Disability Assistance Dogs. 01/30/2010
 Indigo is alert if she is needed to be on carer duties. What are disability assistance dogs? "A dog providing assistance to a person with a disability". While most of us have heard the term "guide dog" or "seeing eye dog", there are many more types of assistance for which a dog will be trained. · Guide dogs for the blind or visually impaired. · Hearing dogs (sometimes referred to as "signal" dogs) for deaf or hearing impaired persons detect everyday sounds such as door bells, alarm clocks, smoke alarms, timers, telephone or a crying baby. · Social or Therapy dogs, whose work is to effect a change in the person's emotional or psychological state. · Seizure dogs who detect when a person is going to have a seizure (yes, even before a seizure actually occurs). · Service dogs performing physical tasks such as pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, turning on a light switch or opening a cabinet door I have had some experience training disability assistance dogs, as I was a Seeing Eye dog trainer with the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School. The role entailed the care and training, of the dogs. Then the training, of the new owner, to know how to interact with, care for and work as a team member, with the dog. I bought Indigo, for the role of and to train as a disability assistance dog, for my husband. She goes to bed with him as a companion if he is unwell during the day, she barks, if I am needed. She will not allow Reg to go out the front of our home without her, and she demands that he not go very far away from me. Indigo’s role as a disability care dog, is subtle, not over obvious to others, but it is very obvious to me, and useful. Dementia care dogs are becoming more common, but because I trained Indigo myself, she is not, officially recognised, as a care dog and so she gets no special privileges to allow her to go places where only officially recognised care dogs are allowed and it is illegal to claim a dog is an official care dog, if they are not. It is sad that home trained care dogs, cannot be recognised and receive, access with the owner, privileges to more places. People who have their claim for disability insurance and benefits disallowed can seek expert help to make a disability appeal. I have sometimes wondered if there was anything like that, where I could appeal the law that currently says that only a particular association can train a dementia care dog. Pilbara Pup 01/30/2010
 Mt Bruce, Pilbara, Western Australia. One of my favourite places, to camp with the dog and explore has been the gorges that are not off limits to dogs, those adjacent to but not in, the Karijini National Park, in the Pilbara. Just stay well away for Wittenoom and do not fall for the story that it is safe to go there. The area in and around Wittenoom is heavily contaminated with blue asbestos fibres. Exposure to these fibres presents a public health risk that could result in mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis. "Travelling in the area should be avoided." More information can be found at www.wa.gov.au/wittenoom Government of Western Australia Department of Local Government and Regional Development Tel: ( 08 ) 9217 1406 Fax: ( 08 ) 9217 1555. When touring with a dog, remember that humans have their noses a lot further away from the soil than your pet, soil hazards can affect your pet a lot sooner that they will you as they love sniffing around the ground.  UK Considers Radical Dog Breeding Laws A new report has recognized that pedigree dogs in the UK suffer from health and welfare problems. Following a debate in the UK last year about the health of pedigree dogs, the Kennel Club and the Dogs Trust commissioned a report titled Independent Inquiry Into Dog Breeding. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has welcomed the findings of the report, which states that urgent action is required to improve the health and welfare of pedigree dogs. The report was written by the leading zoologist Professor Sir Patrick Bateson. The report recommends that an independent non-statutory Council be formed to develop breeding strategies which address issues of inherited disease, extreme conformation and inbreeding. The RSPCA is already working with the University of Sydney and the Royal Veterinary College on a three-year research project to create a new, electronic, system for collecting, analyzing and reporting data on inherited disorders in both dogs and cats. When complete, for the first time in the UK there will be comprehensive data to show the prevalence of inherited disorders in specific breeds. Citing the welfare concerns of "puppy farms", the report also recommends that the law is changed to require compulsory micro-chipping of all puppies and that breeders have a duty of care for parents and offspring. The report also recommends that a robust Accredited Breeder Scheme be set up to require pre-mating health tests. To help drive this change, the report regards a publicity and educational campaign important in improving the way the public think about buying dogs. RSPCA chief veterinary adviser Mark Evans said: "The world has woken up to the extremely unpalatable truth that the health and welfare of many pedigree dogs is seriously compromised as a result of the way they are bred. Pedigree dogs need our help and they need it now. Some are suffering as a result of what Darwin's disciples might refer to as 'unnatural selection' - survival of the most fashionable rather than the fittest. This report is what we have all been waiting for and we hope that now we can all get on and start working towards meaningful change for pedigree dogs." View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/dogs/uk-considers-radical-dog-breeding-laws.htm Forbidden Fantasies! 01/21/2010
 Mum and dad’s eldest daughter, I guess, my human sister, bought me some cigar shape treats for Christmas. They are made from rawhide, intended for only the most sophisticated, and luxury loving animals like myself. They do not contain any tobacco; but I do like to pretend I am a business tycoon smoking a Drew Estate cigar and posing for one of the famous Cigar Smoking Dog, portraits and letting people see what a cool dog I am. Pity my mum is such a wowser. She would never allow it. Does not even think my fantasy is cool. She is so straight laced; she says she only gave me this chew because it was good for my teeth. Everything I want has to be ‘good for me,’ or I do not get it. “Where is her sense of fun and fantasy I ask?”  Clean, cool, water for dogs. 01/16/2010
 Walking is thirsty work, did you bring the clean, cool water and water bowl for me? Would you be prepared to drink from your dog’s water bowl? Would you filter your water and give your dog water you would not drink? Does your dog drink enough water on a hot day? Dogs, like people, sometimes need to be encouraged to drink sufficient fluids for their needs, especially on hot days. It is easy to encourage extra fluids by pointing to the water bowl, and suggesting to the dog to ‘have a drink’. Just like people, dogs are going to drink more if the water and the water container are clean. Dogs are no different to humans when it comes to water, on a hot day, they want water that is very fresh and cool, no reason why they cannot have water from a Refrigerator water filter or the water filter jug with a few ice cubes added to the bowl to keep the water from becoming warm, too fast. Warm water on a hot day, is not appealing even to a dog. Your dog does not want to have to feel desperate for a drink to be prepared to drink from its water bowl. Another way to help get enough fluids into your dog on a hot day is to moisturise their dry kibble food, turning it into a wet stew mixture, if your dog finds this appealing and it is more interested in drinking water that tastes like his/her food. If you are out for a walk, carry a bottle of clean water with you and one of those portable dog bowls that attaches to the handle of the dog’s lead and offer water to drink at rest breaks. I would love to hear your comments on how you encourage your dog to get sufficient fluid intake on hot days. Dogs have puberty problems, too. 01/13/2010
 Most people think of acne as a problem only suffered by teenage, humans, but certain breeds of dog are also prone to this unfortunate condition during their teen years. The most susceptible breeds are Boxers, Bulldogs, Doberman pinschers, Great Danes and Rottweilers. The condition starts at puberty, which is around six months of age for a dog. Most dogs outgrow the acne by the time they become a young adult, at around one year of age. However, for some dogs the condition can become chronic. Dogs with canine acne develop multiple blackheads, on their chin, lips, and muzzle. Plugs of debris made of natural substances such as keratin and sebum block the hair follicles, causing local swelling, which can rupture to form scabs. This is not a big problem unless a secondary bacterial skin infection develops. This can cause pain and itching, leading the dog to scratch at his/her face or rub it on the ground, risking more irritation and infection Regular cleaning with best acne treatments, will be required to decrease the bacterial load of the skin and remove cellular debris which could contribute to blocking the pores. Sometimes antibiotics are prescribed or an anti-inflammatory drug to alleviate the discomfort. If your dog, is not one of the known, susceptible to this condition, dog breeds and it has developed a skin irritation with bald patches, it is best to have it checked out by a vet quickly, to make sure your dog does not have ringworm or mange, as these are both highly contagious and require early treatment to halt the spread.  Chinese Dogs Test Positive For Swine Flu China's Ministry of Agriculture has claimed that two sick dogs have tested positive for pandemic H1N1 swine flu. The College of Veterinary Medicine at the China Agricultural University yesterday announced that 2 out of 52 sick dogs tested for pandemic H1N1 swine flu have tested positive for the virus. A spokesman said that the genetic composition of the virus was 99% homologous to the composition of samples found in humans. Because of the lack of previous exposure to this virus, dogs have no natural immunity influenza viruses. H1N1 is in the same family of influenza viruses as equine influenza (H3N8), which in 2004 was discovered to be responsible for Canine Influenza. "If animals can get infected from humans, then the reverse is also true. But there is no need to panic in this case," said Feng Zijian, director of emergency response for the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. And an expert at the Beijing Agricultural Bureau told the Beijing Times that the infected dogs, which were probably infected by their owners, are contagious to other dogs. However, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has been unable to confirm the Chinese reports, and maintains that "to date, there have not been any confirmed cases of dogs infected with 2009 H1N1 influenza". The news comes just weeks after the first ferrets and cats in the United States have been confirmed as being infected, leading to the death of one cat in Oregon. View the latest World Pet News every week at PetPeoplesPlace.com. Original Source: http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/news/dogs/chinese-dogs-test-positive-for-swine-flu.htm Chocolate is dangerous for dogs. 12/17/2009
 I have been staying up late at night lately as mum has begun painting after dinner. What was supposed to be a three-hour painting session, starting after our walk, at 7 pm and ending at the sensible hour of 10pm or midnight at the latest, has gone on until 2 am and even 4am as mum’s passionate addiction to her art, has resurfaced. Last night I caught her raiding the Christmas presents, she stole, my friend, Carla’s chocolates and ate them while she painted. I ‘dobbed her in’, to dad this morning, he saw the chocolate wrapping papers. Given that mum tells me I am her fitness trainer, (I am supposed to eat the chicken skins for her, and take her for walks to keep her slim), I think she would be wiser drinking green tea late at night, not big calorie snacks. I will threaten to put her on Solo Slim tablets, if she slips back into her old workaholic, binge eating supper days that sent her up to a size 22 a few years back. I have had to take her for many walks to get her to fit into her new size 12 party dress. Mum say’s ‘planning is everything’. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. She applies this rule to her paintings and she has planned for tonight so there will be no repeat of last night’s unhealthy snacking. She has taken a homemade, chicken soup out of the freezer to thaw, to cater for a healthy, not too calorie laden supper to have during tonight’s painting session. I am not at all happy about this. As a dog, I was not allowed to eat any chocolate last night, Chocolate is not good for dogs and there is no chicken skin in mum’s chicken soup L . What is in it for me?  The missing Christmas gifts. From service dog to surfer dog 12/14/2009
Surf dog Ricochet (Rip Curl Ricki's) inspirational journey from service dog training, to turning disappointment into a joyful new direction, to surfing with quadriplegic surfer, Patrick Ivison, to fundraising for charitable causes. ... | Kathy Shell on Facebook If you enjoy Indigo's blog, would you please vote for her blog in the link below. :-), Thank you
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