March 2007

Hi All! Hope everyone's doing great!

The weather today is BEAUTIFUL, but when the weather is bad - like it has been in the past few weeks - finding ways to keep your dog from being bored and under-stimulated indoors all day can be very challenging. And we all know - some more than others - that boredom in dogs can lead to destructive behaviors such as digging, chewing, and even potty training setbacks and accidents.

One solution is to provide your pet with "Interactive" toys, such as Kongs stuffed with dry dog food, treats, and/or unsweetened peanut butter or plain low fat cream cheese; Tricky Treats Puzzle Balls; and Tug-A-Jug Treat Puzzle Toys. Another NEW solution is the KongTime machine. This machine dispenses multiple stuffed Kongs on a timer at intervals throughout the day so that when you are away at work, your dog can look forward to a new yummy toy to conquer every few hours! And because dogs are very good at learning patterns, not only is your dog occupied while licking away at the stuffed Kong, but they have something to look forward to while waiting for the next one to dispense!

February 27th this past week was SPAY DAY USA. Pet overpopulation may not be an obvious problem in your neighborhood, but visit certain parts of downtown Los Angeles, or any of the many overcrowded animal shelters in LA County, and it is painfully evident. I can't even drive around in certain areas anymore in LA because I know I will end up with a carload of stray dogs that I find just roaming the streets (it's happened, believe me!). If you know someone who hasn't yet spayed or neutered their pet, or if there are feral cats living around your home, the Pasadena Humane Society offers low-cost or no-cost surgeries through their SNiP program. Feral cats (wild cats, different from strays) can be caught and brought in to the Pasadena Humane Society using a humane trap called a "Have-A-Heart" trap, which can be rented for only $4 a day. The Pasadena Humane Society will spay or neuter the cat(s) and then you can return them to the habitat where they were found. This type of TNR or Trap-Neuter-Return program is proven to reduce feral cat colonies in an area by up to 50%!

For more info on the Pasadena Humane Society's SNiP program, Spay Day USA, and what you can do to help in the fight against pet overpopulation, please click on the following links:

http://www.phsspca.org/SNiP/index.htm

http://network.bestfriends.org/california/news/12493.html

Lastly, I want to remind everyone of the Teacher's Pet Dog Training Referral Program. For every new client you refer to me that signs up for a Private Lesson, you receive a $10 credit toward your next lesson! So make sure that all of your referrals mention you by name when contacting me.The finest compliment I can receive is a referral from my clients and friends, and I want to make sure that I know who to thank for each and every referral. Have a wonderful week, and I hope to talk with you all sometime very soon!