Protect Your Pets – Have a Disaster Plan in Place Now!

With the flooding and earthquakes that have been occurring I thought the information that Dr. Jones just published on disaster preparedness very timely.  He gives us all some sound advice on how to create a plan for dealing with emergency situations should one occur.

Dr. Andrew Jones’ Advice on Creating a Disaster Preparedness Plan

The best way to protect your family from the effects of a disaster is to have a disaster plan. If you are a pet owner, that plan must include your pets. Being prepared can save their lives.

Different disasters require different responses. But whetherthe disaster is a hurricane or a hazardous spill, you may haveto evacuate your home.

In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them, too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost, or worse. So prepare now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home.

1. Have a Safe Place To Take Your Pets

Disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of provincial and states’ health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service animals who assist people with disabilities are the only animals allowed in shelters. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. Do not wait until disaster strikes to do your research.

Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets and restrictions on number, size, and species. Ask if “no pet” policies could be waived in an emergency. Keep a list of “pet friendly” places, including phone numbers, with other disaster information and supplies. If you have notice of an impending disaster, call ahead for reservations.

Ask friends, relatives, or others outside the affected area whether they could shelter your animals. If you have more than one pet, they may be more comfortable if kept together, but be prepared to house them separately.

Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.

Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be overburdened caring for the animals they already have as well as those displaced by a disaster, so this should be your last resort.

2. Assemble a Portable Pet Disaster Supplies Kit - Whether you are away from home for a day or a week, you’ll need essential supplies. Keep items in an accessible place and store them in sturdy containers that can be carried easily (duffle bags, covered trash containers, etc.). Your pet disaster supplies kit should include:

• Medications and medical records (stored in a waterproof container) and a first aid kit.
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers to transport pets safely and ensure that your animals can’t escape.
• Current photos of your pets in case they get lost.
• Food, potable water, bowls, cat litter/pan, and can opener.
• Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets.
• Pet beds and toys, if easily transportable.

3. Know What To Do As a Disaster Approaches

Often, warnings are issued hours, even days, in advance. At the first hint of disaster, act to protect your pet. Call ahead to confirm emergency shelter arrangements for you and your pets. Check to be sure your pet disaster supplies are ready to take at a moment’s notice.  Bring all pets into the house so that you won’t have to search for them if you have to leave in a hurry.

Make sure all dogs and cats are wearing collars and securely fastened, up-to-date identification. Attach the phone number and address of your temporary shelter, if you know it, or of a friend or relative outside the disaster area. You can buy temporary tags or put adhesive tape on the back of your pet’s ID tag, adding information with an indelible pen.

You may not be home when the evacuation order comes. Find out if a trusted neighbor would be willing to take your pets and meet you at a prearranged location. This person should be comfortable with your pets, know where your animals are likely to be, know where your pet disaster supplies kit is kept, and have a key to your home. If you use a pet sitting service, they may be available to help, but discuss the possibility well in advance.

Planning and preparation will enable you to evacuate with your pets quickly and safely. But bear in mind that animals react differently under stress. Outside your home and in the car, keep dogs securely leashed. Transport cats in carriers. Don’t leave animals unattended anywhere they can run off. The most trustworthy pets may panic, hide, try to escape, or even bite or scratch. And, when you return home, give your pets time to settle back into their routines.

It’s too late to wait until it happens..If you haven’t prepared for this, then spend 1 less hour this week watching T.V. and get prepared.

I would also suggest getting a copy of Dr. Jones’ book on home health care for animals – http://budurl.com/vetsecretsebook

8 Signs of Protein Deficiency in Dogs

Our friend Andrew Lewis, author of Dog Food Secrets, shares with us signs of protein deficiency in dogs that we need to be aware of.

Signs of protein deficiency:

1.  Slow growth

2.  Weak or deformed bones

3.  Chronic skin and ear infections

4.  Epilepsy

5.  Cancer

6.  Spinning or tail chasing

7.  Aggression

8.  Timidity

3 Good Protein Sources:  muscle meats, eggs and organ meats (such as liver)

3 Worthless Proteins:  wheat, corn and barley.

With humans and and animals alike, much of what ails us can be traced back to our diets!

To learn more about protein deficiency and how changing your dog’s diet can impact their health I invite to you check out The Dog Food Secrets and how that information helped improve “Snickers’” who was suffering from chronic ear infections!

Dangerous Levels of Fluoride in Pet Food!

Pet food has a new level of danger hiding behind its labels. Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released a new study that showed high levels of fluoride in eight of ten pet foods tested. Consuming fluoride can lead to many serious health concerns.

When selecting a pet food, fluoride levels is not something most people would look for on the label, however when you consider the latest study published by EWG, fluoride contamination appears to be a risk with some pet foods.  ”Eight of 10 dog food brands tested by an independent laboratory commissioned by Environmental Working Group (EWG) contain fluoride in amounts up to 2.5 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) national drinking water standard.”

http://www.ewg.org/node/28070 The problem is with pet foods and even people foods, is that the fluoride level is not mentioned anywhere on the label.

Most of the fluoride contamination in dog food comes from an unsavory mix of bone meal and various meat byproducts added to dog food. The 8 high-fluoride brands list ingredients that include chicken by-product meal, poultry by-product meal, chicken meal, beef and bone meal.

Fluoride occurs naturally in the earth’s crust, rocks, and soil, and in some water supplies. But two-thirds of Americans — and their pets and livestock — are exposed to the chemical via tap water that is artificially fluoridated in an effort to prevent tooth decay (CDC 2006). Alternatively, the food that the chickens and livestock were fed may have been grown with fluorinated water. Once ingested with food or water, fluoride accumulates in bones.

Topical application of fluoride on teeth is a common and effective means of preventing tooth decay. But ingested fluoride is well known to damage teeth and the musculoskeletal system (NRC 2006).

Three studies show that boys who drink fluoridated tap water between the ages of 6 and 8 face a heightened risk of osteosarcoma, the rare but deadly form of bone cancer associated with fluoride (Bassin 2006; Cohn 1992; DHHS 1991). Scientists suspect that boys’ rapid growth may make them more susceptible to bone cancer (Bassin 2006)

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs; it is estimated to occur in over 8,000 dogs each year in the U.S., primarily in larger breeds (Chun 2003; Dernell 2001; Priester 1980; Withrow 1991). According to a recent expert review, the actual incidence is probably higher, since not all cases are confirmed and registered (Mueller 2007). Large dogs with fast growing bones are especially at risk. Only 5% of all osteosarcomas develop in dogs weighing less than 30 pounds and giant dogs generally develop osteosarcoma at a younger age compared to smaller-sized dogs and (Cooley 1997; Misdorp 1979).

A dog drinking adequate water would be exposed to 0.05-0.1 mg fluoride per kg of body weight daily, depending on the dog’s water consumption. A 10-pound puppy that eats about a cup of dog food a day would ingest approximately 0.25 mg fluoride/kg body weight/day based on average fluoride content in the 8 contaminated brands tested by EWG. At that rate, the puppy would consume 2.5 times more fluoride than EPA’s legal limit in drinking water.

When fluoride in drinking water is taken into consideration, a 10-pound puppy would be exposed to 3.5 times more fluoride than EPA allows in drinking water. Large breed puppies may be exposed to even more fluoride.

According to the size and the appetite of a dog, combined fluoride exposure from food and water can easily range from mild to severe over-exposure. And, unlike children, who enjoy a variety of foods as they grow up, puppies and adult dogs eat the same food from the same bag every day, constantly consuming more fluoride than is healthy for normal growth. Routine exposure to excessive fluoride can predispose dogs to health problems, along with high veterinary bills, later in life.

Food and products for pets receive little government oversight. They are subject to few standards or regulations. This situation  may put pets’ health at risk. Americans have a right to expect pet food to be held to health and safety standards similar to those for human food, and to be free from contaminants that endanger pets’ health. Yet, when it comes to finding pet foods free of dubious food additives, chemical pollutants or untested ingredients, pet owners are largely on their own, since theagency in charge of pet food oversight, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has little authority and few resources to ensure that products produced for pets are safe (FDA CVM 2007).

What you can do as a pet food consumer? First, read the label of your pet food.

If the word By-Product is seen stay away from that pet food, the foods with the highest level of fluoride contained By-products from beef, chicken, or turkey. Also stay away from Mechanically separated chicken, as high levels were also found in this form of protein. Chicken Meal was also said to contain high levels of fluoride. The 2 foods that were tested that did not contain fluoride at all were: Vegetarian or contained Fish or Venison as a protein source. The article was however incorrect when it stated that “Meal” was just “ground bones, cooked with steam, dried, and mashed to make a cheap dog food filler.” Many dog foods use all meat and no bones when they make their Chicken Meal or Beef Meal. A very good food would specify on the label what the “Meal” contains. Look for labels that say Chicken Meal made from dehydrated chicken breast. Or choose an alternative protein source like venison, fish, or rabbit which are less likely to have been fed with fluorinated water.

Microchipped Pets Have Greater Potential to Develop Fast Growing Tumors

Health Freedom Alliance believes it’s just a matter of time before the governments wants to stick microchips in all of us. These microchips will pose clear violations of our privacy, human rights and our health as many pet owners are learning first hand. In an effort to avoid missing cats and dogs, many people are voluntarily implanting theses chips into their pets unaware of the medical dangers they cause.

Highly aggressive tumors are developing around the microchip implants of American dogs and cats killing some of the pets and leaving the others terminally ill. Their owners – and pathology and autopsy reports – have suggested a link between the chips and the formation of the fast-growing cancers.

In 2007, The Associated Press reported on a series of veterinary and toxicology studies that found that microchip implants had “induced” malignant tumors in some lab animals. Published in veterinary and toxicology journals between 1996 and 2006, the studies found that between 1 and 10 percent of lab mice and rats injected with microchips developed malignant tumors, most of them encasing the implants.

For more information please click here http://healthfreedoms.org/chipped-pets-develop-fast-growing-tumors/

Which Carbs are Good for Dogs?

Andrew Lewis, author of The Dog Food Conspiracy, recommends 9 tested dog foods, which you will find listed in his amazing book The Dog Food Conspiracy

Too Much or Too Few Carbs?

• Carb deficiencies can result in possible fertility and whelping problems
• Excessive carbohydrates cause obesity

These are Good Sources of Carbs

• Cereals
• Rice
• Pasta
• Potatoes
• Oats
• Barley
• Brown rice

A Bad Carb..

Soy is also a carb provider, but some experts warn that soy binds up other nutrients and makes them unavailable for absorption.

Avoid soy to be safe.

Soy is also often used as a protein source instead of meat because its cheap… however its inadequate as a protein source also.

Do You Or Don’t You Vaccinate for Kennel Cough?

It’s the time of the year that people begin thinking about taking vacations and setting their dog(s) up at a kennel.  Dr. Andrew Jones has some extremely useful information that you want to know about before making your kennel arrangements.

Dr. Jones says, infectious disease, such as Kennel Cough does happen, and he is often asked about whether you should or should not give your dog the vaccine.

Dr. Andrew Jones’ Advice:

Well it’s a personal decision, and the Intranasal Vaccine is fairly safe, although not necessarily effective.

Kennel Cough isn’t JUST caused by the bacteria Bordetella, it’s also caused by the Flu viruses.  And, if you recall with people, the Flu virus strain changes- JUST because you are vaccinated, there is no real security in knowing you won’t get the disease.

So what else can you do?

There are a number of specific ingredients that I advise clients to utilize to boost the immune system.

Essential Fatty Acids.

Probiotics.

Bovine Colostrum.

Immune boosting mushrooms.

Lysine- an amino acid that is used for its superior anti-viral activity.

Here is what is in my supplement to boost your dog’s immune system:

KEY IMMUNE PROTECTIVE BLEND

Includes: Bovine Colostrum, Inositol hexaphosphate, Aloe Vera, Maiitake PLUS L-lysine, Essential Fatty Acids, and Probiotics (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium)

Bovine Colostrum

* Powerful, nutrient-rich “mother’s first milk”

* Over 37 potent immune factors found in Colostrum

Inositol

* Plays an important role maintaining cell membranes

* Shown effectiveness in helping to prevent cancer

Aloe Vera

* Benefits are huge; shown helpful with common infectious diseases

* Ingredients are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-pruritic

(anti-itch) and offer some pain relief

* Increases blood flow to injured areas, stimulating healing and

recovery

Maiitake Mushroom

* Key immuno-protective mushroom

* Cancer-fighting

* Evidence confirming maitake’s therapeutic value impressive

* Laboratory studies have shown that maitake can block growth of

cancer tumors and boost the immune function

L-lysine

* Effective in inhibiting viral diseases.

OMEGA FATTY ACIDS

Flaxseed oil: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

* EFAs cannot be manufactured from other nutrients – must be

obtained from diet

* Most canine diets are rich in Omega-6 (from animal protein)

but low in Omega-3

* Flaxseed Oil is an excellent source of Omega-3, providing high

levels of this Critical EFA

You can grab your 50% OFF Trial at: http://budurl.com/dogsupplement

Nature’s Variety Recall

LINCOLN, Neb., March 8 /PRNewswire/ — Nature’s Variety has expanded its voluntary recall of Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats to include the “Best If Used By” dates of 10/29/10 and 11/9/10 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.  Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, or vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever, or abdominal pain. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products and is experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The recall includes the following products with a “Best If Used By” date of 10/29/10 or 11/9/10:

* UPC#7 69949 60131 9 ? Chicken Formula 0.75 lb trial sized medallions

* UPC#7 69949 60130 2 ? Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions

* UPC#7 69949 60120 3 ? Chicken Formula 6 lb patties

* UPC#7 69949 60121 0 ? Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs

In an abundance of caution, Nature’s Variety has also chosen toexpand this voluntary recall to include all Chicken Formula and Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats with any “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11.  Nature’s Variety has elected to clear the market of raw frozen chicken diets as it  implements a state-of-the-art new food safety process called High Pressure Pasteurization for use on all Nature’s Variety Raw Frozen Diets.

The products included in the expanded recall are any Chicken Formula or Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet with a “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11, including:

* UPC#7 69949 60131 9 ? Chicken Formula 0.75 lb trial sized medallions

* UPC#7 69949 60130 2 ? Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions

* UPC#7 69949 60120 3 ? Chicken Formula 6 lb patties

* UPC#7 69949 60121 0 ? Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs

* UPC#7 69949 50121 3 ? Chicken Formula 12 lb case of chubs

* UPC#7 69949 60137 1 ? Organic Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions

* UPC#7 69949 60127 2 ? Organic Chicken Formula 6 lb patties

The “Best If Used By” date is located on the back of the package above the safe handling instructions.  The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the United States and Canada.

No other Raw Frozen Diets are involved in this expansion other than chicken, and no other Nature’s Variety products are involved.

Nature’s Variety now uses High Pressure Pasteurization on their Raw Frozen Diets as a unique process to kill pathogenic bacteria through high-pressure, water-based technology.  Having incorporated this state-of-the-art technology on a portion of their raw product offerings in late 2009, Nature’s Variety was able to confidently implement the process universally on all Raw Frozen Diets after the 2/11/10 recall in order to enhance food safety.  Nature’s Variety also utilizes a test and hold protocol to ensure that all High Pressure Pasteurized Raw frozen Diets test negative for harmful bacteria before being released for sale.

“Nature’s Variety believes replacing all raw frozen chicken products on the market with new raw frozen chicken products that use High Pressure Pasteurization is an important and responsible step in order to reinforce consumer confidence and trust,” stated Reed Howlett, CEO of Nature’s Variety. “By recalling all raw frozen chicken products with ‘Best If Used By’ dates on or before 2/5/11, we can provide our pet parents with new raw frozen chicken products that have been processed through High Pressure Pasteurization. Adopting High Pressure Pasteurization is an important step to ensure that our products meet the strictest quality and food safety standards.”

Howlett stated, “Our commitment to consumers in the future is the same as it’s been in the past ? to offer Raw Frozen Diets made from the highest quality ingredients, made in our own plant in the Midwest, by people who care deeply about pet nutrition, health, and happiness.”

If you are a consumer and have purchased one of these products, please return the unopened product to your retailer for a full refund or replacement.  If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle.  Then, bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a full refund or replacement.

Consumers with additional questions can call the Nature’s Variety dedicated Customer Care line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-374-3142.  For additional resources about High Pressure Pasteurization or other Nature’s Variety food safety protocols, visit www.naturesvariety.com.

If your pet is eating this food, I would heed the recall warning.

If you are wanting to give your dog that extra little immune boost with some pretty stunning natural ingredients, and get it for a 50% OFF trial go here:  http://budurl.com/dogsupplement

Canine Cancer Secrets

Did you know that dogs have a 1 in 2 chance of developing cancer?  That means that 50% of dogs WILL develop cancer.  It’s an epidemic!  Did you also know that you can easily increase your dog’s chances of remaining healthy significantly?  It’s very simple, feed your dog a healthy diet and educate yourself about the everyday hazards that your dog faces.

Andrew Lewis has done a remarkably good job of educating K9 lovers about preventing cancer, AND, if your beloved beastie already has cancer, you’ll learn what to do to help them recover too!  Check it out at:

http://budurl.com/caninecancersecrets

Retaining Ovaries May be a Key to Prolonged Life In Women and Dogs

Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM, shares with us an article from DVM Newsmagazine.  This information is critical for both humans and animals alike.  New studies are being administered every day in centers around the world, and I would like to thank people like Dr. Jones for keeping us up to date on important findings that can make a significant difference in the quality and longevity of our lives.

DVM NEWSMAGAZINE

West Lafayette, Ind. — We know that women tend to live longer than men, but a new study shows that the same may be true in dogs, especially if a female dog’s ovaries are not surgically removed early in life.

A study conducted at the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation compared the medical histories, ages and causes of death in 119 long-lived rottweilers with a longevity of at least 13 years with 186 rottweilers with a normal longevity of about 9 years. The study was published in the December issue of the journal Aging Cell.

“Like women, female dogs in our study had a distinct survival advantage over males,” said the lead researcher David J. Waters, associate director of Purdue University’s Center on Aging and the Life Course and a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences.”But taking away ovaries during the first four years of life completely erased the female survival advantage. We found that female rottweilers that kept their ovaries for at least six years were four times more likely to reach exceptional longevity compared to females who had the shortest lifetime ovary exposure.”

This study’s findings are in line with those of a study conducted earlier this year at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., of 29,000 who had hysterectomies because of benign uterine disease. Although those women whose ovaries were removed before 50 years of age were protected against ovarian, uterine and breast cancer, increased mortality from other causes was noted compared with those who had their ovaries for at least 50 years.

Both studies call into question the automatic removal of the ovaries when hysterectomies are performed in dogs and women.

So do you NOT spay your dog?

Dr. Jones shares his thoughts with us on that age old question. “I always said what I was taught that the benefit of spaying is to PREVENT things like Mammary Cancer.

Now I would wonder about spaying ( and neutering) the larger breeds later in life- such as after 2 years of age. Clearly we are in a learning phase- Talk to your own Veterinarian, and point him or her to the article.”

Given this information by Dr. Jones, I feel it is more important now than ever to make sure you are feeding your dogs good quality food, giving them a supplement to help support their immune system, keep them away from pesticides and cleaning chemicals, and communicate directly with them to ensure you are dealing with issues in the early stages of development when you have more options for treatments.

Need a good quality supplement developed by a vet? http://budurl.com/dogsupplement

The Food You Are Feeding Your Dogs Could Be Shaving Years Off of Their Lives!

I realize this blog post has a gruesome subject but knowing this stuff is better than remaining unaware.

My friend Andy Lewis has put together critical information that every dog (and cat) owner needs to know so I’m glad to share it with you today.

He reveals the statistics about canine death rates & then shows you how they link to the food your dog (or cat) may be eating.

It’s important you see the video, now viewed by 1,102,546 shocked dog owners, and read the disturbing report here, read by over 5,354,931 dog owners that Andrew has created.

See them now and then come back here to continue…

Andrew’s findings:

The Three Leading Causes of Death in Dogs are:

1. Cancer

2. Heart Disease

3. Kidney Disease

This is how they link to your dog’s diet..

1. Cancer: The chemicals & preservatives used in many commercial dog foods are known to cause these cancers..

- Kidney cancer

- Bladder cancer

- Skin cancer

- Stomach cancer

- Spleen cancer

- Leukemia

The same cancer-causing chemicals & preservatives have been banned from use in human foods because of these known problems…but continue to be used in Fido’s food.

2. Heart Disease: The high proportions of cheap unhealthy fats found in many commercial dog foods cause arteriosclerosis and arterial blockages resulting in death by heart attack.

But also, the lack of more expensive omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) also causes canine heart failure because without omega-3, ventricular arrhythmias occur and can result in sudden death.

3. Kidney Disease: An 11-year study of acute renal failure in dogs concluded 45% of cases are caused by toxins and 35% by infectious disease.

In the US, April-May 2007, over 2200 dogs died in a 3-week period from poisonous toxins found in the commercial dog foods they ate.

And nutritionally inadequate diets lead to defective adrenal glands unable to manufacture adequate cortisol, a hormone vital for health and resistance to infectious disease (Dr. Alfred Plechner DMV).

If you feed commercial dog food, than consider very carefully the possible consequences.

Andy never did and his dog Noble, died. Many owners ignored the warnings back in 2006 and were devastated by the Dog Food Scandal of 2007.  (Yes, Andy’s been doing this for a long time.)

But the good news is, the many thousands that listened and took his advice, followed his guidelines still have healthy dogs today.

Andrew Lewis, author of Dog Food Secrets – Get your copy today!

To Bark or Not to Bark? Debarking a Dog – Is Surgery the Right Remedy?

Debarking is a painful, confusing temporary solution to a much deeper human management, miscommunication and training problem. When the urge to bark is suppressed and not dealt with properly, then even after undergoing the surgery, the bad behavior only redirects and then surfaces in other inappropriate activities.  Ultimately, the animal lives an unhappy life, and may lose their home or more tragically, can even lose their life.

I’m a professional animal communicator and animal behaviorist who works with resolving different problems with dogs, and I can tell you that in all my 40 years experience, debarking is completely unnecessary major surgery.  Barking in dogs is easily corrected when they are listened to and managed properly.  That’s why debarking is so controversial!

I worked with a fellow dog lover, Kim, whose dog pal Jody had recently become horribly aggressive – barking and attacking and biting strangers or other dogs… to the point that she thought she was going to have to find a new home for her… or put her down.

Kim was heartbroken as she and her kids loved Jody very much. She couldn’t take Jody for a walk without fear that there would be a fight – with other dogs and even people! Kim couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden this was an issue.

It was heart wrenching to see and Jody’s behavior had escalated to a critical point. She just wanted to know WHY her dog’s behavior made a turn for the worse, and what she could do to resolve it without having to put her friend to sleep.

Was it something she was doing wrong? Did something happen to Jody or was something else going on that she didn’t know about? She just needed to know that she was doing everything she could before she made the final decision. She needed those answers FAST!

Come to find out it was all a misunderstanding! One that almost cost Jody her life.

Kim and the kids had been watching TV and seen several shows where some really bad things had happened to some people in their community… tragic stories of people attacking and hurting other innocent people… and where dogs had attacked and hurt people too…

It had made them afraid. And Jody got the message. After that, Jody just wanted to protect her family from all those bad things… but since she didn’t know exactly where or who the bad people were, she became indiscriminate in her aggressive defensive actions.

Jody’s behavior changed dramatically after our consultation, and I’m delighted to report that Jody is still happily living with her loved ones and doing her job.

Jody was reacting to something in her environment as are most dogs.  Once you know why your dog is barking, you can take the proper steps to correct their behavior.

What can you do if you have a bad barker?  One of things you can do is so easy!   Train your dog out of this by teaching them to Bark (Speak!) on command.  Once they know the command, then you can teach them Quiet!  Easy!

Dogs who continue to bark are simply not being managed correctly or they have something important they need to communicate with you.  Considering the expense and the risks of surgery, debarking a dog should never be the first option for corrective behavior modification, but rather different management, communication and other training methods should be adopted.

And by all means, learn how to talk to your dog.  Animal communication is vitally important!  You can’t really know what’s going on from their viewpoint until you ask them.  And they can participate in resolving things, once you know what they’re thinking.

Just like humans, animals have their own side of every story to tell! But if we don’t take the time to listen to them, then their life, happiness, health and well-being will suffer…