Pups in the Park in NatsTown!

Enjoy these late summer and early fall dog-friendly events:

Puppy Party at Shirlington Community Canine Area (CCA) Puppy Area August 28

Join us for frisky fun at these playful and informational puppy parties.  Designed to allow young dogs to start socializing your puppy from early on, they also give owners a chance to ask experts about the dog’s behavior and meet area dog owners.  Puppies under 1 year are welcome to join in the fun.  Occurring each Saturday from 10AM-NOON through September, and brought to you by Arlington Dogs.
Where: Shirlington Community Canine Area (CCA) Puppy Area
More:  http://arlingtondogs.wordpress.com/puppy-parties/

Wag ‘N’ Whiskers August 28

Wags ‘N’ Whiskers is a community-oriented event for animal loving shoppers of all ages to spend an afternoon at The Village at Shirlington with their pet. The event will feature pet contests, demonstrations, exhibitions, pet portrait photos, childrens activities such as face painting, balloon art, live music and more along with The Village at Shirlington merchant specials and free giveaways.
When: Saturday, August 28th, 11am-4pm
Where: The Village at Shirlington

Have a Doggone Good Time at Nationals Park! August 29

Washington Nationals is hosting another Pups in the Park game this year and NOVADog is excited to be a part of it. You can bring your pooch to the ball park for a fun afternoon of baseball and support the Washington Humane Society.  At the entrance gate be sure to pick-up your copy of NOVADog.  We are having a Ticket Pack giveaway on Facebook—Watch the NOVADog Facebook page to enter to win!
Event Details:
What: Washington Nationals Pups In The Park Days
When: Sunday, August 29, at 1:35 p.m. vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Where: Nationals Park 1500 South Capitol St., SE, DC

Tickets: Seating is limited so advance purchase is suggested www.nationals.com/pups
Please review the website closely as special entrance gates and waivers are required for entry to the park with your dog.

2010 CAPITOL BICHON BASH: The Bichon Frise Event of the Year! September 12

When: Sunday, Sept 12, 2010, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA
Event Details: Pre-Registration & Pre-Payment Required www.bichonbash.com for details
Hosted by: Maryland Bichon Frise Rescue, Inc.
There will be presentations, Ask the Vet Q&A, appointments with the incredible animal communicator Diane Roadcap, pet photography by the amazingly talented Jim Poor, a huge Bichon Rescue Boutique and more! Bring a picnic lunch … we will provide free homemade desserts and there will be water and sodas available for sale. There will also be free homemade treats for all the bichons. Every registrant gets a goody bag with personalized bandanas for your dog(s), a special homemade fused glass gift, dog biscuits and more!

By Keri Putonen

"Taffy"

Today, as I was watching Taffy run around the yard with Cookie, Raina, and Rudy, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about for my first  NOVADog blog article-the healing ability of dogs. I have  worked with quite a few fearful dogs in my years as a professional dog trainer. Most recently, it’s been Chief, Dottie, Joseph and Ripley, and the newest, baby-girl Taffy.

Dottie, the sweet gentle greyhound, was fresh off the Florida racetrack when her new parents adopted her and saved her from future suffering. She didn’t know what it was like to enjoy life without being forced to “perform”. She had learned to associate people with fear. Her new parents were experienced greyhound people but they weren’t quite sure what to do when Dottie retreated to the third floor of their townhouse refusing to budge.  They wanted to enjoy long walks with Dottie as they had with their past dogs.  But Dottie’s negative associations with the leash, and with people, prevented her from trusting them.

Joseph and Ripley had been chained up in a filthy backyard for most of their young lives. They were siblings who  learned  to only depend on each other. They had a very strong bond to one another but neither one could trust a human. When I went to their house for an initial consult I never  met Ripley because he wouldn’t come downstairs.  Joseph spent the whole time pacing frantically around the first floor of the house, never coming close to me. The anxiety was palpable as he moved from side to side keeping his eyes wide and frozen. It turned out that in all the years she had had them they never interacted with guests who came into the house. They had not been taken for walks because they were afraid of the leashes…and the trucks…and the sounds…and kids..and, well, they were afraid of life. So this fear was allowed to perpetuate and strengthen.

"Chief"

The rescue people didn’t know too much about Chief other than that he was stray before joining them at their group. At the adoption event, Frank and Mary could tell that he was a bit timid and fearful of people. But they fell in love and took him home. Well, they got Chief home and were ready to shower him with treats, toys, and love. The only problem is that Chief had decided to run and hide underneath the bed in their guest room. By the time they contacted me, he had been there pretty close to two days. Not eating, not drinking, not coming anywhere near Frank or Mary. As I listened to Frank describe the situation I could tell that he and his wife doubted if they had made the right decision adopting Chief. Frank asked me if I could come over that evening and asses the dog and  help them decide if they should give the dog back or keep him. So off I went!  When I arrived, Chief was nowhere to be found. They told me I would find him in the same hiding spot he had been in when we spoke, under the bed. Sure enough, there he was, a very cute, small beagle trembling with fear under the bed.

So, why do I share these little stories with you? Because as I watch Taffy, or think about the progress we have made with Dottie, or Chief, or Joseph and Ripley, or countless others, I am taken by the ease with which many dogs can move on from fear to love.  Each of these dogs was able to overcome their past fears with just a few simple strategies and a lot of patience and repetition. I guess it comes down to the whole “dogs live in the moment” thing.  Monday was the first socialization play date I had with Taffy, a young timid Australian Labradoodle with one blue eye and one brown. She was frozen with uncertainty as we visited with a variety of well-balanced friendly dogs. But today, on only her second visit, she is a whole new dog. She’s chasing a tennis ball with Cookie; Puppy-pouncing Raina to initiate play; and running around the yard with Rudy, sniffing and doing what dogs do. I am in awe of how quickly dogs can let go of the past and move on into the present. They are in such sharp contrast to us. We spend our whole lives rehashing the things that happened to us when we were little, sometimes never letting go…never moving past the memories…never setting the baggage down and moving on. What a shame that we can’t be more like them in this way. What a complete joy it would be to not have negative feelings pile up and weigh us down.

Tips and Strategies

There are a variety of strategies to help fearful dogs, but the big picture is the same for all of them. You need to help create a positive association with the people, objects, environments or experiences that cause them fear. You do this very slowly and you use really good treats! Turkey hot dogs and peanut butter are two of my favorites!  Slowly expose your dog to the fearful stimulus (trashcan, truck, vacuum cleaner, etc…) and then, before he shows any signs of fear (that’s super important), reward him with a high-value treat. Dogs who are past their “threshold of fear” will not take food or water. You’ll know if you are moving too fast if your dog refuses a favorite food and then you should backup and move to a place where your dog will take a treat. You may be too close to the stimulus or it may be too loud or the treat may not be motivating enough for your dog.

So next time you’re feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders take a few minutes to watch a dog and take a lesson from our four-legged friends. The wake of the ship doesn’t steer the boat, it’s just what it leaves behind.

*Each of the dogs mentioned in this article are still a “work in progress”. Some have further to go than others but ALL are showing signs of success. A big thank-you to their dedicated owners who are committed to taking all the time and patience necessary to help them recover and heal from the wounds of the past.

Keri Putonen is owner and lead trainer at Unleashed Abilities, a Falls Church based company emphasizing positive reinforcement and a balanced approach to dog training. She also teaches small group classes at Wylie Wagg in Tyson’s Corner and Fairfax. For more information about private sessions or group classes call 703-371-9800 or visit us as www.unleashedabilities.com

HydroSurge ^TM is a well known and respected maker of pet bathing equipment for veterinarians and groomers. The RapidBath ^TM is the home unit developed from the BathPro ^TM system with the home pet owner in mind. It is quite capable of fulfilling their “3-minute bath” guarantee.

The unit consists of a handheld unit that acts as both a pet shampoo dispenser and water spray unit, which connects to the showerhead pipe in the bathroom shower. All of the equipment needed to use it right out of the box is included, including the hose and connector needed to hook it up. It even comes with a sample shampoo “pod,” so you can start right away. The shampoo pods are plastic packets somewhat larger than a condiment packet from a fast food outlet. We were able to get two rounds of baths (eight total) out of a single pod.

The line includes pet shampoos for deodorizing, a soothing oatmeal shampoo, one shampoo especially formulated for the needs of white-coated dogs, a hypoallergenic shampoo, and an ultra-cleaning shampoo for those “tough jobs.” They do not currently offer a flea/tick shampoo, because their shampoo is highly concentrated and flea/tick shampoo should always be applied to a clean pet.

We were skeptical of the system, though. We were given one as a gift and were not prepared for how well it worked in our situation. We have four Shelties and bathing them was usually a long-term, messy affair that none of us liked very much. The first time we used the RapidBath ^TM, we bathed and rinsed all four Shelties in about 20 minutes. “Impressed” is not the word for it. Perhaps “amazed” is more suitable! Even more amazing was our experience with their customer service.

Our unit had some sort of defect and stopped working. I e-mailed them and explained the situation and asked what could be done. Their response was to send us an entire new unit, postage paid, at no cost to us. All we can say is that we and the “Barks Brothers” are sold on RapidBath!

HydroSurge RapidBath ^TM from Jarden Consumer Solutions. Retail $49.95, but can be found at lower prices on sale or online. http://www.rapidbathing.com/HydroSurgeStory.aspx

Gregg Bender is a member of Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue and Northern Chesepeake Sheltie Rescue. He is owned by four rescued Shelties, collectively known as the “Barks Brothers,” mostly because he and his wife Nancy are major foster flunkies. He spends much of his time trying not to be herded and trying to convince the Barks Brothers not to herd their four cats. He is a former supervisor and technical writer from the airline industry, who now works for CACI International as an IT technical writer at Ft. Detrick, MD.

First Pet
The Presidents and Their Beloved Canines, Felines and Other Four-Legged Creatures Who Made Their Home at the White House
By The Associated Press
This book is an exciting and rich photographic record of the presidents and their pets. Every one of the ten dozen or so photographs either entertains, educates, or informs us about the presidents and their relationships with their pet.
Retails for $15 For more information and to order: http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_050310a.html

Every Dog Has a Gift
True Stories of dogs who bring hope & healing into our lives
By Rachel McPherson
As anyone who has ever gotten home after a long, hard day to be greeted by that soulful look of adoration that only a dog can give will tell you: Dog love is one of the best kinds of love there is. Rachel McPherson draws on her experience as founder and executive director of The Good Dog Foundation, the largest dog-assisted therapy organization on the East Coast, to tell the amazing stories of dogs who bring home and healing into our lives.
Retails for 23.95 (hard cover) and available at www.thegooddogfoundation.org.

The New Holistic Way
for Dogs & Cats
By Paul McCutcheon, DVM
Prevention has always been the best guarantee for long-term wellness, and this is as true when it comes to managing our pets’ stress as it is for managing our own. This book makes a convincing plea for care givers to stress-proof their pet’s home life, environment and general care. The author encourages an integrative approach to veterinary care, one that goes beyond treating superficial symptoms, in order to achieve overall wellness for the animal. Retails for $18.99  available at www.crownpublishing.com.

For Kids:

Remembering Oakley
By Carl J. Schutt
An inspirational and educational story about a family that has chosen to euthanize Oakley, their beloved family dog, who is dying of cancer.  The story follows young Jacob as he works through an array of emotions, ranging from anger and hurt to fear and denial, as he learns the difficulty of saying goodbye.  This book offers young readers ways to cope with death and grieving and is appropriate for all ages. Retails for $9.95 and is available at www.rememberingoakley.com.

Two Bobbies
A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival
By Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
Bobbi and Bob Cat are the best of friends. When their hometown of New Orleans was struck by Hurricane Katrina, they lost everything, as did many others. Only by staying together could Bobbi and Bob Cat survive. This is a true story of their remarkable friendship. Retails for $16.99 from www.amazon.com.

• Sunset Pet Services (p. 10)  mention their NOVADog ad and receive 10% off any urn.

• Fetch Bakery (p. 19) Bring your dog in for a visit and receive a free treat. Make sure you tell them you saw the ad in NOVADog!

• Wag More Dogs (p. 9) Bring in the ad to receive one free day of dog daycare.

• Canine Caterers (inside back cover) 20% off your first order

• Bark N Bubbles Dog Wash (inside front cover) mention their ad to receive 10% off any bathing package

• All Friends Pet Care (inside front cover) mention the ad and get $25 off your first booking

• Baliko Buddies (p. 16) receive $2 off services for the first two months

• Becky’s Pet Care (p. 4)  mention NOVADog and get $10 off your first walk

• Precious Companion Pet Sitting (p. 30) mention their ad and get $15 off (new clients only)

• The Next Best Thing Pet Care (p. 5) Mention NOVADog for $10 off

• Do-Rite Disposable Dog Diaper (p. 30) Mention NOVADog for a free diaper with order of 6 or more.

• Rudy’s Friends Dog Training (p. 7) For NOVADog readers: $50 discount on 7 training sessions.

• Unleashed Abilities (p. 30) 10% discount on training services for rescue dogs

View the latest issue here…

Dr. Lori Pasternak is on a mission. A mission to ensure that no pet will go without the care it needs or deserves. In today’s economy some expensive, but needed, surgeries may be postponed because owners have to decide between making ends meet and providing for their pets. Dr. Pasternak opened Helping Hands Affordable Veterinary Surgical and Dental Care in Richmond, VA to provide surgical and dental care for needy animals at very affordable rates. By limiting their scope of services to only surgery and dental care, they cut out office visit/consultation time and fees in order to put all of their efforts into treating your pet. “People in my community no longer have to choose between paying their rent or saving their beloved pet’s life. I have been so deeply touched by being able to help so many in such a unique way. I’m hoping more people across the country will be inspired by my story to do more for their community in whatever way they have a talent to share,” says Pasternak. Many people in the Northern Virginia area have made the trip down to her practice to receive care for their pets.

What they are not.
Helping Hands does not offer routine health care, sick animal care, radiology, or long- term hospital stays. For those types of visits, you would see your regular veterinarian. Where Helping Hands comes into the picture, is if your dog has been diagnosed with something serious and needs a surgical procedure, or routine dental care. They are only a drop-off, outpatient clinic; so all pets must be picked up by 5:30 on the day of the surgery. For post surgical, and continued care, you would go back to see your regular, full-service veterinarian.

How low are the prices?
Unlike some animal hospitals, they have a list of procedures and corresponding prices on their web site at (www.helpinghandsvetva.com) Prices are all inclusive—which means everything your pet needs, associated with the procedure—is included for one price. The only exception is for senior pets. Older animals are required to have blood tests prior to anesthesia, which is an additional fee. Knowing the cost prior to your pets’ procedure takes the financial anxiety out of the experience. “I have seen more routine dental care visits than ever because people can now afford it,” says Pasternak.

Pay it Forward
In addition to helping your immediate needs, $5 from the cost of each procedure is donated to the  “Good Citizen, Helping Hands Fund” that constantly generates money for those that can’t even afford the already lower cost. (There is a growing Tree of Perpetual Kindness painted on an exterior wall for those that donate $50 or more. They have already raised over $6,000.) People can apply for funding towards their pet’s procedure from the fund, and for every $10 they are awarded, they must pay it back in 1 hour of volunteer time either at the hospital or any local animal rescue organization. This
allows a person to take responsibility and ownership of their pet, and give back to
the animal loving community that helped them get the care they needed. “Volunteers have shown up ready to repay their debt with broad smiles on their faces,” says Pasternak.

You can see photos and testimonials on their Facebook page, where Dr. Pasternak stays connected with her patients and their families.

Helping Hands Affordable Veterinary Surgical and Dental Care is located in Richmond, VA at 3402 W.Cary Street.  Contact them at 804-355-3500 or visit www.helpinghandsvetva.com.

Product: Dog Lover’s Daily Companion - 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dog

Tester: Greg Bender and his clan (The Barks Brothers)

Rating: Nine Paws out of Ten

This is one pet book that is definitely worth the price to any dog owner. The authors have leashed together a wide variety of fun, interesting, and occasionally offbeat topics. Would you like to learn how to make some bar soap for your dog? Read up on your dog’s horoscope? Learn how to clean your dog’s collars and leashes properly? How about learning to manage your dog’s diabetes? What should be in a simple or advanced canine First Aid kit? All those topics are covered, as well as many others. The text is clear, lively and informal, and the photography is first rate.

The book is arranged on a Monday through Friday calendar, with a separate weekend section reserved specifically for “Bonding and Relationship Building” with your dog. Each day of the week is devoted to a general topic or set of topics, such as “Basics,” or “Health, Grooming and First Aid.” Of course, the reader does not necessarily have to follow the daily scheme. Browsing is encouraged and rewards the reader with occasional surprises. (Who knew there was such a thing as Feng Shui for dogs?)

There are projects for those handy with a needle, such as making some fabric jingle toys for your dog. That alone might save the reader more than the cover price in short order. Other projects are provided for those familiar with using power and hand tools, such as the plans provided for building a freestanding yard shade canopy or a fair-weather doghouse. Many of the projects are child-friendly and would be useful as rainy day activities with a little advance planning on Mom and Dad’s part.

GREG'S DOGS (COLLECTIVELY CALLED THE BARKS BROTHERS) AWAIT THEIR FROZEN TREAT THAT HE MADE FROM A PROJECT IN THE BOOK.

There are tips on how to train your dog to “sit pretty” for a photograph (a major problem with my four Shelties, who act more like mischievous second graders when lined up for a photo session), flip for a treat, balance a treat on his nose and others, all using positive reinforcement techniques.

The only “bone” of contention I have with the authors is that they offer advice for leaving your dog unattended in a car. Given how often the media covers the disastrous consequences of this practice, I strongly discourage it. For this, I deduct a “Paw.” I must give the authors credit for their support of shelters and rescue organizations in their book, especially for including a list of all the different ways anyone can help. For those outside of the shelter and rescue world, many of the ways to help out are not intuitive.

This book is a steal at the price, ($19.99) and provides many ideas and projects to amuse both dogs and their owners. Congratulations to the authors for assembling a unique book that every dog owner should have on the shelf. Find the book at Amazon.com.

Gregg Bender is a member of Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue and Northern Chesepeake Sheltie Rescue. He is owned by four rescued Shelties, collectively known as the “Barks Brothers,” mostly because he and his wife Nancy are major foster flunkies. He spends much of his time trying not to be herded and trying to convince the Barks Brothers not to herd their four cats. He is a former supervisor and technical writer from the airline industry, who now works for CACI International as an IT technical writer at Ft. Detrick, MD.

Shepherd mix "Josie" wears her Thundershirt during training class.

Product: The Thundershirt (www.thundershirt.com)

Tester: Michelle Robinson of Reston, VA and her Shepherd mix, Josie

When NOVADog put out the call for a very nervous doggy to test out The Thundershirt, reader Michelle Robinson of Reston, VA responded with a plea: “I am very interested. I actually thought of buying this before!” So the very nice people at Thundershirt sent out a package to Michelle and Josie, with her specially-sized shirt.

Thundershirt works by applying gentle, constant pressure, which can have a dramatic calming effect on the nervous system for dogs if they are anxious, fearful or over-excited.

“We have been using the Thundershirt pretty consistently when guests come over, and for Josie’s obedience class. The biggest thing I noticed is we have to put it on her at least 45 minutes before guests’ come or her class. Then she has had time to adjust to it and it really does calm her down,” says Michelle.  “During her obedience class, she gets VERY excited (to the point of the trainer mentioning medication) but the Thundershirt seems to keep her from lunging at the other dogs and better able to focus on us during the training class.”

Michelle comments that it’s not a complete solution for her. She still works diligently with Josie on keeping her focused around distractions.  ”I would say it takes the edge off of her excitement,” notes Michelle. “I’ve attached a picture of her wearing it at dog class!”

Many thanks to Thundershirt for donating the product for our testing session. And thanks to Michelle and Josie for giving it a test-drive!

The FIRST FIVE people to e-mail me with all required items will win:

• One of our cool NOVADog T-shirts
• A subscription to NOVADog for home delivery (if you already receive it in your mailbox you can give it as a gift!),
• A tick key—which safely removes the entire tick from your dog—from our friends at WAG’N Enterprises
• And other GREAT GOODIES from our partners!

Seven additional second place winners will receive the tick key (it’s tick season you know, check out how it works here).

Good luck!!

Here’s how to play:

Below we list the items that you are looking for. Email your entire entry to win-it@novadogmagazine.com
with all items and/or attachments. If you are one of the first 5 to get yours in, you win! We’ll post our winners names on Facebook.

1. CLUE: This company on our Web site (www.novadogmagazine.com) features patriotic stars for the 4th of July. Visit their web site and tell us the company’s phone number.

2. What is the name of Master Sergeant Mark Gwathmey’s service dog? (find this in the Spring issue)

3. Snap a photo of your dog “reading” a spring issue of NOVADog and attach it to your e-mail.

4. CLUE: This company sponsors the online digital edition of NOVADog Magazine, which looks exactly like the print version and features pages that “flip.” Visit the sponsor company’s link and tell us the background color of their web site.

Please provide your full name and address for your chance to win!

Red Dog Spa Spring Fling, May 22
Join in the fun at the Red Dog Spa Spring Fling, which brings together a variety of artists, vendors and local rescue groups. Dogs are invited to this event, and they’ll have delicious snacks for your favorite four-legged friends.
Event Details:
Where: 12158 Fairfax Towne Center - Fairfax, VA
On the Green in front of the store
When: Saturday, May 22nd from 11 am - 2 pm
More: www.reddogspa.com

Dog Agility Demo, May 23
See dogs of all shapes and sizes show off their agility skills on a full competition level course! Learn what this fast-growing sport is all about and how you and your dog can get started. See the dogs in action and learn about the many dog classes that the Fairfax County Park Authority offers. Please note: Dogs are not invited to this event. It’s spectator only.
Event Details:
Where: Frying Pan Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, VA 20171
The agility yard is on the east side of the large gravel parking lot
When: Sunday, May 23nd at 10 AM
More: Call 703.437.9101 for more information

Herndon K-9 2K Dog Walk and Doggie Expo June 5
NOVADog Magazine is proud to be the Media Sponsor of this fun and exciting event supporting the Herndon Chandon Dog Park.  Bark ‘N Bubbles and All Friends Pet Care are also sponsors of the K-9 2K & Doggie Expo, which is part of the Herndon Festival ‘10.  Dogs are invited to this event, and the first 100 registrants will receive a goodie bag and special gift.  After the walk, your dog can splash around in the Pool Splash Zone and you can spend some time visiting our Doggie Expo, featuring many pet-themed vendors.
Event Details:
When: Saturday, June 5: Walk begins at 9 a.m.;  Doggie Expo runs from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: Bready Park, 814 Ferndale Avenue next to the Herndon Community Center
More: www.herndonfestival.net

Springfield Days PawFest and Pets on Parade June 5
Occurring during the 4 day community celebration of Springfield Days – this fun event is always a winner.  The PetFest features animal vendors of all varieties, contests prizes and a fun animal parade, so bring along your dog to join in the fun.  The entire festival is family friendly and includes a carnival, entertainment, fireworks, art show and more.
Event Details:
When: June 5, 2010
Where: Springfield Mall, VA
More: www.springfielddays.com/index.html

Got an event you’d like to submit? E-mail Janelle Welch at janelle@2houndsproductions.com.