when is it okay to let your dog off-leash?

October 29, 2015 Kristen Carr

Running free...romping...picture it in slow motion: tongue flapping in the wind, ears bouncing up and down, and that joyful look on your dog's face. Lovely, isn't it? Maybe. Maybe not.

when is it okay to let your dog off-leash?

In my professional opinion, it is okay to let your dog off-leash in public at two–and only two–times.

1. When you are in a place where it is legal and appropriate to do so and you have 100% complete proven verbal control of your dog. Meaning, if there was a steak dinner, a thrown frisbee, or a tempting playmate, your dog would not go toward it without your permission. He never fails to obey your command. Ever.

2. When you are in a place where off-leash dogs are expected and encouraged. A dog park for example. Or a dog beach.

Period. End of story.

let me tell you why

As you probably already know, I am a professional pet sitter and dog walker. I walk all kinds of dogs, and I see other people walking all kinds of dogs. When I am walking a client's dog, I have rules.

• I do not allow my client's dog to socialize with other dogs. You just never know, and I don't ever want harm to come to a dog in my care.

• We never go off-leash, and we don't go to off-leash places. I'll take your dog hiking, jogging, or to the park, but we're going on a leash. I do not have 100% complete verbal control of your dog, so attached to me he stays.

• I avoid off-leash dogs like the plague. Their owners almost never have verbal control of them, so I keep my distance.

This week I had two dog walking experiences, one positive and one negative. Ironically, I was walking the same dog, Thor*. This is a dog I regularly walk. I have great leash control of him, and if he gets excited about a passing bunny or kid on a bike, I make him sit until the enticement has passed. He listens to me, and we walk well together. I am extra careful with him because when I was first hired to walk him, his owner let me know that he was dog-aggressive, meaning he might harm another dog if contact is made. When I walk this particular dog, I am extremely careful to keep my head up, be aware of my surroundings, and keep control of him.

the wrong way

The other morning, I took Thor to an open grassy area in the neighborhood in which he lives. Though he was on his leash, the large, open space gave us a chance to romp and play rather than just walk up and down the sidewalk. About twenty yards away, I heard a car pull up. A lady got out, and I didn't think much of it, but then she opened one of the back doors, and three Labs popped out, none of them leashed. All three ran toward us. I immediately made Thor sit, but the rush of canine coming toward us was too much for him to sustain the position. I yelled "NO! NO! NO!" but the dogs wouldn't stop. I yelled at the lady: "He's not friendly!" She tried to call her dogs back and they sort-of listened, but then just ignored her. I screamed at her "GET CONTROL OF YOUR DOGS RIGHT NOW!" All the while, trying to move us in the opposite direction.

We escaped unscathed, but talk about a frightening adrenaline rush.

That lady did not have control of her dogs. Thor could have fought with one or all of them, and any one of the four dogs could have been injured or killed. I could have been injured in the middle of it. The whole situation was a mess. She was in an area where it is not permitted to have dogs off-leash, and we weren't expecting it. I still get angry just thinking about it. It was completely irresponsible of her to create that situation.

Even if your dog is friendly, not every dog is. It is not okay to allow your dog to approach another dog without permission. And that leads me to the positive experience I had this week...

the right way

Just a couple of days later, Thor and I were walking down the sidewalk (avoiding the nice open grassy area) and I noticed a man with a dog on a leash walking in the opposite direction toward us. I crossed the street to put some distance between us as we passed, and I made Thor sit while they passed. The gentleman stopped directly across the street from us and asked "is your dog friendly?"

I replied "I'm sorry, he's not friendly with other dogs. Thank you so much for asking."

He nodded his head in an understanding way, and we both went on with our peaceful walks. Faith in humanity partially restored.

when in doubt, pull the leash out

Allowing your dog to be off-leash is risky. It's risky for your dog, for you, and for others. If your dog wants to romp free, find a place where others expect dogs to be off-leash. No matter how well you know your own dog, you don't know that dog you may encounter. A little bit of freedom isn't worth the potential price.

* names have been changed in the interest of privacy

i believe in leashes: my story

the dog daze of december: come celebrate with the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA

November 21, 2014 Kristen Carr

I practically live at the Ahwatukee Foothills YMCA. I work out there several times a week, and my littles have taken every class from swimming to hip-hop dance. We love what the facility offers, and we love that it's truly a tight community within a tight community. I discovered one more reason to love our local Y: they are hosting the "Dog Daze of December," a month-long celebration of our pooches!

They say, "We know that the only thing better than the feeling of a great work-out at the YMCA is the way your special pet unconditionally loves you." True, true. I'm so excited about what they've got going on. Here's the scoop:

PET PHOTO CONTEST

Bring your pet photo in by December 10th and enter to win fabulous pet prizes. Photos will be judged in 3 categories:

1. Cutie Pie

2. A Face Only a Mother Could Love

3. Member/Pet Look Alike

I can't wait to see the "A Face Only a Mother Could Love" entries. I'm such a sucker for ugly dogs. And I'm looking forward to seeing how many of my buff workout buddies have canine twins.

FREE PET CPR/FIRST AID LUNCH & LEARN

Friday, December 12th, 12:00 p.m.

Learn how to provide first aid and CPR for your important family member. Lunch will be provided. Please register at the member service desk.

I am certified in canine first aid and CPR, and I had to invest a lot of money in the process, so the fact that they are offering this knowledge of the basics for free is an opportunity every pet owner should take advantage of. And lunch on top of it? It's a no-brainer!

WAGGIN WHEELS PET ADOPTIONS

Sunday, December 14th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m

If you are thinking about adding a family member to your home, please come out and meet these sweet rescued animals that are just waiting to love you and have a forever home.

I can't advocate a "spontaneous holiday adoption" because I've seen so many go south, but if you've thought things through and you're ready to add a furry family member to your house, there's no better time or place. I'm so proud that our Y is supporting pet adoption.

I am super excited that this place I call my second home is going all-out for pets this month, so sweeten the deal, I'm offering all participants in Dog Daze of December activities a discount on pet sitting services. Coupons will be provided, so be sure to take part in order to take advantage!

The Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA is located at 1030 E. Liberty Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85048. For more information, call 480.759.6762.

Dog image source: etsy.com.

10 reasons you should not declaw your cat

November 17, 2014 Kristen Carr

Declawing a cat is an unnecessary, quite brutal thing to do. The only reason cat owners do it is to protect their furniture from a natural instinct cats have: clawing objects. Cats claw objects for exercise, to stretch, and to maintain the health of their nails. They also claw to mark their territory and because it's just plain fun. It is a natural activity that satisfies physical and psychological needs of the cat. In the wild, cats could claw trees, but domesticated cats, often restricted to indoor activities, if left to their own devices, may claw the side of the couch or a beloved easy chair. But if cat owners provide a minimal amount of training, regular nail trimmings and an appropriate outlet for scratching such as a scratching post, these problematic behaviors can be avoided.

What does it mean to declaw a cat?

Declawing a cat is a serious surgery. General anesthesia must be used, and contrary to popular belief, not only the nail is removed, but the last joint of each toe–all ten of them–is amputated along with the surrounding cartilage. If that's not enough reason to avoid declawing at all costs, here are ten other reasons:

1. Surgical complications. Including complications and reactions to general anensthesia, nerve damage, and hemorrhaging.

2. Regrowth. After surgery, the nails may grow back under the skin causing pain to the cat that will not be apparent to the pet parent.

3. Impaired mobility. After surgery, cats must re-learn to walk since part of their toes have been removed. They may suffer from lifelong balance and mobility issues.

4. Progressive joint problems. Due to the modified walk of declawed cats, their joints often become strained and arthritic, causing additional mobility issues and pain.

5. Weak, painful shoulders. The shoulders of declawed cats often become weak and painful due to their modified gait and inability to exercise properly.

6. Litter box pain. When a declawed cat comes home from the procedure, her paws are painful and tender. She will likely experience pain when walking on litter and digging in the litter box, and may begin to associate the litter box with pain. She'll then choose another (inappropriate) place to do her "business."

7. Marking. Since the cat's preferred means of marking his territory is gone, he may decide to urinate and defecate around the house, outside the litter box, in an attempt to mark.

8. Biting. Cats who are declawed have no front line of defense and often feel insecure. They are more likely to bite, especially children. Bites can be much more damaging than small scratches.

9. General aggressiveness. The best defense is a good offense. Because declawed cats feel insecure and unable to defend themselves, they often become aggressive, going on the attack at the slightest provocation.

10. Outdoor vulnerability. Even if the cat is an indoor cat, there is a chance she may find herself outdoors if she escapes, in which case she will have no defense and no means to climb to safety away from predators.

Because so many declawed cats have behavior and medical problems, they are more likely to be surrendered to shelters. A procedure is meant to curb behavior problems often is, ironically, often the root cause of more severe issues. Bottom line, if you can't tolerate the natural scratching behavior of a cat and can't provide a feline with an appropriate outlet for it, it's best to think about adopting a different kind of pet.

Cat image source: graitsphotography.com

the importance of growth hormone to pets and a #somapet #couponcode

November 11, 2014 Kristen Carr

The term "growth hormone" may have a negative connotation since the press it typically gets is in the form of athletes using it illegally in the synthetic variety. The natural growth hormone our pets produce (as all mammals do) begins to decline after maturity and continues to decrease as our pets age. Growth Hormone is important early in life, but also for cellular maintenance as mammals grow older. SomaPet is a supplement that can support cellular maintenance by stimulating the body to naturally produce growth hormone.

It is thought that the artificial diets we have fed our pets since the 1930's have had detrimental effects on our pets. Most pet parents still feed their pets a highly-processed diet, so the basic, natural nutrients needed to keep our pets' health at an optimum are missing and need to be replaced. Even pets who are served a high-quality kibble or raw diet suffer from depleted nutrients in their food due to the way we grow and raise our food.

The result of this nutrient absence is that veterinarians are seeing the number of domesticated animals who suffer from the degenerative signs of aging increase.

SomaPet can help replace these lost nutrients an help restore our pets' health and improve their quality of life.

How is this possible?

SomaPet outlines how it works:

SomaPet is a specific combination of amino acids formulated to optimize the health of your pet. This specific combination, when taken orally, is designed to support the release of Growth Hormone from the pituitary, which assists in cell repair and regeneration. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and constitute an essential part of an animals' diet. SomaPet amino acids provide your pet with vital supplementation. This ensures an appropriate balance of amino acids particularly beneficial for animals over three years old exhibiting signs of aging.

So what specific benefits can SomaPet offer?

• improved immune function

• increased healing

• improved nervous function

• promoted cellular energy

• strengthened collagen and bone

• minimized exercise damage

I have been supplementing N.A.S.H.A.'s diet with SomaPet for about four months, now, and have witnessed results I never thought possible for our little nine-year-old pooch. So much so, that I will be sure she takes SomaPet for the rest of her life. She has increased energy, and her coat and skin are healthier than ever. The cool thing is, I noticed these results within the first few days! Things just keep getting better.

What I love most about SomaPet is that it's all natural and made from the highest-quality 100% organic ingredients. There is no sugar, gluten, or fat, and it is completely free of preservatives, fillers, additives, and artificial coloring. And it's vegan! All I have to do is sprinkle a scoop on her food each evening, and she's good to go.

I partnered with SomaPet in order to spread the word about how fantastic it is. In turn, they are offering our readers stellar deals. Beginning today, November 11, for only four days (through the 14th), SomaPet is giving us great savings opportunities in their SomaPet STOCK UP SALE! If you'd like to give SomaPet a try (or even if you're an existing customer), you can save big:

So now is the time to take advantage of these savings and stock up! Just click the link and use the corresponding code to save big.

SomaPet is an affiliate partner of Well Minded, however, we only share information that we consider of benefit to our readers. SomaPet has provided us product in exchange for our honest opinion, but has not compensated us in any other way. SomaPet is not responsible for the content of this article.

our canine veterans and ptsd

November 10, 2014 Kristen Carr

We often hear about how so many of our veterans suffer from PTSD, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, a heartbreaking condition that is defined by the Mayo Clinic as "a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event–either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event." Sometimes individuals with PTSD are partnered with a service dog who can help them manage their symptoms. But can dogs who have seen combat also get PTSD?

The answer is yes.

Over the past few years, more research is being done surrounding canine PTSD. Military dog specialists are recognizing it and learning how to treat it.

Cora, a Belgian Malinois, went off to Iraq as a bomb-sniffing dog. She loved her work and treated her training and her job as a game or play session. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Garry Laub, who trained Cora before she deployed said, "She knew her job. She was a very squared-away dog."

Cora went on dozens of combat patrols in Iraq over the course of several months, and her easy-going, focused spirit began to change. Loud noises startled her, and she became more aggressive. It is thought that her PTSD was not the result of a single traumatic event, but of an accumulation of stress as a result of the intense, emotional situation in which she worked.

Click here to read Tony Perry's Los Angeles Times Article featuring Cora's story.

Military canines experience the same war environment that their human counterparts do, and they can just as easily be affected. It is estimated that half of the dogs who return from war with PTSD can be retrained for employment within the government, such as with police departments, border patrol, or the Department of Homeland Security. If the animal is unable to work, he is retired and made eligible for adoption as a family pet.

Army 1st Sgt. Casey Stevens spoke about his dog, Alf, and summarized the sentiment regarding military canines: "He saved my life several times; he had my back. Some guys talk to their dogs more than they do to their fellow soldiers. They're definitely not equipment."

James Dao, for the New York Times, wrote:

If anyone needed evidence of the frontline role played by dogs in war these days, here is the latest: the four-legged, wet-nosed troops used to sniff out mines, track down enemy fighters and clear buildings are struggling with the mental strains of combat nearly as much as their human counterparts. By some estimates, more than 5 percent of the approximately 650 military dogs deployed by American combat forces are developing canine PTSD.

Canine PTSD has been gaining more attention in the past few years, and is really a new diagnosis since we have exposed our military dogs to the combat-related violence in Iraq in Afghanistan. It manifests itself in different ways, as does human PTSD. Dao elaborates:

Like humans with the analogous disorder, different dogs show different symptoms. Some become hyper-vigilant. Others avoid building or work areas that they had previously been comfortable in. Some undergo sharp changes in temperament, becoming unusually aggressive with their handlers, or clingy and timid. Most crucially, many stop doing the tasks they were trained to perform.

Thankfully, as veterinarians and canine military experts work with dogs who suffer from PTSD, more treatment and resources become available. The condition is most treated with behavior modification techniques and/or anti-anxiety drugs.

So this Veteran's Day, as we honor our soldiers, many of whom suffer from PTSD, let's also think about their canine counterparts, thank them, and wish them well on their journey to recovery.