Great Guide for Natural Dog Care and Training: "The Whole Dog Journal"

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:

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.

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