Paw Photo Contest!

Hi Folks! It's Love For Paw's third anniversary and we want to celebrate with something a little different. Welcome to our Paw Photo Contest!  The rules are simple.  Anyone and everyone that reads this message can enter by emailing a picture of your dog which highlights his or her paws (like the one above) to loveforpaws1@gmail.com. The more creative and wackier the picture the better! We aren't looking for professional photos.  Photos taken with your phone are just fine.  Please include your name in the email and write "Paw Photo Contest" in the subject line.  The deadline for submissions is October 31st, 2012.
On November 1st, we'll choose a winner and notify you via email.  That person and their pup will receive a FREE one-hour dog training session with Love For Paws owner, Jennifer Damon and the winning pic will be featured on the LFP blog.  If the winner chosen is outside of Los Angeles, they will receive their training session via Skype or phone (winner's choice).  Sound simple enough? Be sure to tell your friends and family.  And let's see those adorable paws!!

Senior Animals Make Great Pets

Through the kind souls that do animal rescue, I've learned that there is currently an epidemic of people surrendering their senior pets to shelters.  We can blame it on the struggling economy and the fact that seniors may need more vet care but this is still a very sad occurrence.   Senior pets are usually the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized.   When they are separated from their families, they grieve. That people would abandon their loved one to a shelter is a concept that is very difficult for me to grasp because I know how wonderful these older kitties and pups can be!   

First off, they tend to be low energy.  That means they are more suitable for a wider range of families.  Senior people make great matches for senior dogs and cats.  It's hard for grandma to keep up with the demands of a raucous puppy who is constantly chewing on things he shouldn't or an adult dog that requires several walks a day but a senior dog that is relaxed and likes to cuddle on the couch is just her style.  

They are also a great match for workaholics or those with busy schedules.  Younger dogs needs lots of mental stimulation and don't do well being left alone for long stretches of time.  Older animals tend to sleep a lot, so you are less likely to come home to a shredded sofa or an upside down trash can. 

Senior pets also have the benefit of diminishing behavioral issues.   Most have worked out their aggressive or anxious problems and are now just mellow sweethearts.  My cat, Claudia, never used to like to be held by anyone.  She preferred to bite them instead. Now that she is 17yrs young, she is a very cuddly critter.   If I'm home, she wants to be in my lap.  She has even become more vocal and very quirky.  She's the source of an endless stream of laughter. 

Our older pets have the added bonus of being great teachers too.  If you have a younger, low energy dog at home that needs a companion then Grandpa Doggie would make a great new pack member.   There are some things that only an older, wiser dog can teach.   Dogs use a series of signals to calm one another.  These signals enable them to interact with other canines in a healthy manner by staving off anxiety and aggression.  If dogs don't use this language, they lose it.  Older dogs make great instructors and reinforcers in the ways of dog speak. 

It's true that senior dogs aren't for everyone.  It takes a hearty soul to withstand the fact that you may lose your new friend in a few years. I can only tell you that the benefits of the love that these creatures give far outweighs the heartache and you have the added satisfaction of knowing that you are doing something heroic by adopting an animal that is so often overlooked. ~

*If you are interested in adopting or fostering the sweet pup pictured above, Ms. Sidney Sue, please give me a call at 818-720-3275.  Thank you.

Walking Meditation

     We have all heard about the health benefits of meditation.  It lowers the heart rate, increases blood flow, and lessens chronic pain.  It helps with relaxation, concentration, and helps stabilize your mood.  The list goes on and on.  Many people feel like they don't have the time or the opportunity to lock themselves in a quiet room for twenty minutes and just breathe. There is a way that you can fit it into your busy schedule, though.  And you can have an accomplice.  It's called walking meditation.  The next time you take your pup out for a walk, leave your phone at home.  Instead, put on your sunglasses and walk silently with your dog. Just focus on your breathing and taking in the sights and sounds around you.  When your mind starts to drift to the worries of the day, gently guide it back to the present moment and what is happening now.  There will be times when your brain seems unruly and you can't help but think about a pressing project at work or conflict in your personal life.  Try not to get frustrated and if you can be amused by the struggle, that's even better. After all, it is kind of absurd how difficult it can be sometimes to control our own minds.  Even if it feels like you are on a mental yo-yo, just keep returning your mind to the present and voila, you are meditating.

     When I first became a dog walker, I started doing these distraction-free walks because of the wonderful effect it had on my dogs' behavior.  I had no idea I was actually meditating.  The truth is we don't need to talk to our dogs to communicate with them.  After 14,000 years of being our constant companions, they have learned to pick up on our non-verbal communication and read our mood.   In fact, they equate the human voice with a lot of things and none of them include relaxation.  When we share a silent walk with them in a relaxed state, it does wonders for their behavior inside the home and out.  We are signaling to them that everything is alright with the world and there is no need for anxiety or aggression.  After trying the walking meditation a few times, you may actually notice an increased bond between you and your dog as well.  You will start to walk in stride with another.  There are moments when you may even feel like you are sharing the same mind. If that sounds kooky to you, try it and you might see what I mean. Dogs are the kings of living in the moment.  They don't know how to function any other way. Let them teach you how to meditate.

We are now on Ferrigno Fit!

Hi Folks!
I'm excited to report that my pet articles are now being featured on the Ferrigno Fit website. Ferrigno Fit specializes in posts about healthy living.  Included are pieces on yoga, healthy food, green living, reducing stress, and of course, pets!  What I love about this site is that all of the articles seem to pique my interest.  For example, knowing what foods you should eat to decrease stress is a very welcome topic in my house.  Please come over and check it out.  Just click the link below...

Ferrigno Fit

All the best!

Jen

Grieving The Loss Of A Pet

    It's never easy to lose a pet.  Anyone who has ever been blessed with the love of an animal knows that they are more than just companions.  They are beloved family members.  But in many instances, we do not allow ourselves the same grieving process that we would for a human member of our family.  And why not?  Do we not love our pets deeply and wholeheartedly? Do we not spend years caring for them and nurturing them?  Do they not nurture us?  Do we not have innumerable warm memories of our lives with them? A lot of this stiff upper lip attitude that we embrace comes from our fear of how we will be judged by others if we "let it all out." There are always those around us who don't understand grieving for an animal.  We put on a brave face and swallow our tears so that those who don't understand won't consider us sappy or weak.  This is something that needs to change.  It is very important to allow yourself the full grieving process.  When we bottle up our emotions, it puts stress on our bodies and is very bad for our health.  And grief is sneaky.  If it doesn't come out one way, it will come out another.  You may end up lashing out at those around you because you aren't facing your own emotions.   I've loved and lost quite a few sweet creatures in my life and it took me a long time to understand the importance of learning to grieve their passing. Below, I've listed a few tips and reminders for dealing with the loss of a furry family member.

1.) Allow yourself the freedom to feel whatever emotions arise.  The stages of grief include shock and denial, pain and guilt, anger and bargaining, depression and loneliness, and acceptance.  You may feel some or all of these when grieving a pet.  They don't necessarily come in any order and they usually hit you in waves.  Some days you'll feel okay and then out of the blue, you may be swamped with sadness and guilt.  Any grief counselor will tell you that there is no right or wrong way to grieve.   What matters is that you do so. 

2) Don't put a time limit on your grief.   Different people grieve for different periods of time.  Even your own family members will grieve the loss differently.  The other animals in your home will grieve as well, but that usually doesn't last more than a couple of months. If their behavior seems off any longer than that, it's because they are picking up on your grief. They know something is wrong but they don't know what it is. And if for some reason you feel stuck in the process, if the sadness lingers on a very long time, then seek out a counselor to help you along.  

3) Be gentle with yourself.  Trim down your schedule and remove any unnecessary stressors from your life. Take time off from your job if you feel the need.  Cancel unnecessary appointments.  Don't invite the in-laws or the friend that stresses you out over for coffee.  Make sure you feed yourself healthy food, get exercise, and plenty of rest.  That will enable your brain to keep producing serotonin that will stabilize your mood.  You don't need to feel more sad on top of your grief because your body isn't getting what it needs.

4) Confide in fellow animal lovers.  As we mentioned before, there are those who will never understand the emotions that accompany owning a pet, so don't share it with them. Call your friends who have pets when you need support.  If your boss is someone who doesn't like animals and you feel the need to take off work, then tell him you aren't feeling well.  It's the truth.  

5) Give yourself time before adopting another pet.  This is an important one.  Many times, we want to replace our pet immediately.  Deep down we know that's impossible, but we miss the sound of their paws on the floor in the morning.  We miss them curling up next to us at night when we watch television.  It's important not to replace one pet with another because of the affect on our new companion.  More often than not, the new animal will develop behavioral issues because it is entering an environment that is unstable.  The humans in the home are grieving and will end up either smothering the pet with affection, be extremely overprotective,  or ignore the animal completely.  All of these behaviors will certainly create issues for your new pet.  On top of that, there is the added expectation that this animal behave exactly like the last.  No two dogs are alike but in your grief, you may expect that to be a reality.

6)  Do something ceremonial.  There are many ways you can celebrate the life of your pet.  Some services offer headstones or garden stones. Most online florists sell a pet memorial tree that you can plant in remembrance.  You can make a scrapbook of pictures, write down funny stories or just little things you loved about your pet like the smell of his fur or the way his left ear always flopped to one side when he was curious about something. Then take a moment to share these precious memories with someone. Doing something ceremonial helps you move through your grieving process.  Your beloved friend may be gone but he will forever be locked inside your memory and in your heart. 

Junebug the Pit Nanny

Although people like Cesar Milan have made great strides in educating the world about Pit Bulls, there is still a lot of misinformation circulating about.  I'm always surprised to run across someone who thinks these animals are "born vicious".  This simply is not the case.  In my experience, Pits are some of the most loving, intelligent and loyal dogs around.  They get a bad rap because they are bred as fighting dogs and this actually has more to do with their physical attributes than anything else.  Once upon a time, Pit Bull's were considered America's dog and even lauded for being great with children. 

The beautiful Pit Bull pictured above is one such creature.   Her name is Junebug and she was adopted from a shelter by my friend, Dena, several years ago.  Junebug has become the most devoted guardian to Dena's new baby, Rowan. At about five weeks into Dena's pregnancy, Junebug began to customarily sleep with her head on Dena's tummy. At five months in, when the baby began to kick, Junebug would run in from the other room and lay next to Dena while it was happening. As Dena would say "She didn't want to miss it!"  Dena was away from home when she first went into labor.  According to the dog sitter, Junebug had been staring at sitter intensely all day and she wasn't sure why.

The moment baby Rowan was brought home from the hospital, Junebug's mothering instincts completely took over.  According to Dena, "She has been his best friend.  If she hears him make a noise, she comes from across the house to check on him. She doesn't bother him. Just looks at him and licks his feet. She sits by the changing table while I change his diaper and watches him in his swing. We had to teach her that watching too close stops the swing and show her where to sit. "  Dena also says that Junebug will come find her whenever Rowan wakes up.  She runs in the room and runs out again until Dena follows her lead.  One day when Rowan woke for a feeding, Junebug sensed he was hungry so she went to her food bowl, grabbed some kibble in her mouth, and then layed it at Rowan's feet. She knew by instinct what he needed in that moment even before his human Mommy had time to check.   Rowan doesn't know it yet, but he has a friend for life.  We should all be so lucky to have a Pit like Junebug in ours. 

Curing Separation Anxiety

Dogs love to be around us all the time.  They never need a break.  Sometimes though, this want to be with us can turn into an unhealthy state of mind known as separation anxiety.  If your dog barks incessantly, rips the molding off the door, or destroys your couch cushions whenever you leave the house, you know this condition all too well.  Separation anxiety can be cured but it does take a lot of patience and repetition.  Below are some things that you can do to help your pup out of this state of mind:

1) Don't make a big deal out of coming and going from your home.  For the last 15 minutes before you walk out the door, don't make eye contact or scratch him on the head.  Just walk out the door.  When you return, it's the same drill.  Wait at least 15 minutes to engage your pup in any way.  This is a really hard exercise to follow, especially at the end of the day.  Your dog is so happy to see you and you feel like you're letting him down.  Just keep his greater well-being in mind and soldier on. After 15 minutes, give him all the love and affection that you want. This is the single greatest exercise you can do to relieve his anxiety.

2) Pretend to leave and then don't.  Lace up your shoes, put on your coat and grab your keys.  Then, go make yourself a snack or sit down to read a book.  Your dog relies mostly on non-verbal communication.  He gets to see your routine everyday and he knows that when you reach for your wallet, you are headed out the door.  His anxiety begins there.  A simple practice is to keep your keys on a table near the door and then grab them periodically and jingle them without leaving.  Don't make eye contact with your dog during this exercise.  You are just systematically desensitizing him to those non-verbal cues.

3) Leave for short periods of time.  On the weekend, go get the mail and come right back.  Run to the store and come right back. We like to multi-task and do a lot of things at once.  Instead, for the next couple weeks, do each small task outside of your home individually.  That way, your pooch will realize that when you walk out the door, it won't be an eternity before you return.

4)Reward your dog when you leave.  Give your pup a treat when you leave for work in the morning.  My favorite is filling a Kong toy with smooth peanut butter, putting it in the freezer overnight, and then giving it to your dog as you walk out the door in the morning.  It's like a peanut butter popsicle and it takes him a long time to eat.  Your pup will begin to look forward to your leaving because he gets a treat. And, he'll be distracted during that very crucial time period right after you leave.  Most separation anxiety cases get to work on destroying things within a few minutes of their owner's departure.

5)Don't punish your dog for his anxiety. You come home and your brand new couch has been destroyed.  It's hard not to be upset. Yelling and punishing your dog only makes the anxiety worse though.  Chances are that your pup did his redecorating hours ago and he won't have the faintest idea of why you are mad. All he sees is that you entered the home and got really angry.  Now, he's even more anxious about your comings and goings.

6)Exercise!  The old adage that a tired dog is a happy dog is absolutely true.  Aim for at least an hour of exercise a day.  You can break up the time in any way you choose.  Turn that stroll into a brisk walk or play fetch.  Your pup will thank you.

7)Engage your dog's mind.  I know I bring this up a lot.  It's because this is one of the most overlooked ingredients to a happy dog. Teach your dog new commands.  Invent them if you want.  Hide treats around the house for your pup to find.  Play hide and seek with him.  Anything that requires your pup to use his brain goes a long way in making him a more relaxed pup.

If you follow all of these steps, you should see a significant improvement in your pup's behavior.  Before starting any of these tips, you should take your dog to the vet to rule out any ailments that may be causing anxiety.  As a last resort, your vet can also prescribe anti-anxiety medication.  I'm personally not a big fan of medicating dogs for behavioral issues unless it is absolutely necessary. Every drug comes with side-effects that can impact both your dog's physical health and personality.  If you do decide to choose this option, please research the drug on your own before administering.