Dear Member,

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope the holiday season has treated you and your furry friends well. We wanted to take a moment to welcome all the new members who have joined our community over the past year. As we continue to grow, we proudly keep our commitment of being the most comprehensive directory of reputable and responsible purebred dog breeders in North America.

 

Please make sure you read our article on winter pet safety. Did you know that more dogs are lost in winter than any other season? Keep reading to learn more winter safety tips for your pet. If any of you missed last month's opportunity to enjoy some great deals on pet insurance from Trupanion, feel free to contact pam@petbreederconnection, and she will be happy to forward you the information.

 

Once again, Happy New Year to all our wonderful Pet Breeder Connection members, and please remember to tell your friends about us. We keep growing everyday, and hope to continue to be the most comprehensive North American directory of reputable and responsible breeders.

 

The Pet Breeder Connection Team

 

9 Winter Pet Safety Tips

 

Is your pet ready for winter? Here are some pet safety tips to keep your dog and cat warm and safe.

 

Winter is settling in with the first bitter cold spell and snow hitting Chicago this week. Are you up on winter pet safety tips to keep your furry friend safe from the cold bite of winter? Cold and extreme weather conditions post problems for pets, especially if they are used to being indoors.

 

Here are some winter pet safety tips to help keep your pet safe and warm from Dr. Robyn Barbiers, a veterinarian and president of The Anti-Cruelty Society, Chicago's oldest and largest animal welfare organization.

 

Bring All Pets Indoors – The Anti-Cruelty Society recommends that all of your pets live indoors with you. If you do have a pet that spends most of its time outdoors, bring them indoors during sub-zero temperatures. Frostbite can set in very rapidly and may lead to death. Since dogs need to go outdoors to do their duty, make their time outdoors as brief as possible.

 

Frostbite – Even though companion animals have a fur coat, most cats and dogs cannot endure the cold of winter for more than 10 to 15 minutes. Pets left outdoors can get frostbite and even freeze to death. Signs of frostbite include skin that is pale and cool to the touch, with decreased sensation in the affected area. If you suspect frostbite, gently warm the area with warm – not hot – water and then take the animal to your veterinarian. Once an area has been frozen it becomes more susceptible to cold and frostbite.

 

Anti-Freeze – A winter pet safety tip that is often overlooked is the consumption of anti-freeze. Animals are attracted to this substance by its sweet taste. It can be fatal if ingested, so keep all anti-freeze bottles out of your pet's reach. Also be sure to clean up any spills in your garage or driveway immediately. If your cat or dog should swallow anti-freeze--or any poison--contact your veterinarian immediately.

 

Car Engines – In cold weather, cats allowed outdoors might crawl beneath cars and climb up inside the engines seeking warmth and shelter. This can lead to injuries or death when the engines are started. To prevent such an occurrence, keep your cat indoors at all times. To protect stray cats, an important winter pet safety tip is to knock on your car's hood or sound your horn before starting the car in cold weather

 

It's the Law – According to The Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare, "If your dog lives outside, your dog must be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his/her body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

 

Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet's water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet's tongue can stick and freeze to metal."

 

Some other tips to remember during the cold weather –

 

Ice, salt and snow – Dogs step in a lot of stuff outside, from salt to sleet and snow to mud. Dog boots will keep their paws dry and will cut down on the possibility of them licking something harmful off their paws. If you don't use a boot, clean and dry their paws each time you come back in from the cold.

 

Keep your dog on leash – More dogs are lost in winter than any other season because it's so easy for them to lose their sense and perspective during a snowstorm. Keep them on a leash or go to a fenced-in dog area. It's even more important to keep your pet leashed if you live near a pond or river so they aren't tempted to go out on the ice and possibly fall through.

 

Be cautious when out in the dark – Since there are fewer daylight hours, many people have no choice than to be out with their dog in the dark of the morning or evening. Keep your dog close and don't use a retractable leash. Be careful when crossing streets and alleys that your dog is by your side and easier to see. Use reflective gear so both you and your dog are easier to spot.

 

Food and drink – If your dog loves to spend time out in the cold, make sure you increase his or her protein levels. Also make sure there is plenty of clean, unfrozen water to keep your pet hydrated.

 

Think You Know What a Hungry Dog Looks Like? Think Again!

 

It's a common problem that dog-treating veterinarians encounter almost every single day. It happens when the owners of overweight dogs, typically in an effort to reduce their dog's dietary intake, meet an obstacle they mistakenly refer to as "hunger."

 

Hunger: As in, "I tried to cut down her food to two scoops instead of three, and she was so hungry she followed me around all day with that hang-dog look on her face."

 

But here's the thing: "Hunger" in this context seldom approximates the veterinary definition. When veterinarians refer to hunger, we tend to mean what happens when an organism doesn't receive the nutrients it needs to achieve its biological goals. Yet what dog owners mean by hunger has more to do with how their pets act when they're deprived of a satisfying resource they're accustomed to receiving.

 

In other words, most owned and loved dogs, like most Americans, are seldom truly hungry in the clinical sense of the word. In our culture's common tongue, it's employed more as a general term relating to the behaviors our pets display when they want food.

 

In case it's not already obvious, what I'm offering here isn't a novel concept. Everyone from Oprah and Dr. Oz to your own physician has told you so: Wanting to eat doesn't necessarily mean you're hungry. Living in a land of plenty, we modern humans have a way of getting these things confused. Which is presumably why we tend to suffer obesity at such alarming rates.

 

So why should it be any different when it comes to our dogs? It's not.

 

At a recent conference I attended on the subject of pet nutrition, childhood obesity expert and professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Theresa Nicklas, described how different parenting styles correlated with obesity in children.

 

Which came as no surprise to the practicing veterinarians in the room. We're are all too familiar with the indulgent "parenting" style of the owner who laces the food bowl with cream and distributes treats every time the dog looks her way. We're also no stranger to a "neglectful" style of the owner who fills a bowl of kibble into bottomless perpetuity and pays no attention to the amount of food the pet consumes daily.

 

Though vastly different in intent, both styles have one thing in common (apart from tending to induce obesity): Neither takes into account an animal's true nutritional needs. Both are all about satisfying the pet's desire to eat and hoping that'll be good enough.

 

Though the neglectful style is definitely a factor in my practice, the indulgent style is far more prevalent among my clientele. These are the people who have the "hungry" thing all wrong.

 

It should be obvious they're "killing their pet with kindness" with their "food is love" mentality, yet from a veterinarian's perspective, it can be difficult to demonstrate these concepts to a pet owner in the context of a veterinary exam room. After all, informing doting pet owners that they're indulgent parents who woefully misinterpret their pet's behavioral cues as nutritional imperatives might make them sit up, but it won't make them want to hear any more of what you've got to say.

 

 

I got to thinking about this recently after the fifth fat dog of the morning arrived with yet another "hungry hang-dog" story as to why he clocked in heavier than the year before (despite having had this very same conversation 12 months prior). Could it be as simple as telling pet owners what "hungry" isn't?

 

With that in mind, I came up with a few choice examples of what passes for canine "hunger" (and rarely is):

 

 

In any case, the majority of my overweight patients tend to fall under this latter category. They're the ones who never seem satisfied and tend to be described as chronically "hungry." As such, they don't tend to lose weight easily.

 

Still, if I can somehow convince their owners that they're offering enough calories and that their dogs are not truly hungry in the clinical sense of the word, I can usually make headway when it comes to weight loss.

 

But seeing as it can be hard to know exactly when we, as humans, are truly hungry and when we are not, it's clear this approach has its limitations. Nonetheless, I'm convinced it'll help a certain percentage of pet owners to know that …

 

Teaching Puppies House Manners

July's 2012 breeder of the month & owner of Doggo Training, Stefan Subaseanu, comments …

 

 

As a continuation of last's month's article, I would like to talk about house manners.

 

 

 

I can tell you that it is possible.

 

As I said before, the crate plays a very important role in teaching our puppies house manners. What are they allowed to do, and what they are not. What's acceptable and what's not.

 

I recently got a puppy. He is now 11 weeks old, and he is one of the most energetic breeds out there, a Belgian Malinois. He comes from a very strong working line, so...he has a ton of energy.

 

 

To begin with, he sleeps in the crate.

 

The first couple of nights, he woke me up to go outside, but now my little friend sleeps all night.

 

Around 6 am he tells me that he needs out.

 

I take him out and I STAY with him until he's done.

 

Then we come back in the house and he goes back inside the crate while I go to the washroom and get myself ready.

 

I come downstairs and make my coffee.

 

Once that is done, I get the puppy out of the crate, attach a leash to his collar and I sit down to enjoy my coffee and answer emails.

 

He is with me, lying on the floor chewing in a bone. (I get my coffee, he gets his bone). I am holding on to the leash so he can't go anywhere or everywhere to get himself into trouble.

 

When I am done I can put him back in the crate, if I have other things to do. If not, I will take my little friend on a walk or out for some training.

 

When we get back, he goes back in the crate.

 

 

This is where it gets interesting.

 

If you are gone for 8-10 hours, you cannot let your puppy run freely in the house, but you also can't crate him for that many hours either.

 

So, it is you job to find a solution to this. Find a friend or a neighbor who is willing to come in and let him out at least once during the day, or hire a dog walker.

 

This way, not only does your puppy stay safe, but he also has no choice but also to get used the routine of your day.

 

 

I take the puppy out for a potty break and for a walk eventually.

 

When we return from our walk, I will spend some time with my puppy and show him around the house. Again, all this happens ON LEASH.

 

He is never off leash at this point. Otherwise I will have to chase him to stop him from doing silly things.

 

 

It helps avoiding conflicts.

 

I also never play with my puppy inside the house.

 

I don't want to create these expectations. He won't be able to understand when I want him calm and when I want him to play. Not now, at least.

 

Playtime is only outside.

 

 

After this, I can continue having him around us, and controlling him. If this is not possible, I will put him in the crate.

 

But remember, it is critical in my opinion that the dog learns what to expect at the door. I want him to learn that he can see my friends, but he cannot abuse the situation, as they walk in.

 

 

This is how I teach him what behavior is acceptable, and which is not.

 

He learns to stay calm around us in the house.

 

By following these simple rules you will be able to set certain expectation and you dog will learn to follow.

 

If you do not follow this guide, you will set another set of expectations and you dog will learn that he can do whatever he wants.

 

 

 

(416) 830-5996

 

 

If You Only Read One Thing Today, Read This

 

They told me the big black lab's name was "Reggie" as I looked at him lying in his cage. The shelter was quite clean and the people were really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street. But something was missing as I attempted to settle into my new life here, and I thought a dog might be just the thing. It would give me someone to talk to, and I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls, but the people who had come to see him just didn't look like "lab people", whatever that means. They must have thought I did.

 

 

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, a bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust too. Maybe we were too much alike.

 

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls-he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he would need his old stuff, and that I'd get him new things once he settled in, but it became pretty clear that wasn't going to happen.

 

I tried the normal commands that the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" or "stay", "come" or "heel," and he'd follow them, when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name-sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth or fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh, and then grudgingly obey.

 

This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple of shoes, and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him, and I could see that he resented it. The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full search-mode for my cell phone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving in the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "darn dog probably hid it on me!"

 

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad, and other toys from the shelter. I tossed the pad in his direction and he sniffed it and wagged. That was the most enthusiasm I had seen since bringing him home. But then I called "Hey Reggie, you like that? Come here and I'll give you a treat." Instead he sort of glanced in my direction-maybe glared is more accurate-and then gave me discontented sigh and flopped down with his back to me.

 

 

Well, that's not going to do it either, and as I was just going to call the shelter again, my eyes landed on that sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that too. "Okay Reggie, lets see if your previous owner has any advice."

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been half-mast all summer. I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog. "Hey Tank," I said quietly. The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright. "C'mere boy." He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. 'Tank" I whispered. His tail swished. I kept whispering his name over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed, as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and just hugged him. "It's me now Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room, and when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

 

 

A Real Life 'Fox and Hound' Story

 

Once upon a time, deep in a Norwegian forest, a man named Torgeir Berge and his dog Tinni came across a wild animal that would change their lives forever: a fox Berge named Sniffer that grew to be the dog's best friend.

 

 

This isn't the beginning of a classic children's tale yet, but Berge hopes to turn it into a bestseller soon.

 

 

Since capturing his dog's budding relationship with some heartwarmingly beautiful photographs (see below), he's decided to pair up with his own friend, writer Berit Helberg, to put together a short storybook filled with the tales of the two best friends from different worlds.

 

 

What Berge hopes to achieve with the book is for people to come to the same conclusion he has: that wild animals are really not all that different from our beloved household pets.

 

 

He's become an avid critic of the fox fur trade industry in Norway, and hopes to gain compassion for the foxes that are killed for their fur, as well as kept in tiny, cramped cages their whole lives.

 

 

The book will include facts about foxes, and proceeds raised will go toward saving foxes from the fur trade.

 

 

An English version of the book will be published in 2014.

 

 

Happy New Year Apple Crunch Pupcakes

 

 

A fruity treat your dog will adore

 

 

 

How to Make Your Own Chew Toy

 

 

Let's face it: having a dog with a chewing habit can get expensive.

 

Even if you head to the bargain bin for your stuffed toys and balls, it can add up fast, especially if your dog is the type who destroys rather than nibbles. But going without chew toys can often be more expensive, leaving your dog with only the furniture — or your favorite pair of shoes! — As an outlet for this destructive instinct.

 

So why not make your own chew toys? By using materials you already have around the house, you'll also be reducing waste, making a positive impact on our environment, and providing your dog with toys that already have a friendly, familiar smell.

 

 

Socks without a match, stained shirts, and torn pants — these won't do much good for Goodwill or the Salvation Army, but they can have a second life as a dog toy. Ideally, you want organic, cotton, and dye-free materials to avoid having your dog ingest unnecessary chemicals.

 

Another great source: old dog toys! Yep, the next time your dog goes to town on a store-bought toy, save up the parts that aren't too small (or too slobbery). The stuffing is particularly valuable, since it often doesn't get too damaged in the process.

 

Better yet, be on the lookout for dog-friendly materials throughout the year. Designate a small bin or basket, and toss in items as you find them.

 

 

This doesn't necessarily mean throwing them in the laundry (although sometimes that might be needed, too). Get out a pair of scissors, and remove any buttons, ribbons, strings, zippers, sequins, or other decorations that aren't safe for your dog to ingest. In the end, you want just a plain piece of fabric.

 

Then cut the material into rough squares or rectangles. The exact measurements don't matter, but you do want it to be big enough that your dog can't swallow it whole.

 

 

Take each square of fabric, fold it in half, and sew up two sides of the square you've created. A sewing machine will mean tighter stitching which may give it a slightly longer lifespan (depending on your dog), but sewing it by hand is just fine, too.

 

Now you have a pocket that you can stuff with, well, stuffing. If you were unable to recover any from long-gone dog toys don't worry — you can find toy stuffing for as low as $3 to 5 for a 20 ounce bag at craft or fabric stores. Those mismatched socks you've gathered make great stuffing also.

 

When you're done filling the pocket, it should look like a small pillow. Then you can sew up that last side. Sure, it doesn't look as fancy as the plushies you buy at the pet store, but your dog won't mind. If you're particularly crafty, you can use a pattern for a shape like a dog bone or a heart to give it a little more character.

 

 

Now it's time to watch your pooch enjoy your efforts! As with any chew toy, you should keep an eye on your dog if he pulls it apart to ensure nothing is ingested. Stringy fabric can get caught in the intestines and any dietary change can cause a stomach upset.

 

If you suspect your dog may have ingested something dangerous, watch for changes in his behavior, and call your veterinarian for guidance.

 

 

After your dog has destroyed all your hard work… pick up the pieces! You can use them to make your next set of dog toys.