Pets of the Month - NOVEMBER 2016
Gateway & Neslon

Both Gateway and Neslon are Cocker Spaniels.

NELSON (black) is 10 yrs old and blind. He loves to walk and go to the park.
GATEWAY (brown) is 14 yrs old and blind and deaf. He enjoys short walks but most importantly, lots of cuddles.

In perfect health, easy going, and very happy they just take life as it comes and relax with their FOREVER MOMMY (JoAnne).

Her heart melted when she met each one and she adopted them with these handicaps to give them a
loving warm home in their twilight years.

Thank Goodness for special people like JoAnne.
.

I have several clients who have gone out of their way to adopt a pet.
They give the rejected ones in the shelters and foster homes a chance that no one else will give them.

Each older or handicapped pet has so much to give and are each unique in their gifts to make our hearts sing.

Thank you to all those people who have the compassion to open up their lives to these special ones!

Nelson's journey from Florida to Ottawa....

Should I adopt a PUPPY or an ADULT DOG?

The Holidays are here and many are thinking of getting a dog from the SPCA or other shelters. Here are some pros and cons. There are many websites that address this very question - too numerous to include here so I've taken excerpts from a few. At the end of this article you will find links to these sites. .....

PUPPIES

ADULT DOGS

Puppies are Sooooo Cute! No one can resist a puppy

Puppies are nothing but love and play and bond very fast

Most mature dogs seem to know when they've been given a second chance, and the love and devotion they lavish on you is almost embarrassing!

Adult and Senior dogs will love you as much as a puppy. If you are concerned that an older dog won’t bond to you, don’t be. Dogs are remarkably resilient and open-hearted. Some completely overcome their pasts in a matter of days; others may take a few weeks or months, and a few will carry a little baggage for even longer than that.

If you’re not sure, talk to people who are currently raising puppies or have done so recently to get a realistic picture of what it’s like.

It can be one of the most rewarding experiences and worth it if you have the energy, guidance and time.

Adult and Senior dogs are great for first-time dog parents.

If this is your first dog, or if you cannot devote the time necessary to train, socialize, and exercise a young or adolescent puppy properly, an adult dog could be a better option for you.

Adult and Senior Dogs Are Already Emotionally Mature .

Lots of patience needed - But worth it.

As she learns and grows, she’ll get into things, chew, make messes, and have accidents in the house. All in all, a puppy is a tremendous amount of work — much more than many unsuspecting adopters realize.

It can be harder and longer to train an older dog that hasn't been taught basic obedience.
Most adult dogs are already trained in the basics.

The puppy is a clean slate and if trained right, you can avoid bad habits.

Your puppy will need to be trained so that she knows what you want her to do and not do.

Worried that an adult dog will have bad habits or too much 'baggage'

Dogs are creatures of habit, and any behavior that has become an ingrained habit is difficult to change but not impossible.

If socialized properly, a puppy will grow up being able to handle most circumstances

She will need lots of safe exercise and play so that her body develops properly, and she will need you to socialize her with other people and animals so that she feels comfortable in the world.

If an adult dog has never had experience of something (eg. cats, small pets, babies, pick-up trucks, car travel, vacuum cleaners etc.) he will most likely be afraid of it and act defensively

Chances are you will have 10- 15 years with your new dog.

Do you have the time to dedicate to raising and training a puppy? Is your lifestyle conducive to raising a dog?

A puppy requires almost constant supervision during their first few months of life.

You’ll need to take them outside every few hours (at least) to relieve themselves.

You’ll need to make sure they're staying out of trouble.

You’ll need to take them to regular obedience training classes to give them a solid foundation in good behavior.

Pet owners who stay at home rather than go out are a step ahead when it comes to raising a puppy, as toting around a tiny ball of fur isn’t always an easy task – and dogs (even adorable puppies) aren’t welcome everywhere.

An adult dog that has been housetrained and is able to mind their manners while you’re away is less stressful

If you have a busy social schedule that doesn’t allow for puppy raising, consider an adult who is already trained.

When choosing a dog or puppy use three criterion to judge how each candidate will mesh into your lifestyle:

a) Reactivity and attachment response

b) Motion and sound sensitivity

c) Touch and restraint threshold

Consider the surroundings when you meet your candidate. Shelters can be chaotic and loud. Dogs and puppies are often at their most distracted. On the plus side, however, you’ll get a true — if not exaggerated — read on their personality and how they will act in your home. Are they hyper, nervous, defensive, or startled when you first meet them? On the other hand, you may meet your candidate at a foster home, or at a mutual agreed location.

READ MUCH MORE in detail on more TESTS go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-hodgson/5-quick-tests-puppy_b_3754881.html

Excerpts above from websites....

https://www.petfinder.com/pet-adoption/dog-adoption/puppies-vs-senior-dog-adoption/

http://www.fidosavvy.com/adopting-an-older-dog.html

http://www.fidosavvy.com/adopting-an-older-dog.html

Understand and Communicate with your Cat

Excerpts from WikiHow: http://www.wikihow.com/Communicate-with-Your-Cat

Communicating with Your Cat

Talk back to your cat. Cats are always learning how to communicate with us. The more that you communicate with your cat, the faster he or she will learn.
Using repetition will help your cat learn to anticipate consistent activities. You may want to repeat a word such as sleep or bed each time you go to bed. Eventually, your cat will begin to associate the repetitive word sound with your actions and may even get to the bedroom before you.

Use nonverbal communication cues.

• If you blink slowly when making eye contact with your cat, she will usually respond by coming over to be stroked. This is seen as a very non-threatening gesture.
• Try not to stare directly into a cat’s eyes. It tells her that you're unfriendly or aggressive.
• Be consistent in your intent and expression. A common blunder many pet owners make is to say "no" but pet the cat at the same time. This is very confusing to the cat. So for example, if you want your cat to go away, a firm "later" and a gentle push, without showing affection, will let the cat know that her presence is not desired at this time. Most cats will try two to three times to invade a person's space, often from different directions. When saying "Later", be patient.
• Never yell at or physically discipline a cat. This only frightens and angers the cat, and is counterproductive. Instead, to show displeasure, you can add a hard edge to your voice. The cat will pick up on that and sense unhappiness.

Deliver commands to your cat.

• Being consistent with the wording, tone, and other accompanying signals while giving your cat training commands will help both of you agree on and understand clear expectations.
• Develop a commanding tone to use with your cat when he or she is doing something that you consider to be wrong. If you use this voice sparingly but seriously, your cat will learn to associate the voice with the idea that she is displeasing you.
• Make a quick and sharp hiss or spit sound as a "no" command.

~~~~~

Listening to Your Cat

Vocalizing is generally not your cat's preferred mode of communication. A cat's "first language" consists of a complex system of scent, facial expression, complex body language, and touch. Cats soon realize that we don't understand the non-verbal signals they send to each other, so they vocalize in an attempt to communicate in our language. By observing which sounds elicit which actions from us, a cat is always learning how to make requests or demands.

Observe meowing circumstances. While specific meows can vary from cat to cat, there are certain types of meows that are usually associated with specific cat emotions, such as purring or hissing.

• The short meow is used as a standard greeting and general acknowledgment.
• Multiple meows indicate excited greetings. You may notice a more enthusiastic greeting with increased meowing if you have been gone for a longer period of time than usual.
• A mid-pitched meow may indicate a plea for something like food or water.
• A longer, drawn-out "mrrroooow" is a more persistent demand for a need or want.
• A low-pitched "MRRRooooowww" indicates a complaint, displeasure, or preparation to fight.

~~~~~ ~~~~~

Identify common non-meowing cat communication. While meowing is the sound that we most often associate with cat vocalization, cats make other common sounds as well.

• Purring, a throaty vibrating sound, invites close contact or attention. While cats can purr for a variety of reasons, purring is most commonly associated with easy contentment.
• Hissing is a cat’s clearest sign of aggression or self-defense. It indicates that your cat is very unhappy, feels threatened or frightened, or is fighting or preparing to fight.

Notice other specialized vocalizations.

• A high-pitch RRRROWW! often indicates anger, pain, or feeling fearful.
• A chattering sound can be a sign of excitement, anxiety, or frustration.
• A chirrup, a cross between a meow and a purr with rising inflection, is a friendly greeting sound, often used by a mother cat to call to her kittens
• A loud yelping or “reeeowwwing” sound may indicate sudden pain, as when you accidentally step on your cat’s tail.

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