Woof Notes

Sylvia!

2011-12-01T14:20:00.002-08:00

Lyn and I don’t get to Seattle often but, we made our annual pilgrimage yesterday to see a play at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. The play is titled, “Sylvia”. It’s a comedy about 2 middle-aged “empty nesters” that get a dog. The wife is pursuing a post child-rearing career and has no desire to complicate her new life with a dog. The husband is struggling with “empty nester’s syndrome” and brings home a stray that he finds at a local park.

The ensuing chaos is hilarious, with barbs thrown towards the weaknesses of both genders. While the play does not delve too deeply into the essence of the couple’s relationship, it does probe the nature of the relationship between people and dogs and does so in a way that kept us laughing throughout the 2 hour performance.

This play ran at the Rep about 15 years ago and it was quite a hit at the time. It’s one of the plays that the theatre has chosen to revisit as part of the celebration of its fifty year anniversary.

I certainly don’t claim any expertise in the area of drama, but to me the acting seemed very convincing. I was especially impressed by the actress who played Sylvia. Any skepticism I harbored about the ability of a human to portray the antics of a dog was quickly erased in the first act. Linda K. Morris brings tail wagging life to the canine main character and leaves us wishing that our dogs could have her voice and speak to us in the same way that Sylvia does to her new guardians.

We can heartily recommend this play to all our customers as a great way to relax and have a few good belly-laughs amid all the holiday hustle and bustle. You’ll need to hurry though. The play closes December 11 and there are a limited number of seats available for the remaining shows.

You can find more information and order tickets here.

Kaia Kaboom!

2011-12-01T14:20:00.001-08:00

In previous editions of the newsletter I have shared stories of Kaia’s hunting success. In order to provide some realism I can now share some of the highlights from our recent trip to eastern Washington which was, well… not quite as successful.

We left for Republic right after dinner on Thanksgiving day. The trip was uneventful with the exception of Snoqaulmie Pass, where we witnessed some moderately heavy snow combined with some spectacularly bad driving. It never ceases to amaze me that some people will head over a mountain pass in the winter without making the proper preparations, like bringing some tire chains, flashlight, flares, etc. You would think that a twenty foot wide sign with flashing lights and caution warnings would get their attention but apparently the concept, “Extreme Caution” just doesn’t register with some motorists. By the time we reached Snoqualmie Summit we had passed at least 10 vehicles that were stalled, spun out, or otherwise unable to proceed through the 3 or 4 inches of snow and slush that covered the roadway.

We also encountered snowy conditions, on Highway 21 from Keller to Republic, where the road was covered with compact snow and ice. This stretch of road is relatively isolated with little traffic so the driving was fine, but slow.

We reached Republic just before midnight and went straight to bed with visions of flushing grouse flying through our dreams. Kaia woke me up at dawn with her cold, wet nose nudging my face. We had a quick breakfast and headed for the hills.

Our first stop was along a creek where we had much success earlier in the season. There were three or four inches of snow on the ground and we saw deer tracks everywhere. We headed up the creek bottom hoping to find a Ruffed Grouse. Kaia quartered in front of me, at close range which she tends to do in heavy cover. Somehow she’s learned that it’s important to work close when we’re in the thick brush. The landscape had changed since our last visit. The leaves were off the trees and visibility was improved. I was excited by the prospect of better shooting that comes with better visibility.

After about an hour of hunting this drainage I began to suspect what had become of all the birds we had found earlier in the season. It’s common to find more difficult hunting in the winter. During a cold snap the grouse, which roost in evergreen trees, will sometimes remain on the roost for several days before moving to search for more food. Blue Grouse can remain in the trees all winter because their winter diet consists mostly of conifer needles. Ruffed Grouse, on the other hand, prefer catkins, clover seed and other foliage that they can scratch up. That’s why we were looking for Ruffs, because the chance of finding these birds in the winter is so much better than finding the tree-dwelling Blues.

Unfortunately for us, even the Ruffed Grouse appeared to be holding tight in the trees. Over the course of 2 full days of hunting we never found a single bird. Not a single track, no feathers, no droppings, nuthin’! There’s an old saying that is often misinterpreted, “grouse are where you find them”. This is commonly taken to mean that grouse can be found almost anywhere. Not so! The birds hold in certain kinds of habitat and their patterns are predictable to a point. I have no doubt that there were birds in the areas where we were hunting, but the grouse were hunkered in the branches of evergreen trees where they could avoid the cold wind and be safe from coyotes and hawks while conserving energy until hunger forced them to search for food again. But, like the tree that falls in the forest when no one is there to hear it, the grouse sequestered themselves in the trees and were invisible to us. Sometimes there are grouse where you can’t find them!

Kaia, of course, never became discouraged. Each time we climbed out of the truck and hit a new drainage she rocketed through the frozen woods with the same enthusiasm as if she was certain that there was a bird just behind the next bush. She has had the better part of this season to prove herself; so I never entertained the notion that our lack of success had anything to do with her abilities. In fact, there were a few trails that would have gone unexplored if it were not for her hard charging desire to hunt. More than once I was headed back to the truck when she coaxed me to check one more game trail or push our way through one more snow covered creek bottom.

Our 2 solid days of grouse hunting produced not a single bird, but I would still do it over again, knowing that we would leave empty handed. At first I was a bit disappointed that we were not finding birds, but Kaia’s relentless desire to hunt kept me focused. As I watched her coursing through the brush, across the snow covered ground, I discovered that I was learning new things about my dog and her method of hunting. Since the ground was covered with snow; I could see the tracks of every animal that had passed before us in recent days. There were deer tracks, coyote tracks, bobcat, squirrel and rabbit tracks crisscrossing the forest floor everywhere we hunted. As I watched Kaia, I was able to see her reaction to each of these tracks and study her responses to tracks and trails that had been invisible before the carpet of snow revealed them to my eyes. Kaia had always “seen” these tracks, but not with her eyes. Kaia had seen all this stuff with her sense of smell. I realized that I was witnessing her reactions to scents that I could not have identified if it were not for the snow.

Now I know the signs she exhibits when she’s checking out a rabbit trail. It’s entirely different from the body language she shows when she’s on a bird. The same is true for deer tracks and most of the other tracks we came across. She has a distinctly different response to each of the scents she encounters, The way she holds her tail, the intensity of her sniffing, the speed of her progress along the trail, the height at which she holds her head as she follows the scent… all these things communicate subtle messages to anyone who takes the time to observe. Given the amount of learning I did during those two days, this may prove to have been our most productive hunting trip to date!

On Sunday morning, before dawn, we finished preparing our cabin for winter. I packed up my clothes, loaded Kaia in the truck and headed for home. On our way south through the Columbia basin I decided to make a short stop and do a little pheasant hunting. Kaia was overjoyed at the prospect of breaking up the 7 hour drive with a little hunting. Within 45 minutes she had flushed two nice fat roosters, one of which was banded! I carefully removed the “jewelry” from the bird and installed it on my whistle lanyard to remind me of our hunt. That evening, after a long drive, Kaia enjoyed a nice supper of boiled pheasant breast. Of course we shared with the other dogs, but you can probably guess who got the biggest piece!

2011-12-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

The correct answer to the November quiz question is Black Russian Terrier.

The winner was drawn from the names of those who answered the quiz question correctly.

And the winner is:

Andrea Nelson

Congratulations Andrea!
Drop by the store any time during business hours for your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate

Teenage Dogs In Trouble!

2011-11-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

We’re well underway with another dog-training class at Sprinker Center. This is a class for younger dogs who need basic skills like “sit”, walking on lead and coming when called. I really enjoy teaching this class. It’s fun to watch dogs and their guardians or trainers making progress.

Some of the dogs in this class already have these basic skills. They just lack the socialization that makes their responses dependable when there are distractions, like other dogs, nearby. We start each session with a short “meet & greet” so the dogs can sniff each other and get to know their classmates.

It’s interesting to note that dog-owners are often a bit nervous about these meetings. Some of them hold the leads very tightly and seem to be worried that the dogs will attack each other. Of course it’s a good thing that people are aware of the dog’s behavior as they meet. More often than not things go just fine and the dogs work things out in short order.

The hesitation that we feel when another dog approaches can be well founded, but more often it’s just humans projecting our own sensibilities into our dogs. Humans have what we call “personal space”. The human concept of personal space extends outward from our bodies to about 18 to 36 inches and varies with different cultures. When another human invades our personal space we become agitated and defensive. This is not necessarily the case with dogs.

Dogs don’t have the same concept of personal space that we have. Of course dogs can be trained to defend territories and/or resources, but a dog on neutral ground will generally not feel compelled to defend his “personal space”. Perhaps this is can be attributed to the way a dog experiences his world which is largely olfactory. The dog’s nose is so much more sensitive than ours that it’s difficult to imagine what their world “looks” like. Researchers say that the dog’s brain devotes a larger portion to the sense of smell than human brains devote to vision.

When you think about the way that humans experience the world, it is almost inseparable with our vision. Our sense of sight shapes us as organisms and it shapes the manner in which we interact with the world and with each other. Light travels into our eyes and the optic nerve sends the signals to the brain where they are processed.

The olfactory sense is different in that smells, which are particles of matter, are inhaled into the body. The dogs’ ability to process these signals is amazing, but what is perhaps even more significant is that the dog is actually breathing his world in. Rather than experiencing the world through light rays that reflect off objects and enter the eyes, the dog experiences the world by breathing it in and out.

With this in mind, it’s easier to understand why our concept of personal space doesn’t really apply to dogs. They experience so much of the world by breathing it right into their bodies that it just makes sense to them to get up close and personal to anything they encounter and sniff it right in. Many times I’ve seen dog owners embarrassed and horrified when their dog sniffs another dog’s butt or genitals. What we might call “private areas” simply don’t exist for dogs. After all, the odors from these so called “private areas” are readily detectable by the canine from great distances. A good, close-range sniff is probably just a way to confirm the identity of a person or another dog.

At my training class I tell people to encourage their dogs to sniff and get acquainted with the other dogs. When two dogs are sniffing each other’s rear ends there is rarely any aggression involved. They’re just getting to know each other. The only time we really need to be cautious is when they show signs of aggression like bared teeth, raised hackles, growling, etc. These aggression signals nearly always come when the dogs are face to face.

If you have a “Teenage Dog In Trouble” or if you just think your dog could benefit from some additional socialization in a safe and controlled environment you should know that these classes will continue through winter and spring. The dates are as follows:

Jan. 17 through Feb. 21

Feb. 28 through April 3

April 24 through May 29

Each class is 6 weeks long and we meet on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at Sprinker Recreation Center. Registration is through Pierce County Parks and Recreation. You can register online at

http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/services/recreate/rec_class-adults.htm#Dog/Puppy%20Classes

2011-11-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

The correct answer to the October quiz question is Alaskan Malamute.

The winner was drawn from the names of those who answered the quiz question correctly.

And the winner is:

Andrea Tilson

Congratulations Andrea!
Drop by the store any time during business hours for your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate

September Quiz Winner

2011-10-10T12:11:00.001-07:00

The correct answer to the September quiz question is Newfoundland Retriever.

The winner was drawn from the names of those who answered the quiz question correctly.

And the winner is:

Kelly O'Leary

Congratulations Kelly!
Drop by the store any time during business hours for your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate

Dawson's First Pheasant Hunt

2011-10-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday and Sunday, September 24^th and 25^th I was privileged to take part as a volunteer in the annual youth pheasant hunt on Fort Lewis. This is my second year working with the pheasant release volunteers and I still had fresh memories of smiling faces and excited kids from last year’s hunt.

Kaia also volunteered! Together we worked to hunt up the birds that had been released in the field early that morning. Another volunteer from Pheasants Forever kept track of the kids who needed dogs and paired them up with volunteers who had bird hunting dogs.

Kaia and I were paired up with a young man named Dawson. Dawson’s Dad and Granddad were also coming along to observe. When the hunt started at 8:00 AM we began working our way through the knolls and the briars that dot this section of prairie. With a big chunk of ground to ourselves, we worked from West to East allowing a light southerly breeze to carry the pheasant perfume to Kaia’s sensitive nose.

Our hunt lasted about an hour. We had our misses and we watched a few birds fly away without firing a shot, but we also had one spectacular bird that I’ll remember for a long time. We were plowing through scotch broom and winding our way through blackberry briars. Dad and Granddad were in tow, close behind us.

Kaia was working around a thick patch of blackberries when we watched her shove her way into the middle of the briars. “Watch the dog”, I said to Dawson, “There’s gotta be one in there or she wouldn’t be plowing in like that!” Dawson could have been boring holes through the bramble with his eyes. His form was perfect; he was locked into a level of focus and attention that we seldom see in kids these days.

“He should come up out of the briars and you’ll be clear to shoot in that direction Dawson.” The boy nodded and remained focused on the bush where Kaia was thrashing. The bird was holding tight and time was holding even tighter as a few slow seconds ticked by punctuated only by the rattle of blackberry vines as Kaia pushed deeper into the berry patch trying to get whatever was hiding there.

When the rooster flushed we could see immediately that he was a nice, big, pheasant cock. His long tail wobbled in the characteristic fashion of a rooster that is scratching for altitude as fast as he can get it. Dad and Grandpa, who had been trying their best to keep quiet and allow me to steer the hunt, could not resist shouting, “There he is, Dawson, there! There!

Dawson mounted his shotgun and swung on the bird. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of the instruction he’d received was flying through his mind at the moment, “don’t shoot until the bird’s higher than a man’s height, pay attention to your background, don’t release the safety until you’re ready to shoot, remember the gun has two triggers, keep both eyes open, keep the gun swinging, be prepared for a follow up shot if necessary”, and a bunch of other stuff that he’d heard at least a thousand times.

Kids tend to listen when you teach them about guns. There’s something about the rare combination of excitement, responsibility and the absolute need to pay attention that seems to help them focus and learn. Dawson was no exception, and I took my eyes off the bird and the dog just long enough to see him pause as the bird rocketed upwards and finally leveled off at about 25 feet off the ground. The big rooster was kicking in the afterburners and headed away from us on a slight right to left angle.

Dawson fired and the big rooster folded immediately, plummeting earthward and landing in a small patch of brush near a fir tree. Kaia froze and her gaze was locked on me, awaiting my instruction. Dawson was grinning from here to ear, his Dad and Grandpa let out a big cheer as Dawson pressed the button that returned the shotgun to the safe position.

I shouted, “Kaia!” and the yellow lab launched like a rocket toward the bush where the pheasant had fallen. We watched as she crashed into the brush and disappeared, her tail spinning behind her like a single-bladed propeller. She emerged a minute later with the bird in her mouth and ran towards the group of three men and a young boy who was basking in the glory of his first successful pheasant hunt.

Kaia delivered the bird to my hand and I passed the brightly colored rooster to the smiling kid who had earned it. I recalled Dawson from his Hunter Education class where I volunteered as an instructor. He’s a bright young kid who is attentive and respectful. I congratulated him and told him that he had done a fine job. “Dawson, you are welcome in my hunting party any time”.

Later that morning the crew from Pheasants Forever sponsored a tasty lunch with hamburgers and hotdogs. I watched Dawson munching his burger, his thoughts were obviously miles away or maybe just a few hundred yards away in the field where he had just crossed over the threshold into a space that only hunters occupy.

I hope Dawson kept a tail feather from that bird and I hope he’ll remember the hunt as long as I will.

How to Fail at Dog Training

2011-10-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

One sure way to fail at dog training is to allow yourself to get angry at the dog. Anger tends to cloud our judgement and make us poor, heavy handed trainers. In addition to it's effect on us, anger also has a profound effect on our student, the dog.

Humans have a substance that is secreted from the pores of our skin whenever we are under any kind of emotional stress. This substance is called butyric acid. This substance can be detected by dogs at concentrations as low as 10 ppb (parts per billion)!

Trainers and authors Milo Pearsall and Hugo Verbruggen MD put this into perspective with this analogy:

One of the substances released by human perspiration is butyric acid. If one gram of this chemical (one small drop in the bottom of a teaspoon) were to be spread throughout a ten story building, a person could smell it at the window, only at the moment of release. If this same amount were spread over the entire city of Philadelphia, a dog could smell it anywhere, even up to an altitude of 300 feet.

This example shows how sensitive dogs are to butyric acid and it lends credence to the old adage that “dogs can smell fear”.

When you get angry or irritated, even before you actually notice that you are perspiring; your pores have excreted enough of this substance to be easily detected by your dog. Not only does he detect the scent, but it’s so powerful that it’s like the olfactory equivalent of a full volley of Fourth of July fireworks going off all around you.

There is no question that your dog knows when you are angry or under any other form of emotional stress. The wild card hits the table in the form of your dog’s reaction to your emotional stress. Dogs react differently to your anger according to their own personal traits. One of the most common reactions is for the dog to simply fold or give up. This is the usual reaction in dogs that have a soft or subordinate personality. Other dogs that possess more dominant traits may react to your anger with aggression of their own.

Regardless of the dog’s reaction, it is counterproductive to training and, if allowed to continue, these reactions can spiral into a vicious circle with your anger feeding the dog’s reaction causing more irritation on your part and on and on….

So, how do we avoid these kinds of situations? We hear so often today about things like “anger management” and we hear of people talking about “controlling their anger”. Is anger management useful for us as dog trainers? Unfortunately, no, managing or controlling your anger doesn’t really help. Once you’ve allowed the emotion to manifest in your mind, no amount of “anger management” or control can prevent the excretion of butyric acid from your pores.

This brings us to one of the most important lessons that I have learned from dogs as I’ve worked with them: Don’t Get Angry. See how this is different than anger management or controlling your anger? If you just avoid the emotion entirely, there’s nothing to manage, nothing that needs to be controlled. I know it seems pretty obvious but at the same time I can hear you asking, “sure Jon, great advice, but how do you prevent yourself from getting angry in the first place?”

This is the part that I learned from working with dogs. The more time you spend observing your dog, the better you become at predicting his behavior in any given situation. This is where all the walking and observing really pays off. If you spend enough time just observing your dog, you’ll know what he’s going to do when that cute sheltie from down the street walks by. You’ll be prepared for his barking. You’ll know that he’s going to run down the driveway like a wild animal and you know that trying to intervene and stop him at this point is an exercise in futility. You’ve just made an accurate prediction of your dog’s behavior. You know what to expect so you can prepare for his anticipated behavior rather than waste your energy on getting angry.

Have you ever noticed that your angry reaction is usually caused by something that surprises you? It’s when someone or something in our life does something totally unpredictable that we react with anger. Shrinks tell us that anger is grounded in fear. Is it our fear of unpredictable situations that causes us to become angry? Probably.

The trick to this whole thing is to remember to predict your dog’s behavior so that you don’t find yourself being surprised by unwanted behavior. If a walk to the dog park usually results in a tug of war, then you can predict that behavior the next time you get out the leash and head for the park. If Fido has developed the habit of barking at every dog that goes down your street, then you can predict this behavior and you can predict the kinds of things that will set off the behavior. Rather than get mad at Fido for the umpteenth time, you can predict the situation and choose whether you want to take action to either avoid the situation or correct the behavior.

Remember, your chances of successfully correcting unwanted behavior are much higher when you approach the situation without all that anger and butyric acid oozing from your pores.

August Quiz Winner

2011-09-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

The correct answer to the August quiz question is Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
The winner was drawn from the names of those who answered the quiz question correctly.

And the winner is:

Carol Fox

Congratulations Carol!
Drop by the store any time during business hours for your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate

We're All Ears!

2011-09-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you’ve noticed that the newsletter is late this month? I apologize for the delay. We’ve had a hectic two weeks at “Casa Woofer”! Of course blaming the delay on our hectic lifestyle is just a red herring to avoid the real truth that we gave ourselves an extended Labor Day weekend off. Then, to make the delay even longer, Vee, Kaia, and I spent an entire week rattling around in the mountains near Republic WA, hunting for grouse. I’ve written about that in the article entitled, “Our Time”, so I won’t drag it out more here.

Otherwise we’ve been busy trying to find new ways to make Woofers a better store for you and your dog. We want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to our recent survey. There was actually a great deal of positive feedback and we were flattered to read your compliments. Thank You!

We paid special attention to the respondents who provided suggestions for improving Woofers. One theme that seems to run through the survey like a golden thread is the request for more “Good Deals”. It’s obvious from the results that everyone is trying to find a way to get their dollar to stretch a bit farther in this difficult economy. Lyn and I have been discussing ways for us to help stretch your dollar at Woofers. We decided to start with one of the most requested items which is a coupon for grooming. So, this month you’ll find a coupon for 5 dollars off any Full Groom or Bath & Brush service. You don’t have to actually print out the coupon, just mention the ad when you pick up your dog and we’ll knock five bucks off your bill!

We hope you’ll find this valuable and tell our friends and neighbor about us too!

Other suggestions from the survey include specials on Dog food and rewards for customer loyalty. We’re working on the dog food part, but maybe we haven’t been pro-active enough about promoting our loyalty-rewards program which we call “Goodie Bucks”. The way it works: we keep a card on file and record the subtotal of all your purchases. After six purchases, we ad up the sub-totals (before tax) and credit you back 5% that you can use on grooming, food, or anything else in the store. If you aren’t signed up yet please remember to let us know next time you’re in the store. We’ll try harder to get the word out too.

If you have any other ideas about how we can make Woofers a better store for you and your dog, please don’t be shy about sharing your ideas with us. We’re all ears!

Our Time

2011-09-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Experienced grouse hunters will tell you that grouse hunting success is measured not by the number of birds brought to bag, but by the number of birds found and flushed by a good grouse dog. Using this as a measure, I can say that Kaia, Vee, and I had a great hunt during the opening week of the Washington grouse season.

We left for our cabin in Republic on Wednesday the 31^st of August so that we would be well rested and ready to hunt on opening morning which was Thursday, September 1^st. It’s a seven hour drive to the cabin. The dogs slept most of the way. We arrived to find the sun shining and the temperature in the mid eighties. Daytime temperatures remained above 80 degrees for our whole trip, topping 95 degrees at least two days. Anyone who works dogs in these conditions knows how important it is to keep several gallons of cold water on hand. I also carried a quart bottle in my hunting pack and stopped frequently to let my dog drink.

We concentrated our hunting effort to the hours before noon and also the last two hours before dark. These hours will often find the birds on or near forest roads, seeking grit for their gizzards. A common way to hunt grouse consists of nothing more than driving the roads at dawn and dark and shooting birds off the edge of logging roads. I won’t criticize this practice, but we enjoy parking the truck and walking through the mountain meadows and pine groves in search of Blue Grouse. Nearly all of our birds are flushed by the dog and shot on the wing. We enjoy doing things the old way.

I had expected the hunting to be less than spectacular this year because I know that there was an exceptionally wet spring in the area. A cold, wet spring usually means poor survival rates for grouse chicks and this leads to poor hunting. Last year we saw very few young birds because of poor brood survival in the spring. For one reason or another, that was not the case this year. We found young birds in all the usual places and we also discovered some good areas that were new to us.

Kaia is proving to be an excellent grouse hunter! Last year was her first season and I hunted her together with my older dog, Vee. This year Vee stayed at the cabin most days because she’s simply too old for the rigors of a ten mile hike in the mountains. She did come with us on a couple of short hunts and it was truly remarkable to see the drive the old girl still possesses. I’m sure she would hunt herself to death if I allowed that to happen.

Vee was with us on the hunt when I dropped a large, adult, male grouse whose forward momentum carried him a good forty yards down the mountain, into a thick patch of brush and choke cherries. I released both dogs to search for the downed bird, but it was Vee who finally found the prize after a brush-busting search that lasted at least 15 minutes. Kaia was still plowing around where the bird had originally flushed when Vee delivered the large grouse to my hand. The old girl seemed to have a bit of swagger in her step as she trotted past Kaia to make the delivery. It’s heart warming to see that, even in dog-world, age and experience sometimes have the advantage over youth and vigor.

I don’t want you to get the impression that Kaia was a slouch though! Over the week we hunted, she found and flushed well over a hundred birds. Our morning hunts involved hikes that averaged about 8 miles through mountainous terrain every day. She kept up her enthusiasm throughout the whole trip, performing well above my expectations and bringing birds to bag on each hunt.

In the evenings the dogs laid around the cabin, occasionally cocking an ear as if to listen and check the veracity of the hunting stories that were being traded. Of course, there were extra rations for the hard working dogs. I made sure that they had a good helping of the grouse that they had earned each day. The legs and thighs of adult birds can be tough fare for us two-legers, but they are prized delicacies to the dogs.

Each season I save a tail feather or two from particularly memorable birds. Perhaps it was a difficult shot or an unusually pretty bird. Sometimes it’s because it was the only bird we found on a long, strenuous hunt. The feathers are all stuffed into the visor on the driver’s side of my pickup. Each one reminds me of its circumstance, a difficult hunt, a beautiful bird, a great piece of dog work. A new feather was placed there this year to remind me of Vee’s great retrieve. As I write this, she is curled up next to my desk. Her breathing is even, but heavy, the contented sound of an old girl whose best hunting is all behind her.

It’s time to wrap up this letter so I can go get a special grouse out of the freezer. You see, I have dinner date with a dear friend tonight.

Quiz Winner!

2011-08-02T10:38:00.001-07:00

The correct answer to the July quiz question is Karelian Bear Dog.
The winner was drawn from the names of those who answered the quiz question correctly.

And the winner is:

Anita Hays

Congratulations Anita!
Drop by the store any time during business hours for your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate

Kaia Kaboom!

2011-08-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 30, Kaia and I took part in one of the Hunting Retriever Club’s oldest traditions. When a dog has successfully completed all the tests in one level and they are ready to advance to the next level, they receive a title. Kaia got her Started Hunting Retriever (SHR) title last year. This summer Kaia completed 3 tests and earned her Hunting Retriever (HR) title.

The next level for Kaia will be the Champion Hunting Retriever title. There are still a few tests in our area before the hunting season begins, but we will probably wait until next year before we pursue the Champion title.

At the awards ceremony following a test, each handler whose dog has succeeded in passing the test receives a ribbon and a certificate that documents the points received that day. For those handlers whose dogs have accumulated enough points to win a title there awaits a special award that is a Hunting Retriever Club tradition.

The judges for each class read off the names of the successful dogs. As a dog’s name is called out, the dog’s handler steps forward and receives the point-certificate and ribbon and thanks the judges. If the dog has accumulated enough points to earn a title the other handlers who are present will begin to chant (loudly) “Title, title, title…”

At this point several members from the audience of handlers appear and the newly awarded handler is asked (or compelled) to sit in a chair facing the audience. Several more handlers appear as if by magic and each of them has a large bucket of the coldest water they can find. (Yes, ice cubes are permitted).

A judge may proclaim, “Your dog took the water for you; now you take the water for your dog!” Then the handler gets several buckets of cold water dumped over their head and anywhere else the helpful co-handlers deem fit to drench the hapless “winner”.

I can tell you from my own experience that the amount of water and force with which it is thrown is usually proportionate to the number of friends the handler has in the audience. It seems the friendlier you are, the wetter you get! A rough estimate of the water I took would be somewhere around 20 gallons, but honestly, after about the fifth bucket I lost track.

Kaia was watching the whole thing from the door of our camper. Most of you who are reading this will agree that dogs definitely have a sense of humor. If you had any doubts about a dog’s ability to laugh; I can tell you right now that they can. I know of at least one dog that can actually do a real belly laugh.

Her name is: Hunting Retriever Tri Labs Kaia Kaboom!

Dog Juggling!

2011-08-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

There’s been a lot of dog juggling at Woofers lately. Ginger has come in heat again. We don’t intend to breed her this time, so we have to keep her separated from young Fred. We solved this by farming him out to our daughter, Kailin, who you also know from Woofers. So, for the first week of Ginger’s cycle Kailin kept Fred at her house together with her pup, Ellie, from the same litter. Kailin had her hands full with two young Golden Doodles romping in her house.

We thought it was pretty good arrangement until Kailin discovered that Ellie was also beginning her first cycle! Now Kailin has Ginger and Ellie at her house and we are keeping Fred with us. All the dogs usually come to work with us but we’ve had to make other arrangements for Fred while Ginger and Ellie are both in heat.

Poor Fredman has been shifted from pillar to post, spending some days with my parents and other days Lyn or I just have to stay home and watch the dogs. To further complicate matters, Lyn just left on a four day trip to Canada with her girlfriends. Kailin and I are in charge of the entire dog juggling show for the next four days. With a little luck we’ll get to the end of next week before Kaia comes into heat!

I can already hear the chorus of voices saying, “Get ‘em spayed or neutered!” Trust me, when it’s time, we will. Until then we just have to be really careful and keep juggling!

Dog Food Wars

2011-07-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

We have always been cordial with the other pet businesses in our area. We don’t really view them as competition because there are more than enough dogs in our town to keep us all busy. So we were sad to learn that Pac Ave Pets was closing last month. They have been a part of our neighborhood for years and we will miss them.

Shortly after they closed we got a visit from a salesman who represented one of the BIG players in the pet food industry. He informed us that we were being considered as a replacement for Pac Ave Pets to carry their line of pet food. He showed us numbers and statistics that painted a pretty picture of the lucrative profits we could earn if we brought in their line of products.

I let the salesman know I objected to the prevalence of corn and other grains in his company’s food. He presented me with a nutrition book that appeared to have all the heft of Oxfords English Dictionary and referred to the tons of research that his firm had sponsored to find the right way to achieve proper canine nutrition with corn based food.

I thought about his presentation with the big fat book, the research and all the so-called science behind his company’s product. As I mulled this stuff over in my brain a couple of things bubbled to the surface.

One: if a company can afford to spend a bajillion dollars on research to justify corn based dog food, then there must be a heck of a lot of money in manufacturing pet food!

Two: It is entirely possible that they have found a way to manufacture nutritional dog food for a carnivorous animal out of vegetable matter. But this begs the question: Why? If we know that dogs are carnivores, (and we do) why would we move heaven and earth to find a way to feed them corn? The obvious answer is:

MONEY. They use corn because it’s cheaper than the dog’s natural protein source which is meat.

Corn is used in dog food to make the food cheap to produce and cheap to buy. There is no other reason to put corn in dog food. Yes, the manufacturers can produce a corn-based kibble that provides complete nutrition according to the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) but is it the best for the dog? No, it’s the most profitable for the company that makes the food.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with making a profit. I just wonder what else they’re willing to compromise to make money. The answer is right there on the ingredient label, “poultry byproduct meal”. This is the stuff they can’t even use to make chicken nuggets. They can’t feed it to humans. They don’t even have to tell you what kind of bird it came from. Who knows?

At the end of the day the well informed consumer will make the decision:

Do I want to feed my dog a food that is cheap or do I want to feed my dog the food that most closely resembles the natural diet of canines?

When you see more than 150 dogs every week, you get a chance to see the results of those decisions. Some dogs can eat the cheapest food available and get away with it, at least while they’re young. It’s kind of like people, I guess. I used to be able to eat junk food every day without any ill effects. Now that I’m older the results are very different. A week of junk food means lower energy and a bigger number when I step on the scale.

Since dogs eat the same food every day, it’s important too feed them a healthy diet. Just like us, a sustained junk food diet will eventually lead to health problems and medical bills.

We won’t be stocking the BIG brand that is full of corn. You can already get that stuff at the grocery store if you want it. You will see some changes in our food soon though. We’re looking for a reasonably priced upright freezer so we can stock in some raw bones and other healthy stuff!

Best Woofs!

Jon & Lyn Borcherding

June Quiz Winner

2011-07-05T08:35:00.001-07:00

The correct answer to the June quiz question is Saluki.
The winner was drawn from the names of those who answered the quiz question correctly.

And the winner is:

Janis Vicente

Congratulations Janis!
Drop by the store any time during business hours for your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate

Sit Means Sit!

2011-07-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently returned from the Hunting Retriever Club’s Grand Championship in Georgia. Unfortunately, his dog was unable to complete the series of five tests needed for the Grand Champion Pass. Two of these passes, together with an accumulation of points from earlier tests, are needed to earn the Grand Title. This is not unusual. Of the 424 dogs that were testing, only 57 were able to complete all five days of testing to earn 40 points toward the prestigious title. The field of 424 dogs produced 11 new Grand Hunting Retriever Champions.

My friend has a long history of training HRC dogs, and I frequently turn to him for advice when Kaia and I hit a snag in our training. I asked him what skill I should concentrate on the most if I was interested in taking Kaia to the Grand. I was not really surprised when he replied, “sit”.

“Most failed tests are lost at the line.” It’s an often repeated bit of wisdom that most hunt-tests that are failed are lost right at the starting line before the dog is even sent to make a retrieve. This is because a dog is required to sit attentively at the retrieving line and watch as multiple retrieves are thrown and shot. The dog must remember the location of each bird or bumper so that he can retrieve them as directed by the handler. Any squirming or inattention at the line can lead to missed birds and lost points or complete failure.

Once the dog has been sent from the line, the sit command is just as important because a dog that is being directed to a blind retrieve (one he has not seen from the line) must be commanded to sit before he can be directed by hand signals to the position of the blind retrieve.

The reason I’m telling you this is that I’m trying to show the importance of the sit command and how vital this command is, even for dogs that are competing at the highest levels in their sport. The sit command is just as important for all dogs, even if they never put a paw in an obedience ring or step to the line at the Grand.

Here’s a story that shows how important it is to teach your dog the sit command:

I was walking Kaia early one morning in an open training area on Ft. Lewis. Kaia was running ahead of me in the brush along Muck Creek. She was having a fantastic time sniffing for birds and splashing through every mud puddle she could find.

I spotted the heap of old razor wire at the same instant that I saw her change course and run directly toward it. I had no time to think about the situation. I grabbed the whistle that is constantly hanging on a lanyard around my neck and blew the single, short blast that means “sit” to her.

I heard her yelp as she sat amid the looping coils of razor wire. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me and reached her a few seconds later. She was sitting calmly with her right front leg outstretched and caught on a strand of that nasty wire. I was able to free her and treated her for a small cut on her foreleg. I still shudder every time I think about what could have happened if she had plowed into the razor wire at full speed.

At the time of this incident Kaia was less than a year old. At that age she was already pretty solid on the sit command because we had been working on it since she was a little puppy. Even though her formal obedience training didn’t begin until she was 6 months old, we had been incorporating the sit command into games and even requiring a sit before mealtimes.

Now, imagine your dog slipping from his collar while you are getting him out of the car at the vet’s office; or imagine him bolting towards a cat that he’s spotted on the other side of a busy street. What if your dog charged into a field of cattle? What if she was running straight toward the cliff at Point Defiance? You don’t have to encounter razor wire to have a “razor wire moment.” Having the ability to command your dog into an immediate sit can save his life.

Most trainers agree that the sit command is the foundation for all obedience training. The command tells the dog three important things:

First, it tells him to stop whatever he is doing. He can’t sit and run at the same time, and he can’t jump on anyone while he is sitting!

Second, it tells him to focus his attention on you.

Third, the sit command establishes and reinforces the dog’s subordinate position in your relationship. The act of sitting, focusing on you and acknowledging your leadership, prepares the dog for your next command.

There are several different ways to teach the sit command. Most of them can be sorted under the two different schools of thought in dog training: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement rewards desired behavior and negative reinforcement corrects undesired behavior.

The word, “punishment” is often used to describe the process of negative reinforcement. This is inaccurate because the word “punishment” carries with it the concepts of good and evil, sin and atonement, and a whole bunch of other moral gobbledygook that dogs just don’t understand.

Rather than think of correction as punishment, it’s important to understand that a dog will respond to correction because it is the path of least resistance. In other words, the dog will perform the desired behavior if it is more comfortable than being corrected for the undesired behavior. It is absolutely vital that the dog understand what behavior is being commanded before he is corrected for undesired behavior.

Positive reinforcement, or reward-based training is very useful in teaching a dog what behavior is desired. At some point we need the dog to perform these desired behaviors without reward. Some dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement. As a behavior becomes a conditioned response the reward can be gradually eliminated. Other dogs can be taught behaviors using positive reinforcement and then some negative reinforcement may be necessary to overcome the dog’s self-directed behavior until a desired behavior becomes a conditioned response.

Some trainers adhere to one form or the other with religious conviction. There are positive reinforcement trainers who view negative reinforcement as torture. There are negative reinforcement trainers who label the other camp as “cookie trainers”, claiming that positive reinforcement is nothing but bribery.

Rather than insisting that a dog be trained with a certain underlying philosophy, some trainers have jettisoned the ideological approach and use whatever method is the most effective for the dog. These trainers will place a greater emphasis on observing the dog and his responses so that the most effective methods can be employed with the individual animal at different levels of training. It is still important to make the distinction between the two training approaches so that the choice of proper approach can be a conscious decision rather than a chance discovery on the part of the trainer.

Regardless of how you train your dog, the foundation upon which your training is built is the sit command. The better you and your dog understand this, the farther you both can go in your skill level and the better chance you have of avoiding disaster when you face your “razor wire moment.”

May 2011 Quiz Winner

2011-06-01T10:46:00.001-07:00

The correct answer to the May quiz question is Cocker Spaniel. Lots of people provided the right answer. Maybe the question was too easy?
The winner was drawn from the names of those who answered the quiz question correctly.

And the winner is:

Kim Knox

Congratulations Kim!
Drop by the store any time during business hours for your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate

He's Never Done THAT Before!

2011-06-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

It happens at least once a week. Someone will bring their dog in for nail trim and when we bring the dog back to the owner we have to tell them that their dog tried to bite us. Occasionally the owner will say, “Oh, he always does that, he hates having his nails trimmed.” When an owner knows that his dog bites and fails to tell us, we naturally feel that we should be allowed to bite the owner with complete impunity. But sometimes the owner is surprised and tells us, “He’s never done that before!”

When we were just getting started at this we would often feel defensive in these kinds of situations. It was almost like the owner believed that since the dog hadn’t displayed this behavior before, that it must be our fault. Honestly, I have to admit we do have some customers who seem to believe this, but more often than not the customer is just shocked because they have never seen their dog try to bite anyone.

Why do dogs bite their groomers? What can we do to make the grooming process safer for the dogs and the groomers? Is it always the dogs fault?

Let’s try to answer that first question. Dogs bite groomers and other service providers for a number of different reasons. The dogs that bite us the most tend to be the smaller dogs and nearly all of these dogs have one thing in common. Their owners carry them as opposed to walking them on a lead. Dogs that get carried often enough will develop an extremely territorial attitude about their owners. When you bring this dog to the groomer and one of us tries to take the dog, he will defend your personal space. You can avoid letting your dog develop this behavior by teaching him to walk on a lead beside you.

Another situation where we get bit is the moment when we are getting a dog in or out of the kennel/crate. This is commonly referred to as kennel aggression. It’s not unusual for some dogs to resist being placed in a crate because they are frightened and often these same dogs will resist being removed from the crate for the same reason. This kind of problem is really easy to avoid at the puppy stage if the owner simply uses crate training as part of the puppy’s early learning.

If your dog is already an adult and he has never been crate trained, you can do him a big favor by getting a properly sized crate and getting him accustomed to it. This is easily accomplished with a little patience and a few treats. If the dog is extremely skeptical you can place his food dish in the crate at feeding time and leave the door open. He’ll figure out the rest of the drill all by himself. Once he can enter the crate without fear you can try closing the door for short periods of time, using treats as necessary to make the experience more attractive. If your dog ever needs to travel or spend any time at the vet he will be much better equipped to handle the experience if you have him crate trained.

Some dogs are what we call “head-shy” or, more commonly, “paw-shy”. This means that, for one reason or another, the dog is uncomfortable with having his head touched or having his paws touched. Some dog owners make excuses for their dogs, saying, “He was abused when he was little”, or “he was a rescue.”

While it may be true that the dog has experienced abuse or neglect, it does the dog no good whatsoever for his new guardian to hang on to that experience and make excuses for the dog. If a dog is displaying any kind of aggressive behavior it’s extremely important that his owner makes it abundantly clear to the dog that the behavior is undesirable.

This brings us to another way that we can help dogs be good citizens. If a dog is being fearful and aggressive at the groomer or the vet, it’s hugely important that we, as owners do not make that behavior worse by comforting the dog as he snarls at the vet tech or the groomer. When an owner comforts a dog that is snarling, snapping or behaving aggressively, what the dog thinks is that the owner approves of that behavior. In other words, the owner is actually setting the dog up for an escalation of aggressive behavior and ultimate failure with all the consequences that can entail for the dog!

Sometimes a dog can have so much pain or discomfort that he will bite or snap at a groomer or handler. Imagine if you had terrible joint pain and you were unable to tell anyone about it and you were forced to sit or stand in a way that made your pain unbearable. This can and does happen to dogs. The same is true for emotional pain. When something is happening in a dog’s home that causes him fear or anxiety he can become aggressive and snappy. If a dog-owner knows that his dog has pain due to an injury or health condition it’s important that the groomer has this information so she can take extra care not to make the pain worse.

If the dog is anxious because of something that’s happing at home it’s a good idea to let the groomer know so she can give the animal the extra care and patience that he might require. Last year one of our groomers was bitten by a dog that seemed completely normal until the moment he bit her. Later we learned that the dog’s owner was going through a family crisis and the dog had been left alone in a kennel without his usual portion of human contact. We didn’t need to know the nature of the family crisis, but knowing that things were difficult at home might have helped us prevent the bite from happening. The moral to this story is that communication can prevent a lot of unhappy endings.

So, is it always the dog’s fault when a groomer or service provider is bitten? No, of course not. Groomers and other dog handlers make mistakes just like everybody else. Sometimes we misread a dog’s signals or we forget to take proper precautions to prevent a bite. Sometimes we overestimate our abilities or we underestimate a dog’s level of aggression. We work every day to improve our dog handling skills because we realize that we are not perfect and that we will never know everything there is to know about dogs.

Still, it’s important to recognize that in our society the dog is always the one who gets the blame for a bite if it’s serious enough to cause injury to a human. As dog lovers, we need to take responsibility for our animals and take whatever steps are necessary to prevent aggressive behavior.

Quiz Question Winner!

2011-05-03T21:21:00.001-07:00

The name of the breed we were looking for is:
Irish Wolfhound
This was the breed of the dog in the poem by William Robert Spencer.
Our winner was drawn from those who answered the question correctly.
And the winner is...

Janna & Mike Carter

Congratulations Janna & Mike! Stop by Woofers any time this month and pick out $20 worth of free stuff or we can make out a gift certificate that you can use later.

Thanks to everybody who played and Good Luck with this month's question and drawing!

May 2011 Leader

2011-05-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

April came and went awfully fast didn't it? With April, came Easter and a sunny day or two. Ellie and Fredman discovered daffodils and promptly picked some for us. We were concerned because, as most of you probably know, daffodils can poison dogs. Fortunately they only got the flowers. It is the bulb of the daffodil that is poisonous to dogs and livestock. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your dog if you have daffodils in your yard, especially if he's a digger.

Kaia had her own way to celebrate Easter. She brought a live bunny to our back door on the Friday morning before Easter. She was definitely interested in keeping the rabbit, but we released the struggling bunny and gave Kaia her kibble instead.

I hope you all read and enjoy the article about The Walk in this months newsletter. The Walk has taught me more about my canine friends than anything else I've done. The picture above shows Ginger, Ellie and Fredman on their daily walk. It's easy to see how they feel about it!

Walk The Walk!

2011-05-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

We get a lot of comments from our customers about the 5 dogs we have at work with us every day. People see our dogs lying around behind the counter and often they’ll ask, jokingly, if they are real dogs. Or sometimes they’ll chuckle and ask us what kind of tranquilizers we give the dogs!

Well, first off, let me say that our dogs aren’t always so laid back. They have their rascally moments just like all dogs, but they are very relaxed most of the time and there’s a reason for that. Actually, it’s a secret that I learned years ago when I was training my first Labrador Retriever. I guess it’s not really a secret, but, considering that it’s one of the most fundamental elements of all dog training, you would think it would be better known and more widely practiced.

The big secret is simply called “The Walk.” When I say that it’s the most fundamental element of dog training, I want you to imagine me saying it with a very serious facial expression, because I really mean it! I consider “The Walk” so essential that all my dogs have started on this program on the very first day that I brought them home from their litters.

Allow me to digress for a minute and I’ll try to explain this better:

At Woofers, we see somewhere between 100 and 200 dogs every week. Naturally, we hear a lot of stories, happy stories and horror stories. One of the most common horror stories we hear is about the “Destroyer Dog.” This story usually begins with a younger dog who is exhibiting destructive behavior in the form of chewing, digging, tearing up flowers, etc. It’s not unusual for dog owners to be absolutely fed up with his digging, chewing, barking and general canine delinquency. Sometimes the owner is so disgusted with the dog at this point that they are almost ready to give up on him and take him to the pound (or worse).

When a dog-owner tells me this kind of story, I always respond with the same question: “what are you guys doing for exercise?” One of the most common answers I get goes something like this: “Oh, we have a huge back yard and he plays back there all day long. I don’t know where he finds the energy to destroy my house!”

Here’s my theory about where Fido is finding the energy to eat your furniture, even after he has played all day in your back yard:

Dogs have a special kind of energy. This energy is present in all dogs, even though it varies from one breed to another and from one individual to another. This particular form of energy can only be expended in one of two ways. It can be used in interaction with people; or it can manifest in the form of destructive behavior.

The reason Fido still has energy to shred your sofa and chew the leg off your kitchen table at night is because he spent all day locked in the back yard with no human interaction whatsoever.

Think about it, the very first dogs were simply wolves that discovered they could live easier by staying close to humans and eating scraps. Humans learned to appreciate the wolves for their ability to guard human territory and for their ability to find and kill other animals for food. As this symbiotic relationship developed, humans began to meddle in the breeding of these wild animals, producing ever more domesticated versions of what we now call “dog”. Through thousands of years of breeding and domestication, we have produced animals which are no longer emotionally capable of living without human interaction.

So, that animal locked in your back yard is the result of thousands of years of breeding, intended to make him your ideal guardian and hunting companion. He possesses a special form of energy that drives his desire for your approval and interaction. What is Fido supposed to do with all this energy?

Oh, but your dog is just a little, tiny Chihuahua? It doesn’t matter. All dogs are descended from that first wolf that sat just outside the glow of some cave-clan’s fire, waiting to be thrown a scrap or two. They all possess the same genes that, for thousands of years, were selected to produce animals willing to cooperate with humans.

The best thing you can possibly do to provide your dog with an opportunity to burn this energy is to take him on “The Walk”. Just so you know, I didn’t invent “The Walk”. I stumbled on its importance by accident. Later, I read about it extensively in the writings of some of the best dog trainers I know, including Mike Gould, Bill Tarrant, and Julie Knudson, just to name a few. All of these well known trainers write about the importance of The Walk.

What’s the big deal about The Walk and what makes it different from the common, suburban dog-walk? For starters you need some open space. Your neighborhood streets won’t work. A stroll down your long driveway to get the mail isn’t enough either. You and your dog really need some open space. We all know how hard it can be to find open space nowadays. Fortunately, we have lots of it in our state. If you live near a wooded area you might be able to use the woods near where you live. Perhaps there’s some farmland nearby where you could get permission to walk your dog. There are beaches, National Forests, State Timber Lands and even some off-leash dog parks will work if you get there when it's not crowded. Ft Lewis also allows public access to some of its training areas. Whatever you have to do, find some open space where you can let your dog run.

Here’s the general procedure for The Walk: Drive to your place. Let the dog out of the car, without a leash. Start walking! Don’t call the dog or praise or encourage him in any way. Avoid talking at all. Just walk. He may not follow you at first. He may charge off in the opposite direction. If he’s a puppy he will probably stay so close to you that you’ll have to be careful not to stumble or step on him. Avoid well worn roads or trails. You want the dog to experience the habitat in as natural a form as possible. Of course, you may want to avoid thick brush. You don’t want your pup to get lost. Let him find his own way around obstacles. Don’t wait for him to sniff every bush, just keep going, he’ll catch up!

Eventually your pup will get bolder and he’ll begin to run out in front of you. He’ll learn to look back to see where you are and where you’re going. You’ll be amazed to see that after only a few weeks your dog will begin to read your body language and it will seem as if he knows which way you’re going before you do!

During the walk, you can learn things about your dog that you can’t learn any other way. It’s important to observe the dog carefully, try to keep an open mind and withhold judgment about his abilities, senses and talents. As humans, it’s second nature for us to judge everything. We have a natural inclination to quantify and qualify all our observations and to draw conclusions. You want to avoid that and just observe as much as possible.

While you’re walking, learning and observing, your dog is also learning about his natural habitat. He’s sniffing coyote poop and other animal scents. He’s learning about all the different plants he encounters, trees, brush, sticker bushes. He finds birds, rabbits, mice, insects and all the rest of creation and all of the accompanying scents. He’s learning about you and your habits too. He senses your reaction to your surroundings. All of these details add up in his dog-mind. They engage a part of your dog that can’t be exercised any other way.

After a week or two of doing “The Walk” every day, you will be amazed at the bond that is building between you and your dog. You’ll find that he is more calm and relaxed. The younger your dog is when you get started, the better it is for both of you. Puppies can begin “The Walk” as soon as you bring them home. Just remember to keep the walks short, maybe 15 or 20 minutes to start. It’s not an endurance test! As your puppy matures you can stretch the walks out to as much as an hour or more if you have the time. The only thing to avoid in terms of time is that you don’t want the dog to become exhausted. In other words, never allow the walk to go on so long that the dog wants to quit.

Keep in mind that, since he’s off leash, your dog is covering a lot more ground than you are. In fact, if you put a GPS tracking collar on your dog, you would see that for every mile you walk your dog will cover about 5 to 7 miles!

There are, of course, some disclaimers. If you have a hound dog that ignores you and slavishly follows his nose you might need to keep a lead on him. The same applies to any other dog that is extremely independent. My experience is that just about any dog will return to you eventually, but it may take a lot longer than you are willing to wait. Another cautionary measure is to leave a 6 foot long rope attached to the dog to make it easier to catch him if you think it might be necessary.

It’s up to you to decide what safety measures you think are necessary, just remember that the object of the whole walk is to get the dog off leash so he can be a dog in his natural habitat. It might not be easy. You may need to drive some distance to find the right place. I still urge you to do whatever you have to do to get your dog on The Walk.

But what if you live in the city and there’s just not enough time for you to go out to the country for The Walk every day? I understand that it can be impossible for some folks to find time for daily walks. For those of you who are in this situation, I urge you to get out for The Walk as often as you can. On the days when you can’t go on The Walk, keep in mind that the most important ingredient is human interaction. Find a game you can play that provides lots of interaction. Even if it’s just playing fetch with a tennis ball or Frisbee or maybe running some agility drills, the human interaction involved in these games provides a release for your dog’s energy.

As I sit here typing these words, Vee and Kaia are lying on the photo stage behind the counter at Woofers. Ginger is sitting near Lyn’s feet while Ellie and Fred Man sleep soundly on their pillows. It’s a busy Saturday, but they barely notice as customers come and go with their newly groomed dogs. All five of the dogs had a good walk on Ft. Lewis this morning. When things get really busy and I feel the stress of trying to manage all these people and dogs, I just think of my young Kaia crashing through the cattails with her coat full of swamp-mud and a huge doggy grin on her face. It helps me relax too.

Five Dirty Tricks Used On Dog Food Labels and How to Spot them

2011-04-05T14:13:00.001-07:00

Dog Food Label Dirty Trick #1: Listing Order

The ingredients are listed in the order that they occur in the food, by weight before processing.

To illustrate how this works, let’s pretend we have a food that only contains four ingredients:

1. Fresh Deboned Chicken

2. Ground Yellow Corn

3. Poultry Byproduct Meal

4. Poultry Fat

Judging by this list, we could easily be led to believe that there is more “Fresh Deboned Chicken” in the food than anything else. Actually there is more fresh deboned chicken than anything else, before the food is processed. This is where the con-game starts! If you’ve ever made jerky or dehydrated meat of any kind, you probably know that at least 80 percent of a chicken’s weight is water. So, if the “Fresh Deboned Chicken weighed 10 pounds before processing, that same amount of chicken weighs less than 2 pounds after it gets dried during processing.

In other words, the food that we thought was mostly “Fresh Deboned Chicken” actually contains more “Ground Yellow Corn” than anything else. We have no way of knowing how much chicken is actually in the dry processed food. All we know is that the “Fresh Deboned Chicken”, in its wet state before processing, was heavier than the other ingredients.

Let’s take a look at another part of the dog food label, the “Guaranteed Analysis”. The Guaranteed Analysis shows the make-up of the food with regard to protein, fat, fiber and moisture. The two most important parts of the analysis are the protein and fat content. The value of fiber in a dog’s diet is a matter of some contention and we won’t address that here.

Most commercial dog kibble will have a protein-content from about 20% to over 40%, depending on the brand and nutrition philosophy of the manufacturer. There is a lot of debate about the proper amount of protein for a healthy dog’s diet. We’ll try not to get bogged down in that debate either. The reason I’m bringing up protein content and the “Guaranteed Analysis” part of the label is because I have come to believe that the source of a dog’s dietary protein is almost as important as the amount of protein in his diet.

Dog Food Labels Dirty Trick #2: Protein Sources

If we look back to our example-food above, we recall that it has only four ingredients. The first ingredient was Fresh Deboned Chicken and we’ve already determined that this is just a con-game because we have no way of knowing how much chicken is actually present in the dry kibble. So if we check the “Guaranteed Analysis” and see that the protein content is 23%, we want to know where that protein is coming from. It’s not coming from the Ground Yellow Corn, so we have to assume that the real source of protein for this food is the “Poultry Byproduct Meal”.

Dog Food Label Dirty Trick #3: Mystery Meat

What the heck is “Poultry Byproduct meal”? First off, when we look for any kind of meat in a dog food we want to see named meat sources. “Poultry” can be any kind of domesticated bird and Byproduct Meal can contain, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials, The non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents… in other words all the stuff they can’t use in chicken nuggets or hot dogs. Whether it’s chicken, poultry, or the mysterious “meat byproduct meal”, these products are truly the absolute bottom of the manufacturing food chain.

After three years of asking people, every day, what they feed their dogs, I am convinced that there is a correlation between a diet containing animal byproducts and canine health. Keep in mind that I’m not a scientist and I don’t even play on TV. I’m just a guy who sells dog food and sees the results on hundreds of dogs every week.

Dog Food Label Dirty Trick #4: Ingredient Splitting

Another dirty trick in the dog food industry is a practice called ingredient splitting. Manufacturers know that some consumers actually read their ingredient labels so the manufacturers want to have meat or a meat product listed first on the label. The problem for many manufacturers is that their cheap food is so chock full of grain that they can’t list a meat product at the top. They remedy the situation by breaking up grains into different categories, each with its own weight, so that the individual products don’t outweigh the meat product. A good example is rice. You might read a label that contains ground whole brown rice, rice bran, ground whole rice, and maybe even rice flour. Obviously, these are all rice in various forms but the manufacturer chooses to name each form so that the sum of the rice ingredients does not outweigh the meat ingredient and displace the meat on the list. I know of some quality foods that use this practice. It’s not a universal sign of a poor quality food, but it is cause for a healthy dose of skepticism on the part of the consumer.

Dog Food Label Dirty Trick #5: Grazing In The Fields

Is corn bad for dogs? The short answer is no. I know of no studies which conclude that corn will damage a healthy dog. On the other hand, I’ve never seen a dog grazing in a corn field, have you? The fact is that dogs are carnivores. They are not herbivores and they are not omnivores. Yes, I know, my dogs eat grass sometimes too. That just means that they are also opportunists. It doesn’t change that fact that they are predatory carnivores. Like other predatory mammals they have their eyes in the front of their heads so that they can focus on their prey. Look at a cow or a horse. Notice that their eyes are on the sides of their heads. They were designed and/or evolved this way so that they would have a very large field of vision to watch for predators.

Predatory mammals also have very short digestive systems. Their digestive tracts are short and very acidic so they can consume and quickly digest raw animal flesh without the same risk of bacterial infection that you or I would face.

Dogs also have long, sharp incisors (fangs) for ripping meat. Also note that while you and I, along with other omnivores and herbivores, have jaws that allow us to grind grain products, dogs have narrow jaws that do not unhinge or allow them to grind their food. This is further proof that dogs are carnivores, designed or evolved to eat meat. You’ve probably noticed that your dog doesn’t take time to chew his food, but just “wolfs” it down. This is also typical of all predatory, mammalian carnivores.

So, if dogs are really designed or evolved to eat meat, why do we feed them grains like corn? The answer is easy and typical of our behavior as humans. Like everything else in the human world, it all comes down to money.

Few people today have the time, energy or money to shop, store and prepare raw meat for their dogs. Most of us feed our dogs dry kibble. There’s no need to drown ourselves in feelings of guilt because of this though. There are plenty of good choices in kibble available. You just need to know how to read a label so that you can choose the right food for your dog.

So… What Do I Look For On A Dog Food Label?

When I read a dog food label there are several things I’m looking for. First, I want to see named meat sources. In other words “chicken” is better than “poultry”. “Beef meal” is better than the mysterious “meat meal”. Next, I want to see the named meat source in meal form so that it is dry before processing. That way I know that the meat source really earned its placement on the label. As we mentioned earlier, the ingredients are ordered by weight, before processing, on the label. I’d like to see the named meat meal right at the top of the label. It’s OK if the label lists chicken first, as long as the next ingredient is chicken meal. I don’t want to see any meat byproducts at all. Meat byproducts are the absolute bottom of the barrel. There’s probably better stuff in your garbage can!

Now that you know some of the dirty little secrets of the pet food industry, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read your dog’s food ingredient label. Remember that better doesn’t always mean more expensive. When you start reading labels, you’ll also discover that some of the really pricey foods aren’t all that great either. If you need help choosing a better food, please don’t hesitate to call or stop by Woofers Grooming & Goodies. We read food labels every day and we’d be happy to take a look at yours.

Quiz Winner!

2011-04-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

As always, the winner’s name was drawn from the names of those who provided the correct answer to the question, and the winner is…

Susanne Henkel!

The answer, of course, is Norwegian Elk Hound. In Norway he's just called " Elg Hund", "Elg" being the Norwegian word for... you guessed it, Moose!

Congratulations, Susanne
You can come by and pick out $20 worth of free merchandise!

April 2011

2011-04-04T20:31:00.001-07:00

Having puppies in the house (and at work) really brings home the differences between two otherwise similar dogs. When they were still in the litter, nobody would have guessed what a wild young thing Ellie would turn out to be! Nor would we have thought of Fred as “mellow”.

It’s amazing how much they change in just a few short weeks. The pups are 3 ½ months old as I right this. Fred is a very laid back dude, weighing in at 32 lbs. Ellie is a little furry fireball of 30 lbs.

Lyn and Kailin both got their Range Access Permits for Ft. Lewis. I’m proud of them for taking these pups out every morning, rain or shine, and giving them a good off-leash run on the prairie. I know from experience what a great thing this is for young pups. Kaia and I are still going for our run every morning too.

Of all our dogs, (we have 4) I would have to say that Ginger, the Standard Poodle, is probably the most excited for her walk every morning. Since Lyn started running her on the Fort, Ginger has slimmed right down after her last litter and she takes to the field with real gusto every morning. She’s even started to find a few of the pheasants that hang around Muck Creek!

Kailin has also noticed a change in Ellie after she began doing a daily off-leash walk. Ellie still has her rambunctious, no-holds-barred approach to life, but she is able to relax better during the day now. Without all the pent up energy, Ellie can get through the day without showing any signs of aggressive or destructive behavior.

We think that the off-leash walk is one of the best things you can do for your dog. We’ll take a better look at “The Walk” in our next issue. This month we decided to focus on food. Everybody is trying to save where we can. Did you know that some of the really expensive brands of dog food are not really the best brands? The opposite is also true. There are some pretty darn good brands out there that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for. The way to take advantage of this is to learn how to read a dog food label. It’s one of those things that should be really simple but, guess what? It’s not. The good news is: you can easily learn enough to put some better food in front of your dog and maybe even save a few bucks too. Be sure to check out this month’s article: “Five Dirty Tricks Used On Dog Food Labels and How To Spot Them.”

2011-03-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Crate Training

What is Crate Training?
Crate Training is a form of conditioning in which you condition your puppy to live, with you, in your home. The objectives of crate training are:

To provide the dog with a secure space that’s his.

To aid the puppy in his potty training.

To contain the puppy so he cannot hurt himself or your home while he learns how to live with you.

Provide A Den
Every dog needs a space that’s his. It’s where he sleeps. It’s nice if it can fit in a corner somewhere quiet and away from the main flow of traffic through your home. The dog must be able to feel safe in his den, so we never use the crate to punish the dog.

I’d like you to imagine that you just brought your new puppy home and it’s his first night with you. When it’s bed time, you take him outside to his “potty-place” and say whatever word you use for him to associate with eliminating his wastes. Then you put him in his crate as you say the word, “Kennel”, or any other word you’d like to use consistently as a command-word.

At this point you must walk away from the crate and not look back or clutch your trembling hands together as you marvel over his cuteness. Otherwise, you will not be able to withstand the urge to comfort him when the wailing begins. You must allow him the opportunity to deal with this on his own. He’s probably going to wail and shriek for at least a few minutes and maybe most of the night.

A healthy, 8 week old puppy that has all his needs cared for and has emptied his bowels and bladder, should easily be able to remain crated for around three hours. Your pup will need to come out of his crate sometime during the night to potty. Remember, you don’t want him messing his crate. If he stopped crying and went to sleep; the next thing you hear will be him announcing that he needs to go out again.

I’ve had pups that needed to go out two or three times in the course of a night, but most of my pups only need to go out once a night after the first few days of living in the house. And yes, it’s loads of fun when you’re standing in your bathrobe at 3:30 AM in 38 degrees and drizzle while the dog pees, then as soon as you get him in, he wants to play, or better yet, you’re standing there in aforementioned bathrobe and he decides to go under the fence to the neighbor’s yard. This is a good time to avoid any behavior on your part that might excite the dog. Just scoop him up as calmly and quickly as you can and put him back in his crate without engaging in play or other activity that will further excite the pup.

When he goes back in the crate immediately after his midnight potty-walk, he’ll probably protest with more wailing. This is an attempt to convince you that he will have a complete meltdown if you don’t take him out and play with him right this minute. This is the hardest part for some people. They can’t stand to hear their puppy wailing in the middle of the night, so they let the pup out of the crate thinking, “maybe if I just play with him for a few minutes, he’ll wear out and go to sleep”. What they’re actually doing is teaching the pup that the more he wails, the more likely he is to be released from the crate and (Bonus) be played with too!

If you leave the pup in the crate and allow him to wail, you accomplish two important things. First, you begin to establish a pattern that will remain all the dog’s life: You are the “pack-leader” who will control his comings and goings all his doggy days. Second, you give him the opportunity to self-soothe, or calm himself.

The pup should go in the crate without food, water or toys inside the crate. A healthy puppy will not need food or water during the two or three hours that he sleeps in his den, nor does he need toys that may excite him and prevent him from sleeping. This should not be taken to mean that you can leave the dog in the crate without food or water for extended periods. It’s far more accurate to say that the puppy should not be stuck in his crate so long that food and water become an issue.

Dogs are not humans. They do not have the need or desire for constant entertainment. This is why dogs don’t have smart phones, computers or X Box. When a dog isn’t feeding, breeding or fulfilling other basic needs, he will spend most of his time sleeping. Dogs sleep a lot.

I wish I had some fancy statistic that showed how many of the behavioral problems seen in dogs today are the result of people expecting dogs to be “ON” all the time. This is so much against the dog’s nature that it damages some of them. A well adjusted dog will have the ability to “shut down” and spend a great deal of his idle time sleeping. By providing a safe den in the form of a crate, you give your dog the opportunity to assume his natural behavior from the very first night he lives with you, even as you begin to place pressure on him to conform somewhat to the schedule of his new “pack”.

Aid In House-Breaking
A healthy puppy, taken from a healthy litter at the age of seven to eight weeks, will not soil its own sleeping area. A crate should be just tall enough for the pup to stand up, and have just enough length and width for him to turn around. There should not be enough room for the dog to soil one end of the crate and sleep in the other.

The process of housebreaking a pup is very simple. You need two things. First, you need the crate, next you need undivided attention. Undivided attention is getting pretty scarce these days. Kids certainly can’t afford it and most adults won’t even focus for more than a few seconds before they need to text, email, tweet or... where was I going with this?... oh yeah, focus!

Remember I said the “process” was easy? It is! Just keep your attention on the pup any time he’s out of his crate. This means no phone, no TV, no computer. Just watch the pup. Until he’s completely housebroken, you will need to devote a great deal of time and attention to him. He shouldn’t have time to potty on the floor because you’re watching him, right? And he shouldn’t have time to chew the corner off your leather sofa because you’re paying attention, right? Here’s the deal: He doesn’t know the difference between a chew-toy and a Persian rug. You can either pay attention or pay for new furnishings.

The crate works for potty-training because you either have the pup in the crate, or he gets your undivided attention. Your pup will have accidents in the house. He will show you signs that he’s getting ready to poop or pee. If he has your undivided attention every time he’s out of the crate you’ll learn these signs really fast. Now the puppy is teaching you something that you will use for the rest of your life. This is what he’s teaching you:

“These are the signs I give when I need something. I will never be able to talk to you, but if you give me enough of your undivided attention, I will show you signs for everything I need. I can also show you how I am connected to the wildness in the world and I can show you the way to the wild inside you; If you give me enough of your undivided attention.”

Woof! That got pretty dang lofty for a potty training session huh?

Anyhow, when you see the pup getting ready, or showing any of the signs of needing to potty, take him outside. Take him through the same door every time, to the same spot outside and use the same word, such as “potty”, or “bathroom” or “do your business”. It’s not important, what word or phrase you use as long as you are consistent, so pick a word or phrase you can be comfortable using in any setting.

Provide A Safe Containment Area
The average American home is filled with things that endanger a puppy. Some of these dangers are:

Electrical cords, such as lamp cords or extension cords.
Fall hazards, stairs, balconies, decks.
Drowning hazards, tubs, toilets, buckets.
Poison hazards, cleaning supplies, medicines.
Garbage / trash, sharp objects.
Choking hazards, any small object the pup might be tempted to chew.

The list goes on and on! If you’ve raised children, you probably noticed that this list of puppy-hazards is much like the one you had to worry about with small kids. The difference with a puppy is that an 8 week old pup is much more mobile than an 8 week old child. With an infant child you have some time to child-proof the house before the kid starts to crawl around and terrorize his surroundings. A puppy, on the other hand, will have amazing abilities to get into trouble right from the very first day he arrives in your home.

A thoughtful guardian will go to great lengths to “puppy-proof” the home before the dog arrives, but the puppy’s inquisitive nature combined with his tendency to eat everything he can get his lips around, make it extremely dangerous for him to roam unsupervised in your home. No matter how carefully you puppy-proof your house, you can be sure that someone will drop a paperclip or a thumbtack, and the puppy will find this shiny treasure on the floor and immediately ingest it. Veterinarians love to tell stories about the strange items they’ve removed from dogs. The cost of surgically removing household items from a dog’s intestine starts at about $800. There’s also considerable risk involved in these surgeries.

In addition to these hazards to the pup’s health, there is the risk that left unattended; a puppy will become bored and frustrated. Rather than drumming his puppy fingers on a table or flipping endlessly through TV channels, the bored and frustrated canine will begin to dig and chew. Keep in mind that he does not know the difference between a rubber chew toy and the I-Phone that you left lying on the coffee table. So when you come back into the living room after a quick trip to the bathroom, and find your expensive new phone chewed to bits, whose fault is that? Likewise, when you wake in the morning to find that your new pet has run through the whole house and redecorated with poop, pee and the stuffing from your favorite recliner, whose fault is that?

All of the aforementioned hazards can be easily avoided by using the two most important tools of early dog training: the crate and your undivided attention. Simply put, when the puppy does not have your undivided attention, you put him in his crate. I know how hard it is to give a puppy (or anything for that matter) your undivided attention. We’re all busy! But consider this: if you and your family don’t have the time to give your pup the attention he needs, then maybe you don’t really have time to raise a puppy.

If you find that your new best friend is constantly in his crate because you simply don’t have the time to give him the attention he needs; then you have discovered, too late, that you don’t really have the time to raise a puppy.

I hope that this article has provided you with some real-world reasons for using a crate and undivided attention in your puppy-training program. I hope you will take an honest assessment of your available time before you choose to bring a puppy into your home. If you decide that you don’t have time to raise a puppy, perhaps you will consider adopting an adult dog.

How To Pick The Right Crate
The most practical way to get started with crate training is to begin with a plastic transport crate. As mentioned earlier, the crate should be just big enough for the pup to stand upright and turn around. You should use this crate when you bring the dog home in your car and you can also use it to transport him to and from the vet when he goes for his shots and check-up. One of the advantages of early crate-training is that it allows your dog to become accustomed to confined spaces at a young age. This will make it much easier on him when he has to be confined at the groomer’s, the vet, or if he ever goes for an airplane ride.

He’ll probably outgrow the transport crate pretty quickly, but you can replace it with a larger wire crate that fits him better. It’s also a good idea to replace the transport crate with a larger one as well. You’ll use the larger transport crate whenever you take the dog somewhere in your car. He should be accustomed to his crate by now and it will make him feel safer. The transport crate also comes in handy when you travel anywhere with your dog. If you’re visiting relatives and your cousin’s kids are getting too rough, you can just put the dog in his crate and tell them he’s taking a nap.

How To Develop Undivided Attention
I hope you’ll forgive me for harping about undivided attention so much. I just don’t think its’ importance can be stressed enough. I think part of the reason we love dogs, part of the magic of their friendship, is the manner in which they help us to connect with the natural world.

Since the first wolf pup was domesticated by pre-historic humans, a bond has developed between humans and dogs. Dogs, with their instincts and sharpened senses, have the ability to share with us a connection to nature that we would not have without them. Even with all our highly prized rationality and ability to analyze, we cannot hear a friend approaching from a mile away. We cannot smell the fear that another being feels near us. We cannot stop thinking about the future and we cannot disconnect ourselves from our past. But a dog can do all these things. For the small price of paying attention, we can partake in a dog’s boundless generosity to share all these abilities with us.

Just watch your dog. Try not to analyze or judge everything he does. Try not to worry about tomorrow or dwell on the days you’ve already spent. Just watch your dog and listen. Your undivided attention will help him bring you to the place where only dogs and a few lucky humans can ever go, a magical place called “Now.”

Ellie & FredMan!

2011-03-02T12:57:00.001-08:00

Last month we told you about Ginger's litter of Golden Doodles. At the time, we only had two puppies that were not yet sold. By the time the pups were ready to go home, at 8 weeks of age, there was still one puppy left. We knew we couldn’t leave him all alone in the puppy-pen in our garage, so we brought him in the house with us and started the process of potty training and house breaking.

The left-over pup was actually the first one born in Ginger’s litter. He’s a black male with a thick wavy coat. When the pups were born we put different colored ribbons on each of them. The first pup got a red ribbon. We started calling him “Red” but this seemed too impersonal so “Red” soon became “Red Fred”.

Red Fred soon settled into our routine. Within a few days he was sleeping through the night. The midnight potty-walks were over. Lyn kept looking for a home for Fred but no suitable families inquired about him.

One morning, about a week after Fred had moved into the house, I was shaving when Fred came wandering into the bathroom with a little toy duck in his mouth. He let me take the duck from him. Then I threw it across the room. Fred ran immediately to the duck, picked it up and returned it to me. I threw it again. Same result! Fred came trotting back to me with the fuzzy little mallard in his mouth.

I looked up just in time to see Lyn peeking around the corner. I knew immediately that I had been set up! She obviously thought that if I saw Fred’s potential as a bird dog that I might be convinced to keep him in our pack. It seems Lyn and Fred were both involved in a conspiracy to grow our pack from 3 dogs to 4. I’m happy to say that they were entirely successful in their efforts. Fred is now a full member of our family. We call him Fredman to remind ourselves that he is a male among all our female dogs.

Those of you who have been by the shop in the last couple of weeks have probably already met Fred and Ellie. Ellie is our daughter Kailin’s dog. Also from the same litter, Ellie is a brown female with a wild child attitude! Fred and Ellie get to play together every day at Woofers. They’re both turning out to be great little pups.

It’s hard to ignore the irony here. Kailin’s pup, Ellie, is the main reason we had Ginger bred to begin with. Kailin wanted a Golden Doodle puppy and we decided to make her one. Fred, on the other hand, was the first puppy born, but the last one to find a home. So, here we are with the puppy that was chosen before it was born and the puppy that no one else wanted, and they’re both great little dogs. The other six puppies all went to wonderful homes where they’ll receive all the love and care they need to thrive.

If you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by and see Ellie & Fred and the rest of the pack at Woofers!

February Quiz Winner!

2011-03-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

Last month we asked:

I was bred for short legs to make it hard for cattle to get their horns under my body.What is my breed?

The correct answer is:

Old English Bulldog
The Old English Bulldog was originally bred for bull baiting. Bull baiting was a blood sport that was eventually abolished in England and elsewhere. The original Old English Bulldog (which is now extinct) was bred for short legs. This quality made it more difficult for the bull to get its horns under the dog and throw it out of the ring.

Source: Wikipedia and Here

The winner of the $20 Woofers Gift Certificate was drawn at random from the names of those who provided a correct answer.

And the winner is:

Joyce Meyer
Congratulations, Joyce!
You can stop by Woofers any time during regular business hours and pick up your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate.

Is Adoption for Everyone?

2011-01-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

Directing the process of Ginger's breeding and assisting in the whelping and rearing of her puppies has been an eye-opener for us. We've learned a lot about dogs, breeding, puppies and, of course, POOP!

We were a little bit surprised when a couple of our customers voiced opposition to our decision to breed. We listened to their concerns and gave considerable thought to the issues they brought up. After some research and a good deal of soul searching, this is what we came up with.

Everyone who cares about dogs knows what a tragedy it is that so many litters are born without the opportunity to receive proper care and a loving home. Regardless of our opinion with regards to breeding, we all want every puppy and every dog to have a good, loving and safe home.

We all know that each year countless litters are whelped under poor circumstances. The media has shown us heartbreaking stories about puppy mills and other situations that often involve large numbers of animals being caged and kept under intolerable conditions. Here at Woofers we’ve been involved in several of these cases. Last spring we bathed and groomed over twenty dogs that were lucky enough to be rescued from a horrible situation. We sincerely hope that each of these dogs found a good, safe, loving home.

As we worked with these poor dogs we could see that several of them had developed some serious behavioral issues as a result of their experiences. We wondered what kind of home they would find, and worked with several of our customers to help place these unfortunate animals. I remember one of them quite well. He was a young male mixed breed. He was terrified of people and snarled at anyone who approached him. It took us the better part of a day just to get him safely groomed without injuries to the dog or the groomer. We can only hope that he found an owner who was patient, gentle and knowledgeable enough to deal with this dog’s fear and aggression.

Not everyone is prepared to deal with these kinds of problems. A home with children, for example, would have been a poor choice for this particular dog. The possibility that he would bite a child and wind up in a shelter (or worse) was just too strong. Other issues that potential rescue/guardians face are the health problems that some of these dogs come with. Potential rescuers need to consider the possibility of these problems appearing and they need to make the moral and financial commitment to deal with possible health problems as they arise. A potential adoptive family is not doing a dog a favor by adopting him, only to find that they can’t afford to give the animal proper care. We’ve seen enough examples of owners giving up on dogs that they “rescued” when they discovered that they couldn’t afford to give the animal the care that they required.

In spite of all this gloomy stuff, there are still thousands of dogs that are adopted or rescued into great homes where they receive the love and care that they need to thrive. We pride ourselves in taking part in the matchmaking process whenever possible.

We are acutely aware that there are people who oppose all breeding of dogs. Their rationale seems to be, “there are too many dogs already, everyone who wants a dog should adopt or rescue”. Our experience is that not everyone is cut out to adopt or rescue a dog.

Since we are involved in dog breeding ourselves, this may seem to be a self serving attitude. The fact remains that all dogs have to come from someplace. If there were no responsible breeders, then all puppies would come from unwanted or accidental litters that never receive the care a responsible breeder provides. Responsible breeders also insure the health of the dogs that they breed. They test the dogs for diseases, parasites and other health issues that could affect the life and health of puppies.

As I write this, Ginger’s puppies are just over 5 weeks old. Lyn has been home with the puppies every day since they were born. She and our daughter Kailin slept next to the whelping box for the first week of the pup’s lives. Lyn & Kailin spend hours every day socializing puppies, allowing them to become accustomed to people, other dogs, sounds, smells, different floor surfaces, inside and outside. They also spend several hours every single day feeding, bathing, and cleaning all the poop and pee that 8 well fed puppies can produce. I could go on and on about the amount of work that goes into producing healthy, well adjusted puppies, but I think you get the idea.

I don’t want to discourage anyone from adopting or rescuing a dog! We all know the need is there. If you are prepared to care for an adopted or rescued dog I applaud your decision to adopt. I’ve done it myself. The thing we need to remember is that just as all people are different, so are dogs. They are individuals with individual needs. We need to be realistic about our ability to care for any dog that we take in. We also know that not everyone is suited to raising a puppy. This is why every person who is interested in one of our dogs is required to complete a “Puppy Application” to help us determine if they are a good match for one of our pups.

Here at Woofers we see literally hundreds of dogs every week. We see every breed and mix that you can imagine (and a few you probably can’t imagine!) These animals come from responsible breeders, backyard breeders, puppy-mills, pet stores and shelters. The dogs that are the healthiest, most well adjusted and happy animals are those who live in safe, loving homes where they receive whatever care they need to thrive. The determining factors are NOT where they came from, but whether or not their human guardians were willing to do whatever is necessary to provide for their needs.

It occurs to me that the stigma currently attached to the breeding of dogs is unfair to responsible breeders. Whatever your position is on dog-breeding I’m sure we can agree that the goal is to prevent dogs from suffering. We can all help to prevent dogs from suffering by discouraging irresponsible breeding. Another thing we can do is to encourage and support the adoption of homeless dogs by suitable guardians. We maintain a bulletin board that we call our “Adoption Board”. If you happen to know someone who is thinking of adopting a dog please don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop by and check the Adoption Board. We would be glad to help in any way we can with the matchmaking.

Pup O Mania!

2011-01-24T11:35:00.000-08:00

"Pup O Mania" has descended on Woofers. Ginger's puppies were whelped at our home in Roy on Dec.17th

By the time you read this they will be nearly ready to go to their new homes. We bred Ginger with a really nice Golden Retriever. The offspring of this mix are called Golden Doodles. The breed is now recognized by the CKC. The puppies tend to have the outgoing disposition of a Golden Retriever and the agility and smarts of a Standard Poodle. At the time of this writing (Mid January) 7 of the 8 pups are spoken for already.

We were very impressed by Ginger’s mothering instinct. She began feeding the pups immediately and at this writing she is in the process of weaning them as we shift them over to solid food. (Dogfood Smoothie anyone?)

These pups have had nearly constant human-contact since the moment they were born. I wish I could bring them to the shop with me so you could see what beautiful little critters they are! The puppies need to have all their shots before they’re allowed in the store so, unfortunately, they need to stay at home for now. We do have a webcam set up on the whelping box though, so you can click HERE and see the puppies any time. If you try the link and you don’t see any puppies, it probably means that Lyn or Kailin is cleaning them or swabbing up the constant stream of uh… poop!

While you’re watching on the webcam you may notice that about one third of the floor is covered with newspaper. The pups are already starting to figure out that the newspaper is the potty area. Now if we could just train them to wrap it up nicely and take it to the trash.

March quiz winner

2010-04-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

The winner of the March quiz question drawing is:

Joyce Meyer

Congratulations Joyce!

Stop by the shop anytime during our regular business hours and pick out $20 worth of free merchandise.

A Bone to Pick with the FDA

2010-04-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

The FDA has just released one of their “Consumer Health Updates”. This latest update cuts against the grain of thousands of years of human interaction with dogs, warning dog owners that “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size.” For those of you still shaking your heads in disbelief, let me reiterate that the FDA has just warned us that bones of any size are unsafe for all dogs!

While most of us have become accustomed to our government using monumental piles of money to deliver nonsense warnings like this; it is still beyond belief that a group of bureaucrats can come to such a ridiculous conclusion and spend our hard earned tax dollars warning us about the supposed risks of allowing our dogs to chew on bones.

Keep in mind that this is the same FDA that still allows ethoxyquin as a preservative in dog food, and yes, this is the same FDA that was powerless to prevent the tragedies that lead to the dog food recalls caused by melamine tainted ingredients imported from China.

Most dog owners understand that sharp or splintered bones can be dangerous for dogs (people too!). Occasionally a dog may suffer health problems arising from chewing bones. The fact is that humans also swallow bones from time to time, resulting in choking and other health issues. Can we expect the FDA to begin regulating the quantity and quality of bones in human food? Perhaps the well meaning bureaucrats at the FDA should simply outlaw the presence of bones in all food. We all know that canines in the wild manage to survive because they eat only the boneless animals, right?

As pet owners it is our responsibility to know our animals, their dietary needs and their eating habits well enough to regulate their diets and keep them reasonably safe just like we do with ourselves and our children. When did we became the kind of society that allows our government to tell us what to feed our selves, what to feed our dogs and how to keep our children from drowning in a bucket?

I don’t know about you but my immediate response to the latest warning from the FDA was to go straight to the freezer and get out a nice big bone for both of my dogs.

April Leader

2010-04-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

Woof Notes is late this month. I usually try to get the newsletter out by the 15th.
April has been a busy month so far, with getting our new dog food section filled up with new foods, Hunt Test Practice for Kaia, and there was also the annual fishing trip to Neah Bay for the ling cod opener.

Vee always accompanies me on this trip. As she gets older I have found myself wondering if these trips are too tiring for the old dog. We tend to fish pretty hard, often spending all day on the water. Vee seems tired at the end of the day but she’s still ready to go the next morning. It’s hard for me to imagine the Neah Bay trip without her.

Lyn wasn’t able to come with me this year. The shop has been busy, but not busy enough to warrant hiring someone to take over while we go on vacation together. It looks like we’ll be taking separate vacations until the economy gets back up to speed.

This year Dennis, one of my hunting buddies, came with me. He was a good fishing partner and was actually polite enough to not out-fish me until the last day of the trip when he caught a bunch of rock fish and a monster ling cod.

Vee held up well through the entire 4 days but she slept the whole way home. Kaia was glad to see us all when we arrived. Lyn told me that Kaia behaved well for her while I was gone.

Now that all the fish is packed and loaded into the freezer, I just need to give Lyn enough time off so that I can get the necessary brownie points to go back to Neah Bay for the halibut opener in May.

2010-03-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

February was a busy month at Woofers and March promises to be even busier. Lyn and I would like to thank all of our customers who have helped us grow the business. We owe a special thanks to our families who have helped us with so many things, whether it’s making blankets, running errands, fixing equipment, helping out in the store, or tending chores at home that we’re too busy to get done ourselves, we really appreciate all the help!

Spring is almost here! At Woofers we notice that more of our customers are getting out and exercising their dogs now that the weather is improving and the days are getting longer. Other changes we notice with the new season are the increased number of dogs that get their fur cut short or they get the Furminator Shedless Treatment to help alleviate the extreme undercoat shedding that some breeds display this time of year.

Another sure sign of spring is when we sell our first canine life jacket. Yes! The boating season is almost here too! Lyn has been busy bringing in new toys for your dogs. This year she’s claimed a whole section of shelving just for water toys: floating Frisbees, floating balls and stuff like that. If there’s a toy that your dog likes and you don’t find it on our shelves, please let us know and we’ll find a supplier and bring the item in for you.

Maybe it’s because so many litters are whelped in the time period September/November or maybe it has more to do with the increased daylight but, a whole lot of female dogs seem to come into season in the spring. If you have an unsprayed female be sure to keep a close eye on her so you can take proper precautions if she comes into heat over the next couple months. We have all the necessary supplies to keep her from making a mess of your house while you have her cooped up too.

If you have a male dog you will want to take some extra precautions to keep him from wandering in search of females. A lot of male dogs get lost this time of year while they are out looking for love. Don’t let your boy be one of ‘em! It only takes a few minutes to get an I.D. tag for your dog and we have those here too. Oh, he’s micro chipped? Well, that only helps if the person who finds your dog takes him to the vet to get scanned. A tag with your last name and current phone number can make all the difference between a lost dog and a returned dog.

Thanks again for being a Woofers customer. Have a great spring!

Got Fleas?

2010-03-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Everybody loves spring! No matter how many springs you’ve experienced, it still feels just as good every year when the days start getting longer and warmer.

Humans and dogs aren’t the only creatures who appreciate spring though. One of the critters we all detest, the flea, also likes spring because with spring and warmer temperatures the flea’s life cycle begins to revolve quicker and our pets are more susceptible to flea infestation simply because they are so many of the nasty little bugs running around looking for a place to party.

The life cycle of the flea has four distinct phases: Egg, Larvae, Pupa, and Adult.
The adult flea can have a life span of about 30 days, up to as much as a year and a half under ideal conditions.

A female flea will lay about 20 to 28 eggs a day. She will lay hundreds of eggs over her life span. These eggs fall off the pet and develop where they land. They are small and can easily develop in carpet and the cracks in wood floors or other small crevices.

A larva hatches from the flea egg. It takes as few as 9 days to as long as 200 days to go through its growth stages. At this time is forms a cocoon, becomes a pupa, and waits for the right time to hatch. Flea pupae prefer temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees and humidity of 75 to 85 per cent. This range determines the period of time that fleas are a problem in our area.

At the pupa stage the flea is nearly impossible to kill with pesticides. The cocoon that surrounds the pupa is impervious to water and insecticides. This means that if your pet had fleas last summer; there could still be fleas in your pet’s environment in the form of pupa. As temperatures warm and humidity increases the pupae emerge as adult fleas, mate, lay eggs and start the whole cycle over again.

The life history of the flea makes it a very difficult pest to eradicate from your home. Veterinary entomologists estimate that for every adult flea living on a pet, there are at least 10 fleas in different stages of development living in the pet’s environment. That’s why it’s so important to take the necessary steps to avoid getting them in the house in the first place.

There are several very effective topical flea prevention plans, the most popular being Advantage and Frontline. These treatments contain low doses of insecticides that spread through the pet’s skin via the natural skin emollients. A flea will die within hours if it comes in contact with a pet that has been treated with one of these products.

Once your pet has been infested with fleas it becomes absolutely necessary to treat the pet’s environment. All bedding must be washed, carpets must be treated and your home should be treated with an insect fogger. Be sure the fogger contains “IGR” which stands for Insect Growth Regulator. IGR contains a protein that prevents eggs and larvae from maturing into the larval or pupa stages.

The bottom line is that it’s best to avoid ever getting fleas in you home by keeping your pet on a proven flea prevention program such as Advantage or Frontline. These products insure that if a flea gets on your pet the flea will die before it has a chance to mate, lay eggs, and spread in your home.

Kaia Kaboom!

2010-03-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 14, Kaia, Lyn and I attended our second Hunt Test Training Day at Whistling Wings Hunting Retriever Club in Fall City. Vee went with us too but she didn’t run any tests. She’s getting to the age where she’s content just to watch the young dogs and maybe hang around the camp kitchen erected for the hard working ladies that volunteer to feed the gang of dog people who show up for these events.

Kaia began to get excited already as we drove down the rutted gravel road to the farm that serves as training grounds for WWHRC. There was no question that she remembered her first practice hunt last month.

We got signed in and took a little walk to air the dogs before the real fun started. Kaia is running in the Started Group which is the first of three groups that dogs are sorted into, according to their skill level. HRC hunt tests are not competitive events. Instead of competing against each other as dogs do in field trials, HRC hunt tests judge each dog against a set of standards that are established for each skill level. The standards are set for 4 levels:
Started Hunting Retriever (SHR)
Hunting Retriever (HR)
Hunting Retriever Champion (HRCH)
Grand Hunting Retriever Champion (GRHRCH)
Tests are conducted, several times per year by different local clubs within the HRC. “The Grand” is a national event held twice yearly.

It takes a very talented dog and a very dedicated handler to reach the higher levels in this sport. Most of the people and dogs who participate are hunters but, there are a number of participants who never hunt. They find more than enough satisfaction in running hunt tests with a well trained dog.

Kaia did very well in the started dog group. Her retrieves were close to flawless and she displays a drive and focus that made me very proud to be her handler. I, on the other hand, have a lot to learn about this sport. It seems obvious that I wasn’t bred for this kind of stuff and I’ll just have to learn it the hard way.
It’s inspiring to work with such an enthusiastic animal and the great folks that help run these events. We saw Labs, Chesapeakes, Goldens, and even a couple of poodles showing off their stuff at different levels. I’m already looking forward to the practice next month. If you have a retriever you might want to get involved with HRC. It’s FUN!

Quiz Winner

2010-03-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

As always, the winner’s name was drawn from the names of those who provided the correct answer to the question, and the winner is…

Vicki Mathews

Congratulations Vicki!
Stop by the shop anytime during business hours to pick out $20 worth of cool stuff for your Woofer!

Dog Breath!

2010-02-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

February is, among other things, Canine Dental Month! Yes, I know it’s kind of silly but, we would be remiss if we didn’t take this opportunity to talk a little bit about canine dental health.

Dogs eat just about anything and this often leads to the dangerously stinky condition commonly known as Dog Breath. The reason I mention diet first is because your dog’s diet is one of the easiest places you can make an adjustment that will pay off big in terms of reducing the offensive odor.

An adjustment to the dog’s diet can effect the breath odor in two ways. First, by shifting from soft food to a harder kibble you can give the dog something that will exercise his gums and help scrape loose plaque from dental surfaces. Second, by switching to a food that contains no by-product meal, you can improve your dog’s breath and his overall health.

By-product meal, whether it’s chicken, beef, lamb or pork by-product meal, is a nice, little, catch-all title for a slurry that includes head, feet, entrails, lungs, brain, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, bones, blood, intestines, and any other part of the carcass not fit for human consumption. Just imagine what your breath would smell like if you were eating this stuff every day.

If your dog’s food contains any by-product meal you can improve his breath and general health simply by switching to a food that contains no by-products. These foods often have a higher price tag but the benefits far outweigh the slight cost increase by helping the animal achieve optimum health and avoiding unnecessary vet bills.

Another thing you can do for your dog’s dental health is to brush his or her teeth on a regular basis. You should brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week to remove plaque build up. Be sure to use a tooth paste made for dogs because toothpaste made for humans tends to foam up and dogs can’t spit out the foam so they end up swallowing the toothpaste, resulting in a sour stomach.

You can also buy a number of different products that encourage your dog to chew and remove plaque. You can buy this stuff right here at Woofers where we also stock several types of toothpaste, brushes, finger brushes and dental chew toys.

If you start your dog on a regular schedule of dental care while he or she is in the puppy stage, you’ll find he’s much more receptive to tooth-brushing and future care will be much easier for both of you.
Be sure to print out or mention the coupon at the end of this newsletter and receive free tooth brushing next time your dog is at Woofers for a groom or a bath.

January Quiz Winner

2010-02-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

The winner of this months quiz will receive a 30 Lb. bag of Natural Balance Potato & Duck Dogfood valued at $52.65 and the winner is...

Heidi Roshinsky

Congratulations!

Stop by the store any time durring business hours to pick up your prize!

Kaia Kaboom

2010-02-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

Wow! This water looks really BIG!

...and it tastes funny too!

Better look into this a bit deeper

Kaia gets a bit exuberant on her first retrieve from the Copalis River

Vee demonstrates the proper hold

Vee watches as Kaia tries again

Much better this time!

It gets a little crowded in the camper but the dogs have no trouble sleeping

One last romp before we head for home.

2010-02-15T12:34:00.000-08:00

For Valentines Day, I wanted to write something about the unconditional love that we get from our dogs. I wondered if there was any scientific data that underscored what we as dog lovers already know. The data was mixed, contentious and confusing to say the least.

It seems that the classic philosophers were somewhat divided on the subject of canine emotion. Socrates (469 -- 399 BC) saw the dog as little more than a machine, incapable of either love or intelligence. The first mention of canine emotion among the classics is the story of Odysseus’ dog Argus who mourned his master’s absence for over twenty years, refusing to die until Odysseus returned home from the Trojan wars.

We must remember that classic philosophers did not hold emotional response in high esteem. Human emotions were considered suspect, untrustworthy impulses that could rob a man of his ability to think.

There is still a good deal of contention in modern science regarding dog’s ability to experience emotions. Some researchers still hold fast to the idea that any emotion we see in our dogs is projected there by us. These scientists claim that dogs operate on instincts and the emotional response we believe they possess is nothing more than the dog responding in a way that pleases us in order for the dog to receive food and other incentives.

There is some recent research that supports the claim that dogs feel emotions in a way that is comparable to human emotional response. Some of this research is physiological. Science has identified, in the brains of humans and dogs, certain receptors, chemicals and processes directly related to emotive brain activity. On other fronts, a researcher at Sierra Nevada College has identified a form of panting that is the canine equivalent to human laughter. An audio recording of the canine laughter was found to reduce stress and encourage playfulness when the tape was played for dogs living in a rescue shelter.

Regardless of what science tells us, those of us who spend a lot of time with dogs know that they have emotions. Canine emotion is at the very foundation of our reason for keeping dogs. Just because science can’t prove it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. How do I know my dog loves me? I know it intuitively! I guess science still has some problems with intuition too.

December Quiz Winner

2010-01-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

The winner of the December Quiz was drawn at random from a list of 26 correct answers. And the Winner is:

Faith Castonguay

Congratulations Faith! You can stop by any time and pick up your prize,
a $20 Woofers Gift Certificate.

Kaia Kaboom!

2010-01-14T15:55:00.000-08:00

Kaia retrieved her first duck on New Years Day! She tagged along with Vee and me for a duck hunt on our favorite local creek. Vee has been hunting for 8 years, so she has the patience necessary for a slow morning in a duck blind and a low odds hunt during the late season. It was a little bit tougher for Kaia who lacks the patience that only comes with age, regardless of the species.

Kaia had never been in a duck blind before so I had her sit on a plastic deck chair that’s usually reserved for a hunting partner of the two-legged variety. I was hoping the chair might give her a chance to watch some of the action if there was any.

We hadn’t been waiting too long when a small flock of mallards swooped in over the decoys, obviously interested but too high to shoot. Vee’s head turned as she watched the birds circle. Kaia looked upwards at the flying ducks and then down at Vee where she sat with every muscle tense as she watched the birds descending towards our decoy set. Each time the birds turned away I would call softly on my duck call and the sound of the calling made Vee tremble with anticipation. Whenever Vee started to shake she would set up little ripples in the water that had flooded the floor of the duck blind. The excitement was obviously contagious. Kaia had no previous experience to tell her what would happen next but she sat in her plastic deck chair watching everything and whining softly.

The ducks made their final approach with their wings cupped, gliding downward toward the empty space in the decoys that we had left as a landing zone. They were well within gun range when I stood up, picked out a big, fat, green headed drake, swept the bead of the shotgun along his flight path and pulled the trigger when the point of aim intersected a place about 2 feet in front of the flying bird.

From the corner of my eye I could see Vee’s gaze lock onto the falling mallard. I turned to look at Kaia. She was standing in the deck chair shaking with excitement and poised to leap from the blind. I grabbed her collar and in a low voice commanded, “Vee! Fetch em up!”

Kaia jerked as Vee jumped out of the duck blind and splashed into the flooded field, plowing through the foot of water and leaving a waked behind her as she raced out to retrieve the fallen drake. Vee grabbed the floating bird and started back towards us as Kaia twisted and bucked in an effort to free herself from the grip I had on her collar. She whined loudly as Vee brought the dead mallard into the blind and delivered it to my hand.

I knew that Kaia’s desire to retrieve was stronger right now than it had ever been. She had never retrieved a duck before and I was a bit uncertain if she was ready for a bird as big as a mallard. My desire to see her retrieve was almost as strong as the instinct that made her want the bird.

I commanded both the dogs to sit and repeated the command again for Kaia as I let go of her collar. Then I took the dead bird and gave it a heave-ho so it landed about 20 yards in front of the blind. I waited just a second before I gave Kaia her retrieving command, “Kaia, Back!”

She flew out of the front of the blind and splashed her way towards the floating mallard, snatched it up and splashed her way back, holding the duck high, her head cocked back in an apparent attempt to keep the duck out of the water. The look of pride on her young face made me chuckle to myself as I took the wet bird from her mouth and praised her over and over again.

I knew that nothing else we could accomplish that day would top what we had just achieved so rather than forcing her to sit there and endure the boredom that often ends a protracted hunt, I exited the blind and called both dogs to follow me. I teased Kaia a bit with our bird as we walked out of the flooded field.

By the time we had slogged our way across the field Kaia and Vee seemed to have forgotten the dead mallard. They raced ahead of me, teasing and nipping at each other. I stopped at the edge of the field and looked back at my duck blind. I stood there watching as another small flock of mallards circled around to have a look at our decoys. I felt a wet nose nudging my hand and looked down to see Vee where she sat looking up at me.

Vee watched the ducks circling in the distance, and then she looked up at me again. I know she wanted to go back to the blind and continue the hunt. Just then Kaia ran right past us and splashed into the flooded field. She stopped about 30 feet in front of us and picked up a piece of a fir branch she found floating there and turned back toward us. She ran right by us at full speed and stopped, shaking the fir twig and challenging us to chase her. I laughed out loud and Vee made a sort of snorting sound as we left the field and headed for home and a warm spot in front of the wood stove.

January Leader

2010-01-14T15:53:00.000-08:00

We had an incident here at Woofers recently that made us re-examine some of our policies. Late one afternoon a man came through our door and asked if we knew anything about the white dog that was running around outside. We assumed he was talking about “Ben”, a Maltese that often patrols our parking lot, marking every tire he can find.

Our assumptions were instantly proved wrong when a large, white American Bulldog ran through the door right behind the inquiring gentleman. The dog was exhibiting aggressive behavior and plowed through our store like the proverbial china shop bull. I told the gentleman that we couldn’t have the dog running around in the store like that. At this point the concerned citizen who had informed us about the loose dog let me know that the dog wasn’t his and he quietly slunk out of the store, leaving me to deal with the 90 lb land shark that was now feeding heavily on the bulk treats.

I came out from behind the counter and got the dog under control after a brief chase. She was a large female that appeared to have been in a fight recently. Her ears had what looked like fresh bite wounds, her left rear foot was bleeding and she appeared to be in heat. I didn’t like the idea of turning her out on the street again but I couldn’t accept the consequences of allowing her to stay either. It might sound heartless on the surface, but as a business our first responsibility is the safety of our customers and their dogs, so out she went.

A few minutes later a customer was taking her newly groomed dogs out to her car and I heard a commotion from the parking lot in front of the store. It seems the large bulldog had been waiting outside and had ambushed the exiting customer and one of her dogs, a Jack Russell Terrier. I ran outside and tried to separate the two snarling dogs. The Jack was on a double lead with the customer’s other dog, a Scotty. The Bulldog was lunging and snarling at them both. The Scotty was trying to get away and the Jack Russell was trying to stand his ground. The owner was getting tangled up in the double leash and looked like the victim of a terrible macramé accident.

I grabbed the lead closest to the Jack and lifted him out of reach, to keep the big dog from grabbing him and to stop the merry go round. When the Bulldog lunged at the Jack dangling from the lead, I grabbed the big dog by the collar and dropped the Jack, allowing the owner to drag the little dog to safety in her car.

At this point I had a snarling, 90 lb. American Bulldog by the collar and straddled the animal, holding the collar with both hands, hoping to avoid a dog bite. The bulldog wasn’t happy about the situation either. Lyn had seen what was going on and had called 911 and also yelled for one of the groomers to bring out a catchpole. After a couple minutes of dog wrestling we managed to get the dog secured with the catchpole. By the time Animal Control showed up 20 minutes later, everyone had settled down and I was feeding treats to the dog. She was obviously very hungry.

The Animal Control Officer loaded her up without incident. We watched with sadness as we thought about the fate of this stray dog. We had of course looked for tags or any other identifying marks but found nothing.

A little while later, after we had closed for the evening, Lyn and I had a long talk about how we might have avoided the situation and what we could have done differently. Along with some internal routine changes, we decided that we needed to implement and enforce a strict Leash Policy at Woofers. Throughout our conversation we kept coming back to the fact that it was the leash on the Jack Russell that had allowed me to pull him away from the “jaws of death.”

Many times we’ve allowed customers to bring dogs in our store, without a leash, because the dog was well behaved. We learned from this incident that a leash is necessary, even on a nice dog, because you just never know what you might encounter. While we can’t control strays and other animals we might run into; we can always control our own dog if we have him on a leash. Sometimes it can mean the difference between life and death!

As a Woofers customer, you’ll notice the new signs that have gone up in the store to remind people that their dog needs to be on a lead. We hope that this story will help you understand that the leash rule is in everyone’s best interest.

Jon B.

Choke Your Dog?

2010-01-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

Let’s talk about choke chains. They’re also known as check chains, chain collars, training collars, choke collars, etc. Actually, each one of these names provides some insight into the nature of this tool.

If you call it a choke chain or choke collar, everyone will know what you’re talking about but, defenders of the collar will immediately add that the proper name is chain training collar or check collar.

It might be a good idea to stick with calling it a choke chain just because the name provides a constant reminder of the power this tool has and the damage that can be done if the collar is used improperly.

There’s no question that this type of collar can choke a dog. That’s a good reason for calling it a training collar or training choke chain. We would be reminded that this type of collar should only be used while the dog is being trained and is under the direct supervision of the handler.

Standard nylon or leather collars place all the pulling pressure on the trachea when pulled or jerked upwards. When jerked sideways a standard collar transfers the energy of the jerk to the dog’s neck. A choke chain, properly used, tightens with a noisy rattle that gets the dog’s attention and provides the necessary correction long before it fully constricts and begins to transfer the pulling energy to the neck or spine.

Any training tool that has the power to change an animal’s behavior also has the power to hurt them. The way to avoid hurting your dog with a choke chain is to put the collar on correctly and use it correctly.

To put the collar on right, just hold it so it forms a letter “P” and place it on the dog. This insures that the loose end of the collar lies across the top of the dog’s neck. This is assuming that you heel your dog on your left side. The left-side-heel is a tradition that comes to us from gun dogs that are trained to heel on the opposite side of a right handed hunter’s gun.

A serious problem occurs when inexperienced handlers use a choke chain to stop a dog that is lunging and pulling while on a leash. The collar can be used to teach a dog to walk nicely on a lead but it is not a quick fix for the dog that thinks he’s running the Iditirod.

People sometimes buy a choke chain or a prong collar because they have a dog that pulls their arm out of the socket every time they try to take him somewhere on a leash. There’s something about our society that leads us to believe that we can purchase a solution to every problem.

This must be what’s going on when a customer says to me, “I couldn’t get him to walk on a leash so I put him on a choke chain and he’s still pulling”. Yeah, he’s still pulling, but not quite as hard because now you’ve got his windpipe squeezed down to the size of a drinking straw. That might be why he’s making that funny wheezing noise too!

No, really, the only proper way to use the choke chain is to leave it slack except when you want to give correction with small, quick jerks. The chain should relax and slack immediately after each jerk. If you can’t keep your dog from pulling, even with common methods, then perhaps the choke chain is not the tool you should be using or maybe you need to talk to a trainer and get some tips on how to get your dog to respond without choking him until he keels over.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love best about my dogs is the way they inspire me to live my life. I often marvel at the sheer joy they can express when they wake up to find a new day or when someone they really like comes to visit.

This time of year always brings its share of stress to us humans. We worry about money. We worry about finding the right gifts for our loved ones. We worry about finding time to spend with friends and relatives. We worry about forgetting someone who should have been on our gift list. We worry about the weather, about our spouses, our jobs, our cars, our houses, and, of course, our pets.

All the while we run around looking for gifts, cleaning house, going to parties, eating and drinking too much; our dogs just keep living the same lives with the same minute by minute outlook they always have. They don’t dread driving on icy roads or worry about having a gift for uncle Bob. They don’t growl at the TV news anchor or argue about politics or religion. They seem uniquely gifted with the admirable ability to live in the moment.

As humans, our imaginations might be our biggest gift and, at the same time, a curse. It must be our imaginations that allow us to drift away from this moment and be captivated by the pictures and stories we create in our minds. Dogs, on the other hand, seem totally riveted to the moment in a way that humans can only… well… imagine.

Every morning I go for a walk with Kaia. I watch her discover new smells, wild animals, plants and birds. This morning she waded into a creek for no reason I could see. She swam around for a couple minutes, then jumped out and shook the water from her tawny fur. She looked up suddenly and ran straight towards me and leaped in the air right in front of my face. When she landed she took off running through the brush along the creek. Small birds scattered in front of her as she ripped through the grass and sent the dew flying off the bare seed-heads. Each drop reflected a tiny image of Kaia living a moment of pure joy.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Kaia & the rest of us at Woofers!

Mangy Mutt!

2009-12-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

I recently had an opportunity to re-familiarize myself with mange. I learned a lot about mange 20 years ago when one of my dogs had a struggle with the stuff. To summarize: YEEUUCK!!! Mange is some nasty stuff! A customer walked in the other day and told me that he thought his newly-adopted dog had mange. I asked him to please keep the dog in his vehicle while I had a look. Some kinds of mange are quite contagious. Luckily for my customer, his dog had one of the more easily treatable forms of mange. He was able to treat the stuff himself with a medicated shampoo and a topical flea treatment.

This experience prompted me to revisit some of the veterinary literature and bring myself back up to speed on the subject. I thought you might appreciate a summary of the information I found.

There are 3 basic types of mange:
Cheyletiella
Demodectic Mange
Sarcoptic Mange

Each of the three types of mange is caused by a different species of mite.

Cheyletiella is caused by the “Fur Mite”, Cheyletiella yasguri.
Cheyletiella is also known as “Walking Dandruff” because the presence of the mite can be detected by the slight movement of skin flakes caused by the mite’s activity. This type of mite does not burrow into the skin but lives on the surface layer.

Cheyletiella is highly contagious via direct contact with the infested animal. The complete life cycle of the mite is about 3 weeks. The mite can not reproduce on human skin, so while cheyletiella can cause mild irritation and itching in humans, it does not last longer than the life cycle of the mites.

A Cheyletiella infestation can be treated by bathing the dog in a medicated shampoo. Bathing should be followed up with one of the topical flea treatments, such as Advantage or Frontline, as these can prevent the maturing and reproduction of any mites that survive the medicated shampoo.

Demodectic Mange is caused by the Demodex canis mite. Demodex lives in the skin and is present in most dogs however; only some dogs will experience a full blown infestation which can lead to localized or general hair loss. For some reason, believed to be hereditary, the mites mass-reproduce in some dogs to cause the condition that is known as demodectic mange. Demodectic mange is not generally contagious among dogs except that puppies get the mites from their mother.

The localized version of demodex is most common in puppies. It usually causes small patches of hair loss around the face, eyes, chin or forelegs. This condition will often resolve itself. The generalized version causes much larger patches of hair loss which expand, often leaving crusty sores on the bald areas. There are several treatments for demodex that can be obtained from your vet. If you have any suspicion that your dog has demodectic mange you should take him to your veterinarian ASAP.

Sarcoptic Mange is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. If the name looks familiar it’s because this mite is closely related to the parasite that causes scabies in humans. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious. Live mites can survive, off the host, in a room temperature environment for several days and infect other animals without direct contact with the host. This mite prefers to live imbedded in the skin of canines, but it can also infect humans.

The most common symptoms of sarcoptic mange are severe itching and hair loss, small red pustules, and yellow crust on the skin. Sarcoptic mange is very difficult to diagnose with certainty because skin scrapings, which are the most common method of diagnosis, can be negative even though the dog has the condition.

Sarcoptic mange needs to be treated by your vet.

Dogs with reduced immune systems are more vulnerable to all three types of mange. The best form of prevention is to keep your dog in the best possible health by maintaining clean bedding, feeding a good quality food, and using one of the topical flea & tick preventions such as Advantage or Frontline. The active ingredients in these products help keep the dog healthy by killing harmful parasites and also interrupt the growth cycle of some mites.

Quiz Winner

2009-12-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

The Winner of the November Quiz was selected at random from the names of those who correctly answered the quiz question...

and the Winner is...

Elizabeth Jorgenson!

Anal What?!

2009-11-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

I often find myself listing the services that are included in a “Bath & Brush” here at Woofers. The list goes something like this: Your bath and brush includes nails clipped and filed, ears cleaned and plucked and anal glands expressed.

It’s not unusual for a customer to look at me a bit quizzically when I tell them the part about anal glands. I often get a raised eyebrow and sometimes a customer is even bold enough to come right out and ask, “What the heck are anal glands, anyway?”

Well, I thought you’d never ask! Before you get the idea that I have loads of experience and first hand knowledge about this particular piece of dog anatomy, I should confess that my experience is limited to my own dogs. Most of the information you’ll read here was either gleaned from reading or questioning the real experts right here at Woofers.

Dogs have 2 small glands located on either side of their rectum at about 5 and 7 o’ clock. The secretions from these glands have an odor that is unique to each dog. As humans, we don’t actually experience the smell as being unique to each dog. To our olfactory sense, this stuff just flat out stinks! A tiny amount of this fluid is expressed each time the dog urinates or defecates. This odor is one of the ways that a dog marks its territory. When two dogs meet and they raise their tails and sniff each other they are identifying this odor and cataloging it in their memory as a way to identify a dog or its territory in the future. The act of raising the tail exerts pressure on the glands and a tiny amount of the fluid is excreted.

Most large breed dogs have sufficient muscle mass in their rear ends to express the glandular fluid at regular intervals when defecating or urinating. Some of the smaller breeds have difficulty expressing the fluid and this is what leads to a number of problems that range from a persistent and noxious odor to infections and abscessed glands that require medical attention or even surgery.

When the fluid is allowed to build up over time it thickens and this makes it very difficult for the dog to express the congealed fluid without help. If the problem goes on too long, the gland can become infected and rupture, causing great discomfort and pain for the dog and severe pain to your wallet in the form of vet bills.

One of the ways to avoid problems is to feed your dog a good quality food that does not contain excessive amounts of cereals. Cereals such as corn can cause the dog’s stools to be soft and reduce the interior pressure on the glands from the rectum. There seems to be a clear consensus that firm stools are of great benefit to canines for this reason.

Scooting or “butt-surfing” is almost always a sign that your dog is experiencing discomfort from his/her anal glands. This behavior has also been associated with worms, but scooting is nearly always caused by rectal discomfort stemming from full anal glands. Scooting also means the glandular fluid is being deposited on your flooring or carpet, resulting in persistent pet odors that are very difficult to remove.

Another indicator that your dog’s anal glands need attention is a foul odor coming from the dog’s rear end. I know that sounds too obvious to mention, but I’ve had customers tell me that their dog had rolled in something stinky, only to find that the actual source of the odor was full anal glands. Once you’ve identified the smell you aren’t likely to forget it.
Expressing canine anal glands isn’t exactly rocket science. If you want to learn how to express your dog’s anal glands you can ask us here at Woofers and we’ll be happy to show you how it’s done. On the other hand, it’s a nasty, stinky job and it’s best to take care of it while the dog is already in the bathtub, so it’s nice to know that expressing the glands can be included in your dog’s grooming for no extra cost here at Woofers.

2009-11-13T12:30:00.001-08:00

Lyn and I were sitting at our kitchen table the other day. It must have been Sunday because the sun was coming up and we were still sipping coffee instead of hustling off to work. Our Lab pup doesn’t know what a “day off” is and she had woken us at 5:20 AM.

Lyn and I both got up and let the dogs out. I filled their bowls with kibble and we went through the feeding ritual, making both dogs sit and wait a couple seconds until they were allowed to eat their food.

Over coffee, Lyn and I discussed my progress with Kaia’s training. The pup was already showing considerable interest in retrieving. Our discussion centered on the different techniques to reinforce her desire to retrieve. It’s important for a young retriever’s development that they be praised whenever they bring an object to one of their human companions. Lyn and I had discussed this at length and we had both explained to the kids how important it was not to scold the dog if she brought them something, even if it was something that the pup wasn’t supposed to touch. This can be difficult to remember when the young dog comes bouncing towards you with your cell phone in her mouth.

Kaia has shown considerable interest in retrieving things like cell phones and TV remotes. When she lopes across the floor with my drool-covered phone in her mouth I have to remind myself (twice) not to yell at her or show any form of displeasure. This is really critical stuff for retriever training. If Kaia came waltzing up with the TV remote and I yelled at her and yanked it out of her mouth she would simply assume that retrieving was bad and it could take weeks of work to undo the damage.

Anyway, Lyn and I were revisiting this idea in our conversation when it occurred to me that life is kinda like a retriever pup. Since it’s almost thanksgiving, I began to draw parallels in my mind between retrievers and life. Maybe it’s important to be grateful even when life delivers something really stinky and covered with drool? Perhaps life is just like a big slobbery retriever pup that can drag anything through your door, deliver it to your hand and expect to be patted on the head? Sometimes goofy ideas like this really take hold in my mind and I soon found myself wondering if it might not be just as important as it is in retriever training that we react with grace and gratitude no matter what life drops at our feet. Naturally I wondered if it might be damaging for life’s further development if we curse it for retrieving things we don’t really want. Perhaps if we react with gratitude, no matter what life brings, we can expect to wind up with a good solid dependable retriever… I mean… life?

The answers to these ruminations are, of course, far beyond my grasp, but I do know this much: Lyn and I are both very grateful for the continued support of each of you whether you are a family member, friend, customer, or all of the above. Please know that we appreciate you and that you are in our prayers now at Thanksgiving and all year long.

2009-11-09T16:02:00.000-08:00

The October quiz question was:

“Our October Quiz Question is in 2 parts. First, identify the flower in the photo below; then tell how the flower got its common name.”

Lots of people knew that the answer to the first part was Dogwood, but not everyone knew that the plant got its name from a brew made of dogwood bark that was supposed to cure mange in dogs. There are also a number of sources that say the tree’s name was adapted from “daggwood” and the wood of the tree was once used to make daggers. We decided to accept either answer, as long as the flower was properly identified.

The names of those who provided correct answers were entered in a random drawing, and the winner is…

Kimberly Iverson

Congratulations Kimberly! You’ve won a $20 Woofers gift Certificate!
You can stop by the store and pick out your items or have us print out a certificate that you can use later or re-gift to one of your canine friends.

Do Leashes Work?

2009-11-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

Sounds like a silly question, doesn’t it? The reason I ask is that I see so many dog owners getting dragged around by their dogs. Actually, it’s obvious that the leash is working because the dog is having a great time pulling his so called “master” around with it.

We all know that a leash, or lead, as trainers call them, is a 4 to 6 foot piece of nylon or leather strap with a hook on one end and a looped handle on the other. An experienced trainer once told me that 90 % of all lead – training problems occur at the end of the lead with the handle on it.

For some reason many of us assume that dogs know, instinctively, how to walk on a leash. This notion is patently false. Just put a leash on a puppy, watch him buck and fight the leash, and you’ll see that the dog’s natural instinct is to pull away from anything that restricts his freedom of movement.

A dog needs to learn how the lead is supposed to work and humans need to understand the dog’s instincts and natural tendencies in order to get control of their dog when he or she is on the lead. The truth is that humans aren’t born with a natural instinct to walk dogs on a lead either, so both the dog and the “master” need some training to avoid turning a walk in the park into a full blown dog rodeo.

On November 16, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM we will be having our next training workshop, entitled: Walking Nicely on a Leash. Response has been really good to this workshop offering and we may need to set up another date to make sure everyone gets a chance to learn this very valuable skill. If you haven’t signed up yet, please call now and reserve your spot!

I’ll be there in my rodeo clown suit. ;-)

2009-10-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

It’s almost the holiday season again! I know, I know… I’m still trying to get my lawn furniture put away too. Leaves are piling up in the yard, the gutters need cleaning, and it’s about time to winterize all the outside faucets. It seems like time goes faster every year, but before I get too far afield with my philosophical observations about the passing of time, I should take a minute and introduce you to a new member of our family.

On September 12th I made the trip to Tonasket Washington to pick up our new Lab puppy! Her official name is Tri-Labs Kaia Kaboom, but we just call her Kaia.
She’s comes from a proven pairing of Blackjacks Tiger and Tri-Labs Nitro Nelly. Needless to say, we’re ecstatic about the new family member and hunting partner. The last few weeks have left us a little weary, with nightly awakenings from Kaia who announces her needs at about 3:00 AM and again around 5:00 AM.

Our older lab, Vee, was very skeptical at first but she warmed up to the idea after about a week. Now they spend hours playing together every day. Poor old Vee gets pretty tired trying to keep up with all Kaia’s antics.

Kaia actually had her first swim already at exactly 11 weeks. My son and I decided to walk across a hay field, down to our duck blind on Murray Creek. The field, which is usually dry this time of year, was already flooded due to a beaver dam a little farther downstream. The water near the edge of the field was only a couple of inches deep. As we continued to walk towards the creek and the duck blind, the water got deeper, but Kaia didn’t seem to mind. Before any of us knew it she was swimming in water about a foot deep! As we neared the blind I scooped her out of the water and put her on the dry floor of the blind. She was really excited, almost as if she was celebrating her new discovery. The whole adventure tired her out so much that I actually got to sleep until 4:00 AM this morning.

Kaia and Vee come to the shop with us every day, so be sure to drop by and meet the new puppy!

More Workshop Success

2009-10-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

Our September workshop focused on “recall” or coming when called. Trainer Kari Hammargren talked about the importance of making the recall a positive experience for the dog. The easiest mistake we can make is to call the dog over and over until we are frustrated. Then when the dog finally comes or we go get the dog, we reprimand him for not coming immediately. This mistake can teach the dog that coming to us is unpleasant. By making the recall an unpleasant experience we teach the dog to avoid coming to us when we call. You can see how this can rapidly turn into a vicious circle of disobedience.

By making the recall a positive experience, using praise or small treats, Kari got all the dogs in the workshop to come to her when they were called. As the experience is repeated the necessity of using rewards is lessened because the dog learns by conditioning. After a number of successful recalls the response is conditioned and the dog will continue to come when called as long as the experience does not turn negative.

The next training workshop will be “Walking Nicely on a Leash”. This workshop is designed to give you the skills you need to teach your dog how to walk on a leash without pulling your arm out of the socket. Those of you who have experienced a “puller” will certainly appreciate the benefits that come with this workshop. Having a dog that walks nicely on a leash makes it much easier and safer to take your dog with you. These skills save you the discomfort of being dragged down the street and by making it easier to lead the dog, it virtually insures that the dog will be welcome in more places and get to spend more time with you.

The workshop will be held here at Woofers Grooming and Goodies on Monday, November 11th, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. You can sign up right now by calling us at Woofers 253 538 0814

Over the River and Through the Woods...

2009-10-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

Holiday season is also travel season. More people travel by car during the Thanksgiving weekend than any other time of year. A lot of folks will be taking their dogs with them on the holiday trip. Here are few tips and reminders to make the holiday trip safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

The first and perhaps most important tip is to get your dog used to car travel before the trip. Start small with short trips to get him used to traveling in the car. If he only gets in the car to go to the vet’s office; he may associate the car with the vet and react with fear. Try taking him on short trips to a nearby park so he can begin to associate the car with something pleasant.

Make sure your dog has a tag with your contact information. Phone numbers must include the area code. We always suggest that a dog’s tag should only contain the information that a finder needs to contact you, NOT the dog’s name.

Make a check list of the things your dog needs to travel with you. Some of the necessary items are:

Water & bowl.
Food & bowl.
Treats
A familiar toy.
Collar & tags
Long & Short leads.
Medications.
Waste bags.
A familiar blanket or pillow.

You should consider using some kind of restraint while your dog is travelling in your car. Seatbelt harnesses and dog car-seats are great for smaller dogs. A well secured travel crate is a good, safe way to transport your dog and he will probably feel safer in his crate then he would otherwise, especially if he is already accustomed to sleeping in a crate. The travel crate also makes a great doghouse while you’re at your destination. It can give the dog a place to relax and escape from over-enthusiastic children or pets you might encounter while traveling or during your visit.

Nearly all dogs love to put their heads out the car window and feel the air rushing by. The dangers are fairly obvious. Your dog could be hit by flying debris or bugs. Just remember that it’s a lot easier to fix a chipped windshield than it is to fix a dog that gets hit by a flying rock!

It is now illegal in some states to leave a dog unattended in a car for any length of time. If you’re travelling out of state you need to check the laws in that state. Even if your destination is inside our state, please be very careful about leaving your dog unattended in your vehicle. We’ve all heard the horror stories about dogs that are left to suffer and die inside cars during hot or cold weather. The added stress that sometimes comes with the holidays makes it easier to forget a dog in the car and tragedy can strike faster than you might think.

One more important tip is to remember to give your dog frequent breaks to empty himself and stretch. A ten minute break every three hours isn’t much to ask and it might make all the difference between an enjoyable trip and an unbearable ordeal.

Whether you’re home for the holidays or traveling across the country we wish you and your four legged friends a safe and happy holiday season!

September Quiz Winner

2009-10-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

The question last month was:

What was the name of Odysseus' faithful dog in Homer's Odyysey?

There were quite a few correct answers. The winner was drawn, at random, from all those who answered correctly. And the winner is....

Wah'leah Sheldon!

Congratulations Wah'leah! Just drop by the shop to pick up your $20 Woofers Gift Certificate.

August Quiz Winner

2009-09-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

The winner of the August quiz was drawn, at random, from all the names of readers who emailed with a correct answer to the question:

This breed of dogs was bred and used for hunting birds in Norway from about the 17th century. It has six fully articulated toes on each foot. What is the breed?

The correct answer is Norwegian Lundehund.

Thanks to everyone who played. The winner is of the $20 Woofers Gift Certificate is...

Javier Costa

Congratulations Javier!

Breed of the Month

2009-09-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

We’re very blessed here at Woofers to have a staff of talented, creative, hard working people. In order to take advantage of their creativity and experience, we have at least 2 meetings every month to discuss dogs, safety, and different ways to improve the service we provide to our customers and their dogs.

One of our groomers, Andrea, came up with a great idea that I’d like to share with you here. We were discussing different ways to promote Woofers and let the community know about our shop and all the services we offer. Andrea’s idea was to have a Breed of the Month promotion that offers special pricing for grooming services all during the month for that specific breed of dog.

Since it was Andrea’s idea, we’re going to let her choose the breed for our very first Breed of the Month promotion. Andrea’s choice is…. (insert drum roll here)

Dachshund!

So, for the next thirty days, from September 15th until October 15th all Dachshunds will get 10% off their grooming and/or bath at Woofers Grooming & Goodies. We expect this to be very popular and space is limited; so be sure to call and set your appointment today! Remember to mention the Breed of the Month program to get your discount.

Dogs Bite!

2009-09-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

Every year approximately 4.8 million Americans are bitten by dogs. That’s a staggering statistic when you think about it! That translates to about 2% of the population who will experience being bitten every year! Each year dog-bites send about 350,000 people to a hospital emergency room. 800,000 bites are serious enough to require some kind of medical attention.

Over half of the 4.8 million annual dog-bite victims are children, and kids have a much higher rate of injury by dog-bite than adults, with 26% of child victims requiring medical attention as compared to 12% of adult victims.

As dog owners, we have a responsibility to control our animals in such a way that we reduce, as much as possible, the risk of them biting someone. Our responsibility to people who may come into contact with our dogs is obvious. None of us wants to see our dogs bite someone. What is less obvious is our responsibility to our dogs to insure that we do everything we can to avoid situations where our dog could bite someone.

It seems that people seldom consider the consequences of a dog bite incident, beyond the obvious legal liability. Many dog owners think they are covered by their homeowners insurance and don’t give their liability any more thought. What they may be forgetting however, is in the event their dog bites someone; the dog could end up paying with his/her life. Aggressive behavior and biting are two of the most common reasons people cite when leaving their animals at shelters. In the event of a serious bite, a dog can also be ordered by a court to be destroyed. Even in less serious incidents, it is not uncommon for plaintiffs to demand that offending dogs be euthanized as a condition to settle a lawsuit.

Attorneys who are well versed in dog-bite cases say that provocation on the part of the bite victim is almost never a successful defense strategy. In other words, even if your dog was “provoked” by a bite victim, this will have little bearing in a civil court.

Knowing this, it stands to reason that we, as dog owners, do everything we can to insure that our dogs never find themselves in a situation where they might be provoked to bite someone. Some obvious examples are situations where the dog is in contact with children, especially kids who aren’t familiar with dogs. Even the most docile dog can become aggressive if disturbed while feeding, so it’s just common sense to insure that your dog is not disturbed while eating.

Statistics show that most dog-bites occur while the biter is in his/her own yard. It’s a commonly held myth that a “beware of dog” sign will protect you and your dog from the hordes of hungry lawyers waiting to take another dog-bite case.

If your dog has ever exhibited any form of aggression towards strangers, it’s a good idea to keep him in the back yard or a portion of your property where he won’t encounter people on their way to your front door. Another alarming statistic points to the fact that a dog is more likely to bite when he is on a chain. We can agree that a person who approaches a chained dog is just asking to be a victim but the courts won’t see it that way!

There are also statistics that show certain breeds are more likely to bite than others. Rather than single out one or two breeds of dog, I think it’s a better idea to remind all dog owners that they have a responsibility, to the public and to their dogs, to do everything they can to prevent a dog-bite incident.

The best way to avoid a dog-bite incident is to get your dog all the training and socialization it needs to be a good citizen. There are many great resources available for information regarding training and socialization. Just remember that the training books and videos don’t work unless you actually do the lessons together with your dog. By providing the necessary training you can insure that your dog is comfortable and confident in most situations. The training will also provide you with the first hand knowledge of situations that might provoke your dog. This knowledge will enable you to avoid such situations.

Those dog gone statistics show that one in five Americans will be bitten this year. Please do everything you can to be sure that your dog isn’t one of the biters.

Workshop Success

2009-09-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Puppy Workshop took place, on schedule, at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 26. This workshop is part of a series of training workshops we’re hosting here at Woofers with professional dog trainer, Kari Hammargren.

The participants varied in size, the smallest dogs being a Yorkshire Terrier and a Chihuahua, and the large dogs were a Siberian Husky and an English Mastiff. To be honest, I was a little bit concerned about the huge difference in the size of the dogs. I wondered if the small dogs might be intimidated by the larger breeds; and I guess my concern was that they would be too nervous and unable to focus on the training being offered. As it turned out my fears were completely unfounded. Kari showed us the importance of allowing dogs to settle their own dominance issues and her philosophy proved to be correct.

It is striking to note how often that we, as humans, project our own thinking into our pets and we expect them to act as we might act in a similar situation. Kari showed us how dogs have a different kind of thinking and that they can often settle their own issues better without human intervention.

It occurred to me that one of the biggest obstacles we face as amateur dog trainers is the notion that our dogs think and respond the way humans do. I watched as several of the participants had “Aha! Moments” when Kari helped them understand the way their dog was actually thinking and responding. As participants, we couldn’t help noticing how quickly Kari was able to get a dog to respond to the basic obedience commands: “Sit” and “Off”. In conversations with other participants after the workshop, I learned that others were just as impressed with Kari’s training as I was. It was a real eye-opener to witness these rowdy pups responding so quickly to a trainer who understands their thought processes.

The next workshop will be Monday, September 21, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, here at Woofers Grooming & Goodies. This workshop will focus on Coming When Called.
This is one of the most important commands to learn as a dog owner because it can keep your dog out of danger. If you’ve ever been that person who stands on the back porch in a bathrobe calling their dog, over and over, with no response, this is the workshop for you!

Participation is limited to six dogs so that Kari will be able to give personal attention to each dog and their owner. We expect quite a bit of interest in this workshop, so be sure to call Woofers now and reserve a spot for your dog.

Welcome

2009-09-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the September 2009 issue of Woof Notes. In the last issue we talked about different ways to help your dog stay cool in the heat. Several readers wrote back with some really good ideas that I’ll be saving to share with you next summer. Thanks to those of you who sent emails with tips! We passed them along to customers while it was hot.

By the time you read this we will be well into the fall season. Another wonderful Washington summer has come and gone. Now it’s time to put away the summer clothes, drag out the sweaters and jackets, stock up on firewood, and start thinking about the holidays. Every year we tell ourselves that we’ll get ready early and avoid the rush, right?

It’s also time to think about getting our dogs ready for the fall and winter seasons. The kids are going back to school and some dogs will be spending long days alone in the house, kennel, or yard. Some dogs will have trouble getting used to being alone. They might try to get away and find some company or their loneliness could also manifest in destructive behavior, chewing, digging, bad potty habits, etc.

With all the things that we have to think about in this season, it can be easy to forget the impact that change has on our pets. Maybe you’ve been going for regular walks with your dog all summer, but now that the weather is changing you may have opted to get your exercise at the gym instead.

The bottom line is that every change we make in our busy lives also affects the lives of our dogs because they are such closely bonded members of our families. Trainers and behaviorists I’ve talked to tell me that it’s actually good for dogs to spend some time alone when they are young so that they don’t experience separation anxiety later when their owners go to work, on a vacation, or the dog needs to be boarded at a kennel for some reason.

While it’s not harmful for dogs to spend some time alone; it can be very boring, especially for the more “high energy” breeds. Fortunately there are lots of toys and other gizmos that we can provide to help them pass the time. A toy for a dog can be anything, from a bone, to some very elaborate “boredom busters.” The thing to remember is to give them something to do with all that energy so they don’t take it out on your yard or your furniture!

There’s no other kind of love quite like the affection that a dog shows to kids getting off a school bus or the master returning from a long day at work. The only way we can ever repay them is to love them back and give them what they crave more than anything else in the world which is simply our attention in carefully measured doses.

August Newsletter

2009-07-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the August issue of Woof Notes. The mercury is edging upwards towards the 100 degree mark as I write this. It looks like we may have an entire week of hot weather. We’re not really used to this in Washington. I know I have more raincoats than swimsuits and I’m willing to bet that you do too!
I know that all of you reading this are devoted dog lovers. The last thing you need is one more person reminding you not to leave your dog in a hot car or one more reminder to keep the water dish full, so I won’t bore you with that. I do have one suggestion to help your dog beat the heat that you might not have thought of and I’ll pass that on instead.

If you’ve had your dog in to Woofers for a groom recently I know you’ve heard about the Shedless Treatment and how it removes excessive undercoat. I always try to mention it when folks bring their dog in for grooming because this time of year the dogs are shedding loads of undercoat and it’s better for everyone if they can get that extra fur out without leaving it on your carpet and furniture. I’m not trying to sell you on Shedless right now though; I’m trying to remind you that doing a little extra brushing right now will help keep your dog cooler. Just a few minutes of extra brushing removes dirt, dander, and loose undercoat. All of these are things that insulate your dogs skin and make it harder for him to keep cool. The added bonus for you is that all the stuff you brush out is stuff that won’t end up on your carpet or furniture.

I brush my Lab out about every other day. I usually stand her up outside on our deck and I stand on the ground. This puts her at a nice height where I can brush her without having to bend over or kneel. She enjoys being brushed and I usually get a big sloppy kiss for my efforts. I hope you do too!

Training Workshops

2009-07-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

P.A.R.T.Y PUPS!
...stands for Pawsitive And Rewarding Training with Your Pups.

P.A.R.T.Y Pups owner and Professional Dog Trainer, Kari Hammargren is putting on a series of training workshops here at Woofers Grooming & Goodies. The next workshop is from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. on August 26th
This will be the Puppy Workshop

This workshop is for puppies, 6 months old and younger.
Start out on the right foot with a new puppy in the household. Kari and 6 participants will cover all the basic problem-areas people have with new puppies: potty training, chewing, mouthing, etc., all while the puppies get to socialize with other puppies and people. This workshop will help you raise a happy, well behaved puppy. Space is limited and fills up fast so call Woofers today to register.

Woofers Grooming & Goodies 253 538 0814

August Quiz Question

2009-07-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

Our August quiz question is about a dog breed. This breed of dogs was bred and used for hunting birds in Norway from about the 17th century. It has six fully articulated toes on each foot. What is the breed?

Send in your answer by August 30. Correct answers will be entered in a drawing for a $20 Gift Certificate to Woofers!

July Quiz Winner!

2009-07-31T10:54:00.000-07:00

We got lots of answers to our July quiz question. The following readers sent in correct answers:

Kaley Jordan
Susan Hubbard
Dennis Doran

The answer we were looking for was: feline tracks have a bifurcated interdigital lobe, which basically means that the heel pad of a cat's paw has a forward facing lobe that is split, double, or bifurcated ( doncha just love those big words?)

We didn’t require contestants to use the exact word, but accepted any answer that described the feline heel pad as having a divided front lobe. Of course there are many other ways to tell the difference between cat tracks and dog tracks. We decided on this method after checking several sources, including the book “Scat & Tracks” which has more drawings of tracks and poop than any other book I can think of.

Anyway the winner of the drawing for a $20 Woofers Gift Certificate is……………

Dennis Doran

Congratulations Dennis!

Review: Marley and Me

2009-07-31T09:52:00.000-07:00

Last night my wife, Lyn, and I decided to relax with some ice cream and a video. Picking out the ice cream was easy, but choosing a video to rent always seems to bring out the stereotypical “chick-flick versus blood & guts” debate. In order to avoid the usual video war, we sometimes rent two films. I suffer through a touchy feely chick flick with her and she hides her eyes through half of an action movie before falling asleep.

This time we decided to compromise and agreed on a film that had been widely touted as family entertainment. We had both been waiting a while to see the movie, “Marley & Me,” because it involves a dog and, in addition, it involves a Labrador retriever, a breed that we both know well, having owned a number of labs ourselves.

While neither of us is a film critic, I have to say that the film was a big disappointment. The plot is not particularly original; A newly married couple acquire a dog. The husband has been warned by friends that his new wife will soon want children and that the gift of a dog may serve to delay her biological clock and provide a few more years of freedom from babies for the newlywed hubby.

The couple visits a home where the owner takes in rescue dogs, and they choose a pup from the litter of an abandoned female lab. What then ensues is like a cinematic recipe for dog disaster in which the young couple breaks nearly every rule of responsible dog ownership. Their irresponsibility and complete ignorance is mitigated only by their unconditional love of “Marley.”

The make-believe world of film is much kinder to errant dogs than the real world. Marley’s training is neglected after one failed attempt in an obedience class in which the instructor is portrayed as an anti-social freak with control issues. The dog then proceeds to dominate the household with his bad habits and destructive misbehavior, all of which are a result of his owner’s irresponsibility. In the real world Marley would most likely wind up in a shelter because of his incorrigibility.

There is no denying the infectious cuteness of this film and the main character, Marley. That is what makes this film dangerous for dogs. We can not, as responsible dog owners, accept the kind of behavior that Marley displays in this movie. Thankfully, the vast majority of dog owners understand this and insure that their puppies grow up to be “good citizens.” Obedience training makes dogs feel more secure. They understand their role in the pack, and that makes them happier than dogs that grow up with no expectations from their owners. A well behaved dog makes friends wherever he or she goes.

“Marley and Me” is a cute movie but it does a disservice to dogs by misrepresenting the important roles obedience and leadership play in a dog’s well being.

Fair Enough

2009-07-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who dropped by our booth at the Spanaway Community Fair Saturday and Sunday the 18 & 19 of July. We had a great time at the fair, visiting with old friends and meeting new ones.

Trainer, Kari Hammargren was in the booth with us. She also brought her dogs along for an agility demonstration that gave us all a little sample of what you can do with a combination of good dogs and good training. Kari is holding a series of training workshops here at Woofers. You can read more about the workshops elsewhere in Woof Notes.

The Woofers Wacky Pet Parade lived up to its name with a variety of pets, owners and wackiness. The parade Grand Master had to bail out on us at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict. So, rather than a police dog leading the parade, my lovely wife, Lyn donned her favorite dog mask and led the parade herself! The mask also came complete with a pin-on tail, but no amount of persuasion would convince her to wear the tail.

Winners in the parade competition were as follows:

Wackiest Team Costume: Cassandra Cantrell and her Pekinese dressed as sailors.

Most Beautiful Pet in Costume: Katie Davis’ Yorkshire Terrier “Little Bit.”

Most Handsome Pet in Costume: Anne Asplund’s dachshund “Jake.”

Most Exotic Pet: Joe Campbell with his snake (Lyn forgot to ask the snakes name because she was too freaked out!)

Smallest Pet: Joe Campbell (again!) with his pet guppy.

Best Pet Owner Look Alike: Pat Parker with her lovely dog, “Ruby.”

Largest / Longest Pet: Emily Jack with her chi-weiner, “Cassie.”

A Face Only A Mother Could Love: Katie Parker’s loveable pug, Meeka.

Woofers wants to congratulate all the winners, and thank everyone who participated. We have plans to include a brass band next year! (Anyone have a Poodle that plays trombone or a Bichon that twirls baton?)