Vol. 6
•
Summer
•
2006
The Barker
A Therapy Dog Publication of St. John Ambulance NS/PEI Council
What’s Inside:
Page 2- From the Editor
Page 2- Dog Jokes
Page 3- Volunteer Spotlight
Page 4- Gourmet Dog
Page 4- Poetry Corner
Page 5- Welcome!
Page 8- Keeping Your
Distance with Dogs
Page 12- Wanted: Someone
to Love
Can Dogs Get Sunburned?
Any dog can get sunburn. But light-colored dogs, hairless or shaved dogs
or dogs that have no pigment on their nose are most at risk.
A dog’s sunburn starts with redness and hair loss on the ear tips, bridge of
the nose, or abdomen. The belly is particularly prone to sunburn because
the coat is thinner in that area, and because of the extra sunlight that reflects up from the sidewalk or hot sand on the beach.
For dogs, sunburn and excessive exposure to UV radiation
can lead to skin ulceration, infection, a worsening of existing skin problems, and even skin cancer. Breeds that are
predisposed to cancer, such as Boxers and Dalmatians,
need to be extra careful in the sun.
Actually, any dog susceptible to sunburn should be kept
out of direct summer sun, especially in the middle of the
day when the sun is strongest.
Other than limiting sun exposure, you can protect your dog by applying
sunblock (SPF 15 or greater) on the small susceptible areas of skin, such
as the bridge of the nose, the ear tips and on the fur along the head or
back. Be sure he doesn’t lick it off!
Sunblock is usually not effective on the abdomen. It can rub off easily. So
protect this area, or any area of exposed skin, using a t-shirt (children’s or
adult, depending on the size of your dog) fitted over your dog’s body.
If you suspect your dog has sunburn, take him to your vet clinic.
And remember: an ounce of prevention-in the form of sunscreen or shadecan ensure that the dog days of summer remain a fun and healthy time for
both you and your dog.
“The great pleasure of a dog is that you make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you,
but he will make a fool of himself too.” - Samuel Butler
From the Editor
Once again, summer has arrived, which means so has my “busy season”. I am
once again off traveling the province promoting the Therapy Dog Program,
as well as assisting with various evaluations, etc. This means that I won’t be
in the office as much as I am during the winter months, so if you are trying to
contact me it may take a day or two for me to get back to you. If you have
an emergency, please contact your volunteer coordinator and they will be
able to assist you.
As you can see from our Welcome section, the Therapy Dog program seems
to be growing at an amazing rate! This is wonderful news and I am so happy
to see that the program is reaching so many people. I truly believe that the
growth of this program is because of the wonderful volunteers in the program.
So many of you work so hard to spread the word about this program and it is
working. Thank you for volunteering even more of your time to promote the
program in your area, it is greatly appreciated.
I’d also like to remind you that I will be holding a Volunteer Appreciation get
together in each area of the province over the summer. If you aren’t sure of
the date/location of the get together in your area, please contact myself or
your volunteer coordinator. I look forward to seeing you, and your dogs, this
summer!
-Tiffany
Dog Jokes...
that make you wanna HOWL!
2
“Dog. A kind of additional or subsidary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world’s worship.”
- Ambrose Bierce
Volunteer Spotlight: Christa & Jamie
My name is Christa Pierce and my dog Jamie and I have
been volunteering bi-weekly for over three years. We visit
the Maplestone Villa, in Fairview Halifax and we really look
forward to our visits.
We were introduced to the idea of volunteering with the St.
John Ambulance Therapy dog program from a neighbour
who also used to volunteer with her dog at the IWK, Ida
and Tess. Ida had commented on how well behaved Jamie was and she thought we’d
make good candidates for the program. We immediately signed up for testing and have
been going steady ever since.
Jamie trots in to the Villa quite happily and really enjoys visiting everyone. It’s even
more so a bonus for her if we happen upon snack time and she can do some tricks for
cheese or a piece of sandwich; the little monkey.
For those who haven’t met my dog, she’s a 120lb Japanese Mastiff, not exactly a
delicate flower. So her calm behaviour is absolutely necessary to ensure the safety
of those she visits. The benefits of her size is that no one has to reach down to pet
her, she’s quite tall and she’ll nuzzle her head right onto the bed for those with little
movement in their arms and hands and stay still while they touch her ears and face.
I enjoy visiting the residents and hearing the stories of the pets they used to have and
any other topic they want to talk about. Sometimes Jamie is of little interest to those we
visit and I am the focus of attention. Jamie patiently waits along side in case they want
to pet her. Dogs are swell.
3
“I had rather see the portrait of a dog i know, than all the allegorical paintings they can show me in the world”
- Samuel Johnson
The Gourmet
Dog
.... Recipes For Your Best Friend.
15 Minute Liver Treats
1 lb chicken livers
1 cup flour
1 cup corn meal
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 Egg
Place chicken livers and
liquid in blender, liquify.
Add egg, mix a minute
more. Pour into bowl. Add
flour, corn meal and garlic
powder. Mix. Spray jelly roll
pan with pam. Pour mixture
into pan. Bake 15 minutes
in 400 degree hot oven. Cut
into small squares while still
warm. Keep in freezer to
prevent spoilage.
Poetry Corner
Dog Haiku
I lie belly-up
In the sunshine, happier than
You will ever be.
Today I sniffed
Many dog behinds-I celebrate
By kissing your face.
I sound the alarm!
Paper boy-come to kill us all
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!
I sound the alarm!
Garbage man-come to kill us all
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!
How do I love thee?
The ways are as numberless as
My hairs on the rug.
My human is home!
I am so ecstatic I have
Made a puddle.
Sleeping here, my chin
On your foot-no greater bliss-well,
Maybe catching rats
Look in my eyes and
Deny it. No human could
Love you as much as I do.
The cat is not all
Bad-she fills the litter box
With tootsie rolls.
Dig under the fence-why?
Because it is there. Because it’s
There. Because it’s there.
I am your best friend,
Now, always, and especially
When you are eating. Anonymous
4
“You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.”
-Robert Louis Stevenson
Welcome New Volunteers!
South
Shore
South Shore
Barbara Minard &
Freddie
Joan Holden
& Sam
Krista McKay & Marlee
Valley
Valley
Sandra Bruce, Blaze & Livi
South Shore
Joan Toole & Odin
5
“Rambunctious, rumbustious, delinquent dogs become angelic when sitting.”
- Dr. Ian Dunbar
Welcome New Volunteers!
Valley
Valley
Deborah LonerganFreake & Midnight
Mary Johnston &
Domino
Sharon Honeyman & Skipper
Nancy Richards & Copper
South Shore
South Shore
Ruth Grant & Sophie
South Shore
Sylvia Hawkins & Skipper
South Shore
6
“In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn’t merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point is to open oneself to
the possibility of becoming partly a dog” - Edward Hoagland
Welcome New Volunteers!
Irene Rutledge &
Sandy
Metro
Joan Morrison &
Emma
Metro
Brian Taylor & Frannie
Metro
Cape Breton
Natalie Warren & Gizmo
Metro
Nick Gauthier & Minnie
Robin Russell & Belle
Cape Breton
Susan Weagle
& Afi
Roy Baird & Clifford
Metro
Cape Breton
7
I hope if dogs ever take over the world, and they choose a king, they don’t just go by size, because i bet there are some
Chihuahuas with some good ideas.” - Jack Handey
KEEPING YOUR D I S T A N C E WITH DOGS
They may not all be as intelligent and heroic as the fictional Lassie, but, at their best, dogs are indeed man’s
best friend. Fiercely loyal and trusting, they have been known to chase away burglars, save families from
fires and even pull drowning victims from the water. But every year, some of these lovable old mutts, who
would never harm a flea, take leave of their senses and attack a mailman,
a paperboy, a meter reader, or even the kid next door. The pet’s owner is
usually dumbfounded by the dog’s behaviour. Surprisingly though, in many of
the reported cases the dog has sent out a warning signal of impending attack.
The victim, however, failed to read the danger signs and react appropriately.
In the past Canada Post Corporation undertook in-depth studies into dog
behaviour and appropriate human response. A training program to teach
letter carriers how to avoid or deal with threatening dogs was developed.
This program was purely preventive and based on an understanding of a
dog’s and a human’s body language. This humane approach, which avoids
inflicting undue pain on family pets, makes the letter carrier’s life an easier
one. Many of the pointers used in this training program are equally relevant
for anyone who comes in contact with a strange dog. It’s simply a matter of
reading the situation carefully and responding with the right actions.
understanding body language
The cause of many dog-bite cases is a contradiction in messages received by the dog. A passer-by,
for example, may send out a positive verbal message to a dog. Unaware of his or her body language,
this person may then contradict this positive message by exhibiting a threatening or domineering body
gesture.
Although most people deal with body language at the subconscious level, a dog is totally aware of a
human’s body language and reacts to a human gesture. The dog’s sense of security is distorted by fears
of the situation, and it will therefore attack in response to an accidental threat. The human body language
that the dog interprets may be one, or a combination, of the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
8
Eye contact. If a human looks directly into a dog's eyes, it will be interpreted as a challenge;
however, looking away from the dog's eyes will convey submission.
Frontal body posture. Facing the dog head-on will be regarded as a challenge.
Non-direct body posture. Turning the body slightly off to the side will convey submission.
Fleeing posture. A full side view or a back view of the body tells the dog that flight is imminent, and
it may bite.
Patting the dog on top of the head, neck or back is a challenge.
Raising the voice is considered a challenge.
Raising or waving hands or arms is threatening behaviour.
Reaching out to touch or hand something to a family member is challenging/threatening.
“Dogs need to sniff the ground; its how they keep abreast of current events. The ground is a giant dog newspaper, containing all kinds of late-breaking dog news items, which if they are especially urgent, are often continued in the next yard.”
KEEPING YOUR D I S T A N C E WITH DOGS
To avoid a dog bite, it's important to recognize and deal with the behaviour of the two groups of biting dogs
— the "fear biter" and the "brave biter."
The "fear biter" is more frequently encountered, and bites more people than the "brave biter." For this
reason, more emphasis should be placed on recognizing him. The human's best response to the “fear biter”
is to act "domineering."
The second group, the "brave biter," is encountered less frequently. A human who encounters this type of
dog is well-advised to act "submissive."
It's important to note, however, that a dog may respond differently to certain individuals.
The "brave biter" and the "fear biter" are each easily identified by their behaviour.
Watch for the dog's approach, posture, and ear and tail carriage.
For instance, when a “fear biter” is approaching, it may walk or run. But it will
always slow down and veer off to one side to avoid a head-on confrontation.
When this type of dog gets within four to five metres of an individual, its body
posture will change. Instead of standing tall, the dog will drop down into a
crouching position. It will also hold its ears and tail down.
A “brave biter,” however, approaches without fear and with little or no hesitation.
Its stance will not change as it moves closer. The dog will stand tall and proud
and will continue to hold its ears and tail up high.
avoidance
“The brave
biter and
the fear
biter are
easily
identified
by their
behaviour”
In both instances, the two types of dogs will try to exert their influence over the
passerby. This is known as the dominance challenge. However, if the individual can identify the type of dog
and act appropriately, the risk of a dog bite can be minimized.
When challenged by a “fear biter,” an individual should do the following:
• Stop walking.
• Turn the front of the body toward the dog, and maintain eye contact at all times. If the dog tries to
circle, the individual should pivot on his/her feet to maintain a frontal stance and eye contact.
• Gradually withdraw from the dog's territory.
Often people are bitten by the “fear biter” just as the owner arrives. This happens because the victim
has taken his/her eyes off the dog to look at the owner. When faced with a “fear biter,” an individual must
learn to overcome this tendency to look away.
Continued on page 10...
9
“A dog doesn’t care of you’re rich or poor, big or small, young or old. He doesn’t care if you’re not smart, not popular, not a
good joke teller, not the best athlete, nor the best looking person...
KEEPING YOUR D I S T A N C E WITH DOGS
If challenged by a "brave biter," the two basic objectives are as follows:
• Stop walking. Look away. Do not make eye contact with the dog.
• Turn the body slightly away.
Once the dog has sniffed the individual's body and established that he/she is no threat, the dog will walk
away.
People may be attacked by the “brave biter,” however, when they unintentionally display challenging or
threatening body language toward the dog or family members.
avoid maladjusted dogs
Under certain conditions, being aware that the dog is reading your body language may not be enough
to prevent confrontation. Females with puppies, for instance, may attack on sight of a stranger. An
extremely dominant or maladjusted dog may also feel challenged and may attack if a family member is
faced head-on.
A dog may become maladjusted when its owner(s) fails to establish
authority over the animal. The dog then sees itself as the decision-maker
and develops a strong dominance/defense reflex (attack). This dog is
extremely dangerous and usually cannot be verbally controlled by the
family. The dog may even bite them. If the animal is chained or fenced in,
it may become more aggressive.
The maladjusted dog is not afraid and may attack even if the individual
acts submissive. It will approach individuals with a snarl and will not exhibit
the characteristics of either the “fear biter” or the “brave biter.”
To avoid being bitten in these situations, individuals are cautioned to throw an object that the animal can
bite and beat a hasty retreat.
why dogs bite
Understanding a dog’s social behaviour as it has evolved over thousands of years will help explain why
dogs bite.
A dog is, by nature, a pack animal. It is a member of a family and responsive to a leader. In the wild,
the leader is usually the strongest individual, asserting itself over the other pack members to maintain
its leadership. In the wolf pack (and domestic dog), the leader communicates its dominance to the pack
members through social signals. These social signals include facial gestures, tail carriage, eye contact,
body posture, and vocalizations such as growling, barking, and whining.
Continued on page 11...
10
...To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born.
You are his friend and protector.” - Louis Sabin
KEEPING YOUR D I S T A N C E WITH DOGS
Nature has ensured the dog’s survival through what is now known as critical periods and development.
From about 21 days through 12 weeks of age, dogs learn to fear the things they will fear the rest of their
lives. The fear imprint period is especially pronounced from eight through 12 weeks of age.
This prolonged period of susceptibility contributes most to the development of the dog that bites out of
fear. To ensure that the dog is well socialized and overcomes its fear of humans, much positive contact
with people must occur during this period,
During this time, the dog also comes to recognize the human family as its own kind. If properly socialized,
the dog will understand who the other pack members are and will learn to be servile to its human family.
The family pet will challenge intruders. If the intruder is a human, the results of the challenge depend
on the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
The degree of socialization of the dog. Is it afraid of strangers?
Learning. Has the dog undergone aggression training?
Has the dog been successful in running off people in the past?
Barrier frustration. Chained dogs and dogs inside fenced-in yards are more frustrated and
aggressive.
Are pack members present?
The dog's proximity to the centre of its territory. The closer it is to the centre, the braver the dog.
In well-socialized dogs, most challenges will be resolved by social signalling
The above article was reprinted with permission from the winter 2005 edition of Living Safety, a
publication of the Canada Safety Council.
www.safety-council.org
11
“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful
and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe him to be worthy of such devotion.: - Unknown
WANTED:
Someone to Love
Scout is approximately 2-3 years old and is believed
to be a Border Collie or Border collie/Australian Shepherd mix. He is Stunning! He is attentive, very willing
to please and has nice manners. He is housetrained,
neutered, and gets along great with other dogs, cats
and people. True to his breed(s) he needs a lot of exercise and a job of sorts to keep his mind occupied.
While energetic, he also has an “off” switch and is very
calm and loves attention. For more information about
Scout, please contact Border Collie Rescue Nova Scotia at [email protected]
Scout
Picture Perfect
Send in photos of your dog to
be featured in “Picture Perfect”.
See contact information below.
PLEASE CONTACT
TIFFANY MULLEN, PROGRAM ASSISTANT BY:
PHONE: 902. 464.5309
TOLL-FREE: 1.800.565.5056
FAX: 902. 469.9609
OR BY EMAIL: [email protected]
MAIL: 88 Slayter Street, Dartmouth, NS B3A 2A6
FOR MORE INFORMATION
WWW.STJOHNAMBULANCE.NS.CA
12
Therapy Dog Roxy gets a
kiss from friend Blossom.