The decision to spay or neuter our dogs is very difficult. In the past early spay/neutering was highly recommended by veterinarians to be done at a very early age – often between 6 months to 1 years.  However research now indicates that early spay/neutering leads to health problems. We also know that neutering of large breeds predisposes these dogs to cancers and structural problems. The problem lies somewhere in the middle of drawing conclusions about health risks and predispositions for all dogs that have been spayed or neutered. The debate rages with breeders, owners and veterinarians vehemently defending their position either pro or con on this issue.
 
This blog post is prompted by my recent experience in considering and making a decision to neuter my 2 year old Border Collie. As I previously mentioned this decision is not taken lightly by most owners who are up to date on the latest health risks and issues of dogs. Issues include immunizations, diet, exercise, performance sports and now to spay or neuter.
 
Since my BC turned one year of age I always thought that I would never neuter him. I talked in depth with a good friend who has done extensive research and joined groups discussing this topic on whether to spay her young bitch. We have both read and read research, papers and talked to those whom we trusted to have done the same to see what conclusions they had come up with. Two veterinarians (one a very excellent holistic vet and the other a very excellent more traditional vet) both discussed with me their interpretations of the research. Both have stayed not only interested in this topic but also up to date. I have trusted their decisions and care for quite some time. Neither was willing to tell me to do or not to do neutering. The decision was now ultimately up to me.
 
When my BC turned 2 I became more serious about my consideration of neutering when a number of incidents came up. I will only mention one here that was most distressing since like all things, issues arouse controversy about the quality of training and perhaps corrections. My intent is not to go over these personal issues that I wanted to change but most importantly what was most disturbing to me was how my intact dog with his hormones was arousing other dogs when he walked by. I do a lot of leash walks in a lovely creek side park in Sedona, AZ and when we would walk by some other dogs they would get postured and act as if they could be aggressive. My dog was good about this especially when one was off leash and came charging up to us. However, this continued at dog events that I attended – a few dogs lunging at my dog when he walked by. This also  happened on occasion where I train that when we were in an enclosed a ring, a few other dogs who were intact would walk by and aggressively lunge at my dog. My young dog has managed it well but over the period of time this was happening he started putting up his hackles and acting like he wanted to protect himself. I worked very hard to keep him calm and looking at or being triggered by these dogs but I did not like this need to carefully monitor all situations.
 
I have other male neutered  dogs and a female spayed and we often go on lovely off leash hikes in the forest. I have never had a problem with dog aggression from other dogs or my dogs and have not had to worry about this. I did not want to now have to worry and put fear into my young dog every time we were hiking and another dog approached. I had talked to other people where their un-neutered dog also triggered such behavior in other dogs even at age 4; neutering the dog helped this problem to stop. This was one of several issues that I was not happy about.
 
So after spending many months researching, discussing and struggling with this decision, I decided to move forward to have my young BC neutered. He was done 3 weeks ago and has done well.
 
So what prompted me to write this blog post – I received a very disturbing email from a not to be named individual who as much as told me that she was very disappointed that I neutered this dog and surprised that I would put my dog at risk for all the health issues associated with neutering despite the fact I waited until he was over 2 years old. She also mentioned that hormones have many benefits for tissue health, repair and strength and that she hoped this dog would continue to be healthy and happy.
 
I was deeply hurt by this especially since I have spent so much time learning and reading about how to keep my dogs healthy with the best food, exercise, performance sports and working out to build their core strength in their doggie gym. How can one not consider the great importance in each of these things in keeping a dog healthy, fit and having a happy, productive and long life. Where were her research papers she referred to that supported her position?
 
MY FINDINGS….
Here’s a quick science-based overview of what we know today:
·       Early neutering of dogs doubles the chance of hip dysplasia (1)
·       Early neutering increases joint disorders in dogs by four times (2)
·       Neutering dogs triples the risk of several joint problems in GSDs (3)
·       Neutering decreases longevity in Rottweilers (4)
·       Neutering increases a chance of cancer in dogs (5)
 
Taken from “Science of Pros and Cons of Neutering or Spaying your Dog” by Jenica Johnson, MSc, January 2018.
https://topdogtips.com/pros-and-cons-of-spaying-your-dog/#References
 
I highly recommend reading this excellent article that presents current science and research on what we have learned about the pro and cons of spay and neutering.
 
The word, “science” comes up…. A word that is very important when we talk about research. For those of us who have been scientists we know that research studies can be planned and conducted to find whatever the researchers would like to see in the findings. There needs to be unbiased researchers with control and experimental groups that take into account the generalizability of the population selected.
 
Two very excellent articles are written by Vick Spain, DVM, PhD who after working in veterinary practice in the 1990s decided to pursue a PhD in epidemiology at Cornell University. After spending 4 years leading research at Cornell on the long-term risks and benefits of pediatric neutering and publishing his findings in reputable peer-reviewd journals, he writes about his conclusions and finding about the research being done and reported in the last few years on spay/neutering. I refer you to 2 excellent articles by Dr. Spain
 
“Decoding Spay/Neuter Research Part 1”, April 12, 2017
https://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2017/04/12/decoding-spayneuter-research-part-1

“Decoding Spay/Neuter Research Part 2” May 17, 2017
https://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2017/05/17/decoding-spayneuter-research-part-2
 
Summarizing Dr. Spain’s findings
“Unfortunately, most of the studies from the last couple of years were subject to serious flaws that make the findings unreliable for understanding the risks and benefits of neutering dogs. To complicate matters, the subsequent social media coverage came dangerously close to being fake news by cherry-picking findings that would support an anti-neuter perspective and ignoring the other findings.”
 
“The studies we discussed in the first part of this series did not collect data on reason for neuter, and made little attempt to assess which relationships could be explained by a reason that is not cause-and-effect. As a result, readers are left with the false impression that all the outcomes were caused by the choice to neuter (or choice to neuter at a particular age). They are also left with the implication—likely incorrect, in some cases—that the health outcomes could be averted by delaying or avoiding neutering. Unfortunately, in these studies, it is nearly impossible to tease out which of the relationships are cause-and-effect and which aren’t.”
 
“To compound the limitations of these studies, reports on them cherry-picked findings that supported an anti-neuter perspective…
These reports either did not mention the conditions that were reduced with neutering, or they only mentioned those findings near the end of the story, long after many social media readers would have stopped reading. And the reports certainly didn’t cover any of the studies’ limitations. While technically accurate, these reports appeared to be intentionally misleading and, as a result, verging on fake news.”
From my latest review of the literature I have to totally agree with scientists and researchers such as Dr. Spain and others that this topic is very important and we need more conclusive evidence on how to view this procedure and findings we can believe on the pros and cons of spay/neutering that we can believe and use to help us make our decisions.
 
I also recommend a review of the research done by Dr. Jean Dodds despite the date of 2015.
​“Revisiting Spay/Neutering of Dogs and Cats”
https://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/125096705031/spay-neuter-dog-cat#.Wz_VCxJKhBx

Very interesting new research article on neutering based on breed. ADDED 8/2021

 
DISCLAIMER: This writing reflects my 10-year experience with my dogs and several other friend’s dogs that do not want to eat their food. This is not meant to be a treatment but only what I have learned about what has helped my dogs and the dogs I have worked with to help them resume eating.
NOTE: One of the most important first steps is to identify the reason for the dog not eating such as illness.  It is important to first see your vet to discuss underlying conditions that could be causing the anorexia.
 

We love our dogs and want them to be healthy so when they refuse to eat, we search for a food that they might like and eat – raw food, canned food, home cooked food, kibble, combinations of food – hoping that something will be appetizing to them. We often start cooking things like chicken and rice for them and may even hand feed them to encourage them to eat, only to find that soon that too does not work and they again refuse food.
 
My Puli never liked eating from the time he was a very young puppy. Having had Border Collies that have great appetites and love food and whatever fruits or veggies I add it was a source of worry and concern to me over why my, Puli, Ziggy would not eat.  Additionally, he would occasionally vomit first thing in the morning when he got up.
 
I took him to the vet who suggested we do and abdominal ultrasound to see if there was a health issue. The ultrasound was normal and happily did not reveal an illness or problem that might be causing the anorexia. So I continued with whatever I could including hand feeding, going for a walk, feeding on the trail, feeding when we got home when he hopefully would be more hungry.
 
Then one day a friend suggested Dogzymes – a digestive enhancer from Natures Farmacy. I had never known about probiotics or digestive enhancers. This was over 9 years ago when probiotics were not as widely used and written about on their great value for gut health. Dogzymes Digstive Enhancer has 5 beneficial bacteria types and 6 enzymes making it an excellent digestive supplement to add to the dog’s food.
 
I was amazed to find that Ziggy started showing interest in food and within a month was eating happily and hungrily on his own.
 
Over 30 years ago, Natures Farmacy was the first to market organic, high-potency probiotics for dogs. Since then they have expanded their line of products but have not lost their excellent customer service. I have called them when one of my dogs had diarrhea, an upset stomach or had to be on an antibiotic and their friendly representative would tell me how to use and increase the digestive enhancer as well as how to support the dogs digestive system when they travel or are away for shows.
 
Since then I have learned about 2 other excellent products from Natures Farmacy: Probiotics Max and Probiotics Paste. Probiotics Max is what I now have Ziggy on since I felt after a few years he needed the support of more probiotics and enzymes. Probiotics Max contains 8 strains of beneficial bacteria and 10 difference enzymes with a 6.8 billion colony forming unit. Max is excellent for soothing an overactive immune system and to support times of hard work, old age and stress. The Probiotics Paste is excellent for times of gastrointestinal stress and antibiotic treatment or travel. 
 
While this information on the digestive enhancers and probiotics from Natures Farmacy may seem like an advertisement for the company, I have never found a more effective product for dogs that will not eat and DO NOT have an underlying illness or medical problem. Today I use VetriScience probiotics twice a day for my 3 Border Collies but often use Dogzymes when we travel or if the dogs get an upset stomach. When using probiotics it is very important to research the company to be sure that their product does contain what they claim it contains in an active form. Also, dogs need a totally different set of bacteria and enzymes for their gut then what humans do.
 
While the digestive enhancer and probiotics has greatly helped Ziggy and a few other dogs that I have recommended this to, there are other considerations.  After refusing food for some time, the dogs seem to get a fear of what is being put down for breakfast or dinner. They smell the food and look at it and assume they will not like what is being offered. What I have found that in the time of improving their digestive system and gut health it is important to find a new food with a new smell and different texture. For example, if Ziggy had been eating raw food, I would change the protein source to a new meat protein and change the texture to perhaps a freeze dried or dehydrated food. This not only looks and smells differently but also has a new texture. This has worked quite well.
 
Additionally, while the digestive enhancer is excellent, I have found that it is not a perfect solution. Ziggy and other dogs seem to be willing to eat a new food for some time, perhaps a few weeks, and then suddenly turn up their noses to the same food they have been happily eating. These dogs seem to need a frequent change in their food. Either I will routinely change both the protein and the texture or I often wait until Ziggy lets me know he needs a change. For example, I may feed a little raw mixed in with freeze dried. Then move to only raw. Then to change the texture again, move back to only the freeze dried. I have been known to use and add kibble just for variety. And, yes I realize the controversy over adding kibble to a raw diet.  

Another appetizer that I frequently use especially in the morning when their appetite may seem to be less, is that I add a little sprinkle of their favorite treat over the food. I notice how Ziggy will smell this treat to be sure it is one he approves. :-)
 
I am always looking for the best food source for my dogs and while I cannot always find the quality of the food like Primal, I have found that companies such as Stella and Chewy and Only Natural Pet have some excellent raw freeze dried and dehydrated foods. The texture, look and smell are different enough to add that variety that I am looking for to keep Ziggy’s appetite up.
 
Ziggy does still occasionally vomit yellow foam in the early morning. For some dogs an empty stomach can lead to bile reflux. Reducing the time between meals helps as it has with Ziggy. I give Ziggy about a tablespoon of kibble at bedtime which seems to greatly help. Other people have found other bedtime snacks to also be effective.
 
While I have just been writing about my anorexia journey with my Puli, I have had other people who have had very similar issues not only add the digestive enhancer to the diet with excellent results but have also found the need to rotate and change the food source and texture. I have also had other dogs who have lost their appetite for other reasons and working with the probiotic, new and different foods and textures has seemed to help them past this anorexic period. I had a Puli many years ago who would not eat due to chemotherapy. I found that the only food he liked and would eat was Ziwi Peaks freeze dried which is also a complete and balanced food. I have had other dogs that I work with that like Ziwi Peaks freeze dried pieces when they would not eat. Dogs seem to really like it. Perhaps the tiny pieces seem more like treats to them than food. 
 
Some of my favorite sources:
 
Natures Farmacy: 
Primal: 
Only Natural Pet: 
Ziwi Peaks: Ziwi Peaks is an excellent food made in New Zealand and also has excellent canned food. All food made in New Zeakand from free range farms. 
Stella and Chewies: 
 

 
If you have been following my blog and web site you will know Kaffee. On January 7, 2018 Kaffee turned 13 and he is still walking daily with me, hiking on trails with the other dogs and friends for 1-2 hour walks, taking herding lessons and still competing in herding competitions. I feel so grateful that Kaffee is still well and fit at age 13. In this writing I would like to share some of the things that I have done to keep Kaffee active, healthy and happy.
 
First, Kaffee has been an amazing partner. We have gone on a wonderful journey together in these 13 years: competing in agility; traveling a great deal for us to learn about herding and competing where I put all his novice herding titles on him in AKC and AHBA. We then moved to obedience where he  successfully competed getting 20 High in Trials, 22 High Combined recognitions and even more amazing was his OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) that he got a few years ago. After his OTCH Kaffee (age 11) Kaffee went back to herding. I wanted him to not run as much to help keep in sound and to understand the finesse of driving. Kaffee then started training and showing with Dawna Sims who is an amazing trainer. Dawna put all of Kaffee’s open and advanced titles on him including his AHBA HTCH (Herding Trial Champion). Since he is sound and still enjoys herding sheep (and I enjoy watching him so much) he continues to take his sheep herding lesson and compete in AKC and AHBA Advanced. Many times he places and even will win his class.
 
Our life was full of travel and adventures, exploring trails in Sedona and Flagstaff and many special times to remember in our pictures.
 
Reflecting back on Kaffee’s life in the past and present here are a few things that stand out that have helped preserve his health, soundness and fitness.

1. The very best nutrition possible.
2. Daily exercise to help keep his endurance.
3. Helping to prevent cognitive decline by finding ways for him to keep his mind active and always learning.
4. Keeping him fit with exercises designed to strengthen his core, keep his muscles strong in his front and rear, help him with his balance and stability
5. And most importantly, NEVER THINKING HE IS TOO OLD to do what the other younger Border Collies in the family do.

 
BEST NUTRITION AND CANINE NUTRIGENOMICS
I highly recommend Dr. Jean Dodds and Diana Laverdure’s excellent book, Canine Nutrigenomics where much of my new knowledge has come from. In this amazing book Dr. Dodds writes how our dogs are born with 21,000 genes. While we cannot do much to change these genes there is another layer of genes called the epigenome that surrounds our DNA and the proteins attached. From extensive research we now know that food communicates with our cells and can control these genes. You will learn important and valuable information in Canine Nutrigenomics on how food can change your dogs health and wellness and prevent many of the inflammation based conditions that are so prevalent in our animals such as allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disease, cancer, cognitive issues, GI disorder and many more.
 
I have been feeding a raw diet to my dogs for many years. However after taking 2 very extensive nutrition courses (one from Dogs Naturally and more recently from Dr. Jean Dodds and Diana Laverdure) I have modified the not only the quality of the raw food but also added functional canine superfoods avoiding foods that can lead to inflammation and the many diseases that are now prevalent in dogs.
 
These changes include:

• Meat from grass fed animals with no antibiotics, steroids, hormones and the highest quality wholesome ingredients including 100% USDA edible-grade meats and certified organic produce.
• Addition of organic produce daily to their diet such as the powerful antioxidant organic blueberries and nutrient dense superfoods such as watercress. Other superfoods come from fruits and vegetables such as the cruciferous vegetables broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage and bok choy. Leafy green vegetables are excellent and my dogs get one leafy green veggie with each meal.
• We know that fresh (organic when possible) fruits are important such as apples, bananas, berries and cantaloupe.
• The importance of functional fats and oils such as the addition of omega 3 fatty acids and coconut oil to a dogs diet.
• A senior dog has special needs such as preventing cognitive decline and coconut oil has the most amazing scientifically proven ability to improve brain function in older dogs (page 163, Canine Nutrigenomics). Antioxidents also are very beneficial for counteracting the effects of free radicals on the brain.
• Supplements to support canine performance and stamina and possible system weaknesses identified by blood work.
• Variety and rotation of all the food groups to maintain balance. I rotate their meat every 3-4 weeks and feed seasonal veggies.

Again, I recommend Dr. Dodds book for detailed and fascinating information on not only how to keep your dog healthy but also how to change conditions that your dog might be experiencing such as allergies and GI problems.
 
DAILY EXERCISE
Daily walking as a form of excellent exercise is not only important and beneficial for humans but also for their canine partners. Dogs loose muscle strength as they age especially in their hind end. They also loose endurance, change of gait and balance, flexibility and stability. I have tried to be aware of this and daily do some form of exercise with Kaffe. At least 6 days a week Kaffee goes for either a 30 minute walk where we live or for a trail hike. We also go regularly to his doggie gym almost every day. You can see the video below of the advanced work he does on balance discs to help keep him fit.
 
On the past we were able to hike on beautiful forest service trails behind my house several days a week; we also go to Northern Arizona to hike on lovely trails. We were still going 1-2 times a week for walks or runs on the wooded trails. Recently the 3 Border Collies got to enjoy some light snow on these same trails. Kaffee loves the snow as do all the dogs and just runs and run. The snow brings the puppy inside out.
 
PREVENTING COGNITIVE DECLINE and DYSFUNCTION
Most dogs begin to show signs of cognitive decline by age 11 and 12. You will begin to notice that they behave differently than they did when they were younger. Some changes may be physical due to decreases in hearing and sight and others may be due to health such as arthritis. Still we see definite changes in their ability to process information, learn, remember and often we see disorientation. 
 
There are some things that can be done to help your aging senior dog related to diet, exercise, keeping a routine schedule, and finding ways for them to use their mind.
 
Here are a few things I have done with Kaffee.
 
Diet: Dr. Jean Dodds in her Canine Nutrigenomics book has an excellent section on “Nutritional Support for the Aging Canine Brain” (page 162). I again recommend her book but a few of the recommendations that I use with Kaffee and most of my dogs include:

• A diet rich in antioxidants to counteract the effects of free radials on the brain. Vitamins E and C plus the addition of fruits and vegetables are excellent. Blueberries are one of the best additions to the diet.
• Coconut oil has the amazing scientifically proven ability to improve brain function in older dogs (p. 163).
• Milk Thistle (reference p. 165-166). All my dogs receive Milk Thistle for one week a month

 
Work on Balance Discs: The video below shows the advanced work that Kaffee has progressed to on the balance discs. This work involving not only balance but also correct placement of front and hind legs encourages the use of his mind and translating it to his body. Kaffee loves his balance disc work and for his age has excellent balance. I believe this has some of the greatest impact on his cognition.
 
Activity: Kaffee has all of his herding titles but he still continues to take herding lessons regularly and compete in one class at each trial in 2 locations that he is familiar with. He seems to be so proud of himself when he herds the sheep and really enjoys this. This is another way he is being asked to use his mind and process information.
 
We have decreased the amount of time he herds to one run in a lesson and trial, only sheep and only trialing in 2 places that he is familiar with. He has a chance to practice his exercises in the trials helping to eliminate any confusion he might experience.
 
Fitness: As mentioned earlier Kaffee goes on daily walks with me for 30 minutes with some on and off leash. We also go hiking in Flagstaff 1-2 days a week on easy terrain. I am not sure that our hikes where I live would be suitable for him since it involves some climbing and maneuvering rocks but our hikes in Flagstaff seem to be perfect.
 
While I want to keep Kaffee as fit and active as possible I also realize that his activities need to be cut back to address what he is telling me about his body and what he can do. I watch him carefully every evening when he gets up to see if he is stiff or having trouble moving.
 
Yes, he still herds but less than a year ago. He comes out of the herding rings quite proud of himself. He got to spend his 13th birthday in an AHBA  herding trial. He runs Advanced Level III herding and while he is slower than many of the dogs, he is slow and steady and always seems to qualify with lovely scores. Below is the video of his 13th birthday AHBA L# herding run where he got a 97 out of 100 points. He also won the raffle on his birthday which is the picture shown above.

The second video is of how Kaffee stays strong and sound by working out in his doggie gym on balance discs several days a week.
 
 
Resources
AVMA: Caring for an Older Pet
https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Caring-for-an-Older-Pet-FAQs.aspx
 

​Over the last 10 years I have worked with a few individuals who have been very successful showing their dogs in obedience. Each of them have multiple OTCHs on different dogs and sometimes different breeds; each of these individuals consistently get scores 197 to 200. Not only have I learned a great deal from taking lessons from these individuals but also some very important tips for showing and helping your dog to be the best he can be in the ring after your time and preparation.
 
After watching so many dogs have difficulty earning just one qualifying score or just being successful in the ring, I thought it might be of value to share some of the tips I have learned to helping you and your dog be successful in your obedience class.
 
TIP 1: Familiarizing your dog with the show ring and show site: Some people like to get to a show site the day before so they can see what the ring fence and stantions look like for the GO OUTs. Sometimes it is possible to practice the GO OUT, on a leash outside the ring, the day before or very early the day of the show before the show begins. The more you know about the ring set-up and show site, the better prepared you are. Sometimes this is not possible if you are not staying over night and the drive is long to the show. If you are at the show site the afternoon before, this is the time to do a practice warm-up with heel work, scent articles, glove retrieve or whatever you feel would help you and your dog to be comfortable knowing the site and ring set-up.

PLEASE NOTE, you are never allowed to go into the show ring to practice. Sometimes a show will offer a match the evening before which offers you an excellent opportunity to get in the ring you will be showing in the following day.
 
TIP 2: Warming up your dog: For most dogs it is not advantageous to spend a long time warming them up and practicing. You and your dog should have done all your training before the show and now the day of the show, warm-up practice should be minimal. For example, in Utility, when the show begins, the judge posts the Utility exercise that you will perform as well as the glove number. Usually I like to do a small amount of heel work for focus; I especially like using heeling around cones to help engage the dog. Then I set up my practice scent articles so the dog is familiar with the new smells of this show site; then I practice retrieve of the glove that we will be asked to retrieve in the ring. I also like to bring a practice jump to help my dog warm up over the jump to help prevent a touch of the jump or injury from not being warmed up.

PLEASE NOTE; You dog must be on a leash at the show site when practicing. A flexi is allowed. Sometimes it is possible to find an area away from the show grounds to do some warm-up like a practice jump.
 
TIP 3: The day of the show, after you have done your warm-up with your dog, put them back in their crate to rest and relax. Sometimes covering the crate so the dog does not have to see what is going on around him, helps them to better relax. I usually like to take them out of their crate to potty them 3 or 4 dogs before they are scheduled to go into the ring.
 
TIP 4: Be familiar with the exercise you are going to be asked to do. If you are in Open B or Utility B, the exercises will vary in their order. The judge posts which exercise you are doing at the ring before you class begins. Be sure to be present for before the first dog so you can see the heeling pattern. It is very hard to do good heel work if you do not know what is coming in the heel pattern. It is sometimes helpful to sit by the ring and watch the other dogs. It may be helpful for your to practice the heeling pattern away from the ring without the dog so you are familiar and comfortable with the pattern and transitions you will be asked to do. Reflect on how you plan to indicate to your dog the upcoming transition: from walk to halt; left turn, right turn, stand. 
 
FOR UTILITY:

• Watch the heel pattern 
  
• Where will the heel pattern start?
  
• Watch the glove retrieve 
  
• Where will the moving stand be performed?
  
• Where is the judge placing the scent article in the pile?  
  
• Are there uneven areas in the ring that you need to be aware of when heeling? Are dogs having a particular problem with one exercise? Why?

 
FOR OPEN:

• Again watch the heel pattern before the class begins.
  
• Where will you be standing for the retrieve on the flat?
  
• Where will you be standing for the drop on recall?
  
• Where will the figure 8 be performed.

All of this information is very important since you will want to stay connected with your dog between exercises and not be ideal and not sure of where to go or what comes next. STAY ENGAGED WITH YOUR DOG.
 
TIP 5: Keep your dog cool. First and foremost it is very important to keep your dog fresh, rested and COOL. So many people have their dogs on a leash, walking around and visiting others at a show. Or perhaps they have not brought a crate or housing for their dog and their dog has to be on a leash at their side with no place to really relax. I learned this from a gentlemen many years ago who told me to stand in the shade with your dog when you are preparing to be the next dog in the ring.
 
TIP 6: Building on Tip #5, choose a cool, shaded place to stand and interact with your dog while the dog in the ring before you is performing.  Do not stand ringside, or in the sun or be chatting with friends. Use this time to connect with your dog, helping to relax and focus them on the work they are about to do. I usually tell the ring steward where I am and she will let me know when the judge is ready for us to enter the ring.

After the competitor before you finishes, the judge usually has to take a few minutes to complete her notes. DO NOT just be standing ideally waiting. Again, stand away from the ring, in the shade and interact with your dog. When it is time to enter the ring, you want your dog calm and focused.
 
Tip 7: Before you go into the ring, tell yourself how grateful you are that you have such a wonderful dog who can be your partner for the coming exercise. HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS! Just do your best.
 
Tip 8: Entering the ring: When it is your turn to enter the ring, try to heel in or have your dog connected and at your side from the close distance you were at in the shade. STAY ENGAGED even when you are taking the dogs leash off for the ring steward. The judge may want to chat with you but your job is to stay connected and focused on YOUR DOG. If the judge asks you to move to a different location look at your dog, and move together connected and ready for work. DO NOT BECOME DISTRACTED. This is a very important time to help your dog relax and feel connected with you and ready to work.
 
Tip 9: Between exercises. When you are moving to the place an exercise is to begin, you can and should interact with your dog and STAY CONNECTED. Don’t just ideally walk to the location and hope your dog will follow. When an exercise is over, you can talk with your dog, praise him or even do something like a hand touch to let them know how good they are. When you are set up for an exercise and the judge begins to talk to you about the exercise, she will ask you if you are ready. When you reply you are ready, the judging begins and you can no longer interact with or talk with your dog. Be sure to check the rule book to see when this occurs and what you can or cannot do. For example for scent articles, the judge will tell you when to go and pick up your article to scent from a chair. You will be allowed to tell you dog to stay but not further praise or interaction.
 
Tip 10: When you are finished, praise your dog and tell them they did a good job. I always feel so sad when people finish their work with their dog, put on the leash and just go out of the ring, sometimes dragging the dog along. They may stop and chat with people, or clearly express how bad their dog was. Remember, that it is seldom the dogs fault when things fall apart in the ring. Ask yourself why they did not qualify or why their performance was not up to your standard. What did you do that could have better helped them? Were they fearful and picked up on your nervousness? What did you do that contributed? Were you both adequately prepared which includes preparation at the show site and proofing your dog on all the exercises in new places? Dogs pick up on your disappointment so easily and perhaps will displace their lack of confidence at a later time not wanting to disappoint you again.

Most of all it is important to be grateful that you have such a wonderful dog to share this experience with. SMILE AND BE HAPPY no matter what the outcome. There will always be another day. 
 
 

DISCLAIMER: Let me begin with this disclaimer: this information is only reporting my experience with a bad reaction to puppy shots that lasted 6 months beginning at age 4 months old with a 3rd Parvo/Distempter shot and the decision of a “holistic vet” to give a 4th Parvo/Distempter at age 6 months when the puppy was clearly not responding well to the previous immunizations.
 
I am grateful each day that my puppy is symptom free but do not know what the future holds. I have been reading, taking seminars and doing research for the past 9 months on how to help my young puppy who now is almost one year old come back to a HEALTHY STATE where the immune system is sustained (Dr. Martin Goldstein, DVM). Since there is a huge increase in allergies in dogs and also more often in puppies, I wanted to share my experience and what I have learned incase it can help others. This is has been a long journey.
 
This blog writing has been divided into 2 parts due to all the extensive information:

1. PART 1: My story and what happened to my 4 month old puppy. He is now almost one year. This is our story.
2. PART II: A met analysis of all I have learned through reading articles, doing research and attending seminars. I have also done two distant consultations with excellent holistic veterinarians.

 
One critical message to dog owners up against any illness and especially allergies: DO NOT RELY SOLEY ON YOUR VETERINARIAN TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM with a shot or a prescription diet. You are your dogs best advocate for knowing him and what you are willing to do to help make him healthy. This is not a quick and easy solution (shots, prescription diets). To truly help your dog regain a state of health it will be expensive (organic foods and supplements) and you will have to spend time cooking and preparing healthy food alternatives, treats and training treats). Hopefully you will see my distrust, anger and lack of faith in most veterinarians based on my experience with my 4 month old puppy who was managed so poorly. It seems all traditional vets only want to give the puppy immunizations and are always reminding me that my puppy MUST have his rabies early (4 months old). IT IS THE LAW!!!
 
Here is my story:
My puppy was 4 months old and had just had his 3rd parvo/distempter shot. He came from Canada and had his first puppy shots at 71/2 weeks (a recommendation by Dr. Dodds if puppies have to travel at 8 weeks) and again parvo/distemper every 4 weeks after that…. as is usually recommended. It was not until the 3rd shot that he started to itch and scratch. In the past I have had an excellent holistic veterinarian that has helped my one dog with allergies at an early age. Unfortunately this vet sold his practice and due to a non-compete cannot see any of his old patients. Based on his recommendation to the vet he sold his practice to and on his recommendation that she was the only local person knowledgeable about allergies, I called and scheduled an appointment with this “holistic” vet.
 
She did see my puppy and give him a Vitamin B shot and a Chinese herb. He was a little better for about one week but started itching again. It was very very difficult to get a next appointment with her since she was booked solid for a month and her front office gal was not very helpful on the phone. She sounded annoyed that I insisted on talking with the vet since this is what we had discussed for a follow-up call that NEVER happened. Apparently the doctor was too busy to follow-up until I insisted.
 
After talking with the vet she found a time slot to see me. When I went in she did a parvo titer and found it to be only one point below a normal positive titer for Parvo. She then gave my poor puppy another COMBO PARVO/DISTEMPER at age 6 months when he was already showing signs of vaccination reaction. NOTE: Recommendation for vaccines are for HEALTHY ANIMALS…. My puppy was clearly not healthy. In addition to this shot she added yet another powerful Chinese herb and sent us home.
 
That night my puppy was bright red and very itchy and hot. I ended up giving him one of the Natural Hydrocortisone that I had for Kaffee’s allergy flair ups to help stop the reaction. This did help.
 
DID THIS SO CALLED HOLISTIC VET NOT UNDERSTAND THAT ONLY HEALTHY DOGS SHOULD RECEIVE IMMUNIZATIONS? WAS IT JUST EASIER ON HER TO GIVE A SHOT AND NOT BE AROUND TO HELP WITH THE CONSEQUENCES? Dr. Gloria Dodds often writes:
 
 “Interpreting titers correctly depends upon the disease in question. Some titers must reach a certain level to indicate immunity, but with the clinically important “core” diseases vaccines, the presence of any measurable antibody indicates protection.  
 
A positive titer test result is fairly straightforward, but a negative titer test result can be more difficult to interpret. This is because a negative titer is not the same thing as a zero titer, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that the animal is unprotected. A negative result usually means that the titer has failed to reach a desired threshold antibody level, but a low titer may still mean that the dog is protected upon exposure, as it doesn't reflect tissue levels of immunity.”
   Dr. Jean Dodds Pet Health Blog
   
Of note….. We were introduced to the cooling and warming properties of foods by this vet by giving us a printed article from Dogs Naturally magazine.   However were following food energetics with ALL organic foods supported by my strong belief in being able to heal with foods. We read about and followed the use of cooling food and to avoid warming or hot and warming foods.
 
SEE THE EXCELLENT ARTICLE from Dogs Naturally Magazine, “ Helping Allergies in Dogs with Food Energetics” 
 
After a few weeks of suffering with itching, biting and scratching and the loss of hair in places on his hip and legs, I decided to call my excellent vet in New York that I have written about so often, Dr. Alexandra Barrientos (Dr. Alex) who worked and studied with Dr. Marty Goldstein a number of years ago. Earth Angels  Veterinary
 
AND.. by the way, the vet who had given the shot and the Chinese herbs NEVER CALLED TO SEE how my puppy was doing: he was clearly having a vaccine reaction when I saw her and I called and reported that I was taking him off of the Chinese herbs since they did not seem to have any effect and I did not like giving him these potentially strong remedies for a puppy.  I also reported to her husband who answered the phone that he still was not doing well with his itching and biting himself.
 
Before my phone consultation with Dr. Alex I had blood work done which was normal other than a few values that did fall in the normal range but indicated immune problems and stress of the liver. Dr. Alex felt we needed to work with the immune system and gave me some supplements to start using.
 
To make a very long and difficult story short, under Dr. Alex’s guidance my puppy did improve with a few supplements to support his liver and immune system. I also changed his diet again to a cooling food (Duck from Darwins) and my addition of healing veggies. NO pre-made treats or processed food of any form. Everything this puppy got was ORGANIC and made by me with the exception of what I believe to be one of the best sources for raw food, Darwins (grass fed animals and organic veggies).
 
One major concern was creating chronic skin problems. Dr. Alex has always stressed to me the importance of trying to stop the allergic reaction so the dog can heal. Since she was not able to prescribe medication for this I went to one of my traditional vets who did my blood work and he suggested a medication that should help stop the itching in 24 hours.
 
This medication was very effective but I did not like having to give it once or twice a day and since it is relatively new there have been no long term studies on its effects on dogs.  When I returned for follow-up blood work to be sure my young dog was doing OK with his supplements and the medication, the vet told of a newly available medication that was newly released to vets that are not dermatologists works and for 4-6 weeks.
 
Yes, I hated giving these and yes the long term effects are not yet in. Yes, holistic veterinarians are very harsh in their mention of this… BUT WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE DONE EVRYTHING FOR 5 MONTHS AND YOUR PUPPY IS STILL ITCHING. I made the decision to try both of these and hopefully while the puppy was healing his immune system was becoming stronger. AGAIN, I BELIEVED STRONGLY IN FOOD ENERGETICS and the ability of food to heal.
 
 
WHERE WE ARE NOW:
My puppy is almost a year old and each day I am so grateful that he is happy, healthy and doing well…. No itching, biting or scratching. His hair has grown back and his coat is shiny and beautiful.
 
This is not to say that his itching, biting and scratching will not return, but I am strictly following some guidelines that research seem to indicate help and support the IMMUNE SYSTEM. A healthy immune system is CRITICAL for the health of a dog ---- this does not just include allergies, but also cancer and many other diseases and conditions that are now on the rise. When a dog develops an allergy, the immune system malfunctions. What is essential is to see why the dog has a malfunctioning immune system. In my puppies case it was clearly over vaccination.
 
Dr. Jean Dodds has researched and written for years about the effects of vaccines and over vaccination. Read her excellent information at: http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/dodds-vaccines#.WRH8QVPytBw
 
Dr. Richard Pitcairn back in 1993, wrote about the relationship between vaccination and the chronic disease in a paper presented at the AHVMA conference. http://www.drpitcairn.com/lectures-and-talks/new-look-at-vaccines/
 
It is not the intent of this writing to discuss canine allergies since what I want to share is my experience and some key guidelines that I learned about to help support and regain a healthy immune system. To learn more about Canine Allergies the Whole Dog Journal has published a very informative 27 page guide that you can purchase at: Scroll down to “Canine Allergies” https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/subscribe/main3.html?IPAuth_wholedogjournal=&s=GL_201705&st=WEB#ebooks
 
What is important to note however is that food hypersensitivity or allergies only account for less than 10 percent of what is labeled “food allergy”.  I have found this to be true since at first I thought we were having food allergies and changed food from chicken to beef to rabbit then duck; but now that the puppy seems to be in better health I am able to add back a few treats with different protein sources. Also, in addition to itching dogs usually have gastrointestinal symptoms of which my puppy had none. 

In PART 1 of this writing I shared my experience of my puppy reacting to parvo/distempter (no rabies) and how I felt he was managed so poorly by a veterinarian who calls herself “holistic.” As I wrote previously, it is very important for us not to rely solely on veterinarians but to take responsibility of learning as much as we can about our pet's condition, research on this condition and treatment options.
 
You will find much contradictory information and strong beliefs of those that write about pet health, management and especially diet. It is up to you to see what fits best for you and your pet and to take control of your own personal pet's health management.
 
Three excellent books that I highly recommend by well respected veterinarians that have worked in the field of alternative heath and creating wellness are the following:

• The Nature of Animal Healing by Dr. Martin Goldstein. This was my first introduction to alternative health and what makes animals sick and chronically ill.  When I lost my Puli at age 5 to cancer I was on a mission to learn why after feeling he received the best care and food. Dr. Goldstein has worked for many decades researching therapies that have benefited humans.  He has been treating critically ill animals with great success. Today his excellent work focuses on cancer treatment.
• Fresh Food and Ancient Wisdom by Dr. Ihor John Basco. This amazing book is about why we should not use commercial foods for our pets and how it has had dramatic effects on our animals’ health and wellness. This dog nutrition book is filled with excellent information to help you better understand food energetics and its role in restoring health. You will find many easy-to-make recipes for all types of dogs in all stages of life.
• Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats – 4th EDITION. Drs. Richard and Susan Hubble Pitcarin. Dr. Pitcarin is a well know and read specialist in chemical-free nutrition and natural healing for pets. This new 4th edition is very very different since there have been many revisions based on changes in agriculture and the factory farming of animals that has greatly effected the quality of food. There are excellent, easy to make recipes that I am using to supplement my dogs raw food.

 
My research and findings and what I have done to help restore health falls into these categories that I will summarize.

• NO PROCESSED FOODS. Avoid kibble and commercial foods. Feed fresh food and whenever possible, organic.
• THE MICROBIOME AND THE IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF PROBIOTICS.
• SUPPLEMENTS FOR SUPPORTING DRYNESS, HEALTH, THE LIVER AND RESTORATION OF A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM.
• MUSHROOMS AND IMMUNITY
• KEEPING YOUR DOG CLEAN AND AS FREE OF POLLEN AND ALLERGENS AS POSSIBLE
• PROVIDE A CHEMICAL FREE ENVIRONMENT
• DO NOT GIVE UNNECESSARY VACCINATIONS… TITER, SPREAD OUT VACCINATIONS

NO PROCESSED FOOD:
Our world has changed. Dating myself, I remember when I grew up that we ate food from my father’s garden; no canned, fast or processed food but living and healthy food. The family ate together and enjoyed the time to talk and share.

Today we live in a world with fast food and quick solutions to eating. Everyone is in a hurry and the new norm is fast food and grabbing a bite to eat on the run or in our cars. Additionally 85,000 man made chemicals have found their way into our food, bodies and home. There has been a dramatic increase in the use of herbicides, pesticides, genetic modifications of foods and the use of antibiotics and hormones given to animals that are no longer allowed to roam on environmentally safe pastures.

We now know that the use of household chemicals is an important cause of health problems which are getting worse with the rise of allergies, cancer and other chronic diseases in humans and pets.

Processed dog foods are but one of the causes of the symptoms of the increase in allergies and cancer in our pets. The articles below plus the books referenced above by Dr. Basco and Dr. Pitcarin describe how commercial pet foods, changes in our agricultural practices and the huge number of chemicals used daily in our environment have had a devastating effect on our pets.

Articles:

1. Dog Food: 10 Scary Truths by Jan Rasuman: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/dog-food-ten-scary-truths/
   
   
2. Dog Food Advisor: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/shocking-truth-about-dog-food/
   
   
3. GMO Pet Foods, BY: Dr. Pitcarin blog: http://www.drpitcairn.com/2013/04/gmo-pet-foods-2/
   
   
4. Busted: Dogs Naturally on Prescription Diet, BY: Dana Scott
   http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/calling-bullhit-prescription-diet-dog-food/

What is important to understand – pets’ allergies can be triggered by any of the substances that have been added to food during processing, which includes dog treats and biscuits,  or which comes from animals given antibiotics and hormones. Additionally do we know how the animals were raised and what they were exposed to during their lives? What chemicals are used to raise the fruits and vegetables we eat and that are put in pet foods?

My New Paradigm for the Health of My Pets: FOOD ENERGETICS
“In Traditional Chinese Medicine food is viewed as medicine and is used to nourish and harmonize the body, mind, and spirit. All foods have a distinct energy and characteristic properties that either help to balance our bodies and make us healthy, or that create imbalances which ultimately result in sickness.”
     Michelle Moore
 
Additionally foods have various properties such as cooling, warming, neutral and hot. Knowledge about which foods have which properties is very important when trying to bring down inflammation within an animal. Dogs that are having allergic reactions are often very warm, hot and often their skin is pink with inflammation (which is what my puppy had after the 4th Parvo/Distemper). The choice of cooling foods such as duck and rabbit for meat; celery, romaine lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, mushrooms and seaweed are foods that should be included in the diet to help cool the animal and calm the inflammation. Neutral foods can be given but at this time warm and hot foods avoided. For more information on this refer to

• “Helping Allergies in Dogs with Food Energetics” by Dr. Chris Bessent
  http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/allergies-food-energetics/
• AND the excellent book by Dr. Basco, Fresh Foods and Ancient Wisdom. In addition to presenting many foods and their properties of cooling, warming, neutral and warm, Dr. Basco also discusses how properties of each of these foods supports the road to health and wellness with properties such as support of the liver, kidneys, nourishing the blood, relieving inflammation, helping the immune system and much more.

 
After doing much reading and research I continued with my use of raw food but choose cooling foods for the puppy since he was very warm and having a bad reaction to the immunizations. My goal was to calm his inflammation, support his liver, and help his immune system.

• Raw Food: Raw food is expensive and more difficult to manage since it requires freezing, thawing and safe handling practices. Traveling also takes some additional preparation and planning.

In the last few years I have looked for the highest quality raw food; food that has organic vegetables added, grass fed, non-caged animals and NO RECALLS. Subscribe for no cost to Dog Food Advisor to be notified of pet food recalls: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

The 2 raw foods that I use and am very happy with are Primal and Darwins. I like Darwins the best since it delivered to my home and is gluten and grain free, no steroids, hormones or antibodies, grass fed and cage free meats and organic vegetables. Darwins does not have rabbit but do have duck and bison which was what I settled on as a cooling source of meat. https://www.darwinspet.com/

• Organic Vegetables added to each meal. I purchase organic vegetables for my family and also for my dogs to add a source of fresh healthy food. I followed Dr. Basco’s information on cooling and neutral vegetable purchasing only organic and preparing a healthy amount with each meal to the duck. 
• Also included were “powerhouse foods”. “Powerhouse foods are those foods associated with reduced risk o chronic disease. A study in 2014 by Jennifer DiNoia PhD defined these foods based on nutrient density.  Forty seven raw food were considered and included densities of 8 nutrients protective against cancer and heart disease. From this list I incorporated some of the best superfoods daily such as watercress, romaine lettuce, broccoli, chard. Reference: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/23/top-fruits-vegetables.aspx
• I had read that goats milk cheese was the best cheese to use so this was used for my training along with dehydrated apples and any other cooling home prepared foods.
• Each evening my puppy received fruit before he went to bed: strawberries, bananas, apples, blueberries
• Since my puppy seemed to be a little too thin for what I like, I felt he needed a few more calories. Rather than add more meat, I added some vegan food to the raw. Just feeding extra veggies did not have enough calories; the vegan recipes had sources of protein and carbohydrates which gave me the needed additional calories. The 4th edition of Dr. Pitcarin’s book, Natural Health for Dogs and Cat was very helpful. In this book Dr. Pitcarin writes about why he has chosen to go vegan for his food recommendations. There are many very easy to make recipes in this book which make lovely supplements to my dogs raw meat meals rather than going to processed food with long expiration dates or adding more meat. I also now have more options for treats including training treats.

THE MICROBIOME AND THE IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF PROBIOTICS.
I was introduced to the microbiome and the benefits and importance of probiotics by Dr. David Perlmutter (a leading integrative neurologist) in his best selling book, Brain Maker. In this book he writes about the new gut microbiome brain science and the power of the gut microbes to heal and protect your brain and most importantly YOUR HEALTH.

"The human microbiome is composed of bacteria, archaea, viruses and other microbes that reside in and out of our bodies. These microbes have tremendous potential to impact our physiology in both health and disease. They contribute metabolic functions, protect against pathogens, EDUCATE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, and, through these basic function, affect directly or indirectly most of our physiologic functions."
       Shreiner, Kao, Young, "The Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease"

This cutting edge knowledge has been accepted and now is widely used in veterinarian medicine. Today you will find many articles on the importance of using probiotics in animals to help restore and support the microbiome. Probiotics and digestive enzymes help to maintain health and to restore the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut.

One area that has received great interest and use is for assisting with improving the immune system and helping with chronic inflammation in dogs. Vaccines and antibiotics can and do disrupt the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut. This community of bacteria help your dog to absorb important vitamins, minerals and most importantly it is the core of your dogs' immune system. To learn more read this very interesting article by Maria Ringo, "Dog Allergies...Or is it Something in the Water?"   http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/dog-allergies/

I have had some of my dogs on probiotics for almost 8 years. My Puli has a very delicate digestive system and no appetite. A friend recommended a digestive enzyme and probiotic by Natures Farmacy. https://naturesfarmacy.com/
The results were amazing: my Puli suddenly was as hungry as the Border Collies in our family and his early morning vomiting was controlled. He has been on several of the dogzymes since then. I now have all my dogs on digestive enzymes and probiotics.

Once again, there are many many probiotics on the market. It is very important to understand that they are not all equal or effective.  It is critical to find one that will benefit dogs with active organisms. Consumerlab.com researches supplements for humans and some for pets and makes recommendations based on a very strict protocol. Their studies have shown that the addition of probiotics to diet can stimulate measures of the immune system in dogs and cats. Out of the 3 probiotic products for dogs and cats selected for analysis consumerlab.com found that 2 products contained more substantial numbers of probiotic organisms. VetriScience Probiotic Everyday contained the listed amounts of cells (500 million to 2 billion in 1/2 to 2 chews). This is the one I selected and used for my young dog since it contains not only more organisms but also one organism beneficial for puppy health and immunity.


SUPPLEMENTS TO SUPPORT HEALING AND DRYNESS
Summarizing, the symptoms that my young puppy had led to the use of supplements to help improve the immune system, support the liver and to add nourishment to his very dry and flaky skin.

Once again I turned to the excellent and knowledgeable, Dr. Alexandra Barrientos at Earth Angels Veterinary Hospital in New York. Dr. Alex worked with and studied with Dr. Martin Goldstein and practices both holistic and traditional veterinary medicine.  I have consulted with Dr. Alex for over 10 years to help manage allergies, immune deficiencies, pancreatitis, and vaccinosis. After reviewing the puppies blood work, which fell within normal values but showed weakness in the immune system and liver, she prescribed a few supplements that were used daily for a short period of time and then went to a several days a week or monthly schedule.

Additionally she recommended weekly nourishing shampoos and the use of Dermoscent Essential 6 made in France and made of all natural ingredients.. Dermoscent restores the hydration of skin, supports the regrowth of hair and through its antioxidant effects helps to provide a barrier to environmental allergens. http://www.dermoscent.com/en/p102-essential-6-spot-on.html

Essential fatty acids are recognized for their anti-inflammation and immune support. I added Omega 3 by Nordic Natural and coconut oil.  Recently I also added the excellent mushroom preparation that both my other Border Collies have been on for some time.

NOTE: You will find a lot of controversial writings and beliefs about giving fish oil due to the mercury content so widely found in fish. Some people are so adamant about this that they will not even feed fish oil and recommend against it. I have researched sources and have been using Nordic Naturals for myself and all my dogs for some time. Nordic Natural sources all its fish from waters that are certified sustainable. Nordic Naturals adheres to strict European standards not found in the United States guaranteeing quality products with maximum levels on things such as PCBs, heavy metals and dioxin. https://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/About_Us/Why_Nordic_Naturals/563
Another alternative is to use a non-fish product such as UDOs a 3-6-9 blend where the oils are from flaxseed, coconut, sunflower seeds and primrose. Stores such as Whole Foods carries UDOs in their refrigerated section. http://udoschoice.com/product/omega-3-oil-health-supplement/
 
THE HEALING POWER OF MUSHROOMS
In his excellent and informative book, Fresh Foods and Ancient Wisdom, Dr. Basco discusses the cooling energy of mushrooms writing that mushrooms are high in antioxidants, help to clear inflammation and support kidney function.

In a recent online seminar Dr. Marty Goldstein, who is now doing a lot of research and work in the area of cancer, speaks of the medicinal properties of mushrooms especially for his work in cancer and cancer prevention.

The use of mushrooms for food and medicine have long been used in Chinese herbal medicine and have been recorded in early records of the Materia Medica. There are at least 270 species of mushrooms that are known to have therapeutic properties. Over the past three decades there have been a large number of scientific studies on medicinal mushrooms especially in Japan, China and Korea that have confirmed their health benefits especially with their immunological and anti-cancer properties. Other health benefits include mushrooms antioxidants, anti-hypertensive, inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties.  

Dr. Alex added mushroom supplements to my two Border Collies early on when we were working on improving their immune system. I felt this could not hurt but only help my young dog so recently I added an excellent preparation from VetriScience.

KEEPING YOUR DOG AS FREE AS POSSIBLE OF DUST AND POSSIBLE ALLERGENS
Many years ago when my Border Collie Kaffee had allergies it was recommended to me to wipe him down with a wet cloth, especially his feet and tummy after he had been out running or hiking in grass. This very simple way to help clean of dust, pollens or allergens is often ignored by vets when discussing allergies and prevention. I even found an article by one vet recommending wiping the dog’s feet and tummy with a Witch Hazel mixture. For many years I washed Kaffee off after our hikes out back of our house.

Baths should also be given with a mild preparation such as Oatmeal Shampoo every 1-4 weeks depending on environmental allergy exposure and the degree of itching. When the puppy was itching badly we shampooed weekly with ZYMOX enzymatic shampoo recommended by Dr. Alex. Using only mild plant surfactants and enzymes with anti-inflammatory properties, this shampoo helps to calm and hydrate the skin and irritations without drying it out.
One day following the shampoo we apply Dermoscent (see above) which further helps to nourish and heal the skin providing a barrier to environmental dust, pollen and allergens. All of this worked quite well with noticeable relief.

Currently we are now only doing Oatmeal shampoos every 3-4 weeks and Dermoscent every few weeks depending on if I find dry flaky skin.

Additionally I have always brushed my puppy once or twice daily. Regular brushing helps to bring out natural oils in the dogs fur as well as removing dead hair, dirt and dandruff. Regular brushing provided me a way to check and monitor my puppie’s areas of hair loss and biting/scratching and to joyfully watch them heal with new hair.

PROVIDE A CHEMICAL FREE ENVIRONMENT
In addition to the use of non-processed foods and treats and whenever possible eating organic, it is very important to recognize the impact of pesticides, fertilizers, household cleaners and products. We minimally use these only when it is absolutely necessary and DO NOT USE HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS.

Living in the desert our house is always dusty so to help eliminate a source of possible environmental allergens I vacuum often and am surprised at how much dirt and hair come up each time. I also wash my pet bedding each week.

AVOID UNNECESSARY VACCINES
Much has been written about avoiding unnecessary vaccines, doing titer tests, not combining vaccines and allowing time between the core puppy shots and rabies. Dr. Dodds has excellent information on this and recommendations:

Dr. Dodd’s Puppy and Kitten Vaccination Timing http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/78666367482/maternal-antibodies-vaccines#.WRhlDVPysQ_
Dr. Dodd’s, Avoid Unnecessary Vaccinations with Titer Tests
http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/33393350071/vaccines-titer-testing-animals#.WRhldFPysQ9

Dr Dodd’s 2016 (most current) Vaccination Protocol for Dogs
http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/147595920886/dodds-vaccination-protocol-dogs-2016#.WRhl0lPysQ-

Dr. Dodd’s, Treating Adverse Vaccine Reactions
http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/08/06/treating-adverse-vaccine-reactions-by-jean-dodds-dvm/

OTHER ARTICLES ABOUT VACCINATION OF INTEREST
Dr. Pitcarin, A New Look at Vaccines
http://www.drpitcairn.com/lectures-and-talks/new-look-at-vaccines/

Taking the Risk Out of Puppy Shots
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/taking-the-risk-out-of-puppy-shots/


YES, THIS IS A LOT OF WORK….or so it seems to a reader.  But I think that many people who have an allergic dog are about ready to do almost anything to help them stop itching, biting and suffering. The easy way is going to the vet for a steroid injection. For years now I have read to STAY AWAY FROM THE USE OF STEROIDS and that is what I plan to do due side effects such as compromising the immune system and many other adverse effects.

The time it takes to add organic veggies or to supplement my dogs’ raw food is minimal. For example yesterday I spent no more than one hour making up a vegan stew for all 4 of my dogs that is added to their raw for added nourishment and also calories for my puppy so that I do not need to add more raw meat. This vegan stew is very easy to make and lasts an entire week. Each meal I just add a scoop to their raw food and have been able to reduce the amount of raw on most of my dogs especially my senior dogs with a healthy organic preparation which they love.

I enjoy preparing my dogs healthy food and understand why so many people do home cooked diets. It is so rewarding to not only cook healthy, nutritious food for them but also to see their vibrant health, shinning coats, energy and activity level. As I mentioned earlier, I am not sure how long my puppy who is almost one year old will be free of his itching but it has been 2 months since he has had his treatment (non-steroid) and is asymptomatic. Each day I am so grateful and appreciative for his health and being able to be a “normal, healthy, happy puppy” that loves interacting with me.

​On October 22, 2016 my very special dog, Kaffee, received his Herding Trial Champion from AHBA. This title was added to his long list of accomplishments in his 11 ½ years as my partner, my team mate and most of all my good friend. I like to think that Kaffee is my ideal for what I like my life to be with my dogs and how I honor them for all they give me and share with me.. This blog shares a little of that journey.
 
A number of highlights of my choices and life with Kaffee stand out.

1. He was always happy to do whatever I asked him to do with me starting as a very young puppy at 8 weeks old.
2. He always tried hard to understand what I wanted him to do and if he did not understand offered alternate behaviors.
3. He keeps me in his sight most of of the day when we are home and lays at my feet when I am working on the computer. He just seems to enjoy being nearby and I certainly enjoy this also.
4. He seems to smile with happiness in the things we do.
5. I try to keep him healthy by feeding him the very best food.
6. I consult with a very excellent vet in New York that I have written about regarding supplements to address weaknesses in his system which have led to genetic allergies, now under control.
7. I try to keep his mind active and healthy by always having something for him to learn (tricks or his balance disc work )
8. I keep him fit with our frequent walks and hikes
9. I continue to choose something for him that he enjoys –now this is herding.
10. I continue to read and stay up-to-date on the latest information regarding health and immunizations for dogs.

 
I like to think that the choices I have made based on the above have helped me to HONOR KAFFEE and choose my decisions for this very special friend who has made me so happy and given me so much..
 
One such decision was in our obedience training. Kaffee’s journey in obedience was done later in his life after trying agility and herding. We always did some obedience work but did not seriously show until he was about 6 years old. When he received his OTCH in December of 2014, I had a long walk with him on our beautiful forested trails in northern Arizona and just tuned in to what we might do next that would be for him and not me. AND, what came to me was herding.
 
I put all of Kaffee’s started titles on him in herding but had trouble teaching him to drive. I stopped herding when I found that I was having to raise my voice to him and felt this was not fun for either of us. This time, I decided to let our special friend Dawna Sims handle him and we would go for lessons an hour away once a week with our other Border Collie Myst.
 
Kaffee had met Dawna when he was quite young and always seemed to remember her, greeting her with excitement and happiness. This was a wonderful decision to let Kaffee continue to learn, use his mind, stay active and yet do something he enjoyed…. Kaffee had given me his heart and all his effort in obedience, now it was his turn to enjoy.
 
As Kaffee approached senior years, I struggled with another decision - getting a new puppy.  I wanted to get another Border Collie puppy to train, especially since Myst was 5 years old. My fear however was that with a new puppy one dog always seems to get less attention, and in some ways be replaced by the new puppy who soon thinks they own the house. I was afraid that I would have less time for Kaffee and all the things we continued to do and enjoy together.
 
Kaffee and Myst worked out in our doggie gym almost every day. They both enjoyed tugging with each other and at times playing together. I did not want to take this away from Kaffee since he still enjoyed this.
 
So I waited for a year. Kaffee was now 11, still herding, still doing all our hikes, staying very fit in his doggie gym but I sensed he was slowing down and would be OK with a puppy to take his place when Myst wanted to play with him other than their tugs. AND I was right.
 
After getting Beckett I tried so hard not to change much for Kaffee and certainly not to exclude him. I let him show me what he was OK with not playing with Myst. Kaffee has never been a fan of puppies at least not until they get to be about 5 months old and can tug with him. This happened with Myst and happily this has just happened with Beckett.
 
I feel I have HONORED Kaffee and have no regrets about any decisions I made for him and the time we spend together or how I keep him healthy.
 
I am always saddened when I see dogs in obedience, herding and agility that seem to have no joy in what they do. Especially in obedience it is so noticeable when dogs are like little robots and perform the exercises with little joy, happiness or enthusiasm. Watching them is not inspirational or enjoyable, but for me just sad that this dog seems to have become an object for their owners goals and personal rewards. Some of these dogs have been started in obedience training when they were just very small puppies. Some of them retire at very early ages since they have no joy left in showing and start to get lower scores or just not perform the exercise.
 
I remember the herding dogs that were training at very young ages for open field trials at age 1 ½. Many of these young dogs also were impressive to watch at their young ages, but it was not long before they started to show the effects of long and hard training. Even with the genetics bred into them for herding, their instinct and love of this sport was diminished.
 
In agility there are stories and personal experiences that we all know about where dogs are not only stressed on the start line, and exhibit behaviors showing their stress and fear but also so many agility dogs lives have been cut short due to injuries. These injuries are becoming more and more common with the challenging courses with speed and tight turns. What then happens to a dog that has been injured and can not longer do agility or run without pain at a young age?
 
And then, what about the people who buy dogs for a sport. The dog does not work out due to disappointment in their performance and often these dogs are sold.
 
Yes, everyone has a different use for dogs and their own way to view the relationship. I have chosen to keep my dogs forever and find what they are best suited for. I try very hard to keep learning and have found Susan Garrett to be one of my role models for dog training. Susan learns from each of her dogs and updates her training based on what she learns. Susan has often said that we are given a dog when we are ready for the lessons we can learn from them.
 
A dog might turn out to be a disappointment, but what can we learn from them? How can we honor them as part of our family and still provide a happy life for them?
 
I feel so honored to have Kaffee as a special friend that we have done so many fun journeys with and continue to do so. There is no better gift than being greeted with this joy and smile. THANK YOU KAFFEE for all you have given me with your heart and soul.
 
 

My friend sent me this link just as I was thinking about how to construct my blog writing on dog and specifically puppy training. ANNOUNCEMENT: DELTA SMART PHONE ACTIVITY TRACKER AND TRAINER FOR DOGS

“Garmin is proud to announce the new Delta Smart dog activity tracker and trainer that works with a compatible smartphone to help keep family dogs safe, healthy, and well behaved.The Delta Smart is a small, inconspicuous, and durable module designed for continuous, long-term wear that attaches to almost any dog collar. When connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth and the free Garmin CANINE app, pet owners can give automated or highly customized training corrections and monitor their dog’s activity and behavior – directly from their smartphone touchscreen.”
 
This came to me at such an interesting time. Currently I have an 18 week old Border Collie puppy, Beckett. He has such a perfect disposition and loves to not only work with me but just be with me and do whatever I ask. However, puppies grow up so fast and as they learn more about the world outside their home they, like children, tend to want to be more independent and do what they would like. Much of this is reflected in their manners when greeting people, going places, or just how they interact with challenges that happen when living with other dogs in the family.
 
The timing was perfect to learn about Emily Larham, whose youtube channel ‘Kikopup’ has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Emily created what she calls “progressive reinforcement training” to describe an ethical way of training animals that involves no form of physical or psychological intimidation. Emily uses her creativity and perhaps a little different approach of positive reinforcement to solve problem behaviors, tricks and the need for good manners.
 
I signed up yesterday for Emily’s “Weekly Manners” online tutorials at her Dogmantics Dog Training web site: http://dogmantics.com/

Visit her youtube channel on dog training by following this link.  https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup
 
Since I joined Weekly Manners I have quickly understood how Emily uses progressive reinforcement to change behaviors such as how to greet people, how to stop unwanted behaviors such as chewing on things in your home, and how to settle when with you or at a restaurant. My husband and I tried a few of these to find that Beckett LOVED this training and quickly learned to settle and be quite and rest in my husband’s office.
 
I also was worried that my puppy became over aroused when I took him to our enclosed training field with my older Border Collie who is not really into puppies but still likes to tug with them. I was not sure how to handle this over arousal and lack of focus on me yesterday. After watching Emily’s free video on “How to Stop Unwanted Behavior” such as chewing or whatever else your dog and puppy does, I quickly understood how to work with my puppy to get him to stop the nuisance barking at Kaffee to play and interact with him. Free youtube video, "How to Stop Unwanted Behaviors"

As with any dog training, we start at home in an environment where there are fewer distractions and a higher probably of success. I thought that a very valuable point that Emily made is we DO NOT want to scold the puppy since this can cause him to find that being around you is punishing and also that they can do this behavior when you are not around. Emily introduces the awesome concept of a positive interrupter noise that you choose to interrupt the behavior and redirect the puppies attention to something else. YES, IT WORKED this morning and all day even if the other dogs were excited.
 
This training philosophy Emily uses is very easy to use to generalize to problems you may have with you dog or puppy.
 
So this brings me once again to the sadness I feel when I see things like shock collars and now this Garmin device for smartphones that are used and have to be used regularly on dogs to get recalls and desired behaviors. Sadly there is now an entire movement on using shock collars to train dogs. People do not seem aware of what this does to dogs long term – forever. It is very sad to see.
 
I must now report that little Beckett settled down quietly when visiting an outdoor restaurant we visited this weekend; he settles quietly in our offices while we work and is quickly learning to change his over arousal behavior and to be calm and focused on us with distractions or behaviors like chewing that we want to change. THANK YOU EMILY for sharing what you have learned about a humane and positive way to train puppies and dogs without harsh punishment and shock collars.

TO READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY GARMIN ON THIS SHOCK COLLAR DEVICE FOR DOGS AND THE OUTRAGE BY THOUSANDS OF DOG OWNERS, GO TO MY RESOURCE PAGE. 
 
 

When Kaffee had his iliopsoas injury almost 3 years ago there was little information available from my vet and also online on how to proceed with rehab. Yes, I learned that he had to be rested and had to be walked on leash, but as far as rehab I found very little. The most I found was a youtube video of a dog that had gone to rehab and I could see what was being done in month 2 after the injury. My previous blog writing on “Kaffee’s Iliopsoas Strain Rehab” was written to share what I had learned along the way by doing a lot of research and reading.
 
After I had successfully rehabbed Kaffee over a 6-9 month period I found that Bobby Lyons was giving an online course through Daisy Peel’s online offerings. While this course provided me with a little more information on the iliopsoas injury I also was introduced to things that I could not agree with. Some of the questions and responses to what dogs could or should do or not do was not inline with others that I have worked with online and highly respected such as Susan Garrett and Silvia Trkman.
 
More recently I took an online course offered at the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy with Debbie Gross from Wizard of the Paws Physical Rehab for Animals in Connecticut. This online course was very good and we had the opportunity to watch the rehab of different types of dogs with iliopsoas. The most helpful information I learned however was where the iliopsoas muscle is located and how extensive it is and how any rehab work takes into consideration the muscles of the iliopsoas and how they are involved in movement.  I have done a lot of work and study of rehab using the balance discs but knowing what type of balance disc work would strengthen and support this big muscle group was very very important and helpful.
 
This writing is a brief summary of what I learned and wrote about a few years ago that was supported by Deb’s class. Additionally, I think it is helpful to know exactly where the iliopsoas muscles are and which balance disc work will help these muscles not only during rehab but also after the dog seems to have recovered and also to help prevent this injury in a dog.
 
Month 1:
Week 1: When a dog has had their iliopsoas injured more than likely there will be limping on the hind leg affected and pain. Kaffee was standing on 3 legs and would not put weight down on this leg. When the dog is in this acute phase it is important to have them rest. Pushing the dog too early into activity can result in irreversible damage. This last sentence I cannot stress enough…… DO NO PUSH THE DOG TOO EARLY BACK INTO ACTIVITY. Slow and conservative is what we should be thinking.
 
I have had several people who do agility come up to me at shows and tell me what a hard time they have had getting their dogs sound again. Many people are so anxious to resume their running and jumping with their dogs that the dogs do not fully recover and this becomes a chronic injury.
 
During this initial acute injury phase of week 1, rest should be encouraged. I was told by my vet that Kaffee did not have to be on crate rest as long as he was not running or jumping on things. When I took him outside to go to the bathroom I put him on a leash to keep everything very very slow. My goal was for him to walk on all 4 legs without a limp.
 
Once Kaffee was able to weight bear on this back leg (2-4 days after the injury) I started him on very short leash walks. Dogs should be on a 6 foot leash and NOT ON  A FLEXI. The flexi allows for the dog to trot and at this time the dog should only be walking for a very short distance on a flat surface. Kaffee started with 5 minute walks.
 
I watched Kaffee very carefully after his walks to see if he was still weight bearing on all 4 legs, not hopping and was not showing signs of pain or discomfort. We did these 5 minute leash walks twice a day. After 2 days since he stayed sound, I increased his walks to 10 minutes…. Again on the 6 foot leash. He was not ready to begin any trotting at this time.
 
OTHER TREATMENT OPTIONS
The use of laser is excellent at this time if you have access to a veterinarian who has one. The laser helps to reduce the inflammation. We started laser treatment on Kaffee during week 3.  I have since purchased a very good laser recommended by Deb Gross and use it regularly on my dogs. Your veterinarian might also recommend anti-inflammatories. I choose to use some holistic supplements (DGP and Trameel with Arnica) recommended by my vet in New York that I work with by phone rather than using NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) prescriptions.
 
THE GOAL DURING WEEK 1 AND 2 is to increase weight bearing of the affected limb without causing pain or discomfort. It is so important at this time to carefully monitor this. Watch the dog after the walks; watch them when they get up from resting - are they limping on the first few steps taken; when taken outside on the leash do they weight bear and walk evening on all 4 legs? Most importantly REST and very slow integration of activity.
 
WEEK 2: If the dog continues to weight bear and appears not to have pain or discomfort then

• The periods of leash walking can increase to 10-15 minutes still on the 6 foot leash;
• Have the dog stand on a stable surface on all 4 legs up to 30 seconds. Try to encourage the dog to stand equally with weight on all 4 legs and not to weight shift. The dogs topline should be flat. This can be repeated several times during the day. If the dog is having trouble with 30 seconds do what is comfortable and try to build up to 30 seconds.
• Continue to monitor the dogs indoor activity not allowing running or jumping. You may still need to take them outside on a leash.

NOTE: we do not want to be stretching the dog at this time since it can cause micro tears and further damage to the iliopsoas muscle.
 
WEEKS- 3-4: Progression of leash walking. By the end of week 4 Kaffee was able to walk 30-40 minutes on a flexi leash with no signs of lameness, hopping or discomfort.
 
What I have learned and is different now from my blog writing a few years ago is that if the dog remains sound then they can begin some active stretching to assist the healing process. This active stretching can be done with low objects and balance discs. It is very useful at this point to know where the iliopsoas muscle is. The balance disc exercises are added very slowly and are designed to stretch and strengthen the iliopsoas.
 
BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

• Before you begin any work involving stretching, always be sure the dog is warmed up. Take them for a 10-15 minute leash walk.

 
Then when you return, before you begin the exercises ask them to stand on all 4 feet with equal weight bearing for 30 seconds. Increasing the blood flow assists the body with preparing for stretching.
 
Exercise 1:

• Find a low object or disc (2-4 inches high) and ask the dog to place their front feet on this object, their hind feet stay on the floor. This simple and very easy exercise begins hip and lumbar extension. 
• Ask the dog to hold this position for 10 seconds. Step off the disc; short rest and repeat 5 times building up to 10 times.
• Ideally the dog should be putting equal weight on both hind legs on the floor.
• While the dog is standing ask them to look up at your for a treat. This helps increases the weight on the hind limbs.

 
Exercise 2

• After doing exercise 1 for one week with no signs of lameness or discomfort this exercise can be added --- STAND TO SIT and SIT TO STAND.

 
NOTE: One of the important things I learned is that DURATION IN HOLDING  position is important for building strength. Often in the past I would have the dog  move from sit to stand or change position without keeping a duration of 15-30 seconds.
 
WEEK 5: Kaffee started on walking over one inch caveletti poles spaced 12 inches apart. Walking over a large wobble board, and putting his hind feet on the 22 inch balance disc stretching forward to a treat. All this was done on leash to keep him slow and from running (see my video under our first blog post on Kaffee's iliopsoas rehab.) We also continued our 30-40 minute walks.
 
The use of progressing to a taller disc at this time would be fine if there were no problems with the 2-4 inches for the step-up of the front limbs.
 
Week 6 and 7: Caveletti work progressed to trotting over 3 inch caveletti poles spaced 12 inches at first and then 2 feet apart. We started tugging on the wobble board and getting him to balance the board with 4 feet on it. Used the boso trainer for stretching exercises having him do a stand extended out to a treat; then a sit to stand; sit to stand. Laser treatments stopped after week 6. During this time he did not seem to be in any pain so the herb for pain was stopped.

SEE MY PREVIOUS BLOG ON KAFFEE'S ILIOPSOAS REHAB DONE TO SEE THE VIDEOS ON OUR WORK WITH CAVELETTIS. 
 
Beginning Rehab on Balance Discs
This is where I would depart from some of the balance disc work I was doing and wrote about in my first blog. What I now know is the location of the iliopsoas where it originates and what movement it supports. The iliopsoas originates in the lumbar spine or the lower back and inserts in the femur or upper thigh.

​The iliopsoas works the lower back to straighten the spine or increase the joint angle (EXTENSION); and the hip to bend the hip or decrease the joint angle (FLEXION). Below are pictures of EXTENSION.

Below are pictures of FLEXION. ​When doing weave poles, the dog has to EXTEND (front legs in reaching) and FLEX (hind legs). 

r​Disc rehab now should be choosing exercises that work the iliopsoas area in EXTENSION and FLEXION. Looking at these pictures of the dogs running, jumping, playing, hiking and then looking at where the iliopsoas muslce is and extends you can get a better idea of what types of exercises to do to stretch these muscles.
 

• Exercises on the balance discs are chosen to encourage extension of these muscles.. By elevating the dogs legs we are encouraging extension.
• Exercises to encourage flexion of these muscles.
• Also, holding this stretch for 15-30 seconds is very important.

 
 
REMEMBER TO BEGIN WITH THE DOG STANDING ON ALL 4 FEET, WEIGHT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED. If your dog is not familiar with balance discs, do this on the floor or flat surface such as a plank. Here is Kaffee doing is 4 feet work on a FitPaws bone.
 

​Here are a few examples of balance disc exercises that help EXTEND the back and iliopsoas. All of the lumbar vertebrae are involved in these 2 lovely stretches. The spine and pelvis are large components of the iliopsoas muscle. These exercises however would probably not be done initially. See the video of using smaller discs for starting extension.

Any object that the dogs can put their paws up on and stretch will be good for warm-up and extension stretching. We even use a dog walk from agility to have the Border Collies put their front paws up on and extend or stretch their back.
 
Below are 2 pictures of work on the balance disc that progresses from EXTENSION to FLEXION when the dog is asked to rock back into a down. The video to follow will show examples of this.
 
This is a favorite way I like to have the dogs do flexion: stand on 2 discs and then rock back into a down.

​Sitting on a disc is hip flexion as the bottom photos show.

​BASIC EXERCISES FOR DEVELOPING CORE STRENGTH
 
All of these exercises shown in the pictures above help the dog develop and strengthen their core.  Exercises do not need to be dramatic on these discs to accomplish this.
 
Recently I was told by an owner of a senior dog (10 years old) rehabbing with a vet for ACL sugery  that the dog was asked to do SIT PRETTY during a 30 minute rehab session. The following day this dog was again lame on their hind end. Rehab and work for strengthening the core does not need to be fancy, showy or difficult or long in duration. These exercises are all excellent and can be built up gradually.
 
When I first started Kaffee on the balance discs he could not do a lot of the work such as his stand on the FitPaws bone… but over time he has developed this strength and proprioception and does this happily and easily.
 
A few exercises for developing core strength that I use several times a week with my dogs.

• Begin with a static stand: begin on a flat surface and progress on to balance discs. Be sure the dog’s topline is flat and that they do not weight shift. Work up to holding this for 30 seconds.
• STAND TO SIT and SIT TO STAND. Goal is to look for a tight sit.
• Choose 1 disc (2-4 inches) for a step-up with front feet on the disc and hind feet on the floor. The goal is to gradually increase weight on the hind end. Do not over extend in the back. When the dog can do this, hold a treat up and have them look up adding to the weight on the hind limbs. Work up to holding for 30 seconds

 
Since my dogs can do this and are not rehabbing I choose 2 balance disc to do this: 2 donuts of different height; a medium and a large balance disc;  donut and a disc; FitPaws bone and donut. Video will show this.

• Reverse this position and have the hind limbs elevated on a disc or object 2-4 inches on the ground; have the fore limbs on a flat surface.

 
The exercises above can be done for 10 seconds initially working up to 30 seconds duration holding the position. Repeat 5-10 times.
 
Progression

• Increase the height of 2 discs such as a large and medium balance disc, have their hind limbs higher then front limbs and ask for a STAND TO DOWN – try to get the dog to rock back. As dog progresses the types of disc can be changed. My dogs do this with a donut and a large balance disc.
• Reverse their position on the discs with front limbs higher than hind limbs and ask for a STAND TO A SIT. See video
• Increase the height of the 2 discs used for extension: hind feet on floor or another disc; front feet higher on a disc or object. Hold for 30 seconds. Ask for SIT TO STAND. See video on how to teach sit pretty that most dogs can do without stressing the lumbar area.

 
 
This picture shows an example of 2 unequal disc sizes I use. On these discs we do a stand for 30 seconds and ask for a rock back into a down. Notice Myst is not evenly distributing weight on all 4 legs which we work on. Then we reverse and have her hind feet on the FitPaws bone and front limbs on the donut and ask for a STAND TO SIT. This is easier for the dog initially and should be done as a warm-up before progressing to a large Peanut for the extension.

 Continuing With Iliopsoas Rehab
 The most important thing to remember when rehabbing from iliopsoas injury is to go SLOWLY and not to bring the dog back to quickly into activity or agility. The pictures above show the muscles used for iliopsoas extension and flexion. Once an injury has occurred it is very easy to re-occur or become chronic if progression of strengthening this muscle and the core is not slow and regular.
 
Read my earlier iliopsoas blog on how I rehabbed Kaffee. Kaffee was successful rehabbed but slowly and over a 9 month period. In my earlier blog on Kaffee’s rehab you will see that we worked very slowing before we even got back to off leash hiking. I always evaluated uneven striding when we hiked and how he did after our hikes up to 48 hours. You will see that after 6 months of rehab when Kaffee was doing well that I allowed him to hike behind our house. The footing is rocky, hilly and uneven. After a short walk I noticed he was a little off on his stride. This indicated to me that he needed more time and our hikes needed to be on flat surfaces.
 
A few guidelines…

• Always warm-up a dog before exercise or stretching. A 10-15 minute walk on a short 6 foot leash is perfect. In our doggie gym we do the static stands on 2 discs for 30 or more seconds several times before beginning our other disc work. The border collies also tug in this room before we begin.
• Don’t get caught up in “sexy tricks (such as sit pretty) and stacked or high disc combination work. Remember that more is not better. All dogs need to start very slowly to build up their confidence, strength, and core.
• Go slowly with the duration of statics and balance disc work. Start with static durations of 10 seconds and work up to 30 seconds.
• Start with small discs and small step-ups or step-downs.
• Start with a short time working the discs and build up.
• Try to work the discs regularly; every other day or three times a week is excellent. 
• Continue to use the balance discs and stretching when the dog seems to be over the initial injury; 3 times a week is excellent.
• Always warm-up then stretch a dog before activity such as agility, herding or hiking.

Kaffee is now 11 + years old and is doing well. He has not had any further problems with his old iliopsoas injury. However he works regularly in his doggie gym on his balance discs and we do a lot of extension and flexion work. Kaffee is now herding and has all of his advanced titles in AKC, AHBA and ASCA on sheep and ducks. We also do a lot of off leash hiking and are doing a nose work course which he loves.

DISCLAIMER: The writings in my blog are based on my experience, research and medical knowledge from working in the healthcare field for over 20 years. The conditions such as iliopsoas are written about to help provide knowledge that has worked for my dogs. This information is not intended to be the treatment and rehab for all dogs. Each dog and their degree of severity of the condition is different and all treatment and rehab should be under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. 

VIDEOS

• VIDEO 1: Beginning work for dogs who have not done balance discs to begin building core strength. If your vet OKs this work, excellent for iliopsoas rehab and iliopsoas strengthening.
• VIDEO 2: Progression of work started in video 1 to further build on dogs confidence on balance discs to strengthen hind limbs, build core strength and strengthen iliopsoas muscle.
• VIDEO 3: Earlier video done showing more advanced uses of balance discs that incorporated DURATION for building core strength and iliopsoas.
• VIDEO 4: More work building on foundation of videos 1 and 2. 

We are very fortunate to live in a beautiful area of Sedona, Arizona where we can hike out our back door - dogs off leash. Recently we ran into a very deep and fascinating track left by a local mountain lion that had killed a large deer and dragged it almost a quarter of a mile into a protected wash to feast on. Telling this to a few people in our local forest service this is apparently quite unusual to find such a track. We were able to find where the deer was killed and follow the deep track into the wash for a few left over remnants.
​
This is a mountain lion captured near where we live by a infrared game camera. They can be from 150-300 pounds. They hunt at night and usually eat their kill within a few days staying very close by to guard their kill.
​

I have seen a few indications of wildlife that have been dragged to another location but not as evident as this. With my 2 Border Collies (Kaffee and Myst) we followed the drag trail to see if we could find where the kill had happened. AND, quite unexpectedly found this --- traces of deer hair and a few drops of blood. Mountain lions jump on the back of the deer and make their kill in the neck. One hardly finds this and in fact it was gone in a few days. I have walked back here for over 10 years and never seen anything like this.

After finding this very new indicator of the kill we followed it a short distance. I did not want to follow it all the way since it was clearly quite new and mountain lions will stay near by to protect their kill for a few days. I came back a few days later to document and follow this track.

​Below are a few pictures of the fascinating and very deep track left by the deer being dragged. The deer was dragged down a hill, over rocks where I could see the scrape makes and down into a deep wash. Picture #6 shows the wash area where the deer was eat. There was some deer hair and this leg.

We are taking a nose work online class and it was fun thinking that perhaps the Border Collies were using some of their nose work skills. The last two pictures are of 2 deer legs a short distance from the wash that Myst found. 

This last picture is of the Mule Deer. We have many Mule Deer and often have them in our yard. Plenty of food for the mountain lions.