Halloween Hounds

This year Halloween definitely went to the hounds. The doorbells were ringing of the walls, only to open the door to a pup dressed ridiculously for the holiday. It was a sight! What better way to get your kid more candy, than to have his trusty sidekick beg for more! Here are few of my favorites from this year.

Fox 5 News Interview

We had a great talk with Annie Yu of Fox5 Morning news on Monday! For the full interview please visit : VGSR Interview

It was a great highlight of the beautiful shepherds we have within the rescue. You don't have to go to a breeder to get a purebred. I look forward to our next interview on Jan 16, 2012, where we will highlight some training points with our GSDs, and showcase a few more adoptable shepherds from VA German Shepherd Rescue! If you are looking for a great companion shepherd please visit VA German Shepherd Rescue!

Spring is Here and So is the Fever!

Our pets are just as susceptible to "Spring Fever" as humans are. We want to spend more time outside, soaking up the sun, enjoying the scenery and the warm weather. We usually take more walks or hikes, ride our bikes and go on outings. In turn your pets are spending more time outside when they accompany you. As our pets spend more time outdoors with us we increase the chances of them getting loose, lost or ill. I have noticed an increase of lost pets in the last few weeks and thought I would send out a friendly reminder to safeguard your pets. Here are a few tips to ensure your pet stays healthy and safe:

1. Lock Down!

Make sure your gate is locked in your yard. As you are doing more lawn work, coming and going from your yard is expected. Ensure your gate is locked or latched to prevent runaways.

2. Tag Your It!

Keep a collar with identification and your contact info on your dog at all times while he is outdoors. As an extra precaution have your dog microchipped and update his photo and info online. There are many different online services that will help to recover your pet if he gets lost.

3. Refresher Course

Train train train. Make sure your pet is well trained and obedient. I know it's easier to say than do, but it's very important to ensure the safety of your pet outdoors. Many dogs are under socialized. When they see another dog even on leash they react poorly. Your dog could break his or her leash or collar and escape to greet another dog or chase another furry. Recall and socialization are the most important when outside with your pet.

4. Shield Them!

Make sure to keep your vaccinations up to date as well as monthly preventatives. It's high flea and tick season with the warm weather approaching. Also I have found that many do not keep the Bordatella UTD since the dogs were primarily indoors. Dog parks are breeding grounds for this along with multiple intestinal parasites. Keep your pets healthy as they make new friends.

5. Don't Eat That!

Tis the season of barbecues! I have seen many family barbecues with off leash pets raiding garbage cans, picking up discarded scraps and licking plates. Be careful your dog does not ingest bones or trash. Keep him leashed and safely with you, or in a playpen when you can not watch him.

6. Not In My Garden!

Lawn work and gardening are in full swing. Also ensure he doesn't eat any poisonous plants while out and about. Some flowers and plants seem very appetizing to your pets. Visit http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/ for a list of household and garden plants that are hazardous to your pet.

These are just a few ideas to keep your family happy and healthy during the Spring Fever. I look forward to seeing many of you along the trails and paths with your pets, enjoying this beautiful weather and the changing scenery. Enjoy and be safe!

Dari and Sean

Www.backinthepack.com

Family, Fun & Festivities with the Furries

Family, Fun, & Festivities with the Furries

The holiday season is upon us, and your furry friend is feeling a bit anxious. As much as you are distracted by visiting guests or family, and the stress of holiday shopping, your pet will need a little more supervision and attention. Not what you wanted to hear? Here are a few tips to keep your canine anxieties at bay, and help to ensure a happy healthy pet during the season.

1. Your tree and decor. Remember it is natural for your dog to want to chew. Be careful and mindful of what holiday ornaments you use on your tree. Lights, breakable ornaments, a tree holder with a fresh oasis of water each day, candles, and poisonous plants can attract your pups. Keep a watchful eye, and place these items high and out of reach for your canine friend.

2. Training. Unwanted behaviors like barking, jumping, and stealing food are common and natural for dogs. Training is essential to keep these behaviors at an acceptable level or rid them completely. New guests in the house tend to not enforce your same rules, and will not apply discipline. Keep training fresh in your dog's mind by using each arrival of guests as a training opportunity. A trained well balanced pet is a happy pet.

3 . Avoid temptation. Let's be honest, you have a food motivated dog. If you leave the food on the counter, with no supervision, the temptation is clear. Avoid putting your dog in the position of choice. Yes, on a normal occasion, they know better, but in an anxious state, all is fair game. Block off areas of the house that may increase your pet's temptation. Crate, or baby gate your pet during times he can not be supervised. Keep guests from giving table scraps, it may even be better to remove your pet from the area all together to keep the rules in check.

4. Exercise. Snowing? Ice? Too much to do? No excuse, your pet does not understand. The winter season is the prime time for stressed under exercised pets. You wonder why they are destroying the garbage, marking the house, tearing down the ornaments or the tree. Boredom and excitability. It is essential to keep your pet well exercised and tired during this time, mentally and physically. Use mental puzzles and games to keep them occupied and entertained during festivities, but don't forget they need their walk before you shop!

5. Accept me, accept my dog. Let's not go by this motto, this season. Some of your guests are not use to the 3 German Shepherds on your lap. It can be overwhelming for a dog to get use to all the guests in their home. Avoid forcing them to do so, and avoid forcing guests to accept them. That can lead to an uncomfortable and dangerous situation. Watch for visible signs of stress, heavy panting, licking of lips, yawning, or hiding. Give your pet a safe spot away from the commotion. I know you want everyone to love your pet, but love him first.

Remember to keep your emergency vet's number handy in case of unexpected events.
Following these tips will help to keep your season bright and manageable, at least with your dog, I can't guarantee the family! Holidays are meant to be a time of family and festivities, but don't forget to keep your pet's mental health in mind, it will make everything easier along the way.
DJF

Please enjoy the link to our holiday card:

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from Back in the Pack

Too Fat Fido

Obesity in dogs is sadly a steadily rising health risk amongst our family pets. Studies have shown over the past 20 years obesity’s ever gaining hold on America to the point of the Presidential attention. So if we as can’t control our own diet and exercise, how can anyone expect our dogs not to suffer. Affection and attention has been replaced with treats, table scraps, and an increase in meals. A romp in the back yard is considered adequate exercise. It’s just not enough. We feed our pets too much for the amount of exercise we give them. Dogs that are overweight may experience difficulty breathing or walking or they may be unable to tolerate heat or exercise. Obesity is an important health issue because it may contribute to shorter lifespan and increased risk of arthritis, cancer, diabetes and a need for surgery.

What to Look For:

Overweight dogs have heavy fat deposits over the rib cage and no prominent “tuck-up” or waist line. In normal dogs there is a thin layer of fat. You can feel the ribs easily, although you won't see them. If your dog is overweight, you will not be able to readily feel the ribs, and the tissue over the ribs may feel smooth and wavy.

Common Causes of Obesity:

Too Much Food/Low -Calorie Diet. There are many inexpensive brands that include poor ingredients in order to lower production cost. They also deliver less nutrition, therefore your dog will consume more to receive the nutrients he needs.

Spayed/Neutered. Your pets metabolism usually drops once he has been altered. Owners continue to feed the same diet as before they were altered, therefore overfeeding.

Lack of Exercise. If the dog consumes more calories than it can burn then the result is weight gain. Conversely if you increase the exercise, with the same intake of calories the dog will lose weight, burn more calories.

Medical Conditions. Your pet may have a health condition that results in weight gain, such as diabetes, an abnormality of the pituitary gland, or hypothyroidism. Consult your veterinarian to determine if a medical condition is the cause for your dog’s weight increase.

Stress. Some dogs will pace or pant when anxious or bored. Some drink extra water some eat. If your dog is leaving his food for later, than he is probably receiving too much. Dogs tend to self regulate when possible. Considering removing the excess to avoid them coming back to eat and scavenging.

What to Do?

Take your pet to the vet to determine if your dog is obese. Lower you pet’s food intake. And get them on a normal exercise regimen or increased activity. Try swimming with your dog, or a water treadmill. If you pet is asking for more food, try adding green beans, carrots, or another low-calorie vegetable to the meal to fill them. Watch the calorie content of the kibble your pet eats. Keep Fido away from the table at meal times, and away from snacking children. Remember dogs are scavengers, an empty bowl is an opportunity to look for food, don’t mistake that for a starving dog.

Obesity is not an overnight occurrence, so it will not go away overnight. There is a lot one can do to prevent obesity in your pet. Monitoring the caloric intake, investing in a premium dog food, and regular exercise and physical activity. Stay away from fatty and high sugar treats, and table scraps, and DON'T GIVE IN TO THOSE PUPPY EYES!

Aggression in your Dog?

Aggression is probably the most common behavioral problem reported to me in dogs. It can be quite terrifying to most people to see their beloved pet turn into an out-of-control “mad dog”. There are many types of aggression (dominance-related, fear-related, territorial aggression, maternal aggression, etc.) and the most important thing is figuring out the root cause. Whether people or intraspecies aggression (dog-on-dog), there are steps to manage and control this in order to create a well-balanced dog.

Lets remember aggression is not breed specific. This week I have scheduled at least 6 appointments with "aggression" cases from a variety of breeds ranging from Yorkies to GSD's. I have spoken to many about Pit Bulls and GSDs since I own both. Many have told me they have heard power breeds like these can turn on you at any moment or once they have reached a certain age. This simply is not true. There is always a trigger, whether it be environmental, physical or neurological. Many factors can come into play when dealing with "aggressive behavior." Responsible owners must become fully aware of their dog's normal behaviors so they can sense a change in them. Resolving these behaviors early can save owners stress, time, and money. We can all develop a trusting relationship with our dogs.

Calm socializing can lead to healthy play!

3 of the dogs in this video were once under socialized, 1 of the dogs in the video is deaf, and 1 is perfectly normal and well socialized. Can you pick them out? Socializing at an early age can lead to a well-balanced healthy and friendly dog. When under-socialized the excitement levels can rise very fast resulting in aggression, fear, anxiety and a array of other problem behaviors. Being able to regulate play in an over-excited dogs is also very important to establishing a leader-follower relationship with your pet. Socializing an adult dog or correcting problem behaviors such as dog aggression or excitement can be a long and stressful road for an owner. Many pups will go without it. Can you imagine yourself forced to be alone?

DJF