metro pet mag - december 2010

DECEMBER 2010 • MetroPetMag.com 3

Feature Articles

6 Rescue Me: Consider Your OptionsAnimals adopted from shelters have wonderful careers!

8 Charlie The Wonder Dog! Don’t miss Charlie the Wonder Dog...

10 Yea! I get to go to the VetDoes your pet dread going to the vet? Check out these tips.

13 Do You Love Your Job this Much?From the first pat on the head, to the last...

14 What to Know about Jack Russell TerriersLearn more about this breed’s history

18 Winter Walking and Camping with Your DogProtect your pet from the winter cold with jackets, boots, etc.

22 Create Holiday TraditionsTake time for your animals during this holiday season.

25 Let’s Shed Some Light on SheddingWhat you should know about shedding!

26 The Challenges of Parenting a PuppyAn adorable puppy for Christmas — are you really ready?

28 Real Lift Stuff!If you have or are thinking about getting a dog — read this article.

30 Award Winning and Going GlobalAn update on the Puppies for Parole program.

32 Puppies ChewIt’s a given fact — Accept it and Deal with it!

In Every Issue4 Publishers Message — Happy Holidays!

5 Cat Horoscopes

17 How Cute is Your Pet? — Another great winner.

16 Chip’s Corner — Pawzzle

24 How Cute is Your Pet? — More pet contest winners.

33 Upcoming Events

34 Dog Horoscopes26

18

10

December 20106

THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!The holiday season has arrived — lights and decora-

tion are appearing inside and out! And, my eight-year oldtwins have made their gift lists. The twinkle is in theireyes as they write a letter to Santa. What will be under thetree this year?

During this holiday season — don’t forget your four-legged friends. Include them in your traditions, and take care to protect themfrom seasonal dangers.

And, if you are looking for a great way to spend an evening, go see Charliethe Wonder dog at the Martin City Melodrama. This family friendly show is agreat evening out!

NEED A GIFT SUGGESTION?Don’t just buy another holiday

knick-knack, use your moneywisely and support our advertis-ers by purchasing products andservices that you can use. This isalso a great way to say ThankYou to them for making thismagazine possible!

One terrific idea is to help spe-cial relatives or friends with vet-erinary expenses, or make adonation to a selected animalshelter or rescue group. What a wonderful way to recognize the good works ofthese groups.

NEW CHANGES COMING IN 2011MetroPet magazine is working on some exciting new initiatives which will be

revealed staring in early, 2011. They will offer you an opportunity to grow with usand support our advertisers!

THANK YOUAs always, this issue includes some terrific articles. Thank you to our terrific

writers. Thank you to our advertisers — without them, this magazine would not bepossible. And, finally thank you to our readers. Last week, we received an emailfrom a new reader who had just found the magazine and wrote to say what a goodjob we were doing! We appreciate your feed back — thank you!

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Barbara Riedel, Publisher

Publisher’s Message Staff andContacts

PublisherBarbara Riedel

[email protected]

Editor/ProductionManagerDan O’Leary

[email protected]

Magazine LayoutROI Marketing

816.942.1600 • [email protected]

Advertising SalesAd Sales: 913.548.1433

Deals of the [email protected]

Contributing AuthorsGhiziana Iosif-Arndt

Mike DeathePat Hennessy

Dani Rouse HollandPatty Homer

Rita McMurrayHeddie LegerAshley Parker

Cindy PughAlex Riester

PhotographerDan O’Leary

Contact MetroPetPO Box 480065

Kansas City, MO 64148Phone: 913.548.1433

Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPetMagazine express the opinions of the individual authorsand do not necessarily represent the formal position ofMetroPet Magazine. Acceptance of advertising does notnecessarily constitute endorsement by MetroPetMagazine.

Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for consid-eration for publication to [email protected]. Allmaterials are subject to editorial review.

© 2010 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved.Request reprint permissions at [email protected].

MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROIMarketing Services, all rights reserved.

4 MetroPet Magazine • DECEMBER 2010

P.S. Tell our advertisers you saw their ad in MetroPet. It is throughtheir support that we can publish this magazine.


Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Stable Cat This cat is driven by such a primi-tive urge for self-protection beyond the immediateenvironment that it is not unusual to hardly ever seehim or her.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)The Cat Burglar This feline is very much an ordinarysort of cat, unlikely to draw any laudable gasps ofadmiration as he or she waddles across the floor

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18)The Hip Cat Plenty of exercise is needed by theAquarius Cat, being the best natural answer to thisfeline's health troubles.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)The Ship’s Cat Demands that the faucets be turnedon in the tub so that he can play in the water.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) The Stray Cat Those who own an Aries Cat have atendency to forget that they have a pet at all.

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20) The Earth Mother When the Taurus Cat is awake, heis an amiable companion, well aware of which handdoes the feeding.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Cat On A Hot Tin Roof A highly-strung, hyperac-tive soul, this feline will possess small features andbrightly-eager eyes that are constantly on the move.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22)The Crazy Cat Humans are simply considered tobe “extra furniture” to the Cancer Cat.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)The Top Cat Excessive climbing about on rooftopswill prove to be a constant risk.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Kitten Cat The Virgo Cat is fussy...particularlywhen it concerns food. Nothing that comes out of atin will be satisfactory...nor will leftovers

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Copy-Cat A cat who is so fat that no legs arevisible is not much fun and will not be particularlyhappy or healthy.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Cat’s Pajamas When this cat is cold, then he orshe fully expects that the heating should be turnedon.

Feline Signs

6 MetroPet Magazine • DECEMBER 20106 MetroPet Magazine • DECEMBER 2010

Now is the time you are thinking about the holidays— shopping, cooking, and preparing for family gather-ings and events, or even travelling. With your plate full,now is not the best time to get a new pet. If you are think-ing of a pet as a gift for someone else, keep in mind theytoo, probably don’t have the time to dedicate to building anew relationship during all the seasonal chaos.

CONSIDER — THEN ADOPTIt is wonderful that you may be considering adding a

furry or feathered member to your family. It is also a love-ly gesture, your thought of giving that bundle of uncondi-tional love to a friend or relative, but you may not reallyknow what that person wants or what would be most com-patible with his or her lifestyle. However, the best way tosolve that problem is to give a gift certificate toward thecost of the perfect pet! You could hand-craft a gift certifi-cate and wrap it up with a basket of goodies, such as a toy& treats, collar & leash, or litter box, scoop and litter, etc.You could even print off the profile of an animal youfound online and include that in the basket. Now yourfriend is well on her way to finding the perfect compan-ion.

With all that in hand, your friend can begin her search.There are rescue groups (local & nationwide that offerpurebred, or mixed breed, or both), local shelters, ani-mal control facilities (which have high euthanasia rates),PetCo & PetSmart who host local groups, andPetFinders.com (that list animals from all of the aboveorganizations). Why are these references a good place tostart? The benefits of looking at rescue pets first arenumerous and include the following.

With all that in hand, your friendcan begin her search. There arerescue groups, local shelters...

Considerthe Options

Rescue Meby Pat Hennessy

◊ There are many choices for you to browse (age, size,breed, temperament, etc.)• You would be surprised at how many purebred

dogs are in rescue (with local groups and at shel-ters)

• You might even find that one-of-a-kind designerbreed

◊ Smaller rescue groups, because they are foster-homebased, will have background information on theiranimals to provide you with a better fit for yourlifestyle• Energy level and temperament• Animal’s social skills (with people, children, other

animals)◊ Larger local shelters have a variety of pets to choose

from, and offer programs to help with training, vet-erinary care, etc.

◊ Municipal shelters/animal control facilities also havevariety, but with limited funds and space one of thegreatest benefits is how good it makes your heart feelto know you have just saved a life

◊ If you are selecting an older dog, there are manybenefits• More than likely the dog is house trained• He will be past the teething stage• He will probably know a few cues, such as Sit,

Down, Come, etc.• You will have a very strong indication

of his temperament• He will be more mature and less like-

ly to be hyperactive (depending onthe breed)

• You will know if there are issues(and whether it is something thatmatters to you — if it is a dog thatdislikes cats and you don’t have cats,if it is a dog afraid of children andyou are an empty nester, etc.)

◊ If you have children, selecting a healthysenior dog or cat is even better• The temperament is obvious (so

choose based on engagement & tol-erance)

• The energy level is reduced (again,depending on the breed)

• Training is easier, leaving more timefor taking care of children

You would be surprised at howmany purebred dogs are in

rescue groups and at shelters

READY FOR A NEW COMPANION?If you are ready — stop by a shelter or call a specialty res-

cue group and check out the furry friends who are lookingfor fur-ever homes!

Be prepared! Before you go — research the options!Know which breed will work best for you and your family.Take time to think — don’t rush. Remember, you aremaking a decision that will affect you and the pets lifefor a long time.

Before you bring home you new Best Friend Forever (BFF)prepare a home for them — toys, a place to sleep (crate orbed), food bowl, food, etc.

SHELTERS/SPECIALTY ADOPTION GROUPS

Animal Haven • 913-432-7548Kansas City Sheltie Rescue • 913-384-0366Wayside Waifs • 816-761-8151


8 MetroPet Magazine • DECEMBER 20108 MetroPet Magazine • DECEMBER 20108 MetroPet Magazine • DECEMBER 2010

GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCEIt is a common myth that animals who end up in rescue

have something wrong with them, yet frequently the issue isonly that the animal no longer fits in the person’s world. Themost common reasons animals end in up in shelters are:they are lost or found loose/stray, economy (lost job or fore-closure), marriage/divorce, death, having a child, moving,allergies, etc., all to no fault of the animal. Pets that trulyhave “issues”, sadly, often don’t find their way to lovinghomes because some shelters and rescue organizations maynot be able to raise enough funds for surgeries, medication,and/or rehabilitation, nor have the space or means tokeep/work with animals long-term while they go through therecovery process. One great benefit of working with shel-ters/rescue is that for pets who have certain traits, such asdifficulty with cats, fear of loud noise, or blind in one eye,those are easy things to work with and they are addressedwith potential adopters so those pets will be placed in appro-priate situations. As you can see the common reasons ani-mals end up in rescue do not reflect the quality of the animalor the relationship that you can certainly build with any ofthem. Many animals from rescue situations have been recog-nized for their achievements.

There are many wonderful success stories involving res-cued dogs. Some have gone on to fame and fortune, whileothers have just been there for us when we needed them themost (something more valuable than anything money canbuy).

WITH JOY COMES RESPONSIBILITYYou understand the true joy animal companionship can

bring – the one individual in your life who does not judgeyou and loves you for who you are. With that comes theresponsibility, and the promise from you, to love and care foryour companion for his or her lifespan (which can be 10-20years for dogs & cats or up to 50 years for some birds). It isa major commitment which requires due diligence in mak-ing that decision, and one you can’t take lightly or give as a(live) gift to someone who is not ready.

Do your homework. Play with a lot of animals. Foster one ifyou can’t make up your mind right now. But when you find thatone, and you fall for those big deep passionate eyes, you willknow you have met your match. It will be at that moment thatyou will say, “Come, sit, stay, by my side, and rescue me.”

Pat Hennessy, is the founder of N2paws, LLC,an organization that provides companion ani-mal attunement through behavior education,energy work, and positive training methods. Patis a certified Level 2 TTouch® Practitioner, CPDTand member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. Youmay contact N2Paws via [email protected], phone 816-522-7005, or visitthe website www.n2paws.com.

D on’t miss Charlie theWonder Dog — a rescue dogwho found a new home onthe stage!

Every dog has his day andCharlie has gone from the streetsto the stage! Adopted fromWayside Waifs, Charlie dances in aNutcracker Ballet spoof in ourholiday extravaganza.

This family friendly perform-ance is a perfect way to celebratethe holidays. Charlie the Wonder

Dog appears in The Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Co.performance of the Nutcracker Ballet from December 12 —January 2. For more information, to make reservations or topurchase tickets call 913-642-7576.

Charliethe Wonder Dog


W Rescue Dog Now Therapy DogAcross the drive, in a pen, there was a bright-eyed boy

bouncing around with so much enthusiasm. His face wasmore expressive than Jim Carrey. Each day people came.He ran to the front of his pen and greeted them with a bigsmile. They would pass him by. Each night he curled upalone. One day a woman who was walking by, stopped athis cage. Their eyes met and his twinkled. It was meant tobe. Out he came, and off to live with her he went. As theygot to know each other, she thought it would be nice if shecould share his kindred spirit with others. They joinedan organization and became a certified therapyteam. To this day he brings many smiles to children, eld-erly, and those suffering with physical and mental disabil-ities. If this one woman had not stopped to check him outthat fateful afternoon, this precious dog would not betouching all the lives he is today.

W Rescue Dog Now TV StarPicked up by the pound, this scruffy little guy didn’t

have a chance as he was tossed into a cell. He was givenfive days to be claimed and the clock was ticking. Closeto his last day a man came through looking for just theright size dog to do the trick for his project. On the third

cell block this fuzzy ball of fur, sleeping in the corner, slowly liftedhis little head and all you could see were his big black eyes throughthose tufts of fur. The man looked down and said, “I’ll take thatone.” This little fluff ball was lifted out of the cell block and intothe limelight of Hollywood. I think he even has his own “paw offame.” You know him as Benji. As he got older he passed thetorch to a new generation, this time a silky coated little girl whowas “left homeless on the back streets of a small Mississippi town,lost and alone, this floppy-eared mutt was picked up and taken toan animal shelter….and the rest is history!”

W Rescue Dog Now Nationwide PerformerOne of the large dog food manufacturers set off on a mission to put

together a team of dogs to show off the athletic ability of canines. Theemphasis of the team is the “incredible” potential in every dog. Theteam includes eight trainers and thirty dogs, several of which wereadopted at animal shelters and rescue groups around the country.They tour nationwide demonstrating high flying catches in the air andinto water, and balancing acts with their human partners. This teamis called The Incredible Dog Challenge.

These stories are true —dogs given a second

chance touch many lives

HEART WARMING STORIES

Do you have or do you know anybodywho has anxiety at just the thought of going tothe doctor or dentist? This can be a scary eventfor many people and we have the cognitive abil-ities to reason and understand that this is goodfor our health and well being. Our pets areunable to understand this concept when wetake them to the veterinarian. To your pet, atrip to the vet means slippery surfaces that I cannot stand on (tile floor, examination table),scary slippery thing I have to stand on (scale),people I don’t know holding me down, touch-ing me everywhere, poking sharp objects intomy skin — and this is just a routine vet visit!Add in chaos in the waiting room with strange

barking or anxious dogs, hissing cats and frustrated ownersand the energy in the room is anything but calm which cre-ates another level of anxiety for your pet before they experi-ence the actual veterinary care.


by: Patty Homer

To your pet, a trip to thevet means slippery surfaces

that he can not stand on,scary slippery things he has to stand on...

I Get To Goto the Vet!

Yea!

EVERYTHING IS SCARYImagine that the very first time you ever got into an elevator,

you push the button for the 10th floor and up it goes; until youreach the 7th floor and all of a sudden it starts to free fall down,but the safety catches right before it crashes to the ground.Since this was your very first experience with elevators, chancesare you will have a fear or phobia of elevators forever. Nowimagine that every time you got in a car from now on, you wereinvolved in an accident that caused minor injuries like a neckache, sprained ankle or broken finger. How many car rideswould you take before you started having anxiety about carrides?

Like our pets, our first experience to something can set thestage for how we feel about it for life. If a previously safe activ-ity suddenly becomes repetitively unpleasant, we start to befearful of that activity. For puppies, their very first vet visit isfilled with anxiety, fear and pain. For some dogs and cats, theonly time they get to go for a ride in the car ends in this scary,anxiety ridden experience at the vet’s office.

WHERE DO I START?So what do you do to make this experience better for your pet?

Well, if you have a brand new puppy or kitten, it is much easierto start out on the right paw. If you have a pet that already showssigns of anxiety or fear, it is a little harder and takes a littlelonger, but can be accomplished pretty simply.

For new puppies and kittens — never get their vaccines onthe first vet visit. Take a non slip rug with you as well as someyummy peanut butter, tuna or chicken and a toy. Make your firstappointment at lunch time when there are not any other dogs orcats in the lobby. Put your pet on the scale with their non-sliprug, praise, pet and give food. Then have a staff member pet,praise, play with or give food to your pet. Have the doctor comeout (with the white coat on) and do the same and then leave.Visit 2, repeat the first visit, but ask to go into an exam roomwith your non-slip rug and a technician and practice restrainingyour pet with the tech while giving lots of praise, play, pettingand/or food. If possible, have the veterinarian step in for amoment to pet and briefly do a mock exam. Visit 3, make a reg-ular appointment; bring all the things you brought before andhave the exam and vaccines given. If the lobby is chaotic at all,check in, then wait outside, in your car or ask if the clinic hasa calmer place for you to wait. Don’t leave as soon as the vac-cines are given; spend some more time in the exam room withplay, petting and yummy food. Check out time is important also,if it is chaotic in the lobby, take your pet a crate in your car witha chew toy or little bit of food, then come back in to take careof your bill.


HOLIDAY GIFT TIPAre you looking for a gift idea for an elderly per-

son or someone on a tight budget?Consider offering to pay for vet-erinary expenses or pet medi-cine!

For someone who’s budget is tightthe relief of knowing that their con-stant furry companion will have greatmedical attention, without straining their budgetis a wonderful gift that will last all year long.

Need a new veterinarian or resource for compoundedmedicine? Support these MetroPet advertisers.

Aid Animal Hospital • 816-363-4922

Arbor Creek Animal Hospital • 913-764-9000

Cat Clinic of Johnson County • 913-541-0478

Stark Edler Apothcary • 913-541-5050

Like our pets, our firstexperience to something

can set the stage for howwe feel about it for life.


SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELPIf you need help with a new puppy or kitten,

hire a positive reinforcement trainer that willcome to your home, help you set up a routine forhousetraining, vet visits, behavior managementand basic obedience cues — and do this as earlyas possible! Some trainers will even go with youto the vet’s office to demonstrate how to accom-plish successful vet visit training. The best time tostart your puppy or kitten with a training routineis the day you bring him/her home and most def-initely before the age of 12 weeks.

Changing behavior is long, arduous work.Creating good behavior from the start saves youtime, money and frustration – TRAIN EARLY ANDOFTEN!

Patty Homer is a Certified PetDog Trainer and a Pet First Aidinstructor. She has been trainingdogs for 20 years. She owns GoodPup dog training and boarding inSouth Kansas City. Her certifica-tions include CPDT-KA (certifiedthrough the Certification Counselof Professional Dog Trainers); CDTcertified through the International Association of CanineProfessionals. She is the Founder and President ofHEARTland Positive Dog Training Alliance. For moreinformation, visit her website atwww.goodpupkc.com.

GO FOR CAR RIDESVisit 5 and 6 are similar to visit 1 and 2, repeat this

throughout your puppy or kitten’s vaccine schedule andspay/neuter appointment. Between vet visits, be sure totake your pet on car rides — short and long and endwith fun things. This should teach your pet not to fearthe vet visits making it easier for your pet, yourself andthe veterinary staff.

If your puppy gets car sick, don’t give him/her anywater for food for 3-4 hours prior to the car ride andinstead of treats at the vet, use toys, play and affection.You can also ask your vet for medication to give yourpet prior to the car ride, so he/she doesn’t associate thevet with feeling sick.

If you have a pet that is already fearful of the vet, itwill take repeated car rides and vet clinic visits to slow-ly desensitize your pet’s expectations of what is going tohappen to them when the get in the car and/or enter the vet’s office. The desen-sitization process should be explained in detail or managed by a professionalpositive reinforcement trainer because if done incorrectly, you can actuallymake the problem worse, and remember — the non-slip mat is very importantto take with you if your pet is going to be on the scale or a slippery exam table.

If you have a pet that isalready fearful of the vet, itwill take repeated car rides

and vet clinic visits...

I t has been my pleasure to have been with the same veterinary hos-pital for the past 17 years. From hiring on as kennel attendant to recep-tionist, then finally to the office manager, I have had the true privilegeto be one of the first people to meet and greet all our new patients aswell as our not so new ones.

OH THE STORIES I CAN TELLSaying hello with a scratch under the neck or pat on the head is the

easy part. Who doesn’t just love a puppy or kitten? And the stories I’veheard… From house breaking triumphs, puppy socialization classes inwhich we have actually had puppies fail, to all the fantastic memoriestoo numerous to list, I have been there to hear them all. Never will Iforget seeing Louie the Pug mosey over and lift his leg in the openumbrella of a waiting client. Or, Suzy the Labrador almost hurdlingover the counter to greet me on one of her many visits for reoccurringallergies. Or seeing the expression on the face of a client whose dogjust left us a gift on the middle of the floor. You know, they never dothat at home.

AS WE GROW OLDER... Well, Suzy doesn’t hurdle counters anymore. Age has crept up on her

and she does good just to walk in for her medicated baths. She still greetsme with that great big wag of her tail and I swear she smiles. And watch-ing kittens come in for their vaccinations and exams, playful and purring,making me want to take any available one home, watching them grow upwith each subsequent visit, with that oh too familiar “catitude.” Those arethe type of memories we reflect on. Laugh about. They keep me comingback, day after day, year after year. Not only do we get to know the ani-mal, we get the real honor of befriending their people. When theylaugh, we laugh. When they are faced with making decisions toopainful to make on their own, we step in to lend a shoulder, an earand a heart. And believe me, our hearts take a beating. No pun intend-ed. When you see someone for the first time and develop a relation-ship with them, with their pet, you are automatically involved.

PART OF THE FAMILYWe get to know the family, their jobs, their beliefs and stands,

their feelings. When one of our extended family members hurt, weare hurting with them. Sometimes crying in the rooms with themand sometimes, excusing ourselves to take some private time tocompose ourselves.

DECEMBER 2010 • MetroPetMag.com 13DECEMBER 2010 • MetroPetMag.com 13

SAYING GOODBYE...Saying goodbye to one of our pets is one of the hardest

things anyone has to do. Tears are filled with years of reflec-tions and memories that caused us to laugh, cringe, sigh andjust sit back and smile. It is the final gift you can give yourbeloved pet, a peaceful passing in an environment that isfilled with love and compassion. We try to make this difficulttime as comforting as possible. In the end, it is time thatgives us comfort. Time and those memories. Those sweet,wonderful memories. Then a new chapter in your book hasbeen started, a new puppy or kitten is chosen. And we startthe wonderful process again.

Cindy Pugh is the Office Manager at AidAnimal Hospital and truly loves her job. Duringher 17 years at the hospital, she has enjoyedthe lives of many pets, from the first visitthrough the golden years. Aid Animal Hospitalhas been around for over 50 years and current-ly offers a wide array of traditional and holisticveterinary care for dogs, cats, bunnies, etc. The

hospital also offers boarding and dental care. The hospital is located at8343 Wornall Road and Cindy can be reached at 816-363-4922

Do You Love Your Job This Much?Send your story to editor

at metropetmag.com

From the first pat on the head, to the last...by: Cindy Pugh

DoYou LoveYour Job This Much?

BREED HISTORYThe Real Jack Russell Terrier may be any height between 10”

and 15” (at the shoulder), it may vary in coats, markings, type,and for sure personality... they are ALL real Jack RussellTerriers. There is no “ideal” ... the “ideal” is what suits theirowner for what they want/need to do with their terrier. That isthe uniqueness of this diverse terrier. The diversity within theJRTCA breed standard is what makes the Jack Russell Terriersuitable for a variety of working and performance abilities — incontrast with the narrow, cosmetic breed standards of manyshow breeds.

The real Jack Russell Terrier has been preserved as a workingdog. Every effort has been made to elimi-nate and prevent genetic defects/faultswithin the JRTCA registry. (See the JRTCARegistry for more details.) Closeinbreeding is prohibited for the mentaland physical protection

The real Jack Russell Terrier remainsvirtually unchanged over 200 years... itstill has the structure, brain and heart towork underground, and is a mentally andphysically sound dog.

The working structure, brain and heartof the real Jack Russell Terrier is whatgives this terrier the astounding character,athleticism and versatility that make it agreat companion. It is for sure “the dogthat does”... from hunting to doing agility,racing, surfing, flyball, bird retrieval,skate boarding, search & rescue, therapydog… and forever entertaining pet andcompanion.

What to knowbefore acquiring a

The real Jack Russell Terrierhas been preserved as a

working dog.

Jack RussellTerrier



The working brain and heart makes the Jack RussellTerrier such an intensely loyal, alert, affectionate, profoundcompanion like no other. The Jack Russell Terrier wants tokeenly interact with people... to be with you every moment oflife... sharing and helping at every step. The real Jack RussellTerrier does not sit on the sidelines of life.

CHARACTERISTICSThe terrier must present a lively, active and alert appear-

ance. It should impress with its fearless and happy disposi-tion. It should be remembered that the Jack Russell is aworking terrier and should retain these instincts.Nervousness, cowardice or over-aggressiveness should bediscouraged and it should always appear confident.

GENERAL APPEARANCEA sturdy, tough terrier, very much on its toes all the time,

measuring between 10” and 15” at the withers. The bodylength must be in proportion to the height, and it shouldpresent a compact, balanced image, always being in solid,hard condition.

Old English “grei,” meaning “dog,” and “hundr,” meaning“hunter.” Another explanation is that it is derived from “gre”or “gradus,” meaning “first rank among dogs.” Finally, it hasbeen suggested that the term derives from Greekhound,since the hound reached England through the Greeks.

Compliments of Jack Russell Terrier Club of America

Submit your photo atmetropetmag.com.

Favre — Favre is our pre-cious little girl! She loves torun, meet new people and playwith her toys!

Submitted by Jan

Is Your Pet the

Cutest

www.waggiwear.com

get your waggi on for the holidays!fresh and fun, dog collars and leashes

GIVE A PERSONALIZED GIFTNeed a great gift idea for your pet? Want to support a local

Kansas City business? Here are some terrific options — anduseful products!• A fleece jacket from Boomeroos (a new career for a puppy

mill dog!) fully licensed by KU and KSU —www.boomeroos.com

• A personalized Dog ID Collar — make sure your pet isclearly identified and can be reunited with you if lost —www.dogidcollar.com

• A good quality pooper scooper!!! Don’t Laugh! This greattool will save you time, and eliminate the yuck and frustra-tion of that messy job — www.scoopythepoo.com

• A custom hand-made collar by WaggiWear shows off yourpets personality at a terrific price! Be the first of yourfriends to get one — www.waggiwear.com

• Christmas decorations or toys — your choice! Visit thenew gift shop Whiskers Wags Outfitters at Wayside Waifs.Not only will you find terrific gifts, but you will be support-ing a wonderful organization www.waysidewaifs.org

by Heddie Leger


Chip’s Corner

Across:

3. The JRT is known to be ________________________.

5. The Jack Russell loves to play __________________.

7. The goal of the JRTC is to preserve ___________ of the breed.

10. Not recommended to live in an _______________________ due to needing lots ofexercise and a place to run and dig.

14. Training requires firm, consistent ____________________.

16. Jack Russell's are ______________, often challenging dogs twice their size.

17. The JRT has a happy _____________________.

19. Another word for smart used to describe the JRT.

20. They have a natural ___________ instinct.

21. Close ______________ is prohibited

Pawzzle

November Pawzzle Answers


Submit your photo atmetropetmag.com

Harry — Harry adopted us from Wayside Waifs. We thoughthe looked like Prince Harry and we also love local history soHarry’s middle name is Truman. Harry is a lap kitty, loves longnaps, snuggles under the covers and loves to spoon.

Submitted by Janet

Rylie — Rylie has the most amazing personality! She cuddleswhen your layin down, follows you on a walk, and lays on topof the laundry as you fold it. She will even sit in a stroler as mycousins stroll her around! She is very Loyal and full of joy.

Submitted by Tricia

in KC?

Is Your Pet the

CutestDown:1. Owning any dog requires a life-time

_______________________.2. It is essential to provide lots of

____________________ for this breed.4. A fun sport with dogs that like to play

chase.6. Originated in _______________________.8. The JRT loves to interact with

_________________.9. The Parson Russell, Irish Jack Russell,

Miniature Jack Russell are all_________________ of the original breedstandard.

11. Jack Russell's love to ______.12. What color should the nose be?13. This breed needs a great amount of

___________ activity.15. The Jack Russell is bred to go

________________________.16. Height is between ten and

______________ inches tall at the withers.18. Dogs use their nose to follow a

____________.


Winter Walkingand Camping with

Your Dogby Alex Riester

Winter is a harsh season not only for you, but foryour four-legged friend. There are certain precau-tions you should take before heading out into thewilderness; whether it is a winter expedition toAlaska or a quick jog around some of Kansas City’sexcellent trails. The best rule of thumb is to knowyour dog. As his/her owner/master, you knowwhat is best for your canine companion.

BE PREPARED — KNOW YOUR DOGKeep an eye on him/her and watch for any signs

of discomfort; this will help increase the enjoy-ment of winter not only for you, but for your dog.Our simple tips and products should not prevailover how you feel your dog performs in the win-ter, but should be taken as a guideline. Each dogis different and even within a species; one dog dif-fers from the next. Knowing and watching yourdog for any irregularities is the best way to enjoythe cold winter months.

The first and most important area of focus shouldbe your dog’s paws. You need to look for ice build-up in his/her paws frequently, particularly inbetween the pads of the paws. Ice build-up is caused

Road salt gets in your dog’spaws and dries them out,

causing them to look crackedand broken. The best way to

prevent this is with dog boots...


by moisture that sticks to the fur on your dog’s paw and thenfreezes. This can be painful for your pet and deter Fido fromspending time outdoors in the winter. Also, when you bringyour dog inside from a long walk, melting ice build-up canleave wet spots all over your carpet, an unpleasant surprisewhen wearing socks or walking barefoot around the house.

The easiest way to prevent ice build-up is to trim the furaround your dog’s paws. Longer fur holds more moisture andhas more opportunity to freeze. The longer the hair is, thelonger the liquid will stay on the fur, thus creating a higherchance for ice build up. Trimming the fur eliminates theopportunity for moisture to stick and freeze to your dog’spaws.

TAKE YOUR DOG SHOPPING?For prolonged exposure to the winter world, we recom-

mend a boot. There are numerous boot options, but the mostadvanced is Ruff Wear’s Bark’n Boots Polar Trex. The materi-al on the boot comes up higher, over the dew claw, almost tothe dog’s joint. The tough, durable Vibram Icetrek outsolewas created specifically for iced surfaces, and may even looksimilar to the sole of your own winter boots. The upper partof the boot uses softshell technology to create a highlybreathable, water resistant shell to protect the top of yourdog’s paw.

GROOMING RESOURCESNeed a groomer who will really take care of your pet?

Check out these options. • Cat Clinic of Johnson County — grooming just for

cats at our premier facility! 913-541-0478• Dog’s World of Fun — grooming is one of our special-

ties. We also offer gift certificates 816-931-5822• Jazzy Pet Spa — mobile grooming pros who come right

to your door! We serve the entire Kansas City Metro Areain our brand new custom van — a pet salon on wheels!816-517-7349

• Tails R’ Waggin — a premier pet resort! We offer thebest in dog and cat grooming. Participate in our Paws fora Cause program to earn a discount 913-685-9246

Sizing is very important, sobefore you purchase, make sure

your dog has tried them on.


The Polar Trex also include a gaiter to help with deepsnow. Gaiters are great for “dog’s best friend” as well,because they keep deep snow out of your boot. Also, thePolar Trex have a very secure fit, with a cam buckle anklestrap at the lower half of the boot, and an E-cord loop clo-sure at the top to secure the gaiter. To top it all off, this boothas 3M reflective tape across multiple points of the boot, tocreate more visibility in low light situations. When the sunsets at 4 pm, you will see more than just your dog’s eyes glar-ing at you.

The Ruff Wear Bark’n Boots Polar Trex is by far the bestwinter boot currently on the market. Sizing is very important,so before you purchase, make sure your dog has tried themon. BACKWOODS Overland Park is dog friendly, so bringyour pooch in to try them on!

WINTER POISONSAnother problem any pet owner must

watch out for is anti-freeze and road salt.Ant-freeze is very toxic, even in smallamounts. Unfortunately, it is also tastesvery sweet. Always make sure you fullyclean up any spills, even small drops. Aslittle as three tablespoons could beenough to shut down your dog’s kidneysand within three days, your dog could beirreversibly damaged. We recommendrefilling your car’s anti-freeze off-site at agas station or auto shop, but if you mustrefill anti-freeze at home, the street isyour best bet.

Road salt gets in your dog’s paws anddries them out, causing them to lookcracked and broken. The best way to pre-vent this is with dog boots, but you canalso clean your dog’s paws in warm water,


then dry thoroughly. Climb On! has a cream (Intensive SkinRepair) that protects against this as well. It is safe to useon your hands, as well as your dog’s paws. The boots pro-tect against harsh winter elements from salt to slipping toice build up.

WHAT ABOUT A SOFTSHELL?One last consideration for your winter-wonderland ele-

ment pet is sleet, snow and freezing rain. Many of these donot prevent you from going outside, so they should notprevent your dog either. For anything from a light snow toan ice store, a softshell is what you and your dog need.

A softshell is a huge step up from that sweater your greataunt knitted for your dog, offering maximum breathabilityand warmth, while still regulating heat output. Softshellsalso have high water resistance to shed moisture, and four-way-stretch to allow maximum movement. Ruff Wear’sCloud Chaser is a great jacket for your dog. The zipperprovides easy on, easy off capabilities, and you just throwit in the washing machine and dryer if your dog decides totake a romp in the mud fields of Heritage Park.

If you think a softshell does not fit your needs, a fleecejacket for your dog will keep it warm without the weatherprotection or a hardshell will keep it dry without thewarmth. The softshell combines these two technologies,which is why it is the most beneficial.

General winter care for your dog can be as simple as justkeeping an eye on your favorite four-legged friend or asadvanced as completely outfitting your dog as you wouldyourself. If you notice him/her panting in the winter, yourdog likely does not need another coat (other than his/herown). Knowing how your dog reacts and watching for signssuch as shivering, mood changesor fear of the outdoors, can helpincrease your and your dog’senjoyment of the cold wintermonths. Always consult your vet-erinarian before any major tripsto the ice fields of Patagonia orprolonged time outdoors onIndian Trail.

Alex Riester isthe sales supervi-sor at BACK-WOODS, OverlandPark, KS and ahuge fan ofspending timewith his dog out-side. He can bereached at BACKWOODS OverlandPark, KS, 913.451.8881 or visit back-woods.com

ANIMAL SUPPLIESAlready own a pet? Need a resource for pet supplies?

Check out these advertisers who sell food, fencing, or otherpet related products! Please support these MetroPet adver-tisers.

• BACKWOODS — a premier store with adventure andoutdoor clothing, as well as a range of other gear forpeople and their pets. 913-451-8881

• Go Pet Go — wide selection of natural pet food,grooming supplies, and other products. Two locations toserve you — Kansas City, MO 816-734-1535 andLiberty, MO 816-415-2244

• Heart of America Invisible Fence — keep your petat home, and safe inside your home with invisible fenceproducts from Heart of America Invisible Fence. Call ustoday for money-back guaranteed products816-941-7700 or 913-722-9948

• Natura — natural pet food for dogs and cats of all ages.You can find us at independent specialty pet stores.www.naturapet.com

• ReMax — The Northcutt Team — looking for a rela-tor you can trust — and one who loves pets? Call PeterNorthcutt at 816-507-8380

• Rolling Acres — memorial garden for pets. We alsooffer a wide array of urns and memorial items for thepet lover. 816-891-8888

European legend says that at midnight on Christmas Eve, animals are given thegift of speech for a moment or two. This belief dates back to the birth of Jesus,where it was told that the surrounding animals in the manger were given voiceto praise the child.

Well you may never hear your animals speak, with words, but if you could theywould be telling you to be sure and include them in your holiday customs.

HOLIDAY TRADITIONSHoliday traditions are cultural, religious, or developed within families to

make the holiday personal and special. They may have been passed down forgenerations and some are centuries old. Traditions are a great way to strength-en bonds and build lasting memories. It is easy to create a new one, or embel-lish an existing one, to embrace your animal companions.

If you currently get a family portrait, or a portrait of the children, during theholiday season – why don’t you add in the family pet? If your animal compan-

by Pat Hennessy


Creating Holiday

Traditions

ion won’t sit well for a photo shoot, takepictures with your own camera and build ascrapbook. Getting photos of your belovedfurry family member will build a historythat you can look back on in the yearsahead and something you will dearly treas-ure when your companion crosses the rain-bow bridge.

Some customs include opening gifts in aseries of celebrations, such as the twelvedays of Christmas or eight days of Chanukah.You can incorporate your furry or featheredfriend into the holiday spirit of daily givingwith gifts such as a toy, a special treat, or aninteractive reward from you like playing agame or giving a massage.

HELP A SHELTER IN NEEDIf one of your traditions is to help a fam-

ily in need (and what a wonderful one thatis), you can add one more member to thatlist – a shelter/rescue animal (and you willdefinitely earn your wings!). Local sheltershave lists of items they can use (each one isa bit different, so call them or check theirwebsites). You might also search for localrescue groups (breed or non-breed specif-ic), to see what items they could use (astheir funds are pretty tight, especiallyaround the holidays). It is not recommend-ed to give animals as gifts, because therecipient may not be able to provide a lifelong commitment to that animal. As an

alternative, if you or your friends could foster an animal, it wouldnot only be a gift to the shelter or rescue organization but a won-derful offering to the animal. You would be giving the gift of com-panionship, love, and a home environment, which is so powerfuland more meaningful than toys and treats to a homeless pet.

Another lovely tradition is to visit a retirement/care facility,where people may not have the opportunity to get out and visitfamily (or may not have family). If you have a mild mannered wellsocialized dog or cat, take her along on the visit (with the facility’spermission). An animal may brighten the day of someone who isshut in, lonely, or incapacitated. If you find that your animal com-panion has a knack for visiting, you might consider becoming atherapy pet team. As a bonus, while visiting with elders ask themwhat childhood memories they have of the holidays, and see if itsparks a new tradition that you could add to your family.

CREATING NEW TRADITIONSYou might want to consider creating new traditions with your

companion animals. Try teaching a new “cue” or new trick eachautumn, and then you can ask your furry or feathered companionto show off what he has learned this holiday season. If you startwhen your pet is young, you could easily end up with at least 12-15 tricks in his lifetime. Your holiday guests will look forward toseeing what Rex has learned since last year. If you have a multi-pethousehold, get them all in on the act. You could easily have threedogs doing opposite “sits” and “downs” to the tune of Jingle Bells.


NEED A TRAINER?Getting a puppy or new dog? Budget for a Trainer.

Taking time up front to train your pet will make a bigdifference in your relationship. Please support theseMetroPet advertisers.

• Dog and Master Behavior and ObedienceTraining — deal with excessive barking, separa-tion anxiety, and specializing in aggressive dogs816-631-6640

• Good Pup — certified and experienced positivereinforcement trainer with 20 years experience816-699-2260

• K-9 Instincts — private training consultations inyour own home — gain the willing cooperation ofyour dog 816-322-4133

• KISS Dog Training — Keep It Simple Stupid dogtraining courses gives you 20 weeks to get it right!913-269-7595

• N2Paws — behavior and wellness support from acertified TTouch practitioner and CPDT 816-522-7005

• The Dog Spot — the community spot for dogsand the people who love them! 816-438-7788


Remember, even if Rex enjoys hamming it up for visitors, heneeds a quiet place to get away when activities increase andrequire all your attention. That is a great opportunity to givehim one of his gifts early – something appropriate to chew on(a bully stick or stuffed Kong), because we all know that manyholiday “people” foods are dangerous for our animal com-panions, such as sweets or cooked meats with bones (cookedbones will splinter).

No matter what your cultural background or holiday prefer-ences, you can find ways to include your animal companionsin your traditions. They bring us such joy throughout the yearand after all, isn’t that what this season is all about? Once thetree is decorated, the gifts have been wrapped, and the can-dles have been lit, you will sit down to relax for a moment.Take a look out the window and see the snow glistening by thelight of the moon. When you hear the clock strike midnight,go sit beside your dog, put the cat in your lap, and tell themthat you love them. Open your heart and you will hear theirvoices. They will tell you that they love you too.

Pat Hennessy, is the founder of N2paws, LLC, anorganization that provides companion animalattunement through behavior education, energywork, and positive training methods. Pat is a certi-fied Level 2 TTouch® Practitioner, CPDT andmember of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You maycontact N2Paws via email [email protected],phone 816-522-7005, or visit the websitewww.n2paws.com.

in KC?

Submit your photo at metropetmag.com.

Stuart (Stewie) andLolly — Lolly just lovesthe sneak attack and onthis day she waitedbehind the blinds on thewindow sill until Stewiejumped up to look outthe window and then shegot him. They are adelightful pair adoptedform Parkville AnimalShelter..

Submitted by Kelley

Is Your Pet the

Cutest


Who needs more chores??? In today’s fast-paced world,nearly everybody has maxed-out schedules. For those of uswith pets, vacuuming pet hair is one of those necessary, buttime-consuming tasks. Want some advice on how to reduceyour cleaning time?

STOP THE SHEDDING BEFORE IT HAPPENS.FACT: A human hair follicle grows between 1 and 3 hairs

each.

FACT: Pets can produce 7 to 15 hairs per follicle. So thoselittle hairs are working OVERTIME — and so will yoube, if you don't take the right steps.

There many different types of pet coats, but one commonconcern is: MATTING. Your pet’s coat can mat due to fric-tion, moisture, compression, static, dirt and debris. If leftunchecked, these mats can actually bond together tightly,eventually creating an opportunity for bacterial growth,and/or parasitic infestations that can turn into health prob-lems. Skin conditions under dense mats include: “hot spots”(minor irritations); fleas, ticks and severe skin infections.

To maintain a healthy coat on your pet (AND reduce yourcleaning time) follow a de-shedding program and continuewith weekly brushing. The de-shedding process involvesdeep cleansing of the coat, ultra conditioner and (prefer-ably) high-velocity drying. This is the most gentle, and com-plete way to get your pet's coat in great condition. Thisprocess loosens the hairs which are trapped in the coat, sothey can be removed by carding, hand-stripping or by usinga de-shedding tool.

Some Light

To maintain a healthy coat onyour pet (AND reduce cleaning

time) follow a de-sheddingprogram and continue with

weekly brushing.

On Shedding

Let’s Shed

In extreme cases, the only option is to shave the pet in the areaof the mat(s). But the best option is to get ahead of your pet’s coatcare, saving you time, money and stress.

Rita McMurray is the owner of Jazzy Pet Spa. We are proud to offer ourexpert grooming services at your doorstep and are happy to serve the entireKansas City Metro Area! Our brand new custom van is a pet salon on wheels!We bathe and groom cats and dogs — all sizes, all breeds. Avoid your pet’sstress and possible sedation at the groomer’s! Call us today at 816-517-7349or visit jazzypet.net.

by Rita McMurray


TheChallengesof Parentinga PuppyAn adorable puppy for Christmas — I can't think

of anything cuter. But before you take home that darlinglittle creature, there are some important things to con-sider.

EXPERIENCE SPEAKSI write from experience. After I got my first puppy

nearly 10 years ago, I wondered if I had actually adopt-ed a little monster cleverly disguised as a preciouspuppy. I had no idea how much work raising a puppyentailed. Truman had lots of accidents, chewed upcountless pairs of my favorite shoes (and almost any-thing else left on the floor) and generated numerouscomplaints about his incessant barking from my neigh-bors. I remember walking Truman around my apart-ment complex at three o'clock in the morning in thefreezing cold, wondering what in the world I had gottenmyself into!

Make no mistake, I wouldn't trade that experience forthe world. Truman taught me all about patience and

responsibility. And anyone who’s thinking about get-ting a puppy needs to have lots of both. Just ask AlyssaWillet, the Adoptions Supervisor at Wayside Waifs.

“When people adopt puppies, I ask them if theyare ready to have a toddler in their home, becausethat's what they are getting,” Willett said. “Puppiesdon’t know right from wrong, they depend on you toteach them everything. If you don’t have patience,don’t get a puppy.”

LOTS OF PATIENCE — LOTSOF TIMEYou will also need lots of time for your puppy.

They develop most of their behavior traits duringtheir first year of life, and you'll need to be thereevery step of the way to help them grow into well-behaved, well-socialized members of society. One ofthe best ways to learn the basics is by enrolling in anobedience class.

by Ashlee Parker


“Even the most experienced dog owners can learn something atobedience class,” said Willett. “And the puppies not only learngreat skills, they also benefit from socializing with the other pup-pies in class.”

TRAINING HAS BENEFITS!Willett is a big proponent of crate training, because it can make

housetraining a breeze. She recommends keeping the crate in ahigh-traffic area of your home, possibly even your family roomso the puppy can always see you and know it hasn't been aban-doned. Willett also encourages you to keep a watchful eye onyour puppy at all times, and don't let them immediately have therun of your house. It's surprising just how quickly they can getinto mischief.

Even before you pick out that perfect puppy, you need to dosome basic research. A quick Google search will turn up loadsvaluable information about every breed of dog. Knowing the per-sonality traits, temperament and basic needs of your dog’s pri-mary breed can help you determine if the dog is a good fit foryour family.

I also encourage anyone who wants a puppy to check theirlocal shelters first. You'll be surprised at the wide varieties andbreeds of puppies available for adoption. If you don’t find yourideal puppy at a shelter, do your homework and find a responsi-ble breeder who can guarantee your puppy and his parents wereraised in a loving, humane environment.

BUDGET FOR YOUR NEW PUPPYOne other important thing to consider is the expense of a

puppy. One of the advantages to adopting a puppy from WaysideWaifs or your local shelter is your puppy is alreadyspay/neutered and has already received its age appropriate vac-cinations. Still, the puppy will need booster shots every fewweeks until they are five months old, so potential puppy parentsneed to keep vet bills in mind. As your dog grows, you can alsoexpect to spend more money on its food, a bigger crate andheartworm, flea & tick preventatives. Obedience training is anadditional expense.

Just remember the love of an animal is priceless, and eventhough raising a puppy is a challenge, it’s also highly rewarding.Cherish all those puppy kisses, that sweet puppy breath and theirhilarious antics. Most of all enjoy building that special bond withyour puppy as it grows.

Truman became the love of my life. Yes, getting him throughthat puppy stage was a challenge, but it was worth all thoseruined shoes, carpet cleaner and apologies to my neighbors.Next month we’ll celebrate his tenth birthday and we’ll pray formany more wonderful years together.

Ashlee Parker is the Communications Manager atWayside Waifs. Before pursuing her passion in animalwelfare, she worked as television news producer at TVstations in Kansas City and across the country. Ashleeis the proud pet parent of Truman the MiniatureSchnauzer and Gretzky the Scottish Fold. Ashlee canbe reached at [email protected]

As trainers, and parents of 7 and 10 year old kids, we learnabout dogs and kids from their behavior by living life andlearning from our mistakes! Today was no exception!!! Mysons learned a valuable lesson this morning; and two of mydogs are licking their respective wounds…

This morning, like any other morning, my sons were doingtheir chores, taking the dogs outside to potty, getting Kongsready for breakfast, and then the mistake… instead of bring-ing them in to eat, they decided to go do kids stuff and forgotabout feeding the dogs! My wife was working on the comput-er and I had run to the kennel to get some training supplies.You know life in action!

by Mike Deathe


Real Life

THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENSNow, having the dogs together is not

necessarily a bad thing, but as with life— the unexpected always occurs!Remember Murphy’s Law!

Turns out, two of our neighbor’s dogsgot loose and guess where they head-ed... Right up to our dog run! If youweren’t already aware, when dogs getover-stimulated, they will sometimeslash out at whatever is closest…Walla— Penny our smallest (but in hermind, mightiest) lashed out at Lexi(our lab mix) and well…let’s say Lexidid not take this insolence kindly! Nextthing you know, I have one dog with apuncture on the leg and the other witha small laceration on her shoulder.

Stuff!If you have or are planning ongetting a dog, and are thinkingabout leaving them by them-

selves outside all day while youare at work or solely for yourconvenience then a dog might

not be the pet for you!


Now, in terms of a dog fight, this would not be a considered a“really bad” dog fight, but it was still a very stressful situation forboth the family and the dogs. What this does point out is a hugebuga-boo about dogs owners that drives me nuts! Leaving dogsalone outside (in a run or backyard) for prolonged periods oftime!

DOG’S ARE SOCIAL ANIMALSLet’s face it, dogs are social animals and they love being

around us. By the way, they deserve no less. If you have a dog, orare planning on getting a dog, and are thinking about leavingthem by themselves outside all day while you are at work or sole-ly for your convenience, then a dog might not be the pet foryou!!! They require your time and attention…period! Doyou think my kids expected the neighbor’s dogs to get loose andthen to be the catalyst to a dog fight? Of course they didn’t. Butas most of us have already learned — life (or the other four let-ter word) happens! Just like kids…dogs left unattended willresult in something bad eventually! Not to mention, if we keepdogs with us and around us, WE control the situation! We canchoose what behavior to reward and what behavior to correct orcoach. Far too many people just deposit their dogs in dog run orback yard, leaving them to their own devices, and then actshocked when something bad happens! In my case, the entire sit-uation came to fruition in under an hour!

TEACHABLE MOMENTSAm I mad at my sons? Of course not, they did not mean for the

fight to happen, but unintentionally put an unforeseen chain ofevents in motion without realizing it! Today was what many train-ers refer to as a “teachable moment!” I sat down and let themknow that the responsibility of owning dogs does not end whenwe want to listen to an IPod or play the Wii; it is a full time job!In the end, the dogs are OK (even if a little sore) and my wife andmy stress levels are coming back down to normal, and allinvolved have learned to be more aware. The key to dog training,heck life in general, is to learn from mistakes and move on! Sotake heed…use my mistake to look at your own situation andadjust for success! I guess in the end, situations like this explainwhy I chose the name Keep it Simple Stupid for my dog trainingbusiness! :)

Mike Deathe is a stay-at-home dad who foundhis passion as a dog trainer in 2008. The authorof the Keep It Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Pet Blog.Mike has had dogs since he was four years old!In 2009, he and his wife Kate founded Muttz“R” Us, a t-shirt and pet product company witha philanthropic motto of “Adopt a Pet, Save aLife.” In 2010 Muttz “R” Us also launched

KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID DOG TRAINING. He is a charter member ofHeartland Positive Dog Training Alliance and just earned his CPDT–-KA cre-dential! Visit him at facebook or twitter or follow the blog@http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com/ or check out the websitemuttzrus.com for details about shirts.


Puppies for Parole was honored in October, 2010 for Innovation at the2010 Missouri Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity. Puppies forParole is the Missouri Department of Corrections’ (MDOC) program to part-ner with local animal shelters and rescue groups to help reduce the numberof healthy dogs killed due to lack of space. While the MDOC does have a serv-ice dog program, C.H.A.M.P.S., in Vandalia, MO, Puppies for Parole allowsinstitutions to partner with shelters and groups in their local area on help-ing dogs to find homes.

PROGRAM PROVIDES INCENTIVESPuppies for Parole provides incentives to the offenders who maintain a

record of good conduct, provides them with skills for rehabilitation, andallows them to participate in a program to repay the community. Offendersnot participating in the program and the staff also benefit from this program.

The MDOC website quotes George A. Lombardi, Director of MDOC, “Thedogs have a remarkable impact on MDOC offenders, improving offenderbehavior and giving offenders incentive to maintain excellent conductrecords. Offenders not directly involved in the program are showing respon-


Puppies for Parole

Award Winning and Going Global

The following websites identify participants alongwith those who helped with setting up Puppies forParole in Cameron, MO.

• Puppies for Parole official website:doc.mo.gov/division/dai/puppies.php

• Cameron Animal Shelter:www.petfinder.com/shelters/MO543.html

• Kansas City Dog Advocates: www.kcdogadvo-cates.org

• TAILS Rescue: www.tailsrescuekc.org• K9 Instincts LLC: www.k9-instincts.com• The PawZone: www.thepawzone.com

And a Very Special Thanks to Mandy,Staci, Brian, and the rest at CRCC and WMCC fortheir assistance and contributions to this articleand programs!

by Dani Rouse Holland


sibility and selflessness by donating to support our efforts. Staffmorale is also enhanced by the presence of the dogs.”

Animal shelters and rescue groups provide dogs and any itemsneeded for the dogs, including: food, bowls, leashes, kennels,poop bags, toys, etc. as no tax payer funds are used for the dogs.Providing for all costs related to the dogs is the responsibility ofthe group providing the dogs.

PROGRAM IS GROWINGIn Cameron, MO, Crossroads Correctional Center (CRCC) and

Western Missouri Correctional Center (WMCC) are the sixth andseventh institutions to participate. Volunteers were requested tohelp with the shelters along with asking for dog trainers to par-ticipate. After the initial meetings, the MOUs (Memorandums ofUnderstanding) were signed. CRCC received their dogs in Juneand WMCC received their dogs in July. Both institutions haveadopted a total of 10 dogs as of the end of September. Both havegone from five dogs each to six and seven dogs respectively. Asthe program progresses they want to expand to more dogs asmore offenders apply to participate.

In addition to learning basic skills needed for the Canine GoodCitizen test, dogs and their handlers at both institutions arelearning the skills of Pure Dog Listening. These are the onlyinstitutions in the United States learning Pure Dog Listening(PDL). PDL training teaches how to communicate with the dogsin a language they understand and allow them to draw their ownconclusions of their own free will. PDL helps handlers view theworld from a dog’s perspective. Instead of treating a dog as ahuman with a bunch of meaningless words, they communicatewith them in a way that they understand. They show respect forthe dog without using any force and by being calm and consis-tent with a positive attitude.

PROGRAM GOING INTERNATIONALLYBecause of the success with PDL in Cameron, MO, Pure Dog

Listeners of the United Kingdom has approached the HomeOffice in London, England to create a Puppies for Parole pro-gram based on MDOC’s program.

Director Lombardi is looking at other partners in the nearfuture. The Department of Health would like adopt dogs fromthe program to aid in the adjustment of the mentally ill anddevelopmentally disabled. The Veterans Administration wouldlike to do the same for combat veterans with PTSD. And a psy-chiatrist is interested in therapy dogs for autistic children andwould like to use dogs from Puppies for Parole.

So a program that started out in Missouri to help offendersand dogs is expanding to help others within the State of Missouriand overseas in the United Kingdom.

Dani Rouse Holland is America’s first AccreditedPure Dog Listener. She is a member of Pure DogListeners of the UK and affiliated with Dog ListenersDown Under of Australia and New Zealand. She hasbeen helping dogs and their guardians to have the bestrelationship possible since 2005. Find out more at:www.K9-Instincts.com.

Animal shelters and rescue groupsprovide dogs and any items

needed for the dogs, including:food, bowls, leashes, kennels,poop bags, toys, etc. as no tax

payer funds are used for the dogs.

More puppies are abandoned at shelters, because they chewed someone’sfavorite shoes. Puppies, like children, experience the world through touchingand tasting everything. Also, like children, they are teething and lose their babyteeth between six and seven months of age.

ACCEPT IT!Accept the fact that the puppy will chew everything he can get his little paws

and mouth on. Do not leave your favorite shoes, purse, briefcase, backpack, orstuffed toys, on the floor or anywhere the dog could reach it. Don’t leave thecloset door open. If the puppy damages something you would have preferredhe did not, and you do not catchhim in the act, just throw the itemout; accept the fact that it was yourfault the incident happened,because you gave the puppy accessto the item; you did not keep a close eye on him; you were not diligentenough in training him; and promise to yourself that you will dobetter. At this point in time, it will serve no purpose to get madat yourself and/or the puppy, and definitely not to punish thepuppy. He would have no idea what you are talking about.

DEAL WITH IT!Before you bring the puppy home, “puppy proof” the house.1. Pick up everything off the floor.2. Pick up everything of the coffee tables and low book shelves that can be

broken(glass) or chewed.3. I would not hurt to get ready of the pillows off the couch.4. Cover electrical outlets. Puppies lick.5. Cover, tie, and hide electrical/cable/phone/cords.6. Keep a tight lid on all the trashcans in the house. The toilet paper from the

bathroom trashcan may be fun to play with, but not much fun to clean up,or get out of his blocked intestines.

After the puppy is home:1. Buy lots of dog toys and rotate them so he does not get bored.2. If you have young children that own stuffed animals DO NOT buy stuffed

dog toys. He will not know the difference. 3. DO NOT let the dog play with the child’s toys. Avoid jealousy and fights.4. DO NOT give the dog old sox or old shoes to play with. He does not know

the difference between the new and the old.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!1. When a responsible person(not a child under 10 years old) is not avail-

able to keep an eye on the dog keep it contained either in a wire crate or


a small area as a kitchen, bathroom or laun-dry room that have been puppy proofed.

Leave them dog toys to play withand water. Most of the time thepuppy will sleep, feeling safe inhis den. DO NOT let him loose inthe garage where he can lick oilor antifreeze off the floor and getpoisoned. DO NOT forget the night

when you are asleep. DO NOT lethim have the run of the house.We had a Rottweiler puppy that

liked to play with the large paving blocks and itthreatened to ruin his teeth, so we got him a cartire instead. He loved to roll it.

2. When you are available, but involved with thecomputer, tv, etc. if you do not keep the dogconfided keep the dog tattered to a 6 feetleash or a cord and to your person (belt,wrist, whatever) and make sure he has anappropriate toy. That way you are alwaysaware of where he is and what he is doing.Just like little kids, when they are in anotherroom and it is quite, it is best to assume thatthey got into something they should not. Bythe way, this works for house breaking also.

3. When you catch the dog chewing on thewrong thing,

• Say sharply “no” or “uh uh” (DO NOTSCREAM), shake a can with pennies or anykind of sharp noise to distract the dog butnot to scare him.

• Remove the item from his mouth.• Give him a dog toy and tell him in a happy,

high-pitched voice “good dog.”• If he turns aggressive, growls, or tries to

bite DO NOT back off. Try to Distract him


Puppies CHEW!It’s a given fact.Accept it!Deal with it!

by Ghiziana Iosif-Arndt


by showing him a favorite toy or treat. DO NOT give himthe reward before he has relinquished the item and is sit-ting properly. Then praise him. If the distraction does notwork then use a roll of paper towels on a small dog to gen-tly push him away. If he bites it will not hurt his teeth oryour hand. On a larger dog use a broom and gently inter-cede between the dog and the item. Then tell him to sit.Give him a treat and praise him.

All these directions apply to an adult rescued dog, not just topuppies. It just does not take as long to train an adult.

Ghiziana Iosif-Arndt is the Owner of One of a Kind Friend and the co-founder of Kansas City Dachshund and Rottweiler rescue. She has 20 yearsof experience in rescuing, behavior modification, and obedience training ofdogs. She has offered training classes through UMKC Comuniversity andprivate lessons. For questions she may be reached at 816-726-8087 or [email protected].

Tails R’ Waggin — Pawsfor a CauseWhat: Donations to Harvesters

& local animal charities— receive 5% discount of boarding

Where: Tails R’ Waggin, OP, KSWhen: DecemberDetails: www.tailsrwaggin.com

Shelties Rescue Adoptions What: Adoption EventsWhere: Petco, 75th & Metcalf, OP, KSWhen: Sat, December 11 • 10 am - 2 pm

Sun, Jan 2, 2011 • 11 am - 3 pSat, Jan 8 & 22, 2011 • 10 am - 2 pm

Details: kcsheltierescue.org

Upcoming Events

Please remember all theHumane and RescueGroups during the

Holidays!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Problem Dog The Sagittarius Dog will bedetermined to get to the bottom of everything...

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)The Social Climber There is also a tendency to bestubborn and the commands or calls of any ownerare quite likely to be ignored.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18)The Friend The Aquarius Dog enjoys working inentertainment, as a circus performer or TV star.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)The Interpreter Basically a water dog, this caninewill be desperately unhappy without this element.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Leader of the Pack Much like Harry Houdini(who was also born under the sign of Aries), thiscanine is sure to find a way to escape.

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20) The Strong Silent Type the Taurus Dog is a loyaland faithful creature, relatively easy to train andhighly unlikely to ever run away from home.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) The Yapper If the impatience of a Gemini Dogcan be overcome, then an owner will soon be ableto teach this canine an entire battery of tricks.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22)The Home-Lover The Cancer Dog is prone to psy-chosomatic problems whenever life becomes toooverwhelming.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)The Boss-Dog Most Leo Dogs make for affection-ate and cheerful companions, although they can attimes be pompous and dogmatic.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Helper This canine is determined that their life befilled with beauty and nothing but the best will suf-fice...the most comfortable chair, the most delicious offood.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Shop-Steward The male Libra Dog will spenda lot of time in involvements with the opposite sex,but always in the most delicate and discreet fash-ion.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Paragon Physically, the Scorpio Dog is thick-set with handsome features, but is not one toreveal feelings through body language.

Canine Signs


DAY CARE, BOARDING

AND/OR PET SITTINGDuring the workday or a holiday, if you need a place for your

furry companion, support these MetroPet advertisers. • AID Animal Hospital — we offer boarding and we treat

your pet like family 816-363-4922• Arbor Creek Animal Hospital — our facility is staffed

by trained veterinary technicians and assistants who are atthe hospital 7 days a week 913-764-9000

• Broadmore Kennels — our all inclusive dog boardingand daycare facility offers five star luxury accommodations— we are a one of a kind facility 913-441-5026

• Camp Bow Wow — where does your pup stay while youare away? See the difference at Camp Bow Wow! Lee’sSummit 816-246-RUFF (7833) and Olathe 913-322-2267

• Camp Bow Wow Home Buddies — leave your pet athome — we come to you! We take care of all types of pets.913-948-6626

• Cat Clinic of Johnson County — the very best in “homeaway from home” accommodations just for cats! 913-541-0478

• Dog’s World of Fun — Where dog gone good times arehad! Boarding is just $16/night; daycare is just $12 per day816-931-5822

• Guardian Pet Care and Massage — pet sitting and dogwalking; dog and horse massage — bonded and insured.Call Jim at 913-538-1548

• Homestead — a country retreat — your pet’s home awayfrom home! Door-to-Door transportation available. 785-872-3200

• Tails R’ Waggin — a premier pet resort! Dog and catboarding, daycare and grooming. Participate in our Pawsfor a Cause program to earn a discount 913-685-9246

• The Paw Zone — Pawsitively passionate about your pet.Offering in-home pet care & canine coaching. 816-820-5829

Did You Know?Over the last two years, Subaru has donated nearly $10 mil-

lion to charity. If you purchase a new Subaru between now andJanuary 3, Subaru will donate $250 to one of five charities.These charities include the The American Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals. Get a great deal and support agreat cause. Because giving back feels good.

• Lee’s Summit Subaru — The best pet friendly cardealership in town. Check out their great selection ofvehicles, and buy from people who love their pets!816-251-8600

metro pet mag - december 2010

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