these importantcatalysts, resulting in more efficient diges-tion. Many vets and dog owners havereported excellent results from addingProzyme or similar enzyme powders to thefood of dogs with pica or coprophagia.

Digestive support products that con-tain hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and otherdigestive enzymes may help prevent picaand bloat in dogs whose hydrochloric acid

production is low.Human digestive supplements that con-

tain hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsin orother digestive enzymes can be adapted forcanine use. Assume that the human dose isappropriate for someone weighing 120 to150 pounds and divide this amount by yourdogs weight to adjust the recommendeddosage. Add one capsule or tablet (or an

appropriate fraction of a capsule or tablet),buried in food, at the end of the meal. Iffeeding a dry dog food, wrap the tablet orcapsule in a piece of cheese, a piece ofmeat, or something the dog will swallowwhole.

Digestive supplements that contain

warming herbs or spices such as gingeror cinnamon can also help improve diges-tion and assimilation. As above, adjust thedose for your dogs size, or simply sprinkle1/8 to teaspoon powdered cinnamon orginger on your dogs food. Give smalleramounts to small dogs and larger amountsto giant breeds.

Seacure is a fermented deep sea whitefish product sold as pet supplement pow-der, chewable wafers, and capsules.Because it is predigested, its amino acidsand peptides are immediately assimilated,facilitating tissue repair throughout thebody. Dogs with digestive disorders thatcontribute to pica often improve quickly,and those with coprophagia may becomeless interested in their fecal output.

Dee Eckert, at Seacures manufacturer,Proper Nutrition, Inc., says they have heard

from breeders, trainers, and pet guardianswho say that Seacure helped eliminatesymptoms in dogs with pica and coproph-agia. We have been told that dogs whoexhibit these behaviors suffer from leakygut syndrome and malabsorption. If this istrue, it makes sense that Seacure would helpbecause it is best known for treating diges-tive and malabsorption issues. (For moreinformation, see Securing Seacure, April2003.)

Beneficial bacteriaplay an importantrole in not only the digestion process but

the entire immune system. In fact, benefi-cial bacteria are the bodys first line ofdefense against harmful bacteria, viruses,

parasites, and other pathogens. (See Prob-ing Probiotics, August 2006, for moreinformation.)

Lactobacillus acidophilus and otherspecies of beneficial bacteria help preventdiarrhea, leaky gut syndrome, lactose in-tolerance, and other symptoms ofindigestion. They assist in the production

If your dog exhibits pica eating, he must be either vigilantly supervised, or in aIf your dog exhibits pica eating, he must be either vigilantly supervised, or in aIf your dog exhibits pica eating, he must be either vigilantly supervised, or in aIf your dog exhibits pica eating, he must be either vigilantly supervised, or in aIf your dog exhibits pica eating, he must be either vigilantly supervised, or in acarefully managed environment with limited access tocarefully managed environment with limited access tocarefully managed environment with limited access tocarefully managed environment with limited access tocarefully managed environment with limited access to anythinganythinganythinganythinganything potenti

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