Whole Dog Journal August Issue
Preview
The August issue of
Whole Dog Journal is now available online! Here is a brief summary of
what you'll find...
Imagine this: A hot summer day, blue skies, a beautiful lake, and a bunch of friends tossing dog toys into the water for their canine companions to fetch. One gorgeous, healthy Labrador Retriever swimming strongly to retrieve a toy that has sailed out beyond the rest with her eyes on a second toy that has been tossed out; only this time beyond her reach. Heading farther and farther into the lake the dog is now in danger of drowning.
Fortunately, all that was lost that day was one dog toy. As you will read in this month's article Keep Your Dog Safe Around the Pool this Summer, not all owners are as lucky. Many dogs do drown, especially when the summer sun finds dogs of all shapes and sizes in contact with backyard pools, beaches, lakes, stock ponds, and neighborhood swimming holes. This being the case, many dogs can benefit from a swimming lesson or two from a professional. Swimming is a great way for dogs to burn off excess energy and stay in shape. Although what dog owners must always remember is that swimming is best done in moderation, and always - safety first.
Other August features include:
Imagine this: A hot summer day, blue skies, a beautiful lake, and a bunch of friends tossing dog toys into the water for their canine companions to fetch. One gorgeous, healthy Labrador Retriever swimming strongly to retrieve a toy that has sailed out beyond the rest with her eyes on a second toy that has been tossed out; only this time beyond her reach. Heading farther and farther into the lake the dog is now in danger of drowning.
Fortunately, all that was lost that day was one dog toy. As you will read in this month's article Keep Your Dog Safe Around the Pool this Summer, not all owners are as lucky. Many dogs do drown, especially when the summer sun finds dogs of all shapes and sizes in contact with backyard pools, beaches, lakes, stock ponds, and neighborhood swimming holes. This being the case, many dogs can benefit from a swimming lesson or two from a professional. Swimming is a great way for dogs to burn off excess energy and stay in shape. Although what dog owners must always remember is that swimming is best done in moderation, and always - safety first.
Other August features include:
Properly Diagnosing
Canine Hypothyroidism - What are the Signs? - You probably know
someone with an underactive thyroid gland; in fact, you may have one
yourself. The signs of hypothyroidism in humans include a subnormal body
temperature, cold hands and feet, weight gain, hair loss, and constant
fatigue. People aren't the only ones afflicted by this disorder, for
many dogs are hypothyroid, too. They may seem lethargic, gain weight
while eating normal or below-normal amounts of food, seek warmth, and
develop skin and coat conditions. But hypothyroidism causes other
symptoms, too, and an accurate diagnosis can require thinking outside
the box.
Force-Free Nail Trimming
Techniques for Your Dog - Nail-trimming used to be so simple. You
found a stalwart friend or family member to restrain your dog tightly
while you quickly clipped his nails in spite of his struggles, trying
not to "quick" him (by cutting a nail too short and making it bleed),
which made him struggle harder each time. If you ran out of stalwart
friends, you started dropping your dog off at your vet's office for nail
clipping - out of sight, out of mind! He came back seemingly none the
worse for wear - until your vet told you that they would need to start
sedating him to trim his nails, after he tried to bite one of the techs.
Hmm . . . maybe not so simple after all.
A Counter-Conditioning
Protocol for Trimming Your Dog's Nails - Determine the location of
touch your dog can tolerate without reacting fearfully or aggressively.
Perhaps it's her shoulder, perhaps her elbow, or maybe her knee. She
should be a little worried, but not growl or try to move away. This is
called the threshold. With your dog on-leash, touch her briefly and
gently at threshold. The instant your dog notices the touch, start
feeding bits of chicken, non-stop. After a second or two, remove the
touch and stop feeding chicken.
Frisbee Discs for Dogs -
What's the Best Disc on the Market? - I used to live with a
Frisbee-addicted dog (a Border Collie named Rupert), and a disc-addicted
son, who is now off at college (and still addicted). So how is it that
WDJ has never before reviewed flying disc toys for dogs? There is a wide
variety of flying toys made for dogs, with different key features for
different applications. The overarching concept is to create a disc that
flies well enough to inspire a dog to chase it, catch it, and return
with it uninjured. Most of us owners want a toy that won't be ruined
within three catches between a dog's teeth, but you don't want it to be
so tough that it can hurt a dog's teeth or mouth if he doesn't catch it
perfectly.
