This article is an ‘editor’s pick’ feature and is exclusive to members of the K9 Magazine Premier Club.
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I am constantly amazed and impressed by the dog.

He is capable of incredible acts, many of which we still don’t understand.

So it was a delight to come across an item today – which I am thrilled to bring to your attention – which delves deeper in to the dog, the amazing dog.

From the New York Times:

The matter of what exactly goes on in the mind of a dog is a tricky one, and until recently much of the research on canine intelligence has been met with large doses of skepticism. But over the last several years a growing body of evidence, culled from small scientific studies of dogs’ abilities to do things like detect cancer or seizures, solve complex problems (complex for a dog, anyway), and learn language suggests that they may know more than we thought they did.

Their apparent ability to tune in to the needs of psychiatric patients, turning on lights for trauma victims afraid of the dark, reminding their owners to take medication and interrupting behaviors like suicide attempts and self-mutilation, for example, has lately attracted the attention of researchers.

In September, the Army announced that it would spend $300,000 to study the impact of pairing psychiatric service dogs like Jet with soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder. Both the House and Senate have recently passed bills that would finance the training and placement of these dogs with veterans.

Hungarian researchers reported in a study last year that a guide dog for a blind and epileptic person became anxious before its master suffered a seizure and was taught to bark and lick the owner’s face and upper arm when it detected an onset, three to five minutes before the seizure.

It is still somewhat mysterious how exactly dogs detect seizures, whether it’s by picking up on behavioral changes or smelling something awry, but several small studies have shown that a powerful sense of smell can detect lung and other types of cancer, as the dogs sniff out odors emitted by the disease.

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I would like to take this opportunity to pose some theoretical questions about where we might be headed with regard to things we still don’t know about the dog.

Is it outside the realms of possibility that dog owners will eventually be able to train their OWN dogs how to detect and signal for the presence of cancer or other disease?

I mean, we know dogs can detect cancer. We know they have that skill, the only missing link in the chain is having owners who are as skilled as the people who train cancer detection dogs. But let’s say that we eventually become competent at such techniques, then why not?

Is it impossible to consider that dogs may be able to recognise and signal impending natural disasters over and above those few dogs who are currently trained to do so today?

Imagine if a nation of dog owners were the barometer for impending hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis and beyond? Impossible? I don’t believe so. The wisdom of crowds would have even more of an impact of that crowd was made of thousands or millions of dogs who are all signalling the same thing.

Is it science fiction to assume that we may be able to have dogs that live double the length of time they are today?

Why not? Our medical knowledge is making us live much longer, veterinary advances are similarly rapid. In theory, this one should be a given. And I for one will be delighted. The ONLY downside to dogs…..they’re here and gone much, much too fast.

Will canine cloning become the norm?

It’s started already. Owners may become more enthralled with the (mistaken) idea that they can recreate their much loved pet. Of course, unless that pet is given an identical up bringing, exposure to situations and scenarios and basically allowed to re-trace the life steps of the dogs he/she is being cloned upon, this will never happen.

K9 Magazine members: access our ‘Dogs: The Future’ special digital report >>

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Cases of arson, murder, ritual killings, kidnappings, drug smuggling and even fraud would to this day be unsolved had it not been for the assistance of the canine and his nose. The world over, law enforcement agencies are relying on their dogs to find that elusive spot of blood or trace of petrol in order to seal a conviction. Here, K9 Magazine takes a look at some of the most remarkable cases and the canines that solved them.

The simple fact when it comes to crime is that criminals will go to any length to hide their wrong doing. Whether it is a drug smuggler concealing his cache in the body work of a car, or a fraudster burning down his business, the police all over the world need to be aware of what they can’t see.

This is why dogs are such an invaluable resource in the fight against crime. They can use their noses to pick up just about any scent we need them too, from a firearm buried in a garden to a thief hiding in the woods.

Peter Downey of Top Dog Security trains detection and patrol dogs for all situations. He explained to K9 Magazine the advantages of having a well trained team of dogs at his disposal.

“A dog’s olfactory senses enable the canine unit to search large areas far quicker, more effectively than any man or machine, therefore making them invaluable against the war on crime.”
On the subject of narcotics detection, Peter explained why he needs two types of dogs to catch people in possession of drugs.

“We use gun dog breeds for this, such as Labradors and Springer Spaniels. We have two ways of using our dogs. Passive detection dogs are trained to locate narcotics concealed on a person without direct contact with that individual. Pro-Active detection dogs are trained to search areas including buildings, vehicles, open spaces, ships, aeroplanes and nightclubs for drugs.”

Top Dog Security also supplies dogs to the police and security industry. On this subject, Peter clarifies just why criminals rarely get away from a trained security dog. “The criminal knows he cannot hide from a dog, he knows he cannot out run a dog, and if he is stupid enough to fight one of our dogs he will be pitting himself against a formidable opponent.”

With such sophisticated crimes as money laundering and exotic animal smuggling becoming more and more of a global problem, the services and functions provided by dogs are becoming more and more diverse as a consequence. Dogs are now trained to be able to detect different currencies, discernable by the inks and the papers used as well as certain breeds of animal that may be subject to illegal importation.

Case 1: August 2001: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In August 2001, the case of missing Philadelphia woman, thirty six year old Kimberly Szumski took an unexpected turn. Unknown to the investigation team, Szumski’s estranged husband had murdered her three months previously. Upon murdering his wife, he shrink wrapped her body in plastic, buried her under some cinder blocks and cemented her into a wall. All of this was done without raising a single eyebrow amongst the team of construction workers he was with at the time, such was the effort put into concealing his doings.

Three months passed and as a course of routine, officers entered the property in order to speak to Szumski’s husband. The building was unfinished yet deserted. This is when the call was put into to obtain the services of Eagle, a mixed breed detection dog operating within the canine solutions international group, an organisation who specialised in training detection dogs. Through over four feet of concrete and shrink wrapped plastic; Eagle detected the decomposing remains of Kimberly Szumski. He alerted the team who pulled down the wall to reveal the body of the missing woman. Her husband was subsequently arrested and charged with first degree murder.

Case 2: January 23: Sydney, Australia.

In the height of the Australian summer, thousands of music lovers descended onto the country’s biggest outdoor concert ‘the big day out’. With complaints about drug use and drug dealing arising from previous concerts, Sydney’s police force were in no mood to tolerate the presence of narcotics in the city.

In a meticulously planned crack down on drug use, Sydney’s police dog handlers approached the venue, Olympic Park, with the intention of singling out the drug using few. Little did they know that thanks to their four legged colleagues, there would be record numbers of arrests with over 355 people found with drugs on them resulting in over 250 arrests.

Case 3: November 2001: Seneca County, New York.
Early in the morning on the 5th November, a fire starts in the home of Eric Parsons which kills his wife and four young children. Witnesses watched in horror as he attempted to save his family from the fire, but Parsons’ heroics were in vain as his wife Cheryl Parsons, 23, and the couple’s children: Erica, 6; David, 4; Eric Jr., 2; and Katelyn, 1 all perished in the blaze.

On first look the fire seemed to an obvious tragic accident, the type usually caused by faulty wires in the home. Only upon bringing in detection dogs to locate the source of the fire, did foul play become a possibility in the minds of the team of investigators. German Shepherd dog Alex signalled at a car parked nearby, belonging to Eric Parsons, before he entered the building, suggesting that there were traces of accelerant on the vehicle. Of course, cars always contain traces of petrol, but when given an opportunity, Alex gave a firm signal that there was presence of an accelerant on the driver’s seat.

Investigator Dale Moone of the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Arson Bureau explained what happened when they entered the house. “Alex indicated he’d found an ignitable liquid accelerant — the only thing he’s trained to find — by putting his nose on it and then sitting. In the case of a burn pattern, he may slide his nose along its length before sitting down.”

A further nine spots of liquid accelerant were found by Alex in the home, on the clothes of Eric Parsons and on the beds of his children. He was convicted of second degree murder and first degree arson on the evidence submitted by Dale Moone.

Case 4. 1977, Buffalo, New York. The birth of the scent Sleeve.

In the winter of 1977, the fatal shooting of a police officer at a hotel inspires officer William Tolhurst to come up with an invention that revolutionises the scent detection process. As part of a large team arriving at the crime scene, officers locate an article that was carrying the scent of the fugitive killer. However, one of the bloodhounds in his eagerness contaminates the scent and renders it useless.

The only evidence the police had that would help them track the killer was now ruined. This problem lead officer Tolhurst to come up with the ‘Scent Sleeve’. A receptacle that not only keeps the scent free from contamination, it also makes the scent portable. The olfactory sensors in the dog’s nose are so strong that a blast of air across the scented item, captured in a receptacle still contains enough of the scent for the dog to be able track down a suspect.

A decade later, Tolhurst developed his theory so that any area that could contain an important scent, such as the location of a fire suspected to be arson, could be swept with his device and stored indefinitely. This meant that if an accelerant was used to start the fire, the scent sleeve could be presented to a dog for identification. Rendering all crime scenes portable meant that the dogs used in scent detection could effectively demonstrate in court as ‘witnesses’ what they do at the crime scene, years after the crime.

William Tolhurst explained the importance of scent to the law enforcement agencies.
“Scent is one piece of evidence that must be present at the scene of a crime. The criminal may walk on a concrete floor and leave no tracks, wear gloves and leave no fingerprints, but unless the entire area has been burned, he still leaves scent.”

Through over four feet of concrete and shrink wrapped plastic; Eagle detected the decomposing remains of Kimberly Szumski

“The criminal knows he cannot hide from a dog, he knows he cannot out run a dog, and if he is stupid enough to fight one of our dogs he will be pitting himself against a formidable opponent.”

The Science Of Scenting

The canine nose has proved invaluable in the fight against all manner of crime, but what does the future hold for scent detection in the criminal field? Greg Moakes is an Atlanta based analytical chemist working under the eminent scholar and researcher Dr. Jiri Janata, on a project to reproduce an artificial sensory detector based on the nose of a dog.
“Anxiety surrounding potential terror attacks is at an all time high. The threat of chemical attack both on the battlefield and in our streets has increased the urgency for the development of a reliable chemical sensor which would alert the user of exposure to toxic compounds in the air.

Toxic chemicals can be detected easily in the laboratory by electrochemical sensors – devices which record a change in electrical signal when a specific chemical lands on the sensor. However, these sensors are designed to detect a particular chemical, such as hydrogen cyanide gas (very nasty). It would be very impractical, however, for a soldier or civilian to carry around a sensor for every toxic chemical they may possibly be exposed to. The Holy Grail in the field of chemical sensing would be a single sensor capable of detecting a large number of toxic gases. To achieve this, we look to nature’s finest chemical sensor, the dog’s nose.

The canine olfactory system is not only extremely sensitive but is also able to distinguish between scents, a skill which enables dogs to be trained in detection of drugs, explosives and cadavers, even when the ‘bounty’ is masked by other scents. This ability to distinguish between many different scents would be a desirable feature of an electronic “e-nose”. Scientists therefore have studied the physiology of a dog’s nose in order to produce successful electronic equivalents to our furry companions.

In a dog’s nose, cells make up an array of chemical sensors. A scent interacts with a particular combination of cells, creating a fingerprint of signals that the brain learns to recognize. The take home message here is that a dog recognizes a smell because it has a certain effect on a group of sensors, not just one sensor. Each time a dog smells something new, the brain remembers that this smelly item excited a particular group of sensors. Over time, the dog’s brain creates a library of the response created by each item the dog sniffs.

Instead of cells, the e-nose uses multiple chemical sensors which are joined together in an array. When a molecule binds to a sensor, its electrical output is changed. An e-nose is trained by exposure to many different chemicals and using software to document which chemical sensors are triggered by each new chemical.
Artificial e-noses have only been commercially available for around 10 years, but the sad truth is that scientific research has a long way to go before these devices are as proficient at distinguishing between chemicals as Fido, so what is the point of even trying?

While Dogs are extremely proficient in the scent tracking which they are currently used for, there are some chemicals for which it is extremely difficult if not highly unethical to train a dog to detect. For example, with nerve agents such as VX gas (see movie: The Rock) a dog has two responses: alive and dead. Despite being inhumane, this gives us no information about concentration or identity of a compound, simply that we should leave the area rather quickly. So therefore it is imperative to design an alternative that can withstand exposure to certain chemicals.”

Susan Brinkmann was born in Southampton in 1963 but moved to the Netherlands when she was eight years old. Even as a child, she was always busy with pencils and crayons, trying to visualize on paper the things she saw. Her preference for highly detailed techniques resulted in life-like portraits. A great love for animals, dogs in particular, has been a continual source of inspiration. After graduating from the Academy of Arts, she continued to improve her technique, and today receives growing appreciation and fame for her, mostly commissioned, portraits.

This masterclass report will teach you how to draw a dog by using the image below, and the process by which it was created, as a basis to teach the skills required to become a real Arty Animal!

In this mini art-course, I shall try to explain which steps I take when creating an animal portrait. In order to master the technique that I use, it helps if you are a little skilled in drawing with pencils.

If you’re not particularly skilled with a pencil, well, if you are a patient person willing to practice a bit, why not give it a shot?! The main thing is to enjoy yourself and learn something in the process!

[private_Premier]Although I like to work with various materials, I usually choose coloured pencils when creating animal portraits, because they allow me to produce the finest detail. Moreover, I find pencils ideal for capturing the texture of an animal’s fur. I draw thousands of tiny little lines, almost as if every single hair is displayed.

Of course, you can use any kind of material you like. The main thing is, that you feel comfortable using it. But if you wish to create a drawing with a very life-like effect, you might like to give coloured pencils a try. I prefer a fairly hard type of pencil, like water colour pencils. In my opinion, softer pencils don’t allow the same degree of detail in texture.

Personally, I like to work from photographs. This way I can accept commissions from all over the world, and as long as the quality of the photograph is good, it is a very practical method. The dog can be photographed in its home environment, where it is relaxed and happy.

STEP 1
Select a really good photograph of your pet. If the quality of the photograph is bad, there is no way your drawing is going to turn out well.

Determine the size of your drawing. Whether you decide to make a small drawing or a larger one, again, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable with it.

Now you are ready to begin. The sheet of white paper will most probably be staring back at you, and you’ll be wondering how on earth to draw that first line.

Tip: Let me give you a tip that will shock many art teachers (by the way, I do have an art teaching degree!). If your photograph is large enough, hold it against a window, cover it with your sheet of paper and just indicate the most important lines very lightly: mark the position of the eyes, nose, ears, and the jaw line, etc.

Beginning is often the most difficult and frustrating part for inexperienced artists and determining proportions is really difficult. So you have my blessing. But…don’t give in to the temptation to take it too far: it is merely meant to help you get started!

STEP 2
Now it is important that you get a ‘grip’ on the image. Take your time to understand what you are drawing. Study your photograph carefully and try to distinguish the various shades you see. Sometimes it helps to forget that you are drawing an object, person or animal, try to focus on the colours and shapes you see!

Instead of using just one shade of brown, gray or black, buy yourself a variety of pencils in these colours. You will find that there are, for instance, reddish browns and yellowish browns. For the beagle portrayed on these pages, I used six different shades of brown, three shades of gray, a light blue and a black pencil.

If your dog is brown, choose a light brown pencil to begin with and apply a first ‘layer’ of lines in this shade. Then select a second shade for your next ‘layer’, and so forth.

TIP: Go from light to dark. Carefully indicate where the darker sections are, using a dark grey pencil.

STEP 3
Build your picture up slowly and carefully, never with haste! If you are feeling rushed, stressed or nervous, stop immediately and continue drawing when you are feeling more relaxed. The moment you start working too quickly, the lines you draw will become too harsh and your drawing will lose its delicate and detailed quality. Stay ‘in control’!

TIP: Don’t expect miracles to happen overnight! The three ‘P’s in this course are Patience, Practice and Pleasure!

STEP 4
Very slowly, continue to add colours and contrast. Now that your drawing is advancing and the most important parts are in place, you may also begin to apply a little more pressure with your pencils.

TIP: Select a photograph in which the eyes are clearly visible. The result will be more appealing.

STEP 5
Use your black pencil sparingly; maybe even leaving it until last. Apply only a few black accents, like the darkest parts of the pupils (these may be a deep black), and nose.
You will see that it was worth waiting for: now your portrait is really coming to life!

Download full illustrated report to accompany this feature – >

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Susan Brinkmann
Tel. 0031 402439956 or 0031 645736970
Web site: www.kallistart.nl
Email: info@kallistart.nl

The Case For The Prosecution: (Against Electric Collars)

Electric shock collars, you stand accused of being one of the single most vivid examples of man’s ability to use modern technology to the detriment of all that is natural and justified in the animal kingdom.

Whoever conceived the idea of a device capable of administering a painful electric shock into the neck of a creature devoid of the ability to comprehend electricity or its effects on the body should take a serious look into their conscience and picture the pain and anguish suffered by the thousands of dogs all over the world who have been electrocuted in the name of ‘better’ or ‘more socially acceptable’ behaviour.

Whoever had the notion that a device operable by a completely un-trained or un-qualified ‘ordinary’ pet owner, capable of sending an agonising current through the veins of an unsuspecting animal, would be an advancement of the human / canine interface must consider the damage and destruction they have caused to that most sacred of relationships.

Quite simply the electric shock collar would have been best left un-discovered in the same laboratory as Mustard Gas and gun powder.

The concept of the device is simply horrific. Dog partakes in behaviour not to the liking of dog’s owner, owner electrocutes dog. Forgive me for thinking we lived in a society that had long since abandoned the ideals of drowning Witches or burning people at the stake but I am convinced that future generations will look back on the world who embraced the electric shock collar with a similar level of disdain.

Electric shock collars, you have caused harm, you continue to cause harm. The pain and anguish you have delivered in your time could never be justified by the pro-electric shock brigade who seem to think your ability to inflict instant ‘correction’ and the possibility of such an action being capable of righting the wrongs of a dog whose behavioural misdemeanours have placed him in life’s last chance saloon, are a reasonable argument for their role in society.

How many times must we hear the argument that electric shock collars have saved the lives of dogs considered to be too unruly or too untrustworthy to co-exist in human society? Dogs with temperament problems who could be considered beyond the reach of the most successful canine behaviour experts still do not deserve to be persecuted and tortured into submission.

There are humane methods to change and influence the behaviour of any living breathing creature capable of thinking, a dog especially so. Remote control electrocution simply can not be considered a humane or acceptable solution, whatever the necessity to alter behaviour. Even convicted criminals, sentenced to death in the Electric Chair are spared the long term agony of punishing electrical charges being pumped into their bodies. Death comes relatively quickly for these people and as barbaric as the act itself may be, even murderers would never be subjected to a daily electrocution until such a time as they had ‘learned their lesson.’ Why, therefore, should a dog?

Members of the K9 Magazine jury, I ask you to consider the following:

Is it in any way conceivable that a dog, an animal born of no inherent malevolence, a creature whose psychological makeup is influenced entirely by environmental conditioning and its interaction with members of the human race, could ever commit an act worthy of this most vile and excruciatingly painful example of human cruelty as a means of justifiable reprisal?

Furthermore, that companies who profit from the sale and manufacture of a device renowned for its capability to inflict a deplorable level of brutality on its animal victims, should do so at the physical and mental expense of those dogs who have to endure the consequences of its potency all in the name of ‘more desirable behaviour’?

Is this a product that we, a supposed Nation of animal lovers should be tolerant of as it is made freely available for sale in the United Kingdom to anyone who so desires to one?

Does not the sheer concept of a device, created to inflict punishment by means of remote electrocution on an animal we refer to as ‘man’s best friend’, strike you as being barbaric, hypocritical and contradictory to everything that modern society stands for?

I put it to you, members of the K9 Magazine jury that you use your jurisdiction to sentence the electric shock collar to death by way of your consciences compelling you to speak out against anyone reckless enough to use one or any business mercenary enough to sell or manufacture one for profit. I say stop this shocking tool from being made available for sale and spare the anguish of thousands of dogs. Call for a ban on the electric shock collar.

Case For The Defence: (In Support of the Electric Collar)

Members of the K9 Magazine reader’s jury. Before I say anything, I credit you all with the intellectual capacity to have already spotted the fundamentally flawed motives of the anti-electric collar bandwagon.

The charge levelled against this most innovative and successful product is without foundation and is confounded when you view the successes that have been achieved with electric collars.

Whilst it maybe true that many a dog trainer would have you believe they would never stoop so low as to use an ecollar, the facts are that many trainers who do sample the device when pressed with an apparently insurmountable behavioural problem capable of ultimately leading to the destruction of a healthy animal, discover a life-saving tool that is effective ONLY because it fits with the dog’s own understanding of negative or positive behavioural re-enforcement.

Jury, you must understand what the anti-collar browbeaters fail to acknowledge. Dogs are not humans. It sounds obvious, in fact it is obvious but the reality is lost on the anti-ecollar protesters. Dogs, not being human, have learning and thinking systems that are very different to our own. Dogs understand the blackness or whiteness of a situation but not grey. That is to say a dog has the capability to understand if a behaviour it participates in is acceptable or not. It does not have a comprehension of a behaviour being anti-social or ‘not in keeping with the expectancy level of its human counterparts’.

Let’s take a hypothetical case: A family dog, let’s say he’s a 12 month old Labrador. His owners let him sit on the sofa in the living room every day. Every day that is apart from Fridays when his owners hold a very important dinner party in which case he gets scolded for being ill-mannered enough to even attempt to get up on the sofa and carry out behaviour which he understands to be acceptable on other occasions.

He doesn’t know he can’t get on the sofa on a Friday. He understands a pattern that says he either can get on the sofa or he can’t. He’ll pretty much accept either rule but what he really struggles with is this horrible, human inflicted grey area. I will re-iterate, dogs understand black or white, hot or cold, acceptable or not acceptable. They do not have a great ability to add in scenario evaluation or circumstance-relevant decision making to their thought process.

The dog’s black or white learning pattern is the main reason why the electric shock training collar is so very successful and fair. It has the capability to instantly and effectively communicate a highly comprehensible message to the dog. ‘Your behaviour is acceptable or your behaviour is not’.

Dogs do not enjoy the shock. Some ecollar advocates try and play down the fact that the device can (and sometimes does) cause discomfort. This is true, conceded. But neither does a dog enjoy an existence where there are no clearly defined social boundaries or confusion, for example dogs who pull on lead and are constantly being ‘strangled’ by an owner who has never correctly taught the dog to walk properly. Dogs understand rank and the system of a pack which is why the most successful and contented packs consist of pack leader who is on hand to administer discipline and order to the rest of the pack the instant it is required.

That discipline may range from a ‘stare’ in minor cases of behavioural misdemeanor to a full scale exertion of physical dominance, including the infliction of some degree of pain, in cases where the pack leader’s authority is being severely challenged.

Here is where the case for the defence overwhelms any charges brought against the electric collar. If used correctly in accordance with manufacturers instructions and only in cases where there is a severe challenge of authority that threatens to destabilise the entire family unit (pack) either by way of the dog’s behaviour becoming a danger to people or to their own lives, the electric shock collar has the power to save thousands of dogs lives through its ability to act quickly and decisively leaving the dog with no grey area difficulties.

If dogs could speak they would all seek to communicate their desire to live and conform in a human-lead, modern society ahead of the prospect of having their life terminated as a result of our human inability to translate our acceptable behaviour standards sufficiently into a language that they can understand.

The case for the defence rests and leaves the jury with this final thought:

“Ask a dog to choose between certain death or one final chance at being shown the path to acceptable human-interaction and behaviour and you have the very reason why electric collars have a valuable role to play in modern society. There are thousands of dogs who are only alive today because of this ground breaking, innovative use of modern technology and advanced understanding of canine behaviour”

Witnesses Called To The Stand:

Hi to all of you at k9 magazine

I am one of those who think that the e-collar is a barbaric invention, one that if not banned should certainly be subject to strict legislation, only to be used by qualified behaviourists for extreme problems – where the only alternative would be euthanasia. They cannot be the way forward for modern trainers. Modern trainers mostly train with kindness and reward, positive reinforcement techniques, not by giving a dog an electric shock! I have been training my own dogs for twenty years and have not yet come across a training problem that can’t be overcome with patience and perseverance. The damage that could be done to a sensitive dog by an inexperienced handler using an e-collar horrifies me. E-collars are a step backwards in training methods and have no place in our canine classes or in general use.

Karen White

Hi K9 Magazine

Only barbaric man could invent such a thing.  Man’s best friend they are supposed to be.  I have done some studies with a reputable behavioural school and all studies have shown that this causes a dog more anxiety than anything we could imagine.

If a dog gets a shock at the wrong time, you are teaching it to be scared of all the wrong things.  A dog has to be taught no within 3 seconds, you can not possibly get that right.

How would man like this treatment? Can you imagine every time you did something wrong at work for instance and your boss pressed the button, what would your reaction be?

Ban the damn things, a nation of animal lovers, I don’t think so.

Dawn.

Dear K9 Magazine

Anything that causes pain to an animal should be outlawed! Would we use
the same device to get children to do as we want? I don’t think so somehow!

Kind regards

Adele Travis-Jones

Dear Sir/Madam

I read the last edition of K9 magazine and was pleased that the topic of electric collars has come up for debate having been an avid user for a number of years now. Whilst acknowledging that there is an element of concern over the use of anything electrical, this debate really stems from people not properly understanding on how it operates.

At no time when using our remote trainer have we caused our dog any distress, to the contrary it has saved our Labrador’s life. He had taken to worrying sheep down on Common Land and was liable to be shot if we did not immediately take corrective measures.

We did seek advice, train him and follow guidelines along traditional lines – however this proved ineffective and the sheep far more interesting. We were then recommended a remote trainer by a friend, and indeed we only used the electric collar once in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and Wellington has never chased sheep again. This device was used to safeguard our pet within his home environment and has most definitely enhanced his enjoyment of being part of our family.

I have recommended these devices to a lot of people since first using it and the results are astounding.

Yours faithfully

Angela Brown

I read with interest your request for comments regarding electric collars. Although your magazine is aimed at dog owners it was passed to me by a friend as we use such a product with our cats.

We live in a semi-rural area on the edge of town, a reasonable distance from the main road. Several years ago we rescued three cats from a local centre all of who became much loved, and very settled members of our family. However one always had a tendency to wander, and frequently crossed the main road to go into the fields beyond. We always had a strong belief that cats being very independent creatures should not be restrained, however earlier this year my husband went out to work early one morning only to find our beloved “wanderer” dead by the side of the road having been hit by a vehicle on his way home for breakfast. We were devastated.

Since then we re-considered that possibility of some sort of device to restrict their wanderings a little. After much consideration we opted to install a radio fence and have the cats wear electric collars. This has successfully prevented them from leaving our reasonably sized garden and has given us so much more peace of mind. The thought of losing another member of our family in such a horrible way was just too much to bear, and I am so glad we have taken this decision. The cats were carefully trained in accordance with the manufacturers advice, and after having received one or two corrections in the early days now accept their collars and the limitations to their wanderings. They are still well-adjusted, and very contented pets.

I do understand the other side of the electric collar debate, but feel very strongly that in the right hands and used correctly and responsibly they are a huge asset from several points of view – the animal’s safety, the owner’s peace of mind, and reducing the possibility of causing a major road accident.

Regards,

SL

Dear K9 Magazine,

There has been a lot of controversy about electronic dog collars and restraints in the press and government recently. I write as a very happy user of such a system. We live on a couple of acres in a village in Leicestershire

A couple of years ago we had problems with our Retriever bitch escaping and wandering when on heat, causing a bother to our neighbours.

We then also got a Ridgeback dog who when 8 months old escaped and was hit by a car in the road outside. Luckily, neither dog nor car occupants suffered serious harm. However, there remained the risk of nuisance to other people and dogs.

At the recommendation of some friends, we had a Freedom Fence system installed around our boundary. We adjusted the levels so that the dogs received the minimum prompt they recognised. Our dogs took 2 days to learn where the boundaries are.

Since then, our dogs will approach the boundary but will not cross unless for example we walk across looking like we are going to take them for a walk. The collars emit a warning beep when the dog comes up to the boundary, and the dogs know not to proceed further and to retreat a little to stop the bleeping, without receiving any prompt other than the beep.

The system gives a great benefit to the dogs. It allows us to give the dogs freedom to wander in our garden without worry, when we are indoors.

The system is excellent. It has not shown any sign of malfunction or problem, and can easily be switched off when we want to take the dogs out. Our friends who recommended it to us have similarly had nothing but success with the system. I recommend it to your readers for 3
reasons:

It stops the problems of wandering dogs.
It gives us the reassurance that the dogs are safe on our land. It allows the dogs the fun of wandering on our land when we are busy.

Yours sincerely

Jan van der Post
Leicestershire

The Verdict: You’re The Jury

Do you find electric shock collars guilty as charged or innocent and free to go on their way?

The above article was first published in K9 Magazine in 2003. Since then, debates over the electric dog training collar have raged just as actively as when we first broached the subject.

As is our style, we try to present a balanced case and afford our readers (you!) the chance to form your own opinions and have your say. If you HATE em’, tell us why. If you support em’, we’d like to hear your reasons.*

Over to you.

*Disclaimer: Whilst happy to allow the issue to be discussed in an intelligent, adult manner – K9 Magazine does not accept advertising for electric collars. If you happen to see adverts served by Google on this page (or any other) for electric dog training collars (as a result of the keyword relevance of this article), we’d appreciate it if you could let us know (the same goes for any other ‘dodgy’ adverts served by Google on our pages. Thank you!)

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The aim of an animal physiotherapist is to restore and maintain the mobility, function, independence and performance of your dog throughout any stage of his life, Rebecca Heald.

Dogs, like ourselves develop similar diseases affecting their mobility and quality of life such as arthritis, often causing stiffness and a reduced ability to exercise. Dogs, like footballers, can also suffer cruciate ligament injuries from chasing a ball! They often require surgery to treat this and many other conditions affecting their bones, ligaments, muscles or tendons.

Dogs commonly need surgery or visit the vets after an injury, and whilst veterinary surgeons operate on these conditions or manage the dog with rest and medication, the next step to a complete recovery is utilising specific expert knowledge and the specialised skills of a veterinary / animal physiotherapist, who is a Category A member of ACPAT.

Why is physiotherapy important for animals?

Physiotherapy is vital to relieve pain and discomfort, and to build up strength and flexibility in order to regain normal movement and function to enable the dog to return to a happy, healthy lifestyle. Often you wouldn’t know if you pet had sore or tight muscles, or was suffering from weakness or a sprain in their muscles,[private_Premier] tendons or ligaments. Physiotherapists are experts in hands on therapy and have gained years of knowledge and experience working with people, so they can tell what the problem is with your pet and what treatments and exercises are going to help.

How do human physiotherapists become animal physiotherapists and how are they regulated?

The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy,(ACPAT) is a clinical interest group of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). All ACPAT’s practising Category A members have a degree in human physiotherapy and are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), the professional body. They must have a minimum of two years human experience before they are eligible to train as an animal or veterinary physiotherapist via a recognised ACPAT upgrading route.

Therefore it takes at least seven years to become a Category A member. Human physiotherapists are regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC) and they protect the titles ‘physical therapist’ and ‘physiotherapist’. Unfortunately they do not recognise animals and therefore the titles ‘animal/veterinary physiotherapist’ and ‘animal/veterinary physical therapist’ are not protected. ACPAT members are regulated by the CSP. All our Category A members abide by the Veterinary Surgeons Act and will not see an animal unless they have been referred by a veterinary surgeon, they also have full public and professional liability insurance.

What happens during my dog’s physiotherapy session?

We perform a detailed assessment of your dog’s health, physical problems and lifestyle through questions, observation and then a specific hands on assessment. A specific treatment programme is designed and discussed with the owner. The first appointment often lasts an hour, with subsequent sessions taking up to 45 minutes. We often run clinics from purpose built treatment rooms or therapy centres, veterinary premises or we come to your home, dependent on your dog;s needs.

Will I be given advice on helping my pet at home?

We always provide dog owners with useful advice and teach many techniques to carry out at home to improve their pet’s recovery. There are also many precautions owners need to be aware of within the home after surgery or injury. Care on using the stairs, avoiding slips on laminate or wooden floors, assisting your dog in and out of the car, and ensuring they are safe and comfortable within their home is important and will be advised on, as dogs need a period of rest and recuperation in order to make the best recovery possible.

Is physiotherapy for animals similar to physiotherapy for people?

All the techniques used are similar to those used for people, but adapted with a sound background in animal anatomy and biomechanics and related to the animal’s condition. However I always stress that physiotherapy for animals should never be painful or cause distress, it should always be a pleasant experience. A lot of the dogs I treat often fall asleep they are so relaxed.

What treatment techniques may be used?

Treatments such as massage, soft tissue techniques, joint mobilisations and the use of heat and gentle stretches are implemented to aid circulation, healing and movement. Also, electrotherapy techniques such as therapeutic ultrasound, muscle stimulation and magnetic therapy are used to promote tissue healing and speed the recovery process.

How will my dog build up his fitness again?

Dogs also need to do specific exercises like people would to build up their strength, and improve their balance and co-ordination. Although they can’t go to a gym like we would, there are many exercises for dogs which owners can easily do at home or incorporate into their walks. Strengthening and balance exercises include slow walking up slopes and hills, doing circles and figures of eight, sit to stand exercises and many more all dependent on what injury, surgery or condition your dog has. It is important that the exercises are as enjoyable as possible for the dog, and that they are rewarded for doing them.

Can I still take my dog for walks after his surgery or injury?

I give owners a lot of advice on returning to walks, such as how far to go and how to build that up, also the best surfaces to walk on and how often their dog should be exercised during their rehabilitation in collaboration with their vet’s recommendations.

My dog is very old, will he still be able to do a rehabilitation programme?

Like people, no two dogs are the same, so each physiotherapy treatment plan and home rehabilitation programme is different and specific to each individual dog. It is important to take into account each dog’s age, breed, previous lifestyle, fitness and general daily routine, as well as that of the owners.

When is the best time for my dog to start physiotherapy treatment?

Physiotherapy is often best when started soon after injury or surgery, but it can make a huge difference to your pet’s physical health and quality of life at any stage during recovery, or at any age. The majority of pet insurance companies will cover the cost of physiotherapy treatment.

What canine conditions benefit from having physiotherapy?

Arthritis

Degenerative joint disease

Age related discomfort

Lameness

Muscle sprains/strains

Surgery, or management of;

Cruciate ligament injury

Hip dysplasia

Triple pelvic osteotomy or joint replacements

Femoral head and neck excision

Patella stabilisation

Fracture repair

Elbow dysplasia

Neurological conditions such as;

Spinal surgery

Nerve injuries

Chronic degenerative mylopathy (common in German Shepherd dogs)

How do I find my local animal/veterinary physiotherapist?

To find a local ACPAT Category A member or for further information visit www.acpat.org.

Having grown up with a household menagerie I always wanted to work with animals. I qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2005 with a post graduate diploma in veterinary physiotherapy and since then have been specialising my work in the treatment of dogs, which is a dream job for me. I also continue some part-time work for the NHS. I work closely with a number of veterinary practices, and often provide in-house veterinary physiotherapy for dogs who have undergone more specialised surgery in which they require a period of veterinary care. I am based in Darlington, County Durham but am happy to treat animals within the North East of England and throughout North, East and West Yorkshire. I also enjoy getting involved in teaching both veterinary nurses and students about physiotherapy, and provide colleges running equine and animal management courses with lectures, demonstrations and careers information.

Please do contact me if you would like to find out more about veterinary physiotherapy, or feel your pet would benefit from treatment. I can be contacted via my website www.healdvetphysio.com[/private_Premier]

Tobacco is unique. It’s one of the world’s few legally available products that will actually kill its customers if used correctly. Over 120,000 smoking related deaths per year in the UK alone pay testament to this gruesome statistic.

As a nation of dog lovers we spend time and money keeping our pets fit and healthy. We pay attention to the food they consume and the amount and style of exercise they require. We spend billions of pounds a year on veterinary care, scientifically developed diets, insurance and products to make their lives pleasurable.

So who would have thought, with all this effort to enhance their lifestyle and wellbeing going on, that millions of us could actually be killing our dogs by lighting up in their presence?

[private_Premier]It seems the typically British thing to do nowadays is to import Americana. Where they have Jerry Springer we have Trisha, where they decide to get stuck into a good old fashioned bombing campaign, we follow and so surely will adopt some parts of America’s extreme anti-public smoking legislation. Yes, no doubt we like to follow in the footsteps of our North American allies but unlike the increase in gun crime and identikit coffee houses, this latest American import is likely to be welcomed by millions here in Britain.

That smoking harms you and others around you is well documented and the point need not to be stressed further than to look at the figures for the volume of deaths of both smokers and non-smokers through a variety of smoking related illnesses each year around the world. What’s never really been given much consideration is the damage going on to the critters who live around our feet in our homes.

When a smoker takes a drag on a cigarette they inhale around 15% of the fumes, the rest they pump straight back into the atmosphere. Smoke, being heavier than air, sinks. Slowly. You can probably see where this is leading but consider the bare facts. 85% of the dangerous chemicals available to the smoker is passed on to the surrounding area’s airspace. If you stand anywhere above 3”4 the chances are you’re going to have a small time slot where the 85% is floating around your breathing space. If you’re above 5”5 then you’ve much less exposure to the descending smoke, if, however you stand little more than a couple of feet off the ground then you’re in for the maximum exposure time available, especially if you spend a good proportion of your day taking big whiffs through the highly sensitive smelling tool that’s stuck on the end of your muzzle. It’s stating the obvious to point out that dogs live on the ground below us and tend to use the nasal abilities that God gave them to put most of their time into sniffing some place or another.

We’re looking at facts here. If you smoke in the same place as a dog, there’s every likely hood that he or she could be inhaling more smoke than the person dragging on the cigarette. Quite frightening when you think about it isn’t it? After all, you’d probably kick up a stink (excuse the pun) if a fumigation company came to your house and suggested spraying toxic fumes around the place while Fido was playing in the living room. You’d want him out of the way and he’d be grateful to escape.

In the news, recently, was the story of the woman who had smoked over forty cigarettes a day until she developed Bronchial Carcinoma. It was revealed that two of her pet dogs had died of lung cancer and her cat had suffered from chronic wheezing that resolved when the patient discontinued smoking. Isolated incident, or is this one of the first signs that our pets are dying of cancer more and more through our bad habits?

The problem here is not that insensitive dog owners deliberately inflict disease onto their pets, far from it. Much the same as social smokers cannot be accused of wishing the Roy Castle’s of this world to die slowly of cancer whilst they carry on puffing away regardless. No, the problem here is that health warnings and televised adverts are redundant in their function to inform and nowadays even to shock. We all know what smoking to does to our bodies, and yes, we do care.

Like speeding, taking hard drugs and drink driving, smoking is considered by many to be a calculated risk taken by the participant and rarely is a risk assessment of the countless secondary victims put into question.

Ask any smoker if the idea of going to the nearest dog shelter to poison some of the four-legged residents sounds appealing and they’d probably categorise you as a psychotic. The truth though, is that smoking in an area where other breathing mammals are living is tantamount to poisoning them.

At the University of Queensland, Australia, research found passive smoking was linked to lung cancer in dogs. The Pet Oncology expert with the Animal Cancer Care unit at the University stated that cancer is the most common killer of pets in Australia. Dogs suffering from sinus and nasal cancer or asthma may wish to thank there smoking owners too.

It is hoped this new research linking second hand smoke exposure to cancer in dogs, will empower those who choose, and have the right to smoke, with more information about the effects of smoking on animals. Dr. Moore thinks that there are a lot of dog owners who might not quit smoking for themselves or for their family, but they might for their dogs.

The smoke emitted from the end of a burning cigarette actually has double the concentration of nicotine and tar when compared to the smoke that is inhaled by the smoker through a filter. It also contains three times the amount of Benzopyrene, a known cause of testicle damage and infertility in animals, five times the amount of Carbon Monoxide and as much as fifty times the amount of ammonia, which is found in most household cleaners.

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are known to be highly poisonous and very harmful. Some of these are CARBON MONOXIDE, the poisonous gas in car exhausts, TAR, NICOTINE used in pesticides and also ACETONE, AMMONIA, ARSENIC, BENZENE, BUTANE, FORMALDEHYDE, HYDROGEN CYANIDE, METHANOL, DDT and RADON to name but a few.

Because cigarette smoke is highly concentrated at low levels, dogs, cats and small children are further disadvantaged.

There have been cases of Tracheobronchitis (kennel cough), which is an inflammation of the trachea and bronchial airways, documented as being caused by smoke inhalation. Certain breeds could be more likely to develop problems such as bracheocephalic breeds (dogs with short muzzles) like Boxers, Bulldogs and Yorkshire Terriers.

We’ve become a shock-proof society. Even 1970’s ‘king of shock’ Alice Cooper said recently that he doesn’t even bother trying to shock an audience of rock fans anymore when considering the fact that they will return home from his show to the TV images of war, famine, death and destruction happening around the world.

Just because we’ve developed a numbness to death and disease we need to be educated. The image of a lifeless canine carcass being hauled from a river when its owner decided to drown it shocked millions when it appeared in the national press. The disregard for the dog’s life was obvious. How could anyone do that to innocent dog? How indeed.

If imagery of animal death is the powerful weapon with which to convince people that passive smoking can kill pets too then so be it. Think on and picture your dog’s life being cut short through a habit that someone else hasn’t been able to tame. Stand up for your dog’s rights. They need you to. Most of us are so polite we won’t object when someone confronts us with the famous ‘do you mind if I smoke?’ plea. Next time you hear it or you consider lighting up, re-arrange the words to ‘do you mind if I poison your dog?’ You might have a different reaction.

For more information on quitting smoking pay a visit www.quitsmokinguk.com or www.quit.org.uk, a national charity that helps people to give up smoking, they can also be contacted on 0800 00 22 00. All addicts need an incentive to kick the habit. Could the plight of our pets dying from second hand smoke be the most powerful incentive of all?[/private_Premier]

…Okay, it’s an unlikely scenario but divorce and its effect on dogs is a very serious matter and one that more Britons are having to face up to every day By Dan Laurikietis.

Those of us whose parents separated when we were young know how it feels to be caught in the middle of a divorce. Disorientated, frightened, insecure and torn between the two people who have shaped you in your formative years and been a part of every major event in your life.

[private_Premier]This is a predicament shared by children and dogs alike. A divorce can take its toll on our furry friends every bit as much as on a child.

Since every dog is unique different dogs will react in different ways but the dog’s reaction can depend on their age and amount of training as well as breed, history and other aspects.

In this country divorce statistics are showing an alarming increase.

A government survey showed that in 2001 a staggering 143,818 divorces were granted in England and Wales and the 4.8 million dog owning households in the country are no exception. It is a sad fact that all over the world couples are separating leaving their pets caught in the middle.

Even in the news and gossip columns we see examples of this, notably Les Dennis and Amanda Holden were engaged in a custody battle over their pet dogs, despite their amicable divorce.

Dogs whose owners get divorced often end up at best disorientated and lonely or at worst homeless. Indeed, an increasingly large amount of dogs given in to pet shelters are handed in on the grounds of divorce.

Dogs are very dependent creatures and being man’s best friend their emotional investment in us is as prominent as their need for the food and shelter that we provide them. Legal procedure for pet custody is very different to child custody. Ownership of the pet will go to the partner proven as the legal owner regardless of who will be able to give the dog a better home.

In legal term the dogs are essentially a material posession, nothing more, nothing less. As is sadly the case in most legal matters monetary value outweighs that of sentiment. Higher wage earners will invariably have to invest more time and attention on their job than their dog.

We should never underestimate the sensitivity of our four legged companions. The dog will be able to sense the emotional tension leading up to and during divorce, which in turn can lead to the dog/s feeling uncomfortable which in turn can manifest itself in behavioural changes.

In cases involving two or more dogs, if the dogs are separated they will miss each other as well as their estranged masters. A seemingly minor change to a human’s lifestyle could affect the dog on a far larger scale. For example a house wife or husband is obliged to find a job following divorce, the lack of company and attention now availed to the pet can be deeply depressing. Changes in location are also very important.

Dogs being very territorial creatures will respond with bewilderment and frustration following a drastic change in scenery. Couple this with Rover’s primal need to mark this strange new territory as his own and you mustn’t be surprised to tread in a puddle every now and then.

The environment the dog is moved to must also be considered, much like when you first considered bringing it into your home. Moving from a semi detached house to a high rise flat will result in far less space for the dog to explore and no back yard to be exercised in (unless the dog is so small it can run around a window box).

We humans can make this difficult transitional period infinitely easier for our wet nosed friends simply by considering how their needs will be catered for following the separation. Making the minimum possible amount of changes to your dog’s lifestyle can help to ensure against behavioural problems which could complicate life further for everybody. It is also important for the dog to have regular contact with both divorcees much like children. Fido has feelings too you know! [/private_Premier]

There are no divine regulations that stipulate a property to be pet friendly. 95% of looking after a pet is common sense. If you live in a house off a very busy main road, it doesn’t mean that your property isn’t pet friendly. Likewise if you live in a rural location with large enclosed gardens this doesn’t give you the right to wear an ‘I have a pet friendly property’ badge. It doesn’t matter where you live, if you don’t use common sense then you can consider yourself a non-pet friendly pet owner.

The Location

Financial constraints limit most of us to where we end up living. Week in, week out, I pick my lotto numbers and week in, week out I have to go back to work after my numbers are six of the 42 balls that remain jumping about in that stupid glass orb, blowing an imaginary raspberry at me.[private_Premier]

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If you are hunting for a pet friendly property at the moment then you probably have a budget in mind. You may have to spend some of that budget to make the property more pet friendly, or as pet friendly as you want it to be. The ideal location for you and your pet depends on a number of things – remember making it pet friendly is ideal, but being two hours from work or an hour from the nearest Indian takeaway would certainly increase your stress levels. Would you feel like walking your dog after a long stressful drive home from work? Consider yourself as well as your pet, after all, who pays the mortgage? If you are moving a long way from where you are currently, check the locality of the nearest parks, or woodland areas and have a look in the telephone directory for vets and grooming parlours in the area. If your property has a limited garden space then parks and woodland areas that are close by are a great source of exercise for you and your pet. Living off a main road may not be the ideal choice for a pet but it may be that you have found the house of your dreams and it just happens to be located off a main road. Don’t panic, as long as you use common sense it shouldn’t be a problem.
A back garden is an ideal place for your pet to stretch and play. Although a garden may have hidden dangers, (to be explained later) I would feel more comfortable with my pet playing in the back garden rather than the front, should the choice be there. Remember not all of us out there are pet lovers; a happy and contented pet may not cause as much mayhem to your house or make as much noise as an unhappy and discontented pet. Your neighbours don’t have to be of a pet friendly persuasion but if you make your pet as comfortable as possible you can make your pet ‘neighbour friendly’.

The Interior

Well, here you are in your new home, it looks so empty without all that furniture the previous owner had. Oh my god! That flock wallpaper just has to go and oh dear, lime green paint in the living room, I don’t think so.

It’s time to decorate your new home. Decorating is often an essential part of marking your territory; a bold statement that implies that it’s your place and your home. Pets also mark their territory in a slightly different way but in principal it’s the same thing.

Lively pets make your house a home, common sense suggests that if you have a pet then you haven’t got this pet just to be able to pick and choose the times that you want to spend time with it. If you have then go out and buy a Buzz Lightyear Space Cadet figure, which you will probably find residing in many bargain baskets at all good toy emporiums. Lively pets may have a tendency to cause wear and tear on some of your fixtures and fittings. But have no fear, with interior designers popping up everywhere from UK Style themed satellite channels to deep in the jungles of Australia, help and expert advice is only a three digit number, on your remote away.

Clean carpets and upholstery, intact curtains, electrical wires and your precious record collection of New Romantic (post Adam & the Ants of course) singles and albums can all successfully co-exist with your pet. Decorating with certain fabrics and materials, planning open and closed spaces and thinking about how each room is used can make a major difference to how you and your pet relate to each other.

Your home should be a haven for all family members, pets included. However their idea of home is a lot different from ours. Their basic animal instincts rule their feelings of comfort and security and if you can accept that then choices can be made that work for everyone.

You can make your house a pet friendlier place if you observe a few basic rules.

Pets that have been spayed and / or neutered become much calmer pets.

Pets that have been groomed shed less hair and clipped claws scratch less.

Certain pet foods are more digestible and produce less waste.

Pets that are given attention, played with and exercised on a regular basis are less likely to dig, chew and trash of their own accord.

Try to put yourself in the place of your pet and imagine how they see their new home. Exciting smells, quiet places and activity areas all appeal to most pets. Think about how your pet has related to specific objects, has your pet knocked over a floor standing lamp in the past, if so why not replace it with a sturdier base then the one before?
A washable slipcover may be useful if your pet sheds hair all over your light coloured sofa. If you want a pet and expect it to never move, or never come up to you wanting attention then you’d be better buying a framed picture of an animal and sticking it above your fireplace.

Also, consider the way your pet reacts to events in and around the home. Your pet sees your home as his territory and sees itself as the protector of his territory. Those expensive Venetian blinds you bought for the living room windows are now all twisted and bent just because there was a group of workmen working on the road and your pet was protecting his property. Also, your pet may choose to sleep on your favourite pillow or favourite chair just because it smells like you. You can train your pet to respect certain areas and objects but you can’t predict everything about an animal’s preference and you have to plan accordingly.

Most floor and furniture fabrics in a very light or dark colours show pet hair and little accidents that may have happened. A textured, stain-resistant material with a design hides a multitude of sins. Certain furniture can be dangerous to pets. Reclining chairs can trap a curious pet and rocking chairs can roll onto a pet’s paws or tail so make sure that your pet isn’t nearby when you decide to have a recline or a rock. Nylon pile carpets are apparently easier to spot clean and Sisal rugs are virtually impossible to clean once there is a spot. You have been warned. Beautiful polished hardwood floors are best for a household with pets, dogs imparticular but they must be treated with polyurethane to resist stains and if the floor is not well sealed then humidity can release an old pet stain into the air long after the accident has been picked up. However, rugs delicately positioned in locations on the wooden floor will reduce the potential for pets to slip and fall, especially young pets that will be unsteady on their feet at first. Wooden floors also make flea control easier as sometimes when you welcome a pet into your home it brings its near invisible inhabitants along for the ride, literally.

The stairs in your home, that is unless you live in a bungalow, could also be a potential hazard to your pet. Placing baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs depending on where your pet is should reduce the risk of a nasty accident.

Your new thirty-two inch wide screen television arrives along with your PlayStation 2, Multi region DVD player and Satellite Digi-box. Now that is a lot of electrical wires for a pet to examine and get his teeth into, these need to be off limits as these could easily cause injury or in some cases worse. This goes for other electrical items dotted around the house. It would be advisable to conceal these in hard plastic or rubber runners, which can be purchased from your local hardware store.

Some pets like to chew, its what they’re good at. When they are in chewing mood, nothing is sacred. Try to keep small objects out of easy reach from your pet as small things can easily get lodged in their digestive tract. Coins, needles, paper clips, earrings and those small plastic soldiers that you used to play with when you were younger, are just a few samples of “small things” that can cause serious damage to your pet.

Try and keep the bathroom clean and tidy and only allow your pet into it as and when you want. Ensure that all medication is safely stored away and remove dirty clothes, also keep towels out of reach. It is imperative to ensure that after bleaching the toilet, access to this porcelain water vessel is impossible. Some pets don’t discriminate about what they choose to ingest so discard any bulky rubbish items into your outside bin immediately. Also, guys please remember to put the toilet seat down after you have finished. Thank you, (hands up, guilty as charged).

Be proud of your home but be proud to be a pet friendly pet owner. If you have plants inside the home make sure you know the effect that they can cause to some pets. Some can irritate your pet’s tongue and throat. Others have been known to cause intestinal upset or diarrhoea. Azaleas, Oleanders, Castor Beans, Sago Palms and Yew Plants can even be fatal.

Try to keep your pets food and water dishes away from the smell and lure of a rubbish bin, some pets have a greater sense of smell than us and may find rummaging through last nights curry much more appealing than some brands of pet food.

Add to these recommendations a large dollop of common sense, a slice of luck and a smidgeon of a prayer or two. This achieved, you are two thirds of the way to qualifying for ‘I try my best to be a pet friendly pet owner’ badge. There’s just the dreaded garden to attend too now …[/private_Premier]