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April 2008Issue 4: Volume 7 The Definitive Source for Houston Pet Lovers

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innovativePet Productsanimal houses, safetY collars +more cool stuff!

April, 2008

Editorial

D on’t you just love innovation! As a mother (to pets and children) I seriously don’t know what life would

be like without ziploc bags for toy parts and my handy “Bags On Board” waste pick-up bags in a canis-

ter that attaches to my dog’s leash. Seems simple but some of the best inventions are clever gadgets

to make daily life a little easier.

In this issue, Houston PetTalk has “dug up” some great products that are designed to make pet parenting

easier, safer, more convenient or simply more fun. Our cover photo highlights a fabulous product developed

right here in Houston by Dietz Designs. The “Animal House” is a quality constructed piece of pet furniture that

provides a safe-haven for pets but also compliments your home’s interior. Be sure to read more about Animal

House product features and the special offer being presented to Houstonians on page 12 (and learn more about

other cool products too) !

In the March issue, we started a series on Canine Health based on the book, A Holistic Guide To A Healthy

Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, D.V.M. This month’s article highlights information on vaccines which has

become a controversial subject in the last few years. Another good read is Angela Smith’s advice on prepar-

ing to sell your home with pets living in the house. With a tight real estate market, making your home the most

presentable against the competition is key. Check out Angela’s 7 tips on page 10.

It’s officially Bluebonnet season so get out there with your pet and snap some good photos! Be sure to email

photos to us for our Spotted section ([email protected]) or submit photos and/or videos on our web

site at www.houstonpettalk.com.

Speaking of our web site, we are new and improved with our online “digs” so go check it out. After a few false

starts and lots of aggravation (as always seems to be the way with me and technology), our content driven site

is ready for visitors. All you need to do is register as a user and you can comment on articles, add photos and

much more. Be sure to enter our pet/owner look-alike contest and vote for Henrietta’s 2nd Annual Reader’s

Choice Awards!

Michelle MantorOn the Cover

Cover Photo:

Taz Faust along with Seymour

and Elvis Sabuco-Arnold enjoy

modeling in the Animal House,

an innovative product developed

right here in Houston by Dietz

Designs. As a testament to the

“lovability” of this product, we

couldn’t get the dogs to come

out!

Photography by Evin Thayer.

Special “High Paw” to Tina

Sabuco and Tena Faust for

providing such charming and

cooperative doggie models.

HOUSTON PETTALK MAGAZINE, LLC 14781 Memorial Drive, Ste. 510, Houston, Texas 77079 281-556-6560 www.HoustonPetTalk.com

Design and layout by: SPrOUTING CrEATIvE Andrew Burwell 713-471-3394 www.sproutingcreative.com

© Copyright 2008. Reproduction or use without written permission of articles, editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited. Houston PetTalk does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Houston PetTalk does not endorse any specific product or service contained herein; we do encourage you to support our advertisers whenever possible.

Tell our advertisers you heard about them in Houston PetTalk!

Contents The Scoop

Contents

Editorial

Henrietta

Spotted

Calendar

Features New Products

Hotel Derek

Health Ask the Vet

Grain-Free Diet

Vaccines

Living PetTalk Contest

Behavior Interview

Breed Profile

Marketplace

03

12

22

31

39

Houston PetTalk Magazine 03

The Scoop - Spotted + Henrietta

A s your “rover-ing”

reporter for all things

Houston, I realize that

in my last two columns I have

mainly bloviated about myself.

Not that moi isn’t an interesting

subject, but I have to remind my-

self to be fair and balanced…fair

is easy, balanced is a challenge

(especially after a glass or two of

Scratch & Sniff Cabernet).

I have much to report on

this issue..I’ve been quite busy

attending events, sampling prod-

ucts, traveling and writing my

new Blog which you MUST check

out at Houstonpettalk.com (Hint:

there is a hidden chance for a

great prize so dig it out!).

First, the events. I enjoyed liba-

tions and lively discussions at the

Houston Humane Society’s Wine

Tasting at SoVino. Sherry Fergu-

son, HHS Big Dog, pronounced

the fundraiser a success, mean-

ing more dogs and cats can

camp there!

On to the Pet Mixer at the

Houston Arboretum where I met

Murci (a pint-sized Chihuahua)

who owns Carla Valencia and

Alejandro Martinez, the husband-

wife duo be-hind OO2 Magazine.

Now, not that my mom doesn’t

rock (I have to say that because

she reads my column) but will

someone please tell me why all

of the tiny, prissy dogs have the

cute, over-indulging, totally cool

parents? Is there something in

the gene pool that makes hip

humans pick hip canines? Note

to self: Have my people call their

people to discuss.

Next, I was invited to par-

ticipate in the “My Paw Is Better

Than Your Paw” golf tournament

for Doggie Dads and Daughters

to raise money for a local shelter.

I don’t know what brainchild

thought up this idea…most of us

have no idea who our dads are

and let’s just say golfing is not a

sport where canines excel…but I

must say it’s a good thing we love

to fetch balls or there would have

been A LOT of golf balls needed

for this event!

One last thing to report on…I

took my first trip to Las Vegas.

Wow!! That place has more lights

than my country cousin Whinny

has fleas! It was love at first bite

with every morsel of food

at the elite Fluer De Lys

restaurant, the fountains

at the Bellagio rock and I

did my part to keep the Rum

Jungle in business…they even

named a new rum drink after me

– it’s called “Hallucinating Hound-

Dog”. You’ve got to try it! It makes

you think you’re break-dancing

when you’re actually doing the

bunny hop. And, one more cool

thing. We saw Criss Angel make

a Hummer disappear. I wonder

if he can do that to the cat next

door?

Henrietta on HoustonSpeaking her mind...

SpottedFor your pet to appear in Spotted,

please go to our website www.hous-

tonpettalk.com, to the spotted section,

and use the form to submit your pet.

Does your pet want to be a star? Each issue, PetTalk publishes photos sent in by readers or our

photographers capture fun pictures of people and their pets around Houston. Send us a photo or

perhaps you’ll get “spotted” by us!

Harley SonnyBreed: Orange TabbyProud Owner: Susan and Dan C.

TiaBreed: PoodleProud Owner: Marie O.

Breed: LabProud Owner: Amanda C.

MermaidBreed: CalicoProud Owner: Gwen B.

04 www.houstonpettalk.com


April 2008April 5Join the Houston Arboretum for

their 2nd “Party Animals” mixer

featuring a Doggie Fashion Show

from 3pm to 5pm . Prizes for best

dressed dog, food, drinks, vendors,

Ask The Vet and more! Members

$8, non-members $10. Lawn

chairs and blankets permitted.

Sponsored by 002 Magazine,

Houston PetTalk and other

vendors. houstonarboretum.org

April 5Visit the 4th Annual DoberFest

at George Bush Park hosted by

Doberman Rescue. For more info,

visit www.hadr.org.

April 12Noah’s Ark Sanctuary holds mobile

adoptions of dogs and cats each

Saturday at PetsMart, 25829 Hwy

290 from noon to 4pm.

April 12Pet Adventure Day in Deer Park at

Ms. Ella’s Dog Park, noon-4pm. Visit

www.deeparktx.gov for details.

April 13Grand Opening of Discovery Green

Park - Family Day - downtown

across from the George R. Brown

CAP’s Tour for Life pet adoptions

and costume contest; Plus puppet

shows, kites, model boat races,

organic urban market, music, silent

movie. Noon - 9pm. Info: lori@

discoverygreen.com.

April 19-20, 26-27IFest 2008, Downtown Houston.

This year’s theme is “Out Of Africa”.

Look for Greyhound Rescue under

a canopy in the “heart” of the

festival and adopt a beautiful

Greyhound!

April 20Canine massage workshop, Molly’s

Mutt House, 239 W. Gray, 9-5pm.

May 3Sunmart Animal Rescue Team

(SMART) will hold their 2nd Annual

Gala and Murder Mystery. Visit

www.smartpetz.com for details.

May 9 Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre

Company presents One Flea Spare

at the Midtown Arts Center, 3414

La Branch at Holman. benefiting

Homeless Pet Placement League.

Events

The Scoop - Calendar

Do You Have “Lofty” Ideas In Mind For Your Pet’s Care?

www.urbantails.cc

713-658-0900

We specialize in luxury loft boarding for urban dogs. Our cage free environment maximizes

exercise and play in an “at home’ atmosphere;

The fun never stops at Urban Tails with our newly opened indoor pool and playground for

daycare and boarding guests

Come see our progressive approach to pet care. Your pet will love our training, grooming,

daycare and boarding..and so will you!

1618 Webster Houston, TX 77003

The Scoop - Happenings

HHS NEUTErS 488 MALE CATS IN ONE DAYOn February 13th, the Houston Humane

Society Wellness Clinic, with help from all HHS

Staff and HHS Volunteers, neutered 488 male

cats at no charge. Houston citizens took a

proactive stance against pet overpopulation

in Houston by bringing in cats as early as 7:30

a.m. Neutering 488 cats will literally prevent

millions of kittens from being born and further

contributing to pet overpopulation and home-

lessness.

CAP rESCUE DOG A WINNErSkeeter, the Catahoula leopard dog rescued

by Louisiana’s Centenary College, is mak-

ing the grade as school mascot. When the

students heard their school was adopting a

mascot, they voted on their animal of choice

and the results were overwhelming - it had to

be their state dog.

So the search began and spread out to

shelters in surrounding states. Finally, Rick

DelaHaya, Centenary’s Director of Market-

ing and Communications, stumbled across

Skeeter’s photo on the website of Citizens

for Animal Protection in Houston, TX. “I was

hooked the moment I saw him,” says Rick, who

made the overnight trip to the shelter to meet

the two-year-old dog.

There was such a buzz around campus

about the winning mascot that college

officials decided to announce their winner

as soon as possible. By 8:00 P.M. the next

night, Skeeter was officially introduced to the

student body at halftime during the men’s

basketball game. College President Dr. Ken-

neth Schwab opened the winning envelope

and announced the new mascot to a cheering

gymnasium. “Skeeter handled the introduc-

tion like a champ,” says Rick. Visit www.aspca.

org for the “tail-end” of this story!

BAY ArEA SPCA ANNOUNCES NEW HOUrSNever wanting to turn away potential adopt-

ers, the Bay Area SPCA has announced ex-

tended hours of operations. Shelter workers

discovered through sign-in documentation

that adoptions were experiencing high traffic

at closing time, 5pm, on Mondays and Fridays.

The shelter will now be open Mondays and

Fridays from 11am until 6pm. Regular hours

of 11am until 5pm will continue for Tuesdays,

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

SAvING ANIMALS & FrIENDS OF BArC HOLD SUCCESSFUL ADOP-TION DrIvEA joint effort between Saving Animals and

Friends of BARC (Bureau of Animal Regulation

and Care) to organize a major adoption drive

over the Christmas holidays was a resounding

success. The group, along with 120 volun-

teers, was scheduled to occupy the retail

space in Highland Village that was previously

The GAP for three weeks in December but due

to the generosity of the Highland Village leas-

ing company, the group was allowed to stay

until February 23.

During this time, over 300 dogs and cats

were adopted. “We could not have accom-

plished such a large undertaking if it had not

been for our dedicated volunteers, many of

whom came at 5am to walk dogs and clean

cages and came back again at 10pm to do

the same”, says Tena Faust, a spokesperson

and volunteer for Saving Animals.

Not only did these volunteers make a major

impact, but the generosity of surrounding

retailers was also a great help. “Neighbors

such as Tootsies underwrote the Tootsies

Welcome Room where potential owners could

get acquainted with the animals; Valobra

donated a fabulous antique locket as a raffle

item; Michael Kemper donated a cut and blow

dry with every adoption and John Andrews

Pet Salon offered grooming and bathing

Happenings


Bone-A-Fide Winner


2nd Annual “Reader’s Choice” AwardsHenrietta’sC ast your vote! Yes...I

know. Anything to do

with voting right now

ranks about as high on your wish

list as licking stamps. After super

delegates, disenfranchised voters,

talk show pundits who spend three

hours a day talking about them-

selves, Red states VS. Blue states,

scandals, lying, cheating and the

condescending tone from all these

self-espoused-moral-snobs-who-

think-they-are-so-much-smarter-

than-you-types…well, let’s just say

it’s time for a break from all that

geopolitical babble and let’s focus

on the important stuff…pets!

Now, last year Houston pet

lovers voted in record numbers

for their favorite pet businesses

(I know because I went through a

whole bottle of Tylen-Paw count-

ing the votes!). I pride myself on

finding ways to jump over the

fence where it’s lowest so this year

I campaigned (sorry..I know you’re

cringing at that word too) for a

more efficient system. Yep…no

hanging chads at Houston PetTalk!

Just vote online and our web site

will count the votes. That rocks!

I can basically hang out at the

MadDog Tavern (you have to try

their new libation, The TailChaser….

my friend RatPack had several and

now he’s known on the block as

Dizzy Dean) and come home each

night to an up-to-date tally. My

kinda work day!

Ok…you know the drill. Go to

www.houstonpettalk.com/con-

tests and cast your vote. The

winners will be announced in our

Reliant World Series Of Dog Shows

Special Issue in July.

One last thing while I have the

“floor” that I’ve to get off my chest

….if one more pet related publica-

tion, TV show, web site or other

form of media uses “Sit.Stay.” in

their promo, I’m going to slit my

paw!

Here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for…The categories!

Back by popular demand and under the table bribes (just kid-

ding..you know I wouldn’t accept money for category creation

but an Éclair might do the trick) here are the voting categories

for 2008:

Best Dog Trainer

Best Boarding and/or Doggie Daycare

Best Pet Event

Best veterinary Clinic

Best Pet Friendly Hotel

Best Pet Friendly Living

Best Pet Friendly restaurant

Best Pet Artist or Photographer

Best Pet Ambassador

(A Houstonian that has made a major impact on improving pet

welfare in our city)




services to many dogs to prepare

them for viewing.

“The generosity of the volun-

teers and the media attention

we garnered was really incred-

ible”, notes Tena. Many volun-

teers used their own money to

provide veterinary care for some

animals and other good citizens

that couldn’t donate their time

dropped off snacks for the

workers. Houston, you should be

proud of this effort...thank you to

everyone that helped make this

adoption drive one of the most

successful ever!

HOUSTON ArBOrETUM HOSTING PET MIxErSThe first of three pet mixers

hosted by the Houston Arbore-

tum proved to be lots of fun and

there’s more to come. The series

of mixers for pets and their

people were planned for March,

April and May. The next event

will be help April 5 from 3 to 5

pm at the Arboretum, which is a

beautiful natural sanctuary just

on the edge of Memorial Park.

The events are sponsored

by OO2 Magazine as the major

sponsor providing food and

drinks; Houston PetTalk and

Urban Tails, along with several

other area businesses are also

sponsoring the event.

On April 5, come join the

fun for a costume contest and

Spring Doggie Fashion show. Dr.

Mark Silberman of Southwest

Animal Clinc will be on hand for

“Ask The Vet” questions and

Houston PetTalk will be snapping

photos for our next Unleashed

page in the May issue so don’t

let you pup miss the Pup-A-

Razzi!

LIvE OAK PET SErvICES OFFErS NEW KEEPSAKES FOr MEMOrIALIZING YOUr PETMost pet lovers know the ago-

nizing pain we experience when

our pets pass on. Having a little

part of your pet’s cremains next

to your heart is a special way to

celebrate their life.

Knowing that pet owners

appreciate a choice of prod-

ucts and services, Live Oak Pet

Services has added even more

jewelry, urns and other memen-

tos to their product offering.

One new product line by Madelyn

Company features pendant urns

in Gold and Silver. The designs

are tasteful and beautiful. Styles

include bone or paw shaped

pendants, hearts and much

more. The pendant line is espe-

cially unique in it’s ability to store

cremains, locks or hair or even

ceremonial dried flowers.

Live Oak Pet Services works

with many veterinarians in the

Houston area. If you have the

need for cremation services, you

can request your vet contact

Live Oak or you can call them

at 936.873.2564. View their

products and services at www.

liveoakpetservices.com.

DON’T MISS THE “DErEK DOG” COMPETITIONDon’t let your Haute Dog miss

the opportunity to become the

canine face of Hotel Derek!

The swank hotel is holding the

competition to select the lucky

dog on May 31 at the hotel

(610 Loop & Westheimer). $75

gets you in the door, delicious

food and wine and a portion of

the proceeds go to Citizen’s For

Animal Protection...and dog’s are

free! For more details, call CAP’s

event line at 281-497-9055.

Vendors will also be on hand

to display innovative products

and services...and, your pup will

receive a fabulous Doggie Bag...

see you on the run-way!

Happenings - Continued...


The Scoop - Unleashed

L et’s “PAW-TY” Houston! Canine

parties ruled supreme at Happy

Tails Dog Spa, 1315 Waugh

Drive. Check out the fun party pics….

Did these dogs seriously sit for these

photos? According to Happy Tails owner

Don Puryear, they not only sat for photo

ops, they had a ball (so to speak)!

Unleashed on HoustonPaw-ty Time!

Wild Wild Westie Party to “mark” Go Texan Day

Birthday Bash for Sadie & Sophie Rubinsky, along with their Jack Russell friends

Spike Puryear is ready to rumble at the Rodeo


P utting your home on the

market and preparing for

showings is stressful for

the average homeowner. It is even

more stressful on our pets be-

cause they do not understand the

changes in routine and they can

sense the stress their “parents”

are feeling.

Our pets are our children and

like human children, we need to be

sensitive to their needs while simul-

taneously maximizing the home’s

features to ensure a sale as quick

as possible for the highest amount

of money. The home is on an inter-

view and there is only one chance

to make a first impression. The

following are some tips my husband

and I learned when selling our home

and owning a dog and 2 cats:

1. Avoid any pet related scents.

The litter box should be cleaned

2-3 times a day to avoid odors and

remove pet waste to an outside

trash receptacle at least every

morning. This would be a good

time to invest in extra litter and

replace the litter 1-2 times per

week to avoid odor build up.

2. Use a mini broom and dust-

pan or handheld vacuum twice

daily to pick up any loose pet hair

or traces of litter.

3. If you have an extra bath-

room, make this the cat or dog’s

bathroom. Placing the litter box

in the tub behind a pristine white

shower curtain will leave a better

first impression than placing it

in the middle of the room. Make

certain food bowls and the area

around them on the floor and

counter are clean. How you care

for your best friend will reflect on

how you care for your greatest

financial asset.

4. Every morning and through-

out the day on weekends, gather

up all the toys and pet parapher-

nalia and place in a simple but

aesthetically pleasing basket. You

want the buyers to notice the

home and imagine living in it.

5. Taking your dog to doggy

daycare may help you and your pet

so you don’t worry about the barking

or how potential buyers will respond

to your nervous little buddy. The dog

will be concerned that strangers are

in the home and may distract the

buyer from seeing all of your home’s

great features. Sending your furry

friend to daycare during the work

Selling Your Home…When You Live with Furry Friends By: Angela Smith, Greenwood King Properties

Angela andBuzby Smith

832.476.4110 OFFICE

713.545.2450 [email protected]

gree

nwoo

dkin

g.co

mG

REEN

WOO

D KI

NG “Whether buying or selling a home, my priority

is to help all members of your family.”

The Scoop - Pet Tips


Pamper Your Petswith the Very Best!• Spacious Indoor Kennel and Cattery• Private Luxury Suites• 24-Hour Supervision• Obedience Training Classes and Private Lessons• Award-Winning Pet Groomers and Stylists• Doggie Daycare in Our Large Outdoor Parks

2 Locations To Serve Pet Owners in Houston and Katy Areas

P E T R E S O R T

Rover Oaks

ROVER OAKS HOUSTON2550 West Bellfort · Houston, TX 77054(2 blocks south of Loop 610 near Reliant Stadium)

713.662.2119

ROVER OAKS KATY1011 S. Katy-Fort Bend Rd. · Katy, TX 77494(2 blocks from Katy Mills Mall)

281.693.7687

www.roveroaks.com

Pet Talk 07 Ad-V2 2/13/07 4:47 PM Page 1

day will enable you to concentrate

on work and know your dog is safe

and happy.

6. Ask your real estate agent to

note in private agent remarks that

pets reside in the home. Also have

your agent add this note to your

showing instructions to be commu-

nicated to the buyer’s agent when

an appointment is scheduled.

7. Finally, type up a pleasant

note to be placed on your door let-

ting the agent and buyers know that

pets live in the home and ask them

to be careful when closing doors or

not to let the cat go outside.

Be prepared to practice these

steps even on weekends. Buyers and

their agents might be driving around

looking at other homes and call with

short notice to see your home.

If you have a second showing

scheduled, practice these steps with

extra diligence. A second showing

means the buyer is serious and

considering whether or not to make

an offer on your home. You want

the buyer to see and remember

the home more than they see or

remember your pets.

The home is on an interview and there is only one chance to make a first impression

Animal House Photo by Evin Thayer

What’sNew?Innovative Pet Products

By: Michelle Mantor

P roduct innovation in the

pet industry is at an all

time high. New ideas, so-

lutions and products are featured

in retail stores and online with

such frequency that consumers

are a bit overwhelmed. Which

food should I buy? Does this stain

remover really work? Which flea

control product is the best? Would

my dog actually wear doggles?

Houston PetTalk selected a

cross-section of new, innovative

pet products to showcase for this

issue. Of course, there are literally

thousands of products we could

have chosen, but we don’t have

that much space and you probably

don’t have that much attention

span for the subject. So, we’ve

selected a few that we think are

worthy of our reader’s time and

several of the products were

invented by Houstonians!

Animal House, Inc.Animal House, Inc. was concep-

tualized by Dan Dietz (a native

Houstonian) of Dietz Designs

in response to a lack of attrac-

tive, quality-made, comfortable

pet crates. Most products in

this category are made of wire

or plastic and are not compli-

mentary to home interiors. As

an accomplished inventor with

many products and patents under

his belt, Dan set out to create a

beautiful piece of furniture that

anyone would be happy to display

in their home and something the

pets would love and make them

feel part of the family.

“I was tired of hiding the old

plastic crates every time we had

visitors” laughs Dan. After 14

patents and numerous design

iterations, he has finally delivered a

best-in-class product. The Animal

House™ product line also has

several well thought-out amenities

to make it more durable, safe and

sanitary.

First, the Animal House™ is

available in a variety of sizes (small,

medium and large) and finishes

including medium cherry, dark

cherry or white. The wire-mesh

windows and sliding front gate are

brass powder-coated to prevent

tarnish and hydraulic dampening

hinges are employed to prevent

the lid from slamming shut. Animal

House™ may be used for crating,

or the sliding front gate can be

removed and stored in the back of

the unit so that your pet can use

the space as a “den” or bed. If used

for crating, the two-piece plastic

catch pan and chew-resistant

polypropylene floor grating can

be easily removed for cleaning

accidents.

Also included with each Animal

House™ are two comfortable, du-

rable memory foam cushions, one

for the top of the unit and one for

inside. Additional add-ons to the

base unit include a carpet covered

ramp, coordinating stairs in four

or five step sizes and an ionic air

purification system designed to

control odor that does not require

filter changes.

One of the most impressive fea-

tures of the Animal House™ is the

construction quality and attention

to every de-“tail”.

This product is not

a pet crate, it’s an

impressive piece

of multi-functional

furniture. You can

actually sit on the

top or use the inside for storage.

When placed at a window sill,

pets who love to be “high” on top

of something (usually your sofa!)

and look out the window enjoy the

comfortable, soft place on top of

Animal House™ where they can

squirrel watch the day away.

As a testament to how impres-

sive this new product is, Animal

House™ appeared on the CBS

Early Morning Show last January

as one of the top ten new pet

products and has been featured in

Hollywood Dog Magazine, Pet Elite

and Modern Dog Magazine. Dan

notes, “The public reception of this

product has been overwhelming

which underscores the fact that a

high-end, furniture quality solution

was desired by pet owners who

want to give their pet a special


““

place in the home”.

From Hollywood elite to breed-

ers and style conscious pet

owners, the first production run of

Animal House™ has disappeared

rapidly from the warehouse. As

an example, Barbara Adcock, a

breeder of the rare dog breed

Coton de Tulear, recently shared

her love of Animal House™ with a

new puppy buyer. As noted in the

photo, the Animal House™ is being

placed on a private jet that was

flown to Houston to pick up a new

puppy and an Animal House™. Now

that is going to be one privileged

pup! “When I first saw the beautiful

design and functionality of this

product, I knew it was perfect for

my home as well as my clients”,

says Barbara.

Now, here is the really cool part

for Houstonians; Dietz Designs

is offering special pricing to

Houston customers only. You

can purchase an Animal House™

at the wholesale price which is

minus 25% from the current retail

price. This special pricing is offered

as part of a “control group” study

to provide feedback on the Animal

House™ and its accessories in

advance of phase II production.

Pet owners that participate in the

study need to provide a digital

photo of their pet interacting with

the Animal House™ as well as a

written paragraph of the pet’s

experience with the product. If you

are interested in being part of the

control group and taking advan-

tage of this limited offer, visit

www.animalhouseinc.com

For full current retail pricing,

click on retail customer after

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to wholesale pricing, click on retail-

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tion, call 281-879-6835.

Animal House™ TestimonialsWhen Co-Co, our newest cocker spaniel came to live with us, I was thrilled

to have the animal house. Not only is it a beautiful piece of furniture to

match the decor of my home, but Co-Co has lived in luxury in this great

alternative to a hard, unattractive crate. She loves her “house” and we

love it too!

Ron and Stephanie AndriottoParadise, Texas

My two Westies, Wexford and Sofia, love their new animal house! Wexford

chose his spot on the higher level and Sofia cozies into her new den on

the bottom. Everything is constructed with such quality and style. The

bedding is so soft and comfortable. We keep the animal house in our

home office, where we spend a large part of our evenings. Rather than

pawing to come up on our laps, Wex and Sofia relax in their own comfort-

able space now. Thank you again from all of us!

Sincerely,

Gina, Wexford and SofiaDobbs Ferry, NY

Coton De Tulear puppy and a new Animal House make their way on a

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Animal House shown with amenities: Stairs, Filter System and ramp


HedzUPpets

PawPads

S ummer is almost here and

that means pool time!

However, swimming pools

have resulted in the drownings of 1

in every 1027 pets in the U.S. Such

alarming statistics has brought

about many new water safety

products.

One innovation in the safety

product category that really

stands out is the HedzUPpets wa-

tercollar. This lightweight, easy to

use collar helps your pet keep their

head above water even after they

have become fatigued and can no

longer swim.

Lynne Peters (another Housto-

nian!), invented the collar based on

frightening experiences with her

own Jack Russell, Katie. “My hus-

band and I were fortunate enough

to be nearby when Katie fell into

our pool on several occasions.

Each time, although we had tried

to teach her where the stairs were

located, she would swim back to

where she fell in thinking she was

swimming to safety. She had no

chance of getting out and we were

thankful we were there to save

her”, says Lynne.

Many pet owners are convinced

their pet can swim to the stairs to

get out of the pool. Even if your

pet has been capable of this in

the past, when panic strikes, many

pets will not follow their past be-

havior, especially if they have fallen

in by accident or it’s dark outside

and visibility is minimal.

HedzUPpet watercollars are

available in multiple sizes and the

velcro-type fastener makes for

easy-on, easy-off. Currently, they

are available in two styles but

Lynne promises that more are on

the way! Keep your pet safe and

order one today at

www.hedzuppets.com.

S lipping and sliding on

hardwood floors or tile

can be hazardous to

our pets. I know that my geriatric

Briard, who has arthritic hips, has

trouble maneuvering and keeping

traction on my hardwoods. Now

there is a solution, Paw-Pads!

Designed to provide traction on

slippery surfaces without impeding

a dog’s natural movement, Paw-

Pads are a great product for older

dogs with hip dysplasia or those re-

covering from hip or back surgery.

The Slip-Not material is a

textured ultra thin neoprene fabric

that provides excellent traction.

Best of all, Paw-Pads are breath-

able and water and chemical resis-

tant so they stay put. Since they’re

made from non-toxic, hypoal-

lergenic, medical grade adhesive,

they’re also safe. Purchase Paw-

Pads online at www.SmartPakCa-

nine.com or at 1-800-326-0282

for $19.95 per package.


W ant to indulge your new pup or give a congratulatory gift

to someone with a new bundle of joy? Why not get them a

“PuppyCake” complete with training pads, plush and squeaky

toys, rope, or a variety of chew toys, rawhides, treats & more! They come in

one-tier, and two -tier cakes ranging in price from $40 and up.

I love this product..I’ve already sent two as new puppy gifts to friends

and it was a definite tail-wagger! This product is fun, colorful, innovative

and useful. L.A. BabyCakes are also available for two-legged arrivals and

many other themes. To learn more, go to their web site at

www.la-babycakes.com

L.A. BabyCakes


A re you tired of dealing

with kitty litter? Wouldn’t

it be great if your cat

would just use the potty? With the

LITTER KWITTER® Cat Toilet Train-

ing System, cats can be trained

to use the regular household

toilet. This is a seriously cool new

product!

Cat owner Jo Lapidge got the

idea for LITTER KWITTER® after

watching a cat use the toilet in the

film Meet the Parents. She decided

to try teaching her cat Doogie to

do the same and says that it was

actually easier than potty training

her son.

The training was developed with

animal behaviorists, cat breeders &

vets and is a simple 3-step system

that uses the patented LITTER

KWITTER® device, which fits all

standard toilets.

Training using positive reinforce-

ment has long been the accepted

way to train dogs and now cats are

getting in on the action. By reward-

ing your cat with something tasty

when they use the toilet they will

be more likely to repeat the action

next time they need to go.

LITTER KWITTER® comes with

a special white seat that fits all

standard toilets, three color-coded

training discs, a comprehensive

instruction booklet and a 30-minute

training DVD.

Cats like to hide the smell of

their waste from predators, which

is why they bury it in litter. But after

digging with their paws they track

the residue throughout the home,

on countertops, beds & carpets.

Once they experience the toilet

with the smell disappearing into

the water they are satisfied, and

because their paws never come

into contact with the waste, it’s

more hygienic.

The LITTER KWITTER® has been

seen on NBC, Fox News, CBS, CNN

and the Wildlife channel and is

available at PetDiscounters.com.

F inally a product to make

pet hair removal easier! I

can’t tell you how many

lint rollers I go through and when

you’re lint rolling an entire sofa,

that can be time consuming and

costly. StickySheets is a new

product that makes sense for pet

hair removal.

Colorado musician and entrepre-

neur Wen Boley was inspired to

create StickySheets because of

his own battle with pet hair in a

used car he had just bought for

his son. Boley’s “aha” moment was

when he envisioned the ideal tool

for the task: “a giant piece of tape

that would get all the hair off a

chair at once.”

StickySheets have a powerful

but easy-to-use adhesive backing

that quickly removes pet hair and

lint from sofas, chairs, automobile

interiors, stairs and other areas

where pet hair is a problem. Each

StickySheet measures almost 2

feet by 3 feet, ensuring that big

cleanup jobs are quick and easy!

StickySheets are available at

select Petco stores, hundreds of

independent pet stores across the

country and at stickysheets.com.

Litter Kwitter

StickySheets



Hotel Derek rolls out tHe Welcome mAt….to tHe Dogs!By: Michelle Mantor Photography by: Evin Thayer Studios

08 Project Derek Dog enter Your Dog to Win!WHAt: Derek Dog Contest (to represent Hotel Derek in ads regarding their pet friendly program) benefiting Citizens For Animal Protection

WHeN: May 31, 11am, Hotel Ballroom

WHere: Hotel Derek, 2525 W. Loop S. at Westheimer

cost: $75 Per Person, 4-Leggers are free! Wine reception, lunch and Doggie bags provided to first 200 registrants

How: register at www.cap4pets.org

Swank, sleek, private and quaint…it’s the hippest hotel in Hous-

ton. Hotel Derek not only ranks among the top Houston hotels

in the “cool factor” category, but it also gets major kudos for

its pet friendly environment. Houston PetTalk is pleased to unveil one

of the best kept secrets in the city….Hotel Derek not only “allows” pets,

but encourages them as guests.

Formerly a Sheraton and Red Lion Hotel, this super-convenient

property located at the corner of 610 Loop and Westheimer was

purchased six years ago and christened Hotel Derek. After a renovation

that outfitted the hotel with a contemporary design, elegant yet simple

furnishings and a decidedly upscale ambiance, the hotel has become

a major success. From the many superstars that grace the hotel (Faith

Hill and Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Cher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Andy Rod-

dick, etc.) to business travelers and beyond, the boutique nature of the

property appeals to many.

The hotel has always had a pet-friendly policy but the new manage-

ment team led by Hans Schmitt (proud owner of 2 dogs, 2 rescued

cats, 2 horses and a fish) has stepped up to create more pet ameni-

ties and promote four-legged guests. “I’m a true pet person and when

I moved here to take on the role as General Manager, I was pleasantly

surprised to find that almost the entire staff of the hotel has a pet. In

my 20+ years in the hospitality industry, I’ve never had that happen”

says Hans.

How does such a pet-centric crew affect the hotel’s daily routine?

Hans notes that “because many of the employees are also pet owners,

their love and appreciation of pets shows through to our guests. The

employees are happy to greet the animals, play with them, clean up the

occasional accident and so forth”.

To further promote their “pets are welcome” program, Hotel Derek

has announced they are seeking just the right doggie to become the

Derek Dog. The lucky canine will be chosen May 31 (see inset) and will

represent the hotel for one year at special events and will be included

Kani Minton with Maple; Niki Nanavati and Hans Schmitt with Oliver; Tracey Fentem with Boo; ryann Woods with Bijou; Hillary Smith with Dippy


in any marketing materials pro-

duced that are specific to their pet

program. The first event appear-

ance for the winning pooch will

be the following week at Citizens

For Animal Protection’s Annual Mr.

Magoo’s Paws For Style Fashion

Show at the Hilton Americas where

the newly crowned Derek Dog will

walk the runway.

The idea of the Derek Dog was

the brainchild of Tracey Fentem,

Director of Sales and Marketing

at Hotel Derek. Tracey notes, “The

08 Project Derek Dog is going to

be lots of fun and it will give us a

chance to let the community know

that we welcome pets as guests

and they will get the same royal

treatment as their owners”.

If you would like your pooch to

strut the runway and compete for

the prestigious title of Derek Dog,

the competition will take place at

the hotel on Saturday, May 31 at

11am. The cost is $75 per person

while four-leggers are free! Guests

will receive a wine reception, lunch

and a doggie bag filled with prod-

ucts and coupons from area pet

retailers. A portion of the proceeds

will go to Citizen’s For Animal Pro-

tection who is co-sponsoring the

event. Several vendors will also be

on hand to promote their products

including Animal House, Inc., L.A.

Baby Cakes and Rover Oaks.

So you’ve decided to take a

weekend, along with your pets,

and have a relaxing stay at Hotel

Derek. Perhaps you’ll shop at the

Galleria, stroll Memorial Park, visit

the Houston Zoo or simply chill out

by the pool. What can your pooch

expect from this exciting experi-

ence?

First, your pet will receive a

welcome doggie bag filled with

toys, treats, waste pick-up bags,

pooch pads, fragrance and a copy

of Fido Friendly and Houston Pet-

Talk. Upon arrival at your “posh

pad”, your furry friend will be all set

with their own bed and food bowl.

After the prerequisite sniffing,

casing the joint and rolling on the

bed, your canine will realize they

have hit the jackpot when you

order room service just for him or

her. Choose between Buddy’s Free

Range Chicken, Seared Chicken Liv-

ers or Chef Hugo’s Lamb Essence

Dog Biscuits.

Are you starting to get the

mental image of your dog refusing

to go home? Yes, spoiled is the

word for how your pet will feel

but we all deserve some spoiling

sometime! As a special promotion

for pet owners (cats are welcome

too!), Hotel Derek has announced

a new package, “Dog Days of

Summer” which “en-tails” a Deluxe

room, daily breakfast, free parking

and a special in-room dog amenity.

So why put off fun any longer?

Fall in love with Houston all over

again. Grab your “honey”, the kids,

the pets and the whole crew and

head to Hotel Derek. No airport

hassle, no long hours in the car, no

expensive gas bill….just pure fun,

convenience and pleasure. There’s

no doubt both you and your dog

will “dig” it!

Hans Schmitt, General Manager of Hotel Derek, enjoys a moment with his employee’s dogs

Gift Bag provided to your pooch

upon check-in


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Lone Star Pet Lodges3207 Williamsburg LaneMissouri City, TX 77459

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Rover Oaks Pet Resort 11011S Katy Ft. Bend Rd, Katy

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Job Pops 2 Pet Grooming(281) 597-1499

13984 WestheimerHouston, TX 77077

Natural Pawz(281) 362-7299

6700 Woodlands Pkwy.The Woodlands, TX 77382

Auburn Kennels(713) 465-6425

1551 Campbell Rd.Houston, TX 77055

Veterans Memorial Drive Animal Hospital(281) 440-4441

12315 Veterans Memorial Houston , TX 77014

Carlisle’s Salon & Suites(713) 521-2273

2517 South Blvd.Houston, TX 77098

Cooper Animal Clinic(713) 861-1155

1136 Heights Blvd.Houston, TX 77008

Pet Stop(713) 266-5869

6401 Woodway Dr #163Houston, TX 77057

Briarcrest Veterinary Clinic

1492 Wilcrest DriveHouston, TX 77042

(281) 789-8320

Urban Tails(713) 658-0900

1618 Webster StreetHouston, TX 77003

Bellecreek Sports Dog Center4520 County Rd 64, Rosharon, TX 77583

www.bellecreeksports.com281-431-5060

Carter’s Pet Depot(832) 358-1600

9333 Katy FreewayHouston, Texas 77024

Wabash Antiques & Feed(713) 863-8322

5701 Washington AveHouston, TX 77007

Parkland Kennel(281) 342-0852615 Pitts Road

Richmond, TX 77469


Ask the VetWhat is MRSA and how does it affect my pet?

By Mark Silberman, D.V.M. Southwest Animal Clinic

M ethicillin-resistant

Staphyloccus aureus

(MRSA) has been

termed by the press as a “super-

bug”. Over time it has developed

a resistance to several types of

common antibiotics and concerns

are being addressed by the medi-

cal community, both human and

veterinarian.

Where does MrSA come from?

MRSA is a major nosocomial

(infection acquired from hospitals)

pathogen in human hospitals and

extended-care facilities. Lately, it

has become a serious infectious

pathogen in our pets.

S. aureus is commonly found

on the skin on people and it is

estimated that about 2.6% of

Americans carry MRSA on their skin

or in their nasal passages. More

than 94,000 people in the US are

infected with MRSA each year and

19,000 die.

MRSA can also colonize in the

noses of our dogs and have been

found on pigs and horses as well.

How did MrSA become

resistant?

MRSA has acquired the mecA gene

which binds penicillin and keeps

the antibiotics from interfering

with cell wall synthesis. Indiscrimi-

nate antibiotic use and the misuse

of antibiotics have been implicated

in the rise of MRSA worldwide.

How is this bacteria transmit-

ted? Who is susceptible?

Studies have shown that up to

30% of people have S. aureus in

their nose at any point in time.

Hands are a major source of trans-

mission. Consequently, hospitals

have installed “Purell” hand wash-

ing stations in multiple and easily

accessible areas.

MRSA infections have been

reported in animals since the

mid-1990s but were considered

uncommon in domestic pets and

rarely caused disease. S. aureus

is not a commensal organism of

dogs and cats and is considered a

transient pathogen acquired from

its host, humans. In other words,

studies to date indicate that MRSA

is transmitted from human to

pet because Methicillin-resistant

S.aureus strains are not a part of

the normal colonizing flora of dogs

Health - Infections


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Health - Infections

and cats although research con-

tinues to determine if, over time,

it is becoming part of the normal

nasal flora of pets. This infection

is most frequently cultured from

canine wounds, abscesses and

chronic pyodermas.

So how serious is MSrA?

It is being treated as “increas-

ingly important” by medical and

veterinary institutions. In 30 years,

the percentage of staph infec-

tions that are MRSA has increased

from 2% to more than 63%. Early

data shows that MRSA may be a

problem in our pets. Veterinary

surgeons have reported post

operative infections of MRSA as-

sociated with dogs that have had

limbs amputated

Can it still be killed?

Yes. There are antibiotics available

that can kill MSRA. However, the

choices are limited. Some of these

antibiotics can be very expensive

and produce side effects. Others are

still effective but in a limited fashion.

Below is a list of antibiotics that

are available:

Chloramphenicol: remains

the only excellent drug of

choice in Methicillin-resistant

staphylococcal infections

with a 95% chance of killing

the bacteria, according to Dr.

David Aucoin a board certi-

fied clinical pharmacologist.

Bactrim: better than 55%

effectiveness

Clindamycin: Less than 50%

effective.

Levaquin: Less than 50%

vancomycin: 95% effective

but has several disadvantag-

es. Can be toxic to kidneys.

Must be administered intra-

venously very slowly. $$

Linesolid: 95% effective

but very expensive. Approx.

$100 / day for 10 – 14 days.

Ask the Vet, continued from page 22

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Wild Idea For Pet FoodIs Grain-Free Right For Your Pet?

A s Americans strive to

eat a healthier diet, they

don’t plan on leaving

their dogs in the “doghouse”.

One feeding philosophy that is

growing in popularity is one that

emphasizes a higher protein, grain-

free diet similar to what a cat or

dog might eat in the wild. As one

of many choices, this feeding ap-

proach can have numerous health

benefits if done thoughtfully.

Choosing a healthy diet is a

balancing act. Adding more meat

in pursuit of higher protein content

can also mean too much fat, calo-

ries and minerals which can cause

health problems, such as weight

gain or even obesity. Be sure to

analyze your brand to make sure

the food manufacturer has taken

that balance into account.

According to a spokesperson

for Wellness® Natural Food For

Pets that recently launched a

new product line for cats and

dogs called CORE™, which is a

grain-free, protein-enriched diet,

notes that Wellness® took into

account these factors when

developing their food to ensure it

has balanced levels of minerals to

promote a healthy urinary tract.

If you have a large breed dog,

puppy or a dog with a special

condition, it’s important to know

that many of the grain-free foods

available with higher protein, fat,

calcium and phosphorous may not

be appropriate for your pet. Too

much calcium can be detrimental

to large breed puppy bone health,

too much fat can be detrimental

to older pets and so forth. Consult

your veterinarian regarding recom-

mended levels of nutrients for your

specific situation.

As an example of a quality

grain-free food for dogs, CORE™,

contains glucosamine and chron-

droitin to promote bone and joint

health, plus nutrient-rich greens

and botanicals such as kale, broc-

coli, spinach and parsley. CORE™

for cats contains Omega 3 fatty

acids like those found in flaxseed

and salmon oil for feline skin and

coat health.

No matter what food you

choose, the key is to look for qual-

ity ingredients that are balanced

in nutrients and minerals for that

particular species’ nutritional

requirements.

Health - Diet


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Health - Canine Vaccines

I n the March issue, we began

a series of articles on natural

canine health where we

highlighted the topic of diet; in this

issue, we focus on vaccines and

the controversy surrounding them.

Stay tuned for alternative thera-

pies in the May issue. The book,

Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by

Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown,

D.V.M. provided the information for

the article.

For most pet owners, pet vac-

cinations are routine. We follow the

protocol advised by our veterinari-

an and don’t give the subject much

thought. However, the topic of

vaccines has raised more contro-

versy in the last several years than

any other subject. The contention

has primarily played in the circles

of veterinarians, homeopathic

practitioners, breeders and the like

but more and more pet owners are

interested in the subject.

As information on vaccines and the

possible dangers have been given

more credence, the subject has

also become of interest to the av-

erage pet owner. For the purposes

of this article, we will only discuss

canine vaccinations but the same

controversy is prevalent in the

feline world as well.

Many veterinarians are being asked

about the safety and necessity

of vaccinations. Are too many

vaccines given at one time? Do

they do more harm than good? Do

we need to vaccinate for as many

diseases as we do?

Over the last 20 years, there has

been a dramatic increase in the

number of vaccines given at one

time as well as the types and

frequency of vaccines. Some pets

have immediate reactions to vac-

cines while others fear a long-term

effect.

What Should We vaccinate Against?To protect our dogs from disease,

vaccines are administered to trig-

ger the immune system to develop

antibodies against that disease.

Below are several deadly diseases

that are part of the “core vaccina-

tions” that with proper protocol,

immunity can be established

safely. Not following protocol for

this group of vaccines is consid-

ered by many to be playing Russian

Roulette with your dog’s life.

rabies vaccine is required by law

and therefore is a “given”. Rabies

is a viral disease that is deadly and

can be transmitted to humans and

so it is a very serious health con-

cern. In Texas, state law requires

that dogs and cats be vaccinated

against rabies by 4 months of

age and on a 1-year or 3-year

basis thereafter depending on

the vaccine used. However, dogs

and cats must receive a second

rabies vaccination within one year

of receiving their first vaccination,

regardless of the type of vaccine

used or the age at which the ani-

mal was initially vaccinated.

Distemper is a highly contagious

viral disease that affects the

respiratory and nervous systems.

It starts with a fever and thick,

greenish yellow nasal and eye dis-

charge. Owners sometimes think

their dog has a “cold” but dogs

don’t get colds like people do. The

survival rate is very poor and those

that do survive are often left with

multiple health problems.

Parvo is another highly conta-

gious viral disease that affects

the gastrointestinal system and is

often fatal in puppies and geriatric

dogs. Symptoms include vomiting,

Canine Health Series, Article 2Holistic and Natural - Vaccination Protocol

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bloody diarrhea and high fever.

Infectious canine Hepatitis

is caused by an adenovirus and

is most common in puppies. The

disease can result in death within

hours of becoming infected.

Reactions to these vaccines are

rare but do happen. Approximately

1 in 15,000 vaccines result in a

serious reaction. Other vaccines

are noted for causing more severe

reactions than the core vaccines

including leptospirosis, lyme and

microsporum.

How Often Should We vaccinate?The frequency of vaccines is part

of the controversy surrounding

“vaccinosis”, the general name

given to chronic disease caused by

vaccinations. The difficult part of

this argument is that the process

of challenging the pet’s immune

system to determine adequate

immunity is not a simple process

and can be costly. Only challenge

studies can tell us more about

immunity levels and duration and

those studies have only begun in

recent years. Currently, the USDA

requirement for vaccine producers

is to prove a duration of immunity

of one year and

rabies

for three

years.

How Many vaccines Should Be Given?There are varying protocols regard-

ing vaccines and one such protocol

uses 62 vaccines by the time a

puppy is 6 months old. Many would

argue that this is an all out assault

on the puppy’s immune system.

Too many vaccines at one time do

not allow the immune system to

respond fully and can cause severe

reactions.

Research shows the body needs at

least two, preferably three weeks

between vaccine challenges to

recover. To allow for such recovery,

many veterinarians recommend

giving only the core vaccinations,

plus vaccines that are mandated

by your location and particular

circumstance. For instance,

Lyme disease vaccines might

only be given to dogs that are

likely to come into contact with

ticks. However, this can be tricky

because ticks are now being

found in urban areas, most likely

being brought in by landscaping

materials. Examples of other

questionable vaccines would

be Bordatella (not needed

unless your dog is boarded or

around a congregation of dogs)

or Corona, a disease that most

healthy dogs can handle without

vaccination.

Final AnalysisHere is a recommendation for

vaccine protocol as found in the

Holistic Guide For A Healthy Dog:

1. Decrease the frequency of

vaccinations. Initial vaccinations

should be three weeks apart. After

initial boosters, consider vaccinat-

ing every three years (titering is

an option; for more information,

discuss with your veterinarian).

2. Separate vaccines and give only

one vaccine at a time.

3. Give only core vaccines and

then give non-core vaccines only if

indicated in your area or circum-

stance.

4. Do not vac-

cinate when

your pet is

stressed, ill, a female in heat, or

a dog that is recovering from or

about to have sugery.

A Homeopathic remedy For vaccine reactions If your dog has had an adverse

response to vaccines, a homeo-

pathic remedy called Thuja, can

negate that reaction. Use in the

39cpotency with the following

schedule:

• One vaccine, 1 dose of Thuja

• Three in one vaccine, 1 dose of

Thuja once a day for three days

in the p.m.

• Five in one vaccine, 1 dose of

Thuja, once a day for five days

Health - Canine Vaccines



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W e’ve all heard the

saying that pet

owners look like

their pets. After giving that some

thought and studying people and

their pets as I’m out and about, I

must say there is something to it.

Take me for instance. I have three

dogs, all of whom have blonde

shaggy hair and so do I. Now, if

you have a Mastiff, let’s hope the

adage doesn’t hold true.

To properly test the theory,

we at Houston PetTalk decided

it would be fitting to have a pet/

owner look alike contest. It doesn’t

matter what species you have,

just take a digital photo of you and

your pet, then go to our web site,

www.houstonpettalk.com and

register as a user. Once registered,

go to our Contest page and follow

the instructions.

The deadline for entries is April

30, 2008. The winning “team” will

get their photo published in an up-

coming issue of Houston PetTalk

as well as our web site and will be

featured on a local TV show! Plus,

that’s not all. The lucky winner will

receive their choice of an IPOD

Shuffle or Dinner For Two at

Ouisie’s Table restaurant, $150

gift certificate to Southwest

Animal Clinic and a certificate

for boarding at one of our elite

Pet Resorts in Houston!

While you are visiting our web

site, be sure to check out all of the

other cool stuff! Articles, archived

issues, resource lists including

important phone numbers and dog

park locations, cast your vote for

our informal poll regarding pets on

restaurant patios and much more.

Once registered, you can also

add photos to our gallery, list

events on our calendar or com-

ment on articles. We truly want this

site to be a community resource so

we need your input.

Ok...send in those photos and be

creative...our judges love that! Who

are the judges? Several Houston

celebrities are ready and waiting

including Deborah Duncan (the

new host of Good Day Houston!),

Hershey Grace (CAP Events

Director), Evin Thayer (famed

photographer) and Bruce Padilla

(Regional Director for Baccarat

Crystal and Co-Chair of Mr. Magoo’s

Paws For Style event).

Let the judging begin!

PetTalk ContestDo You Look Like Your Pet?

Living - Fun Stuff



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Living With Pets - Training

Dog TalkAn Interview With Tonia Whilden, Houston Dog Ranch

T he more dog owners can learn about

training and socializing their pet to

reduce behavior issues, the less

number of dogs will be turned into shelters. For

that reason, Houston PetTalk highlights training

information on a regular basis. We recently sat

down with Tonia Whilden, Owner of Houston

Dog Ranch, an impressive new pet resort in

Spring Branch replete with a bone shaped pool.

Tonia’s background includes 10 years experi-

ence in companion dog training, obedience,

agility and search & rescue. She attended

Triple Crown Academy For Dog Training, she is a

member of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Train-

ers) and the IACP (International Association of

Canine Professionals.

HPT: Many people have “training issues”

with their pet such as pulling on leash, not

coming when called, food aggression and

so forth. However, these are symptoms of

the problem. What would you say are some

of the main underlying reasons for training

issues with dogs?

Tonia: Most problems are a result of incon-

sistency at home, inadvertent reinforcement of

undesired behaviors, lack of understanding of

the canine species, lack of exercise, and lack of

dedicated training.

HPT: What advice would you offer a pet

owner that is contemplating getting a

puppy that would help them start out on the

right “training” foot?

Tonia: It’s so important not to bring a puppy

home before 8 weeks of age. Breeders allow

and sometimes encourage owners to do so,

but it is not in the best interest of the puppy.

A puppy needs to stay in the litter so he can

learn to accept discipline from the mother, pack

hierarchy, bite inhibition and how to play and

relate to littermates. Many social and emo-

tional problems have been linked to removing a

puppy from the litter too soon. Some problems

I deal with as a result are excessive jumping,

severe nipping, difficulties house training, and

separation anxiety.

HPT: Why is socialization so important to

training and why do the experts say that

between the ages of 9 to 13 weeks is so

critical for socializing puppies?

Tonia: The first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life are

by far the most important of his life. His basic

temperament, feelings about other dogs and

humans, and response to fears are all devel-

oped during this time. Socialization should

start the moment you bring a pup home and

continue the rest of his life. Experts believe

that between 9 and 13 weeks is when puppies

are able to learn about the world and accept

new experiences. At this point a puppy has no

frame of reference so what you show him is

how he views the world. If he has positive expe-

riences with the people, dogs, and situations he

comes in contact with, he is apt to view those

things positively when he encounters them in

the future.

HPT: If lack of socialization is the basis

for behavior problems with an older dog,

how do you approach behavior modification

in that situation given that you cannot go

back in time?

Tonia: Once that period is gone we have to

look to the present. Even very serious behavior

problems can be overcome. Depending on

the problem, behavior modification can take

a long time and can be very stressful for both

the owner and the dog. Really, you have to go

back to the basics. You start slow and try to

string together as many positive experiences

with the stimulus that is triggering stress in the

dog. Generally, we start with the stimulus in

visual sight, but far enough away not to trigger

stress. The goal is to change the way the body

and brain reacts to the stimulus. Eventually,

reconditioning the voluntary and involuntary

reflexes and reshaping those responses so the

dog looks forward to the stimulus.

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BF510_Houston_Pet_Talk 3/8/07 9:34 AM Page 1

Living With Pets - Training

HPT: Do you find that a

lot of people have unrealistic

expectations for training and

want a “quick fix” to their dog’s

problems?

Tonia: I always prefer that own-

ers train their own dogs. It helps

build a bond, helps the owner learn

the intricacies of how their dog

learns, and enhances commu-

nication between the two. I tell

everyone the same thing. You get

out of it what you put into it. For

basic training, I suggest for the

first six months of training that

owners train a minimum of 30

minutes per day. We meet more

frequently in the beginning, then

only when I’m needed. Once per

week for two weeks is typical, then

every other week and so on. The

cost of training can vary depend-

ing on how adept and dedicated

the client is. Owners can expect to

pay from $300 to $1500 for basic

training depending on the trainer

you work with and the type of

training program that works best

for you and your dog.

HPT: In recent years, there

has been much more atten-

tion paid to canine nutrition as

evidenced by the plethora of

new premium foods and raw diet

protocols. Does nutrition play

a role in causing or exacerbat-

ing training issues? Has the pet

community learned anything

new in this regard in the last few

years?

Tonia: Nutrition and general

health are hugely important to the

behavior of dogs. There is a direct

observable link between poor

nutrition and behavior problems,

not to mention skin, coat and

health problems. Have you ever

seen a child on a sugar high? Do

you want to spend the afternoon

with that child? Now imagine your

dog on a permanent sugar high.

If you feed your dog a food full of

preservatives and fillers you are

essentially feeding them junk food.

They don’t get what their brain or

body needs to function normally.

My advice is to buy dog food at

independently owned pet stores

rather than grocery stores. Staff

at these types of stores tend to

have more knowledge about nutri-

tion and can help you find a food

that is right for your dog. You may

pay more per bag, but it’s worth it.

HPT: What’s the number one

piece of advice you would give a

new puppy owner?

Tonia: Socialize your puppy right

away. Get your puppy out into the

world. Be smart and be safe. Don’t

put your puppy in an uncomfort-

able situation. Don’t force, but

don’t coddle. Use balance and

common sense in every thing you

do with your puppy. Be fair, but

firm. Set boundaries and rules, but

have fun. Exercise and good nutri-

tion are important.

An Interview With Tonia Whilden, Continued From Page 34

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Living - Breeds

M eet “Butch” Stevens - he

is a rambunctious boy

owned by local Houston

canine nutrition expert, Reagan Ste-

vens. Doesn’t Butch look healthy?

Of course, he eats awesome food

and it shows. His favorite pasttime is

stealing his dad’s towel while he’s in

the shower...very funny Butch!

Houston Bull Terrier rescue:

Texas Gulf Coast Bull Terrier Res-

cue, www.texasbullterrier.org.

Famous Bull Terriers:

Remember Spuds MacKenzie,

the famous Budweiser dog in

the 80’s? Many would say that

Spuds made the breed famous

but there are other “folks of fame”

that have loved the breed as well

includingTheodore Roosevelt,

Gen. Patton, Rick Springfield (his

Bull Terrier, Ronnie, has appeared

on several album covers) and the

celebrated British golfer, Sir Henry

Thomas Cotton.

Breed Profile: Bull Terriers are

a muscular, stout breed with a dis-

tinctive head that is “egg-shaped”

from the side and has no definitive

“stop” on the nose. Per Wikapedia,

“Bull Terriers are known as friendly

and outgoing dogs, even having a

“clownish” attitude about them,

though they are usually not con-

sidered ideal for a first-time dog

owner. Their physical strength is

matched by their intelligence. They

are affectionate dogs that love

human company. Bull Terriers are

particularly good with children, and

usually have a high pain threshold,

which reduces the risk of injury

from a defensive bite”.

Breed History: The Bull Terrier

was developed in England during

the 1860’s. During the 1860’s,

the Old English Bulldog had been

extinct for decades, and James

Hinks of Birmingham employed the

services of his own modern English

bulldog named “Madman”, the

English White Terrier (which was

not a working or sporting terrier,

the White English Terrier began its

creation in the 1860’s, and was

first presented to the public in

1864), along with some original

Bull and Terrier dogs to develop

and create the breed of dog we

now know as the Bull Terrier.

Breed Fact: There is also a min-

iature version of this breed known

as the Miniature Bull Terrier.

Portrait of A Bull TerrierStrong, Smart & Funny! Local Houston Bull Terrier: “Butch” Stevens



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