W OOFS & H OOFS A NIMAL M ASSAGE
N ATURAL H EALING FOR P ETS
B I - MONTHLY N EWSLETTER
V OLUME 4, I SSUE 5
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
FROM
W EDNESDAY , 20 O CTOBER 2010
WOOFS & HOOFS
Halloween is approaching, and we cannot wait for the fun and festivities. We
hope you are as excited as we are about the holiday. In this issue, we discuss all
things Halloween, including wolves and werewolves and Halloween dog tricks.
We also continue with our regular features—Acupressure Point, Rub the Right
Way, and Recommended Reading. We also share a delicious recipe for a doggie
goulash, and much, much, more.
From all of us at Woofs and Hoofs, we wish you and
your animal a very
Happy Halloween!
WOLVES
AND
WEREWOLVES
Werewolves are a common myth that has reappeared throughout history. But,
how did the myth start?
It is believed that the legend started in 1591, when a group of villagers from
Cologne found the remains of human limbs and farm animals. The believed that a
wolf was responsible and went on a search for the animal. Eventually, the
villagers cornered the wolf. While under attack, the wolf stood up on its hind legs
and transformed into a man from the town. The werewolf legend was born.
ANIMAL TRIVIA
Did you know?
Wolves howl to reveal
their location, to call the
pack together, or to define
the group's territory.
Vampire bats need about
two tablespoons of blood
each day. If they go two
days without blood, they'll
starve to death.
Sometimes spiders are not
seen as evil, as portrayed
during Halloween. In
England,
seeing a
spider in
your house
means good
luck. To kill one
brings bad luck.
It is now believed that werewolves spotted throughout history may have been
people who were suffering from rabies or psychosis. An alternative theory is that
people who believed that they had turned into a wolf may have eaten
hallucinogenic plants. A common grain used in bread during the Middle Ages was
actually discovered to be a hallucinogen, so this theory may have some merit.
Despite the werewolf association, wolves actually try to avoid humans and are
naturally timid. Early man may have competed with wolves for food, so this may
be why the animal inspires fear in many humans. As the wolf's natural habitat
disappears, the wolf has come into conflict with people. As a result of people
hunting them, wolf populations around the world are under threat.
Wolves are wonderful creatures, not
werewolves, and should be saved. One
way to help is to donate to animal
conservation charities. The Wolves and
Humans Foundation is a UK based charity
dedicated to the conservation of Europe's
large carnivores – wolves, bears, and lynx.
For £20 (€30), you can sponsor a wolf
pack. For more details click here.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
SIMPLE DOG TRICKS
FOR HALLOWEEN
2
GETTING
COMFORTABLE
2
THE ACUPARESSURE
POINT
RECOMMENDED
READING
3
ACTIVITIES CALENDAR
3
GOULASH FOR DOGS
4
RUB THE RIGHT WAY
4
3
P AGE 2
N ATURAL H EALING
FOR
P ETS
SIMPLE DOG TRICKS
FOR HALLOWEEN
If your new dog is going to participate in the Halloween activities, it might be wise to teach him a few basic commands to
make the festivities enjoyable for all. The three must teach commands this Halloween season are Sit (no jumping on the
little vampire at the door), Stay (no running away when you open the door for the little vampire), and Leave It (no stealing
the sweets meant for the little vampire).
Below are the basics for teaching these three commands:
Sit
Place one of your dog's favourite dog treats at the end of his nose. Slowly move the treat up and over his head. As your
dog tries to follow the treat with his head, he should naturally sit. When he does sit, praise him and give him the treat.
After you have practiced this a few times and you are sure that you can make him sit, start adding the command "sit" to the
beginning of the process. Soon, your dog will associate the word with the action and will not need the treat.
Stay
Once your dog has mastered Sit, move on to Stay. First, ask your dog to sit and
praise him. Next, say "stay" and place your hand flat with your palm facing the dog.
Wait a few seconds, give your dog a treat, and say "all done." Practice this a few
times. Once he understands the sequence, you can get him to stay for longer periods
and eventually work up to performing the command without the treat.
Leave It
This time have your dog's favourite treat and one that he does not like so much.
Place the treat that your dog does not like out of his reach while he is on a lead.
Allow him to attempt to get it, but do not let him hold it in his mouth. Eventually,
he will stop trying. When he starts to ignore the treat, say "good dog" and let him
have his favourite treat. When he understands the sequence, add the command
"leave it" when he tries to get the treat that is out of his reach. Eventually, you can
work up to performing the command without the favourite treat but always make
sure that you praise your dog.
Have patience with your new dog and practice often. It will pay off and these simple
commands should make trick or treating more enjoyable for the whole family.
GETTING COMFORTABLE
Have you ever noticed how a dog will often circle three times (or even more) before lying down? No one can say for
certain the reason behind this peculiar behavior of a dog, however animal behaviorists believe it this is an inherent habit
handed down to modern domesticated dogs from their ancestors that lived in the wild.
First, circling before lying down may have actually originated as a defensive behavior. By circling around before napping,
wild dogs would ensure the location they choose as their bed was not already occupied by snakes, scorpions and other
dangerous animals. The dog would see any potential threats before closing its eyes.
Of course wolves also live in packs and circling would give the dog one last check of where the other dogs in the pack were
(to ensure they didn’t lay on them) as well as alert the others to the fact that it was going down for a little “shut-eye”. It
would also allow the dog to create a bit more room and to warn the others not to encroach on his marked bed. Circling also
marks a dog’s territory with its one of a kind scent. Wild dogs (and some domestic) may sometimes pee a bit on the place it
is circling before it flops down. The dog is telling other dogs "This is my territory, stay off!" The scent also makes it easier
for a dog in the wild to find his territory again.
Another reason for this odd behavior is probably comfort. A dog circles around before lying down to pat down long grass,
compress snow or move any loose stones that may make the bed uncomfortable. On hot days, circling may reveal a cooler
layer of the dirt in the area. And while most dogs’ coats act as insulation against wind and cold weather, dogs will often
sleep close together to take advantage of each other’s body heat. By circling around, the dog can also determine from which
direction the wind is blowing and then take the position that is most comfortable.
It is often quite amusing to see a pampered, domestic dog circling a soft, padded bed before
finally slumping down. Certainly, the dog does not have to tamp down grass, clear snow or
remove stones from its high-priced bed. So then why would a pet dog circle before lying down?
Pet dogs don't actually have to make their bed “comfortable.” Nor do they need to ensure their
bed is not occupied by snakes (though the occasional cat may be present). Circling before lying
down has just become an ingrained habit in our pets similar to the human habit of drinking a
glass of water or fluffing the pillows before we lie down to sleep. Sweet dreams!
V OLUME 4, I SSUE 5
P AGE 3
by Linda M. Gould - SAMP, LAMP
ACUPRESSURE POINT
“Crooked Pool,” the 11th point on the Large Intestine meridian is located at the end of the crease created when the
elbow is bent. With the front limb bent, follow the line created by the skin folds (feel around in the area if your pet has
long hair) until you reach a depression just in front of the bony bump of the elbow.
As a major anti-inflammatory point for the head, neck and area around the front legs, LI11 is generally used in TCM
for “excessive heat” issues such as red, itchy skin, inflamed ears or nose and upper respiratory conditions. It dispels
heat and regulates the immune system so it also help with allergies and infections.
Its location on the front limb indicates it is also
helpful in reducing pain and inflammation
caused by elbow or upper limb disorders while
clearing heat and lowering fever, swelling and
pain in the upper body. If you pet suffers from
elbow dysplasia or appears uncomfortable after
jumping, this point can become its best friend
(after you, of course).
As always, begin with light pressure as the
point may be sensitive if there are issues in this
region. Once you have determined the amount
of pressure your pet enjoys, hold for 15-30
seconds or as long as your pet allows.
LI11
Please remember acupressure is a complementary therapy and not a replacement for proper veterinary care.
RECOMMENDED READING
This month‘s recommended
book is Getting in TTouch
with Your Dog: An Easy,
Gentle Way to Better Health
and Behavior by Linda
Tellington-Jones.
TTouch is a series of very
light movements, lighter
than massage, intended to
activate the cells of the animal. Linda Tellington-Jones
invented this method after attending a Feldenkrais class
and quickly tested her theory on a client‘s horse with
amazing results. Over the years, Tellington-Jones has
developed over a dozen specific TTouches to help
animals overcome fear, pain, and aggression and often
uses the method on animals that are too afraid or shy for
massage therapy or do not like human touch at all. She
has used the technique on dogs, cats, horses, hamsters,
pythons, elephants, whales, and cockatoos, to name a
few.
Getting in TTouch with Your Dog: An Easy, Gentle Way to
Better Health and Behavior gives the reader a thorough
understanding of the theory behind TTouch and how to
use it on a dog. Each TTouch is described in detail, along
with illustrations and photos of how to perform the
movement.
WOOFS & HOOFS ACTIVITIES CALENDAR
Wondering when your favourite workshop is planned at
Woofs & Hoofs? Here‘s our latest dates. Remember that
participation is limited so register early by clicking here.
2 April ‘11 - Massage for Pet Owners
28 May ‘11 - Reiki 1 for People and Pets
And don‘t forget, we also offer programmes through our
School of Animal Massage. You can choose from three
options depending on your needs: Self-study, Combined
Learning, and the Intensive Programme.
Self-study:
Start Online Anytime
Combined Learning:
Module Pack 1 - Starts 13 December
Intensive Programme:
Hands-On On-Site Training - Begins 2 June
Why not join us!
COMMENTS? IDEAS?
Natural Healing for Pets is created by Triangle Ink Limited.
Their editor, Renee McClellan, is interested if you have
any comments about this issue or any ideas for future
newsletters. Please send comments and ideas to
[email protected].
At Woofs & Hoofs Animal Massage, our mission is to help pets live long, happy,
comfortable lives through natural healing modalities, appropriate training
methods, understanding of the physical and emotional connection, and needs of
animals and through owner training and enlightenment.
We offer in-home massage and behavior consultations as well as owner training
and workshops in massage and behavior at private homes, dog schools, stables, or
at our practice in Helchteren.
WOOFS & HOOFS ANIMAL MASSAGE
Sonnisstraat 106
3530 Helchteren
E-mail: [email protected]
We also provide professional level courses for those looking for a new career in
animal health care and veterinary support.
W E’ RE ON THE WEB !
WWW. WOOFSANDHOOFS. BE
Our current calendar of events, workshops, lectures and other associated
activities can be found by clicking on the ‗calendar‘ tab on our website
www.woofsandhoofs.be
HELPING YOUR PET
TO FEEL GOOD NATURALLY
G(H)OULASH
FOR
.
For more information regarding our mission statement, methods and services, or
to schedule a workshop in your area, please contact Linda via e-mail at
[email protected].
DOGS
This issue‘s recipe comes from Healthy Recipes for Pets
(www.healthyrecipesforpets.com). As scary skeletons and
ghastly ghosts haunt your doorstep this Halloween, treat
your pet to this deliciously spooky g(h)oulash to keep his
―spirits‖ high.
Ingredients:
450g ground beef or turkey
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 cans vegetables -- or 3 cups of chopped fresh vegetables
(broccoli, asparagus, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots
spinach, or kale)
2 whole eggs w/shells crushed
1 can canned mackerel
450g chicken liver -- or gizzards
RUB
THE
Preparation & Cooking:
Pulverize veggies, either in a blender, processor, grinder,
etc. Mix all ingredients together in a big pot. Add enough
water to cover, mix well. Cover the pot and simmer for
about 2 hrs, stirring occasionally. When it is done cooking,
cool, and place into containers or baggies, enough for one
feeding in each and freeze. Simply get out in the morning
to thaw in the fridge.
Recommended Portions:
1 cup per 7 kg of body
weight, with 1/4 to 1/2
cup of kibble.
RIGHT WAY: MASSAGE TECHNIQUES
If you‘ve been using the techniques
presented in the last two editions of our
Natural Healing for Pets Newsletter,
you may have noticed that your pet is
more comfortable, and perhaps even in
a better mood. We‘ll continue working
down the body and now start to focus
our work on the neck and, in
particular, the small muscles
surrounding the vertebral bones.
The first thing to notice is the position of
the bones of the neck. Many people think
the bones follow the top line of the neck,
but they actually make a sweeping curve
from the head to the lower half of the neck. If
you press gently, you can feel the bony
protrusions that point to each side of the neck.
Using one of the pictures at the right as a guide,
try to locate one of the bones and then work
your way up or down until you can feel the
entire the series of neck bones. Don‘t poke too
FOR YOUR
PET
by Linda M. Gould - SAMP, LAMP
hard or for too long as this can upset your pet or
cause discomfort.
Once you have located the vertebral bones, use your
fingertips to make small round circles all around the
bony protrusions. Don‘t press on the bone itself,
but use it as a guide for all the little muscles that
attach from one vertebral bone segment to the next.
Pay special attention to the space between two
bones. This is where the disc lies. If your pet shows
any discomfort when you press into the space
lightly, you may want to consider having the neck
looked at by a veterinarian as this could be a
symptom of a more serious issue.
Use light to medium pressure as you continue to
circle each bone and disc space. Watch your pet for
its response to your pressure and adjust as necessary.
Most animals will stretch their neck during the
massage to really let you get to the tight spots.
Don‘t forget to repeat the same technique on the
other side of the neck and finish off with a few long
strokes along the neck.
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