It's the hotline for the ASPCA's Poison Control Center, and they can help if your pet has accidentally ingested something they shouldn't.
As careful as we try to be, dogs are opportunistic eaters. And Easter is coming soon; chocolate poses a real danger to dogs. According to the Center, 20% of the calls received cite ingestion of human medications, and another 20% account for foods poisonous to animals.
In addition to posting the hotline on your fridge, and adding to your phone, the Center has developed a free app that identifies more than 300 everyday substances that are hazardous to your pets, along with critical information about next steps. The free app is available in both iPhone and Android versions.
Teamwork In Action
Here at Redfern, we're all about teamwork. Handler and canine. A winning combination, and proof that all your hard work pays off. Come celebrate with us. Visit our website here, and see what you and your fellow students have accomplished. This new feature on our website will highlight awards and training goals met. Great job, everyone!
Portia's Piece:
A Mother's Work...
CHANGES
As hard as it is for Betsy to believe, I'm turning seven this year. I had my last litter of puppies earlier this year, and I have been spayed. One of my little ones is staying with us: stay tuned for Petunia. She's a Ruby Cavalier and she has plenty of pep. I'm predicting great things for her.
On to the next chapter. My therapy work continues to grow, and I recently started offering my services at the courthouse to help victims experiencing stress move to a better place. Additionally, I only have two more qualifying scent trials before I earn the AKC Overall Novice Scent Work title. And that's not all. Future plans include more traditional obedience work as well as advanced scent work.
Bottom line? There's still important work to do after the little ones grow up. For all of us.
Portia
COVID Update - March 2022
If you are fully vaccinated, masks are no longer required to attend class at Redfern. If you are not fully vaccinated, or are still in the vaccination process, we require that you wear a mask.
Please note that all of our staff members and volunteers have been vaccinated.
Hand sanitizer will still be available, as will soap and water, and we encourage everyone to continue to practice common sense.
Six foot rule for people still applies. Our standing rule has always been to keep dogs 2 feet apart for safety's sake. That also remains in effect.
Vaccinations More Important Than Ever
Here at Redfern, we always check vaccination records before dogs are allowed to train in our group settings. However, the last two years have been challenging for owners and veterinary practices, and vaccination schedules may have been compromised. Please make certain your dog's vaccinations are up-to-date as we venture back out into the world. And the dog park.
Sign Me Up! Now.
After two years of pandemic life, folks are emerging back into the light, and we're happy to see so many of you bringing your pups to the Center for training. We have added more classes to try and meet the demand. If a class you want to take is full, you may ask to be put on a wait list.
In the meantime, head over to the Redfern Canines website for up-to-date scheduling, descriptions and registrations.
What You Don't Know About Breeding: Things We Don't Talk About
Yes, I'm a breeder of both Labrador Retrievers and Cavaliers. And yes, I love to post images of the pups and invite folks in to help socialize the sweet, new lives. But there are considerations and costs that you don't see on social media, and for the sake of the mother dogs and the puppies, I'd like to talk about a few of those issues here.
Hardest to live through is when something goes wrong with the babies or the mother--it CAN and does happen! Recently I held a beautiful, one-day old Lab puppy as it struggled to breathe until it gave up its 5 hour long struggle. And, yes, I had made the hour plus trip to my specialist vet that morning because he was not eating well where he was given plasma, antibiotics, fluids, and tube fed in the vain attempt to save him. In the litter of 4 Cavaliers before that, one of the puppies was born dead, one of the puppies we could not get to breathe even though we worked for over an hour with her, one of the puppies has grown up with some health challenges, and the remaining girl seems challenge free. Although not every litter has such trials, a breeder had better be able to cope with the heartache and tears that MIGHT occur.
Also, I believe that each and every breeder has a moral and ethical responsibility to carefully plan all of their litters--and that includes professional health testing (DNA, x-ray, blood work, eye tests, heart exams, etc.) on both of the prospective parents which usually runs into over a thousand dollars for each of the parents. After planning the breeding, a responsible breeder will then do all appropriate evaluations on the female--blood work usually 6-8 times to monitor both breeding and delivery, ultrasounds, and x-rays at the very least.
And then there is always the possibility of needing to do a c-section if either the puppies or the mother is compromised.
All told, each breeding that I do will cost between $3000 and $6000 by the time the pups are born.
I guess I am truly crazy to go through all of the above and the endless cleaning of poopy puppies................BUT the joy of watching a litter of healthy, happy, well-adjusted puppies thrive through their first 8-10 weeks and go to their ecstatic, new fur-ever homes is the reason I breed.
Betsy
Kidz 'n K9's Summer Day Camps
Open for Registration
Registration is NOW OPEN. Sign up today as spots are going fast, and we only accept six campers, ages 7 and up, per week to provide for lots of one-on-one time.
Each week-long camp is $300 per child. You may bring your own dog, or "borrow" a Redfern canine to be your child's camp-buddy for the week. Click the links below to register.
This Spring, we salute all the therapy dogs bringing their special brand of magic to help comfort and heal folks in need. From natural disasters to more private struggles, therapy dogs provide a comfort unlike any other.
Think your dog would enjoy therapy work? Redfern offers therapy dog training in conjunction with the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) training. In addition to good manners, your pup will learn how to be comfortable in situations where therapy work is needed, such as learning to navigate with and around walkers/wheelchairs and how to remain calm in the face of loud noises and unexpected movement. At the end of training, each team will be tested to achieve their team certification as therapy dog/handler through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
