Careers for Dog Lovers

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

How to Get Started

Have you ever wondered how you could turn your love of dogs into a career? It's common for dog lovers to want to spend as much time as possible with their furry friends in a work (or work-like) situation. Fortunately, there are many opportunities for doing this.

A few things to consider: are you looking for a true career, a full-time job, a part-time job, or will a volunteer situation fulfill your desire to work with dogs? It's important to remember the distinction as you read this list of dog-centric "jobs."

Veterinarian: Imagine caring for dogs and other pets all day long, helping them heal and lead happy, healthy lives. It's a dog lovers dream job—if you have the time, the financial means, and the aptitude to be a doctor. To become a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) you need to complete an additional four years of veterinarian training after a four-year undergraduate program.

Veterinary Technician/Veterinary Assistant: These positions are just under DVM in the totem pole. To qualify as a licensed Veterinary technician, you will likely need to complete a two- to four-year program. Veterinary assistants perform many duties in a DVM's office, but don't require the multi-year school commitment of a Veterinary technician. A quick search on the Internet will reveal a list of schools that help people train as Veterinary assistants. Before enrolling, investigate their curricula, history, placement services, and business practices. Your Vet may be a good source of information if you want to pursue a career as either a technician or an assistant.

Dog trainer: There are many kinds of professional dog trainers, from behavior experts who help dog owners correct their pet's behavior problems to "celebrity" trainers who work with dogs that appear in movies, TV shows, and live performances. All successful and respected dog trainers have an acute understanding of how dogs learn and understand the world around them. It's important to remember that there's a big difference between training your own dog and being able to mold the behavior of other people's dogs. If you feel you have the aptitude and patience to become a dog trainer, you can start by reaching out to professional dog trainers in your area for guidance and, perhaps, a chance to learn from them as an apprentice.

Dog groomer: Top dog groomers develop a loyal following because they are equally good with dogs and their owners. Groomers are creative professionals who have the skill to transform a muddy mop of a dog into a stunning showstopper. For many wannabe dog groomers, the first step is to assist a professional in their local community. That's a great way to see if you have the talent to groom and, naturally, to learn from an expert.

All the dog-related careers listed above require a heavy commitment of time to learn a complex and demanding profession. So what happens if you want to work with dogs but can't spare the time? Fortunately, there are still many other jobs that you can consider with learning curves that aren't quite as steep. These include, but are not limited to:

• Volunteering or working in a shelter
• Working in a pet shop
• Animal control officer
• Pet sitting/walking
• Performing clerical work in a Veterinarian's office
• Volunteering to help a service dog association
• Professional dog handler/assistant dog handler

The importance of volunteering simply can't be overstated. Shelters and breed rescues in just about every community need dedicated dog-loving volunteers to help with a wide range of chores. Ready to get involved? Look for volunteer opportunities near you at http://www.volunteermatch.org.

Source: http://www.pedigree.com/02All-Things-Dog/Article-Library/fetch.aspx?artId=771&catId=3&sCatId=13&catName=Adult&sCatName=Training
© 2010 Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates

Pet CPR

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it useful! –Kim

Essential First Aid for Dogs and Cats
By Dr. Andrew
October 30, 2009

Essential First Aid: CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is the most important first aid technique with which every pet owner should be comfortable. Chances are that you will never have to use it, but it will save your pet's life if a ball is lodged in his airway.

This section describes the basic technique. This is also covered in my pet first aid manual, Pet First Aid Secrets: Complete Canine and Feline First Aid Manual, but it is included here because of its importance. For a demonstration and more thorough description, refer to my video: Pet CPR.

There are some very basic steps:

1. Assess responsiveness

2. Establish a patent airway

3. Perform rescue breathing

4. Cardiac massage – establishing circulation

STEP 1: RESPONSIVENESS

The first step is making sure that your pet is truly unresponsive.

1. CHECK his breathing by placing your hand in front of his mouth and nose.

2. CHECK for his heartbeat by placing your ear against the left side of his chest – this is the area where his left elbow touches his chest, immediately behind his left armpit.

STEP 2: AIRWAY

The second step in CPR is obtaining a patent airway.

1. PULL the tongue out of your pet's mouth, but be careful to not get bitten.

2. STRAIGHTEN the neck by moving the head to be in line with the neck. DO NOT HYPEREXTEND IN CASES OF NECK TRAUMA.

3. PERFORM two rescue breaths, by closing the mouth and performing mouth to nose ventilations. IF they continue, then proceed to STEP 3: BREATHING. If there are no breaths, then look into the mouth.

4. VISIBLY inspect the mouth and look down the throat for a foreign body. If you see something, reach into the airway and remove it.

5. IF the airway is still not open, attempt the HEIMLICH maneuver.... TURN your pet upside down, with back against your chest.

6. WITH both arms, give sharp thrusts to the abdomen.

7. AFTER 5 thrusts, stop and check to see if the object is visible in the airway. If so remove it and give 2 mouth-to-nose rescue breaths. If the breaths do not go in, repeat the HEIMLICH maneuver.

STEP 3: BREATHING

After achieving a patent airway, perform RESCUE BREATHING.

1. CLOSE your pet's mouth and breathe directly into his nose until his chest expands. If the chest does not expand then go back to STEP 2 – AIRWAY.

2. VENTILATE at 15 breaths per minute. One BREATH every 4 seconds.

STEP 4: CIRCULATION

1. ENSURE there are no major points of bleeding. Control as necessary.

2. GENTLY lay your pet on his right side.

3. LOCATE the heart, which is found on the lower half of the chest on the left side, behind the elbow of the front left leg. Place one hand below the heart to support the chest; place the other hand over the heart.

4. COMPRESS the chest 15 times followed by 2 rescue breaths. 3 compressions every 2 seconds. Compress the chest 1/2 inch for small pets and 1-1/2 inches for large pets.

5. EVERY 15 times, follow up with 2 rescue breaths.

Continue heart massage compressions and the rescue breathing until you hear a heartbeat and feel regular breathing.

After your pet is breathing and his heart is beating, call your veterinarian immediately.

For a demonstration and more thorough description, refer to my video: Pet CPR.

Source: http://www.theinternetpetvet.com/pet-cpr-essential-first-aid-for-dogs-and-cats
Copyright ©2008 Four Paws Online Ltd.

Book Review: Dog Heroes of September 11th

Here's a fascinating book that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it inspiring! –Kim

Dog Heroes of September 11th
A Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs

A Back Stage Look Behind the Book

Nona Kilgore Bauer is the author of many books on dogs, but Dog Heroes of September 11th: A Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs changed her life. She has written more books on her own breed, the Golden Retriever, than any other published author. While working on her "latest and greatest" book on the Golden, early in 2002, Nona received a photograph from a breeder colleague John Gassner of a FEMA search and rescue dog named "Louie." This senior Golden, with his noble expression and graying face, was sitting in front of a police barricade with the mass destruction of the World Trade Center in the background. The photo was sent directly to Bauer's editor Andrew De Prisco at Kennel Club Books.

Bauer and De Prisco had collaborated on no fewer than twenty titles over a ten-year period. De Prisco recalls the day he opened the package and saw the photograph. "Dozens of packages, manuscripts, photos submissions and the like cross my desk on a weekly basis. Opening the package and finding the photograph of Louie the Golden Retriever sitting amid the wreckage of the Twin Towers was a heart-stopping moment. I instantly thought, 'has anyone ever recognized the work these amazing dogs have done?' I phoned Nona, one of my favorite authors, and said, "Thanks for sending the photographs. Do I have an idea for you? How would you like to write a tribute book about all of the dogs who served during the 9/11 recovery efforts?' She was dumbstruck and completely resistant to the idea."

Bauer recalls, "There was no way I was going there. The tragedy was still too close to everyone, and the thought of approaching strangers and soliciting their raw emotions for a journalistic project was scary, even unthinkable. Plus, there were hundreds of dogs."

De Prisco describes his role with his authors as half-editor/half-midwife. "It's not unusual for me to coax a great author into undertaking a project, and this book seemed to me an absolute necessity. People needed to know what happened, and these dogs and their handlers deserved to be honored."

Bauer agreed to the project after about three weeks of research and soul-searching. "It didn't take long for Dog Heroes to become an obsession for me. As the handlers shared their 9/11 experiences with me, and beyond that, their total dedication to their country...and their dogs...training at their own expense, most of them for years in order to be ready 'just in case,' I could think of nothing else during the time I was working on the book…I dreamed it, slept it, ate it, which still doesn't fully describe how the book consumed me. I am still awed by what they did and feel so privileged that I was able to record their stories. They have truly added another dimension to my life."

De Prisco confesses, "The book took on a life of its own. It consumed its author emotionally and intellectually. I soon discovered that the project was larger and more significant than I first imagined. I met with Wilma Melville, the founder of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF), at a Chicago trade show. She explained to me how ill prepared the nation is for a natural disaster or another terrorist attack. There simply weren't enough search and rescue dogs trained to do the work, and there wasn't money to train the dogs. It was at that moment that we realized that Dog Heroes of September 11th needed to be more than a tribute to the dogs that served our country: this book needed to serve our country — to help raise funds to train more dogs."

The publisher is donating a portion of the proceeds from every sold book to the NDSDF to help in their mission. Spokesperson for the Foundation, Margaret Logreira says, "The royalties from this book will actually train new dogs, and Kennel Club Books will be the sponsor of many, many search and rescue dogs in the years to come." De Prisco learned from Logreira that " …all of the certified dogs from the NDSDF are themselves rescued dogs, obtained from shelters across the country and trained to rescue others. Imagine a book that's helping transfigure the rescued to the rescuers!"

Source: http://www.dogheroesof911.com/behind.htm
©2006 Kennel Club Books

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Also, see:

Photo Slide Show
http://www.dogheroesof911.com/photoslide.htm

Video/MP3s
http://www.dogheroesof911.com/video_mp3.htm

Order Book
Dog Heroes of September 11th

Vaccines May Not be Necessary

Valuable Resource...

Our "Best Friends" are Being Over-vaccinated
By Dr. Andrew Jones
December 15, 2009

One of the MORE common questions I receive are about Vaccines...

Are they safe?

What to give?

The Regimen that I advise…

You can get ALL of these questions answered for less than 10 dollars in my Inner Circle.

PLUS I'll send you OVER 2 hours of Instruction on Herbal Care, Homeopathy, Acupressure, Massage and Pet First Aid for giving it a try.

Then you'll also get my NEWEST Video on SOLVING Ear Infections.

Seems fair?

It's here:
http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com/cmd.php?af=981818&u=top10

Vaccines may not be necessary

I recently re-read an article from one of the world's foremost respected veterinary immunologists.

Schultz: Vaccines may not be necessary

Once a year, Ronald Schultz checks the antibody levels in his dogs' blood. Why? He says for proof that most annual vaccines are unnecessary.

Schultz, professor and chair of pathobiological sciences at School of Veterinary Medicine, has been studying the effectiveness of canine vaccines since the 1970s; he's learned that immunity can last as long as a dog's lifetime, which suggests that our "best friends" are being over-vaccinated.

Based on his findings, a community of canine vaccine experts has developed new veterinary recommendations that could eliminate a dog's need for annual shots.

Every year, when we take our dogs to the veterinarian's office, they could receive up to 16 different vaccines, many of which are combined into a single shot. Four of these products protect against life-threatening diseases, including rabies, canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2); the rest protect against milder diseases to which only some dogs are exposed, including Lyme disease.

But, as many veterinarians are realizing, over-vaccination can actually jeopardize a dog's health and even life. Side effects can cause skin problems, allergic reactions and autoimmune disease. Though the case in cats, not dogs, tumors have been reported at the site of vaccine injections.

"These adverse reactions have caused many veterinarians to rethink the issue of vaccination," says Schultz. "The idea that unnecessary vaccines can cause serious side effects is in direct conflict with sound medical practices."

For 30 years, Schultz has been examining the need to vaccinate animals so often and for so many diseases. "In the 1970s, I started thinking about our immune response to pathogens and how similar it is in other animals," says Schultz. "That's when I started to question veterinary vaccination practices."

Just like ours, a canine's immune system fires up when a pathogen, like a virus, enters the body. The pathogen releases a protein called an antigen, which calls into action the immune system's special disease-fighting cells. Called B and T lymphocytes, these cells not only destroy the virus, but they remember what it looked like so they can fend it off in the future.

It's this immunological memory that enables vaccines, which purposely contain live, weakened or dead pathogens, to protect against future disease.

But, as Schultz points out, vaccines can keep people immune for a lifetime: we're usually inoculated for measles, mumps and rubella as children but never as adults. So, can dogs be vaccinated as pups and then never again?

While evidence from Schultz's studies on both his own dogs and many other dogs from controlled studies suggests the answer is yes, Schultz recommends a more conservative plan based on duration of immunity and individual risk.

Schultz says that core vaccines, or the ones that protect against life-threatening disease, are essential for all dogs, yet he does not recommend dogs receive these shots yearly. "With the exception of rabies, the vaccines for CDV, CPV-2 and CAV trigger an immunological memory of at least seven years," he explains. (Studies testing the duration of immunity for rabies shots show it lasts about three years.)

For these reasons, Schultz suggests that dogs receive rabies shots every three years (as is required by law in most states) and the other core vaccines no more frequently than every three years.

Some non-core vaccines, on the other hand, have a much shorter duration of immunity, lasting around one year. But, as Schultz points out, not every dog should get these types of vaccines, because not every dog is at risk for exposure.

Today, many vaccinated dogs receive a shot for Lyme disease. However, Schultz says that the ticks carrying the Lyme disease pathogen can be found in only a few regions of the United States. More importantly, Schultz adds, "The vaccine can cause adverse effects such as mild arthritis, allergy or other immune diseases. Like all vaccines, it should only be used when the animal is at significant risk." He notes that the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine rarely administers the Lyme disease vaccine.

Another common vaccine that Schultz says is unnecessary protects against "kennel cough," an often mild and transient disease contracted during boarding or dog shows. "Most pet dogs that do not live in breeding kennels, are not boarded, do not go to dog shows and have only occasional contact with dogs outside their immediate family," Schultz recommends, "rarely need to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated for kennel cough."

Schultz says that it's important for veterinarians to recognize an individual dog's risk for developing a particular disease when considering the benefits of a vaccine. "Vaccines have many exceptional benefits, but, like any drug, they also have the potential to cause significant harm." Giving a vaccine that's not needed, he explains, creates an unnecessary risk to the animal.

Recommending that dogs receive fewer vaccines, Schultz admits, may spark controversy, especially when veterinarians rely on annual vaccines to bring in clients, along with income.

P.S. You should GRAB your copy of his NEWEST Special Report – Dr. Andrew Jones' Top 10 Veterinary Secrets to Keeping your Pet Healthy, Healing Your Pet At Home, and Helping Your Dog or Cat Live Longer.

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http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com/cmd.php?af=981818&u=top10

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Heal Your Pets at Home!

Best Wishes,
Dr Andrew Jones, DVM

Source: http://www.theinternetpetvet.com/vaccines-may-not-be-necessary

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Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM has been a practicing Veterinarian for almost 20 years. He is a strong advocate of Natural Pet Health Care, and knows that the most important way to heal our pets and prevent disease is through proper nutrition. He developed Ultimate Canine to give our dogs that extra advantage – something that will provide them with everything they need to develop stronger immune systems to fight disease, heal sore or stiff joints, and help them live longer, happier lives. Dr. Andrew Jones' main focus is on alternative, non-traditional remedies for pets. His interest in alternative pet medicine culminated in the writing of his book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

Pets: "A Major Source of Carbon Emissions" - Oh, really?

Clifford the Big Red Climate Changer?

Following on the heels of the climate change summit in Copenhagen, the Agence France-Presse newswire reports that two New Zealand researchers have identified a major source of carbon emissions – our pets. Specifically, the researchers have their eyes on Fido:

Combine the land required to generate its food and a "medium" sized dog has an annual footprint of 0.84 hectares (2.07 acres) – around twice the 0.41 hectares required by a 4x4 driving 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) a year, including energy to build the car....

"Owning a dog really is quite an extravagance, mainly because of the carbon footprint of meat," [Stockholm Environment Institute's John] Barrett said.

So what's the solution to "offsetting" these emissions? According the research's authors, one answer is to chow down on our pets. One of the researchers morbidly advises: "Rabbits are good, provided you eat them."

But don't get out the hamster-sized deep fryer just yet. These researchers' calculations rely on the assertion that meat – that is, the animal agriculture process – has an abnormally large carbon footprint. But as we've pointed out when activists like Paul McCartney use climate change arguments to promote a meatless agendas, the EPA's own greenhouse gas inventory shows domestic livestock production accounts for less than 3% of U.S. emissions. Feeding our beloved puppies and kittens isn't as bad for the environment after all.

A French animal rights organization is also objecting to the human elimination of pets, noting the mental and emotional benefits of pet ownership. And while it may not happen very often – sacre bleu! – we're inclined to agree with them. For the environmentally concerned, we can reduce emissions by spreading the use of efficient livestock farming practices. At the very least, that's a whole lot more appetizing than the alternative.

Source: http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/h/4058-clifford-the-big-red-climate-changer
Copyright © 2010 Center for Consumer Freedom

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Also, see: Marley and Meat

Top 20 Training Do's and Don'ts

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

Everyday Secrets to Successful Training

Dog lovers sometimes wonder why, despite their best efforts, their attempts at pet training fall short of expectations. No matter what you try, Rex still thinks the couch is his personal kingdom and Rover roams to areas that you want him to learn are out of bounds. As you've probably discovered, training takes more than just hoping your dog will read your mind and obey.

To help make training easier for you, here's our list of Top 20 Training Do's and Don'ts.

First, the Do's:

Do focus on your dog. Training must be about bringing him into your world by understanding his instincts and natural behaviors.
Do be honest with him. Never fool him into doing what you want or tease him with commands you teach him.
Do begin each command with the end in sight. Reward your dog lavishly – but only when he has completed the task you've set.
Do be consistent. Always use the same words for desired behaviors and the same tone of voice.
Do think ahead. Anticipate your dog's actions before he moves.
Do reward or admonish your dog immediately. He needs to associate praise or admonishment with the specific act.
Do teach him one command at a time. More than one command can easily confuse even the cleverest dog.
Do allow enough time for him to take in your command and then act. He may not react immediately, but this is not necessarily a sign of disobedience. Be patient.
Do enjoy yourself and he will too. This way, he'll associate his training with companionship – so it will become easier for both of you. And play with your dog before and after each training session.
Do be kind and patient. A poorly trained dog is the fault of the trainer, not the dog.

Knowing what to do is only half the story. Coupled with that, successful training depends on understanding the Don'ts:

Don't ever allow others to pamper him any more than you would. You're his master – the de facto alpha dog in your home pack – and he must look to you for leadership.
Don't ever finish a training session on a bad note. Remain positive and praise him for any progress made.
Don't punish him while you're angry. Training should be a pleasurable and nourishing experience for both of you.
Don't lose your temper while training. He needs to understand that you are in control.
Don't chase him if you want him to come. The idea is make him come to you.
Don't deceive your dog. Never shower him with praise to bring him to you and then punish him because he's been naughty. Be honest with him.
Don't continually repeat the same command to your dog until he executes it. He should understand you very early. Be patient but don't overuse the command.
Don't discipline your dog for disobedience unless you're certain that he understood the command you gave. And remember, discipline and punishment are two very different things.
Don't reward your dog for a given behavior, then, later admonish him for the same behavior. Consistency is crucial.
Don't allow anybody else to command your dog while you're training him.

This list isn't meant to be exhaustive, but just enough to help direct you in the right direction when it comes to successfully training your dog. For some dogs and their owners, these tips may be enough. However, if your efforts are still unsuccessful, it may be time to seek the help of a professional dog trainer.

Source: http://www.pedigree.com/02All-Things-Dog/Article-Library/fetch.aspx?artId=773&catId=3&sCatId=13&catName=Adult&sCatName=Training
© 2010 Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates