Thursday, September 19, 2013

dog health | Sandi"s K9 Management

Puppy Mill Capital, USA?

Thanks to “Nightline” for the episode about puppy mills in Pennsylvania.  Watch the video, and think about it before purchasing a puppy in a petstore.  By “saving” that one pup from the store, you are causing several more to suffer.  This will only stop if we quit shopping and supporting these types of stores.









Thumbs Down to Petland

I have always been aware of the awful conditions that puppy mill dogs come from.  Trying to educate the public on this subject, however, has been a huge challenge.  When stores such as Petland continue to supply the ever-demanding and unknowing puppy buyer, it is too common that individuals will feel as though they are “rescuing” a pup from the store.  Not seeing the conditions that the pups have come from, or that its parents continue to live in, it is literally an “out of sight, out of mind” situation.  Worse yet is the fact that individuals are being told by Petland employees that the puppies have come from “reputable breeders”.  I sadly think that the majority of these workers truly believe that to be the case.  However, I find it incredibly difficult to believe that management doesn’t know the real situation.  The sad reality is that the public is flat out being lied to and told whatever they want to hear in order to make the sale final. 


Having worked with puppies from puppy mills and reputable breeders both, I can assure you that the puppy mill pups are NEVER developmentally healthy.  I attribute that to the fact that they have not had proper stimulation, socialization and/or treatment during their first couple of months of life.  In fact, the majority of these pups have accepted the fact that living in their own waste is perfectly acceptable.  These pups are difficult to housetrain as a result, and are oftentimes turned over to rescues and shelters due to housetraining issues.  It frustrates me as I see it over and over again, while the public is kept in the dark and refusing to believe that their puppy has come from these implorable conditions.


Be in the dark no more, people!  The Humane Society of the United States has recently completed an investigation of Petland, one of the nations top retailers of puppies.  I am attaching HSUS’s video investigation to help spread the word and educate the public about the sickening subject of puppy mills.  I hope after you watch it that you will join in the trend of no longer supporting stores like Petland. 


Be educated…




Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.  Sandi’s K9 Management.







Lexi’s Liver Treats

Ingredients:




  • 1 cup whole wheat flour



  • 12-14 cloves garlic



  • 1 lb. beef liver



  • 1 cup cornmeal



  • 2 eggs



Instructions:




  1. Puree liver and garlic in food processor.



  2. Add eggs, whole wheat flour and cornmeal.



  3. Grease cookie sheet and pour mixture onto cookie sheet.



  4. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Turn over halfway through baking.



  5. Cut into appropriate sized squares.



Easy to make, and your dogs will love them just like mine do! 







8 Ways to Build a Bond Between You and Your Dog

In working with dogs and their owners, I am always surprised to find out that people don’t know how to build a bond between themselves and their dog.  Sadly, many dogs are turned into shelters simply because their owners didn’t understand how to go about living peacefully with them.  Here is a list of simple and easy ways to establish that never-ending friendship between the two of you:





  1. Spay or neuter.  This really should go without saying, but if you are not in the show-ring with your dog, then do him a favor by taking care of any unnecessary urges he will encounter while intact.  A dog that is fixed lives a longer and healthier life, is less likely to wander away from home, and is all-around a calmer and more relaxed dog. 




  2. Identify.  Microchipping is one of the greatest things you can do for a dog.  If your dog is found, any vet or shelter will be able to use a scanner to get a number that is traced back to you!  About $ 50, this is so worth the money.  In addition, it is also an excellent idea to keep your phone number and address on a tag on your dog’s collar.  I usually put my cell phone on the number because I figure if the dog is missing, then I am out looking for him and not at home sitting by the telephone!




  3. Communication.  Learning to read your dog helps in establishing an excellent line of communication between the two of you.  Turid Rugaas has done some excellent work with what she refers to as ”calming signals”.  I will include a link to her work at the end of this article.  Interpreting your dog’s body language helps you to learn to adjust your own body language in order to effectively “speak” to your dog.




  4. Management.   Proper management is staying one step ahead of your dog.  Setting him up to succeed, and not giving him the chance to practice bad behaviors are what it is all about.   Proper management includes: use of a crate, fenced in yard, properly fitted collar, supervision, etc.




  5. Training Fun.  Did you know that teaching your dog can and should be a fun thing to do?  So many people don’t know how to make training fun!  Keeping it fun keeps the dog working for you and with you, and helps to strengthen that tie between the two of you.  Train with an upbeat attitude, with plenty of praise and rewards.  Mix training with a game of fetch or a tug with his favorite tug toy!




  6. Schedule.  Keeping to a set schedule helps a dog feel secure, knowing when he can expect that next meal or a trip outside.  Although it isn’t possible for any of us to keep the same set schedule 100% of the time, try to keep a set schedule for most days.




  7. Socialize.  Dogs are social creatures.  They are pack animals.  They like to be with their own.  Providing your dog with other canine friends at a dog park, playgroup, or dog daycare is one of the best gifts you can give to him!




  8. Exercise.  Exercise helps to relieve pent up energy and also helps to avoid boredom behaviors such as excessive barking or digging!  Not only will it contribute to his healthy lifestyle, it is a great way for the two of you to spend quality time together.  Not a jogger?  Take a nice fast-paced stroll through the neighborhood, or teach him how to play a great game of Frisbee! 



Hopefully these tips will get you on your way to a lifelong companionship between the two of you!


For more reading about canine communication and Calming Signals, please check out Turid Rugaas’ website at: http://www.canis.no/rugaas/articles.php


 Copyright 2008.  All Rights Reserved.  Sandi Hansen.  Sandi’s K9 Management.







Heidi’s Favorite Dog Treats

Heidi asked me to get on here and let you all know about her favorite treats called Zuke’s Mini Naturals.  She takes them on every job she gets, and I usually keep them in my training bag.  After working with dogs throughout my entire life, I can tell you that these treats are by far the easiest and most palatable of any I have encountered so far.  Their small size makes them a quick bite for a learning situation while their healthy ingredients and lack of unwanted fats and preservatives makes them a healthy alternative to most treats on the market today.  Not to mention, they are made right here in the USA! They can be kind of hard to locate, so I have listed some on Ebay so you can try them out (or rather, your dog can try them out!).  Unfortunately, I don’t have many to sell … BUT my prices are very competitive.  Take a look…


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250214877911


 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250214876863&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=015







So You Got That Christmas Puppy… Now What?
January 6, 2008, 12:06 pm
Filed under: Dog Training, Environmental Enrichment, Dog training associations, Dogs, Animal Communication, Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo, American Foxhound, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Australian Terrier, Basenji, Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Malinois, barking, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Turvuren, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Black and Tan Coonhound, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxer, Briard, Brittany, Brussells Griffon, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Dog Behavior, Bullmastiff, Brussels Griffon, american humane, Tamar Gellar, Golden Retriever, Papillon, Sheltie, Yorkshire Terrier, Yorkie, Havanese, West Highland Terrier, Westie, Labrador Retriever, Black Lab, Sandi Hansen, Poodle, Pekingnese, Pekingese, Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, Shitzu, German Shepherd, rat terrier, Italian Greyhound, dog socialization, dog psychology, pit bull, Leonberger, Cairn Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsch Corgi, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Chinese Sharpei, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Curly Coated Retriever, Dachshund, Dalmation, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Omaha Dog Trainer, Sandi’s K9 Management, dog health, Sharpei, Shar pei, Japanese Chin, Keeshond, Kuvasz, humane society of the united states, Puppy training, positive dog training, animal behavior, Christmas puppies, HSUS, buying a puppy, petstore puppy, Finnish Spitz, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Whippet, Siberian Husky, Rottweiler, Saluki, Samoyed, Otterhound, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Norweigan Elkhound, Gordon Setter, Harrier, Newfoundland, omaha dog daycare, Nebraska dog trainer, Nebraska dog training

So you got that Christmas puppy after all?  Hmmmm.  Well, since he is with you now… what is your next step to turning this little guy into a well-behaved adult dog? This will quickly sum up a few quick tips that I get questions about every day.



  1. The first thing I suggest is to get that puppy around as many well-socialized adult dogs as you can find.  This is extremely important for the mental well-being of the pup in order for him to continue learning proper body language.  Playgroups are great, but dog daycare is even better!  See if you can get your dog enrolled in the nearest dog daycare tomorrow.  Off-leash play with well-behaved adult dogs is a must.

  2. The next best thing is to get that pup around as many different people and places as you possibly can.  Your puppy should have the opportunity to pleasantly meet people of different sizes, races, and ages.  Making these meetings as joyful as possible will help your pup to learn that people are not to be feared or dreaded.  On that same note, getting the dog out and about to different locations will help to ensure that he looks forward to going places with you.

  3. Lastly but certainly not least, the use of a crate is an absolute must.  Keep in mind that if you cannot keep an eye on your pup, he should be in his crate.  This helps tremendously with housetraining, and also helps with managing other situations such as chewing inappropriate objects.  Give him something to do that he has to look forward to in his crate such as a stuffed Kong or a Nylabone.  And please remember to spend quality time with the little guy.  His experiences with you should not just be taking him outside and putting him back in his crate!  Interaction with you will help build a stronger lifetime bond.


Congratulations on your pup.  Having a dog is a lifetime commitment, and the training should never end.  Remember that life with a puppy can be hectic at times, but the amount of effort you put in while he is a youngster will help him to grow into a great adult companion!


Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.  Sandi Hansen.  Sandi’s K9 Management.







Hulk Hogan Speaks Out Against Animal Fighting
July 25, 2007, 1:30 pm
Filed under: Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo, American Foxhound, american humane, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Animal Abuse, Animal Communication, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Australian Terrier, Basenji, Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Turvuren, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Black and Tan Coonhound, Black Lab, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxer, Briard, Brittany, Brussells Griffon, Brussels Griffon, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Cairn Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsch Corgi, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cesar Millan, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahua, child safety with dogs, Chinese Crested, Chinese Sharpei, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Curly Coated Retriever, Dachshund, Dalmation, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Dog Behavior, dog fighting, dog health, Dogs, Free to a good home, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Havanese, humane society of the united states, Italian Greyhound, Japanese Chin, Keeshond, Kuvasz, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Leonberger, michael vick dog fighting, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Papillon, Pekingese, Pekingnese, Pet abuse, pit bull, Poodle, preventing dog bites, Puppy Scam, rat terrier, Sandi Hansen, Sandi’s K9 Management, Shar pei, Sharpei, Sheltie, Shitzu, Tamar Gellar, West Highland Terrier, Westie, Yorkie, Yorkshire Terrier

Warning: Contains graphic scenes.









Ferris Approves the Molecueball
July 2, 2007, 9:47 am
Filed under: Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo, American Foxhound, american humane, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Animal Communication, Animal nutrition, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Australian Terrier, barking, Basenji, Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Turvuren, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Black and Tan Coonhound, Black Lab, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxer, Briard, Brittany, Brussells Griffon, Brussels Griffon, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Cairn Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsch Corgi, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cesar Millan, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, chewing, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Chinese Sharpei, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Curly Coated Retriever, Dachshund, Dalmation, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, digging, Doberman Pinscher, Dog Behavior, dog health, dog psychology, dog rehabilitation, dog socialization, Dog Training, Dogs, Environmental Enrichment, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Havanese, Italian Greyhound, jumping, Kong, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Leonberger, molecueball, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Papillon, Pekingese, Pekingnese, pit bull, Poodle, rat terrier, recipes, Sandi Hansen, Sandi’s K9 Management, Shar pei, Sharpei, Sheltie, Shitzu, Stanely Coren, Tamar Gellar, West Highland Terrier, Westie, Yorkie, Yorkshire Terrier

The newest addition to our environmental enrichment toys here at our home is the Molecueball.  Similar to a Kong, the Molecueball is a hollowed out feeding toy made from solid rubber and in the shape of a molecule.  We’re always excited to find yet another feeding/puzzle toy to add to our ever-growing collection of enrichment toys here at Sandi’s K9 Management, and the Moleculeball has been a welcome addition.


Ferris, our 5 year old Papillon, is a barker.  He is a very sensitive little guy, and little noises tend to set him off until he is distracted by something else (usually me!).  I am a firm believer of having dogs work for their food, as it tends to cut down on nuisance behaviors such as jumping, digging and even barking.  However, I also believe that these toys should be rotated out so that there is still mental work involved in obtaining the food.  The addition of the moleculeball to Ferris’ feeders has really cut back on his sensitivity barking behaviors.  I guess it is safe to say that Ferris approves of the Moleculeball.  I know we do!







Heads-up on Pet Abuse
June 15, 2007, 9:47 am
Filed under: Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo, American Foxhound, american humane, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Animal Abuse, Animal Communication, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Australian Terrier, Basenji, Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Turvuren, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Black and Tan Coonhound, Black Lab, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxer, Briard, Brittany, Brussells Griffon, Brussels Griffon, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Cairn Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsch Corgi, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cesar Millan, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahua, child safety with dogs, Chinese Crested, Chinese Sharpei, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Curly Coated Retriever, Dachshund, Dalmation, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Dog Behavior, dog health, dog psychology, dog rehabilitation, dog socialization, Dog Training, Dogs, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Havanese, Italian Greyhound, kids and dogs, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Leonberger, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Papillon, Pekingese, Pekingnese, Pet abuse, pit bull, Poodle, preventing dog bites, rat terrier, Sandi Hansen, Sandi’s K9 Management, Sheltie, Shitzu, Stanely Coren, Tamar Gellar, West Highland Terrier, Westie, Yorkie, Yorkshire Terrier

The link between animal abuse and violence towards humans is being recognized more and more by mental health professionals, law enforcement officers and our justice system.  Still, the general public is unaware of just how crucial it is that we teach our children to have compassion for animals.  Most serial killers started out mutilating and abusing animals, either pets of their own or animals taken from others. 


 A couple of great websites on the subject are:


www.pet-abuse.com


www.psyeta.org


We all need to be aware of any and all animal abuse that takes place… especially where children are concerned.  These sites offer an in-depth look at the link between animal and human abuse.  Check them out.







Cocoa Bean Mulch Poisonous to Dogs
June 12, 2007, 8:18 am
Filed under: Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo, American Foxhound, american humane, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Animal nutrition, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Australian Terrier, Basenji, Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Bedlington Terrier, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Turvuren, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Black and Tan Coonhound, Black Lab, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Boxer, Briard, Brittany, Brussells Griffon, Brussels Griffon, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Cairn Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsch Corgi, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cesar Millan, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Chinese Sharpei, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Curly Coated Retriever, Dachshund, Dalmation, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Dog Behavior, dog health, dog psychology, dog rehabilitation, dog socialization, Dog Training, Dogs, Environmental Enrichment, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Havanese, Italian Greyhound, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Leonberger, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Papillon, Pekingese, Pekingnese, pit bull, Poodle, rat terrier, Sandi Hansen, Sandi’s K9 Management, Sheltie, Shitzu, Tamar Gellar, West Highland Terrier, Westie, Yorkie, Yorkshire Terrier

You may have seen cocoa bean mulch in the home improvement or landscaping stores and thought to yourself how wonderful it would be to smell that chocolate aroma.  If you have dogs, you should think twice before buying that mulch!


According to the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), cocoa bean mulch can cause major problems if eaten by a dog.  In fact, it takes even less of this stuff to kill a dog than if the dog had eaten a candy bar! 


Cocoa bean mulch contains caffeine and theobromine, which are both stimulants.  The mulch is made from the leftover cocoa beans that were used in chocolate production.  The chocolate aroma attracts dogs, who unknowingly might ingest it.  If a dog does ingest the mulch, it will cause gastrointestinal problems, seizures or even death depending on the amount ingested. 


If you already have cocoa bean mulch in your yard, then I’d suggest removing it for the safety of your dog(s).  If you suspect that your dog has eaten any amount of it, contact your veterinarian immediately and let him/her know that you are on your way to the clinic with your dog. 


Yes, the smell of cocoa mulch is heavenly; but is it really worth risking the life of your best friend?


Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved. Sandi’s K9 Management.





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