So You Want To Adopt A Dog? By Amanda Mc

You’re aware of the pet overpopulation problem, and you don’t want to do anything to contribute to it. In fact, you want to help and adopt your next dog from a rescue group or shelter. Before choosing your new best friend, here are some things to think about.

Are you really ready for a dog? Dogs are loyal companions who bring us love and joy. However, it’s important to remember what their care requires. Do you have the time and resources to exercise, train, feed, groom and vet a dog? How many hours a day would your dog be alone? What’s the plan if you go on vacation? Is everyone in the family completely onboard with adding a new family member? Do you have enough space? Think about your life honestly and be realistic.

Take a dog on a trial run and foster before adopting. Perhaps the smartest and easiest thing you can do to make sure a dog fits in with your lifestyle and family is fostering first. Rescue groups are always looking for fosters, and will make an effort to place a dog with you inline with your wants and needs. If you fall in love, great! As the foster parent you can adopt the dog and make him yours forever. Not exactly what you are looking for? Your foster dog is perfect for someone out there, so keep him until he’s adopted and you can try out another. Enjoy the satisfaction and selfless act of saving multiple lives!

Don’t overlook adult dogs.

Puppies are unarguably adorable, but it’s important to remember they are a lot of work. Untrained, high energy, and much smaller then they ultimately will be, puppies are not always well suited for busy schedules, inactive lifestyles, or very young children. In an older dog, you can find a wonderful companion with fewer behavior issues and less exercise needs. The love they give and joy they bring in return is just the same.

Don’t generalize based on breed. Just because you heard Pitbulls are killers or Chihuahua’s are yappy, does not mean it’s true. Educate yourself on breed stereotypes, and judge each particular dog you meet individually.

Avoid making an emotional decision. Visiting a shelter is no doubt a sad experience. Your heartstrings are tugged and you feel sorry all of the homeless dogs. Save yourself even more heartache later by not letting these emotions guide you to adopting a dog that might not be right for you or your environment. 

Enjoy the process of adopting and you will find the perfect dog for you!

Exercise and Your Dog By Kathie Savitski

Does your dog bark too much, pull on the leash, eat things like expensive shoes? Well, is your canine companion getting daily exercise? Many times this will reduce or completely solve unwanted behaviors as long as it is supplemented with basic training. Your chewy mutt could turn from terror to triumph in a short amount of time with some good workouts!

From the day you bring your dog home, structured exercise should be your number one priority.

Our canine companions watch our routines and learn them. I recommend a daily walk of at least an hour, and, if at all possible, first thing in the morning. Most breeds need some sort of exercise and we cannot expect our dogs to be happy if we do not strive to make them so. Dogs in the wild migrate together to hunt, and this natural behavior results in both bonding and large amounts of exercise. A large backyard is great, and so is having a dog that lives indoors, but most pups need more than this as they will become complacent and bored in backyards and we wish to drain our dogs of excess energy, not bore them. When we drain our dogs of excess energy, they become much more pliable and trainable. This is why it is important to research the breed you have or are wanting to adopt so you understand their energy levels, as some breeds may be a little over the top for a particular family’s activity levels.  

As a trainer, I personally feel that we need to have our dogs walk on leashes without pulling us all over! Because a dog thinks differently than we do, they are either following or leading; there is no in between. If we are following them on a walk, that makes them more powerful than us...not good. As part of the solution to this problem, I recommend an obedience class, especially for puppies. The classes teach us to bond with our dog and provide socialization for puppies, and many times they include a section on how to control your dog while walking them. Also under the eye of a trainer you will learn to be confident in asking your dog how to cooperate with us. You should NEVER be unsure of yourself when walking your dog. The classes help us humans know the right timing for a correction and how to give it so that you are always in charge when walking. This is so important that it can not be stressed enough.

Agility is a wonderful way to bond with our more active dogs. There are also search and rescue classes for breeds that hunt, or have exceptional noses, such as beagles. Therapy dog classes can help you and your softer breeds, such as golden retrievers, to learn to work together. It is in a domesticated dog’s DNA to want to work with us, and often one another, so these classes give us the ability to give them that and still have fun!

If you feel you cannot keep up with a dog because of health, time, or injury, a great alternative is the treadmill. A dog can learn to have a great run on the treadmill and this is a fantastic alternative to dog parks or agility training. If you don’t have room for a treadmill, many times there are pet walkers available for nominal fees and they can help get all of that pent up energy out of your canine companion.

To me, watching a breed doing its "thing", such as hunting, chasing, going into the water, is the most beautiful sight in the world. I took my Aussie herding, and since Australian Shepherds are a natural herder by trade and breed, I sat and watched the astounding affect on his brain and how naturally he did what he knew he was meant to do. The sheep almost trampled me, but my lovely Aussie, Murphy, was a completely different dog afterwards – happy, and fulfilled, like we want our dogs. Setting our dogs out to do what they are meant to do helps them refocus themselves on us, and it brings calm to them because of the amount of exercise they get.

We love our dogs, and they love us; but we must remember they are canine. They were bred to work alongside man. They want to please us but we MUST always keep in mind that they have needs when it comes to exercise and movement. When we give children all they want without equipping them by rules and structure, or let them play inside all of the time with their new game systems without laying down the rules and giving them a chance to get out and be kids, we find them spoiled much of the time. The same goes with dogs...a dog that does not submit to his owners request is considered a spoiled brat, and we have the ability to control this for the most part.

To break it down simply, when a dog, much like a child,  is not shown structure and discipline they never learn self control.  When our pets want to chase cars, bark and jump at strangers, and when we have to cater to the bad behavior of our dogs, something has to give, and usually the first step is putting your dog to work and exhausting them to get all of the tension out. But we must always have hope with our dogs; they are much more trainable than people!

I covered the exercise aspect of training because without it your dog will acquire more bad behaviors than usual. Chewing, digging, chasing cats, barking. All of these things will be corrected much easier if you have sufficiently drained your dog of energy. At a time, we needed these animals to help us in the fields, keep the wolves away, and be our watch dogs to make sure no one stole from us. We gave that energy to them, and expecting them to simply not use it is asking too much of them. From the farms to even large ships, dogs were bred for specific functions. Let's help them be happy and fulfill these needs so they can become the balanced, beautiful creatures that they are.

Training 101: Stay Calm And Consistent By Kathie Savitski

Dogs need and want boundaries. From the time puppies are born, their mothers begin teaching them the essentials of good behavior, and it is our job to continue the work into the dog’s adolescence and adulthood!

 Some people are afraid to discipline their dogs because they are afraid of "breaking their spirit".  Or maybe their dog is smaller than the average dog, or maybe their canine companion was a rescue with a sad and tragic past. Nevertheless, regardless of reason, discipline is essential for many reasons, one of them being able to control our dogs’ reaction in a variety of situations, both good and bad.

There is a distinction between discipline, a healthy and required part of your dog’s life, and punishment. Discipline teaches both dog and pet parent to make the right choices. Punishment is usually issued when the owner includes an emotional reaction, such as anger or frustration, to their training of their dog. However, effective discipline only comes to a person when they are calm and patient, and both our body language and energy need to communicate these feelings. Anger and frustration, along with feeling sorry for our dogs, conveys negative energy that dogs will sense. In response, our dogs will lack respect for us and may, in some cases, let a dog continue his or her bad behavior without effective consequences.

Part of discipline is knowing that when a behavior you disagree with comes up, you need to correct it with calm firmness. A good “nuh-uh” or “hey” or even a sharp noise such as “pssh” can snap a dog brain out of some negative behavior loops. It is, always and foremost, much more effective than yelling at or smacking a canine companion. Repetition is key, and this is where your patience will pay off.

Remaining calm and being consistent will be more beneficial to a positive and rewarding relationship with your dog, and will help you strengthen your bond and connect with your life-long friend. Remember that discipline will help you enjoy your pets, and they are much happier when we are happy with them!

I will be talking more about how to discipline your dogs and if you have any questions send them to outreach@icaredogrescue.org. I will answer some weekly so keep watching!

How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket! by Ally Schlabaugh

It's getting colder and some of us have dogs that need help staying warm! I'm going to show you how to make a fabulously cozy and stylish blanket for your dog. These blankets also make great gifts for kids, adults, friend's dogs. They're so quick and easy to make that you could even make some to donate to your favorite rescue, I.C.A.R.E.!

Ready to get started? Here's what you'll need:

* fleece fabric, 1 solid color & 1 print. You want about 1 yard of each for dogs and kids, and about 2 yards each for grown-ups.

* A good pair of scissors, or a rotary fabric cutter

* ruler or measuring tape

1. The first thing to do is to trim the selvedge from your fleece. This is the fuzzy edge on either end of the fabric. (I forgot to take a picture when I did this step, so I stole a picture from Google ;)

2. Lay the two pieces of fleece, wrong sides facing each other, and smooth out.

3. Trim uneven edges of the fabric to make both pieces the same size.

4. Next you're going to cut out a 5x5" square from each corner.

5. NOW you're ready to cut your fringes. You want to make them each about 1 inch thick. It is helpful to place a ruler or measuring tape on the fabric to guide your cutting.

Cut fringes all the way around your blanket...

6. Almost done! Now it's time to tie your blanket together. Start with tying the corners of the blanket to help it stay in place while you tie the remaining fringes.

You can tie each fringe consecutively, or for a more uniform look-tie every other fringe, then flip the blanket over and tie the remaining fringes. For this blanket, I chose the latter style.

Be sure to tie a fairly strong overhand knot (almost like tying off a balloon) AND make your knot about a half inch or more from the base of the blanket to avoid stretching.

When tying knots on the more elastic selvedge ends, be especially careful not to stretch

the fabric so your blanket lies nice and flat when you're done.

Once all your fringes are tied, that's it, YOU'RE DONE and you have a beautiful, snuggle blanket that everyone is guaranteed to LOVE!

NOTE: You can also make 1 layer fleece blankets! Follow all the same instructions above, but instead of tying the blanket together, you just tie the fringes for a decorative look. Here are a few styles I tried:

Bunny ears:

1. For a one layer blanket, you can cut out smaller corners, 4x4" is good.

2. Slightly pinch the fabric above the fringe and snip a small hole with the tip of your scissors

2. If you want true 'bunny' looking ears, next snip off the corners of each piece of fringe

3. To finish, simply loop the piece of fringe back under the fabric and pull it through the tiny hole you just made. Repeat for each piece of fringe...

Cute Tiny Tassles:

1. Prep the blanket the same as with the first two, except cut your fringe pieces about 1/2" in width.

2. Then just tie two pieces of the fringe together in an overhand knot, and you've got another great blanket for when the weather isn't quite as chilly :-)

Have fun and happy blanketing! ♥

TURKEY DAY AND YOUR POOCH By Amanda McCann

ICARE Dog Rescue would like to wish everyone a Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, food, and happy, healthy dogs!

While it might seem loving to share your overflowing table of turkey, gravy, and stuffing with your dog this Thanksgiving, the consequences can be dangerous. Greasy, fatty foods may cause everything from gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting, to more severe and potentially fatal complications like Canine Pancreatitis. If including your favorite 4-legged family member in your Thanksgiving meal is a must, consider these Do’s and Don’ts to keep Fido safe.

DO keep tempting smells out of reach of your dog. This includes unattended food as well as cellophane wrappings, tin foil, and strings that could be hazardous if ingested.

DON’T feed your dog rich, greasy foods such as turkey skin, fat trimmings, or dark meat. This is difficult to digest and can lead to inflammation of the pancreas, and a potentially lethal outcome.

DO prepare a Thanksgiving treat for your dog. A kong stuffed with white turkey meat and kibble will keep him out of mischief and curb begging from guests at the table.

DON’T include stuffing in your dog’s special treat. Similarly to chocolate, ingredients commonly found in stuffing such as onions and raisins both contain chemicals that are toxic to dogs.

DO remove all bones before giving your dog any meat. Bones can splinter and cause intestinal blockage or perforation.

DON’T wait to call your vet if your dog gets into a large amount of greasy, fatty food. With most veterinary clinics closed on Thanksgiving Day, contact your nearest emergency animal hospital.

By following these guidelines, your Thanksgiving will be full of love and tail wags, and free of emergencies!

Baking for your Best Friend Recipe - Dog Biscuits

The next time you run out of dog biscuits, wouldn’t it be great to look no further than your own freezer to fill up the treat jar?  In this article, I’m going to share a wonderful 2-in-1 dog biscuit recipe that is easy to make, store and guaranteed to wag every tail in the house! 

First of all, why would anyone bake treats for their dog when one can buy perfectly good treats in pet stores everywhere?  Well, in my experience, it’s very difficult to find a perfectly good treat in any pet store with an equally pleasing price tag.

An even bigger pet peeve than the price is the #1 ingredient in the vast majority of products:  Whole wheat flour.  Keeping in mind that wheat is one of the most common food allergens for dogs (along with:  dairy, eggs, beef, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit and fish), it’s quite unfortunate how many dogs are exposed to this grain.  Because 2 of my dogs are allergic to wheat, as well as, chicken and lamb--it was simply too frustrating searching for a good, everyday cookie with a fair price.  Jerky type treats were out of the question also as many are far too high in protein, a consideration for any household with senior pets.

My solution:  Make my own dog biscuits for my pets.  This way, I can not only save a LOT of cash, I can also have complete control over what is in them. 

That’s when this 2-in-1 treat recipe was born!

Healthy Sweet or Savory Dog Biscuits

2 1/2c. rice flour (can also use soy or rye flour..(or whole wheat if your dog isn't allergic)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2-1 tsp cinnamon

2 eggs

3/4-1c pure canned pumpkin (preferrably organic-NO sugar)

2 tbl. creamy peanut butter (natural-no added sugar)

1/2c. applesauce (natural-no added sugar)

Sometimes I add 1T of honey too ;)

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine all dry ingredients and whisk together well (whisking is a speedy and effective alternative to sifting!)

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin, PB and applesauce until thoroughly mixed and there are no PB lumps remaining. Add the pumpkin mix to dry ingredients and mix until combined and a dough forms. You can add more water or flour as needed to get the right consistency.

Roll out dough to 1/2" thick on a WELL floured surface. (sometimes I have to knead more flour into the dough if it's sticky still...if the dough is crumbly, add a few drops of water at a time as needed) and cut into desired shapes. Transfer cut outs to cookie sheets and bake x 30-40 minutes or until hard and lightly browned, switching racks about half way through. Cool on wire racks.

This recipe doubles well too.

 ***For a SAVORY biscuit, make these substitutions:

            -Pureed canned beets,  instead of canned pumpkin

            -Molasses,  instead of honey

            -2T chopped fresh parsley, or 1T dried,  instead of cinnamon

OMIT:  Peanut Butter

ADD:   Low-sodium beef broth, minced beef heart or liver

Store in an air tight container enough treats for your dogs for 2-3 weeks, freeze the rest.

My dogs are thrilled that I’ve been baking for them.  And I am thrilled I no longer have to worry about spending a fortune on treats my dogs can tolerate or worry about the latest dog treat recalls!  All I have to do is set aside one afternoon a month for baking.

Intro To The World of Canines

Welcome to K-9 Confidential, where everything we will blog about will orbit the K-9 world and none of it will be confidential,...so if it has anything to do with Canines, you can bet someone somewhere will say something about it on this blog.

So who are we?  We are the volunteers, fosters, adopters, trainers and all around dog-lovers that dedicate our time and energy in the rescue world to provide better lives for our canine friends in need.  While many of us are involved with I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue, our articles will come from all over and be written by people from all walks of life and with varying levels of experience within the canine world.   And when it comes to topics, we plan to talk about everything from basic training and health, to cool recipes for home-made doggie treats and killer vacation destinations that will be just as fun for your dog as it will be for you!

So why the blog?  Well, it's all about sharing, not only knowledge and experiences, but our common appreciation and reverence for the one animal that has been a constant companion to us throughout the millennia, the dog,... but it also goes beyond that.  In the dog rescue world, it is abundantly evident that many people are simply not knowledgeable about the four legged friends they share living quarters with and that lack of knowledge ultimately does not end well for the dog.

By sharing our knowledge and experiences on this blog we hope to encourage not only a better understanding of our canine friends, but a deeper appreciation for them as well.  Ultimately, when people are better informed, the abuses and negligence that we see so often in the rescue world will eventually become things of the past and we can forge a future that offers healthier and happier relationships between us and our companions.

For now, even living in a country where dogs generally lead better lives than in others, we still have a long way to go before the playing field is level.  As it stands now, dogs teeter on the razor edge of life and death every day and it is simply because people are misinformed and end up treating a dog as a commodity rather then a living breathing creature.  When this happens, dogs can become an inconvenience, like any old piece of furniture, and even the most natural of behaviors can give a person enough of an excuse to just get rid of the dog at a shelter or worse.

Many of us in the rescue world know all to well that shelters can become automatic death sentences, especially for certain breeds, and even though some people that give up dogs to shelters have good intentions at heart, most don't realize (or in many cases care) that life as the dog knew it may be over.  In one instance, I recall a man giving up his dog to a shelter because he was going on vacation and didn't want to board his dog.  So a life was lost in exchange for a one week vacation.

We know that we cannot save them all, but if this blog creates a better understanding that leads to a better appreciation and ultimately tips someones decision somewhere as to whether or not they should take their dog to the shelter or stick it out with the the dog, then this blog would have accomplished what it was set out to do,...