AWESOME AUSSIES

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE!

You've done your homework. You took the online 'tests' to match your personality and lifestyle to a breed. You've read all you can find, and called every breed organization, breeder and owner you can unearth. You have had confirmed  your suspicion that the Australian Shepherd is as near a perfect dog as the Great Spirit and man could have created. Of course, we devotees feel that way, but before it is too late, there is another side to the 'perfect' breed. This side is seldom presented in  glossy ads or breeder packets, but needs to be said anyhow...before it is too late.

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE FOR ITS LOOKS

Striking and unusual colors and markings are usually what attracts the average person to the Aussie.  Looks, however, are only a small part of living with an Aussie.  The true beauty of the Australian Shepherd shines outward from his character.  An Aussie can be a strong guardian of your home and a dog that is not overtly social with people outside of your immediate family...is this something you will enjoy for the 14+ years of an Aussie's life?  Buy an Aussie because you have researched the breed's temperament and personality, and think it is something that you could enjoy living with for a long time.

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE IF YOU LACK TIME TO SPEND WITH HIM

Aussies are like a very intelligent child.  If you do not keep them occupied  ("give them a job") they will find a job  to do.  What's the problem with that, you might ask?  You probably won't like the job they choose.  It could consist of re-doing your drip system and/or excavating to China. Aussies need human guidance on a regular basis in order to become a good companion dog or ranch hand.  Aussies can fit in city homes, suburban homes, or country/farm homes, but in all cases need responsible owners that are willing to spend time and energy fulfilling the breed's high mental and physical activity needs.  No matter what the lifestyle, be it an urban pet or a ranch dog, Aussies need to be properly prepared for how they are expected to act.  They cannot be left to do this on their own.   Socialization and training are a must if you wish to have a dog that can manage well in various situations, such as meeting new people, travelling, interacting with other dogs, and being able to adapt to the many changes that occur on a regular basis in normal human life.

Socialization requires thoughtful exposures to many different environments so that the dog will become comfortable anywhere he goes.  Aussies that have not been adequately socialized are often fearful in new situations, and fearful dogs are dangerous dogs.  Do not skimp on the socialization.

Training is also a necessity if you wish to have a long and happy relationship with your Aussie. Your darling, bouncing Australian Shepherd puppy will grow to be a very powerfuladult. Even 35# Australian Shepherds can easily take a large man off their feet in a lunge on a leash. House manners and basic obedience are the bare minimum this breed needs. Basic obedience includes a SOLID recall, sit, down, stay and walking nicely on a leash. House manners include not only toilet training but also rules regarding furniture, forbidden areas, counter surfing, respect for other household creatures, walking rather than racing, begging at the table, stealing food from kids, greeting guests, resting quietly in a crate, grooming routines, when to bark and when not to.

If you have acquired an Aussie as a working dog, remember that although he comes with the basic instinct to do his job, he will not know what that job is unless he is properly directed and trained.  You cannot expect any working dog to magically become a ranch hand unless you have spent the time and effort to guide him into his role.  If you do not train him, he will probably become, at best, "just another yard dog", or at worst, a real nuisance. 

An enormous reason to thoughtfully prepare your dog for how you wish him to act is his strong guardian instinct.  Left unguided, this instinct can lead your Aussie to behave in ways that can get him (and you) in trouble.

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE IF YOU ARE NOT A LEADER

Dogs do not view life as a democracy. Dog packs have clear rules, hierarchies and consequences. Pack leaders lead by posture, predictability, eye contact, and many other subtleties and nuances.  Aussies are often forceful personalities that, in the absence of a strong leader, will not hesitate to step into that role. Establishing and maintaining leadership is a lifetime job that you must take seriously to maintain order in your household with an Aussie as a family member.  In addition, your Aussie needs you as a strong leader to help him be relaxed and confident.  Being a leader of a human household is a difficult job for an animal!  Dogs that do not have clear leaders are often stressed and reactive.

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE IF YOU ARE A 'NEAT FREAK'

Australian Shepherd are robust, athletic dogs. They get dirty.  They don't know that you just mopped the floor or that the dead groundhog they just rolled in makes your house reek to high heaven.  If you get stressed out if your house is less than totally sanitary, please reconsider getting a dog.

Australian Shepherds shed.  They are in the mid-range of the shedding scale, less than a German Shepherd or Husky but more than a Bichon.  They usually "blow their coat" about twice a year, and shed undercoat continually.  Their type of coat is easily managed by a good brushing twice a week or so, but you will still find lots of hair on your furniture, car upholstery, clothing and floor no matter how often you groom them.

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE IF YOU CAN'T PROVIDE OUTDOOR EXERCISE

Australian Shepherd, like many dogs, enjoy the exhilaration of outdoor exercise. This can be walks, jogging, swimming, chasing balls, bike jogging. There isno one formula for how much or how often, but setting aside a daily time will keep you both fitter, build more 'quality time' into your relationship, and reduce boredom related misbehavior. If you have physical limitations, carting,weight pulling, bike jogging etc can suit you both.  Keep in mind that forced exercise such as jogging and biking should only be started after the dog's growth plates have closed, usually at around 1 year of age.  Prior to that, forced exercise can lead to permanent damage to bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles.

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO FEED AND CARE FOR ONE

First some simple premises. Dogs eat. Dogs need both preventive vet care and care for disease or accident.  Medium to large dogs cost more in anesthesia, boarding, grooming, heartworm meds, neutering. Call the vet practice you think you will be using and prepare a budget. Factor in a 'fudge' factor for accidents or illnesses that fall outside preventive care and neutering. A figure of $100 per month is not unreasonable. If this is going to strain the budget this is not the time for a dog in your life. Being realistic about this point can be very difficult-but being unable to care for a dog you love is painful too.

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE FOR A FIERCE PROTECTION DOG

 Most well bred, properly socialized Australian Shepherd will guard their territory and protect their pack (if they feel they are part of a pack.) Managing this trait requires a skilled handler, one who can anticipate what a dog views as a threat.  It can be legally problematic if you own a dog that you have intentionally trained as a protection dog.  Most Aussies provide a great deterrent to potential thieves or attackers simply by alarm barking in the home or yard, and there is no need to teach them to make the threat "for real."  Encouraging cross or suspicious behavior in your Aussie can result in terrible accidents with regular visitors to your home.

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE IF YOU JUST WANT A NON-AGGRESSIVE 'DETERRENT'

The Australian Shepherd standard describes the dog as having 'strong guardian instinct.' You can rightfully expect this from even the most peaceable dog. Dogs with less socialization or weaker characters may also bite if afraid, threatenedor demanded of. It is a dead wrong assumption to believe an Aussie will never bite because he is 'laid back' or 'so friendly.' If your couch potato mistakenly thinks your neighbor's son is assaulting your son with a baseball bat, or you and your spouse are fighting rather than engaging in horseplay, there may be some 'intervention.' Be aware and PREPARED. 

DON'T BUY AN AUSSIE AS AN 'INVESTMENT'

Did you know that the IRS's preferred position on dog breeding is that it is a hobby? If breeding dogs was such a lucrative, money making opportunitywhy are they not cashing in on it? Respected dog breeders who have actually kept books for their kennel mostly show losses annually. This is because as demonstrated above, $100 a month per dog is not an unrealistic budget figure. To that figure you must add health certifications, show and advanced training expenses, traveling to these events, advertising, club dues and donations, and sometimes (as often as half the time) a dog you raised for 2 yrs at minimum $100 per month fails to make the grade as a quality breeding dog. Then you either have a pet-or must place this one for little or no compensation.

This is just the beginning. The average litter size is about 7. Price tail docking and dew claw removal, or prepare yourself to do it on your own.  Can you do your own vaccines and worming or will that be another vet bill? What do c-sections cost in your area? Would you know if your bitch needs one? Do you have experience hand raising orphaned or abandoned pups? Will your employer allow you time off for whelping-or 3 weeks minimum for hand rearing (feeding every 2-3 hours around the clock?) Do you know that even established breeders often have several left over pups-due to last minute cancellations, wrong sex, 12 bornin the litter...? Can you raise and train as your own these 'left overs' untilgood homes are found? (Also apply the $100 per month per dog figure to leftovers. They eat too.) If your puppies are dumped by the buyer (who probablydidn't read or believe this missive) can you retrieve them from rescue or ashelter (usually more fees) and continue your responsibility to them? Mostclub codes of ethics REQUIRE you do this.

DON'T BUY an Aussie...

*if your life and available time is better suited to a goldfish

*if your life is unstable in job or location

*if your children's activities and demands will put the dog'son 'hold'

*if no one is home 10-14 hrs a day, and the remaining time overbooked.

*as your first dog

*to have a different dog, lawn ornament or trophy of success

*if you find it hard to make commitments in your life

*because a spouse is pressuring you for a dog you will end up beingprimary care taker for.

*for the kids as a 'playmate.'

If the plain talk about the breed hasn't discouraged you, you are likelyto embark on a most intense, rewarding relationship with a remarkable breed. The information provided here is the flip side of what living with an intelligent, 

demanding, enthusiastic dog can be like. As you set out to find your perfect Australian Shepherd, expect to be quizzed by responsible breeders about some of these issues. You will also be better prepared to notice warning flags with some litters/breeders. After reading this, you will be better prepared to represent yourself, your needs, your situation and a breeder can better select a puppy for you-guaranteeing success for all.

If after reading this you still long for your own wonderful, comical Aussie companion...welcome to the fraternity!

Things to Consider Before You Adopt a Dog

"Select" is defined in the dictionary by such phrases as "a preferred choice" or "carefully chosen". Selecting the family dog should be a well-researched and carefully soul-searched activity. Are you and your family willing to make a 10 - 15 year commitment to this sentient being in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for as long as all shall live?

How Old Are the Members of My Family? If the youngsters in your household are under seven years old, they are usually not developmentally suited for puppies 5 months old and under or toy-sized (under 15 pounds) dogs of any age. Puppies have ultra sharp "milk teeth" and toenails and often teethe on and scratch children, resulting in unintentional injury to the child. The puppy becomes something to be feared rather than loved.

Toy dogs are fine-boned, touch-sensitive creatures that do not weather rough or clumsy handling well. They break relatively easily and are quicker to bite than their larger boned, mellower relatives.

Unless your children are unusually sensitive, low-key, respectful individuals, a medium-to-large sized dog over 5 months old is usually the safer choice. Regardless of size, all interactions between small children and dogs should be monitored by a responsible adult. When there is no one to watch over them, they should be separated.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, are there frail elderly or physically challenged individuals in the household? If so, strong vigorous adolescent dogs are not a wise idea. No aging hips or wrists are safe from these yahoos. People who were one-breed fans throughout their lives may one day find that their favorite breed demands more than they can physically handle. The new dog must fit the current physical capabilities of his keepers with an eye toward what the next 10-15 years will bring.

Who Will Be the Dog's Primary Caretaker? A decade or so back, this was an easy question to answer-- Mom. She stayed home and cooked, cleaned and raised the family dog. Most families these days do not have that option. All adults have to go to work and the kids head off to school. This leaves the family dog to be sandwiched in between lessons and sports and household chores and so on. One parent should be designated Primary Caretaker to make sure the dog does not get lost in the shuffle.

Some parents bow to the pressure their children put on them to get a dog. The kids promise with tears in their eyes that they will religiously take care of this soon-to-be best friend. The truth of the matter is, during the 10 - 15 year lifespan of the average dog, your children will be growing in and out of various life stages and the family dog's importance in their lives will wax and wain like the Moon. You cannot saddle a child with total responsibility for the family dog and threaten to get rid of it if the child is not providing that care. It is not fair to child or dog.

Choosing the family dog should include input from all family members with the cooler-headed, more experienced family members' opinions carrying a bit more weight. The family dog should not be a gift from one family member to all the others. The selection experience is one the entire family can share. Doing some research and polling each family member about what is important to them in a dog will help pin down what you will be looking for. Books like Daniel Tortora's THE RIGHT DOG FOR YOU or The ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs can be tremendously helpful and can warn you away from unsuitable choices for your family's circumstances.

How Much Can I Spend?

The price to obtain a dog runs the gamut from free-to-a-good-home to several thousand dollars. It does not always hold true that you get what you pay for. The price you pay in a pet shop is usually 2 to 3 times higher than what you pay a reputable breeder for a puppy of similar (or usually better) quality.

Too many folks spend all their available cash on a pet shop purchase and then have no money left for initial veterinary care, a training crate or obedience classes--all necessary expenses. Remember, the purchase price of a dog is a very small part of what the dog will actually cost. Save money for food (especially if it is a large or giant breed), grooming (fancy coated breeds such as Poodles, Cockers, and Shih Tzus need to be clipped every 4 to 6 weeks), chew toys (the vigorous chewers like a Bull Terrier or Mastiff can work their way through a $8.00 rawhide bone in a single sitting), outerwear (short-coated breeds like Greyhounds, Chihuahuas, and Whippets must have sweaters and coats in the winter or in lavishly air conditioned interiors), and miscellaneous supplies (bowls, beds, brushes, shampoos, flea products, odor neutralizers for accidents, baby gates, leashes, collars, heartworm preventative etc.).

And then, there is the veterinary emergency! Very few dogs live their entire lives without at least one accident. Your puppy eats a battery or pair of pantyhose, your fine-boned toy breaks a leg, your big boy has bad hips, your dog gets hit by a car or beaten/bitten by the neighborhood bully. These surprises can cost $500 or more. Unlike our children, most of our dogs are not covered by health insurance.

But "How much can I spend?" is not only a question of money. How much time and energy can you spend on a new dog? Various breeds and ages of dog make different demands on our precious spare time. In general, the Sporting, Hounds, Herding, and Terrier breeds will demand more time in training and daily exercise than will the Guardian or Companion breeds. A puppy or adolescent will need more exercise, training, and supervision than will an adult dog. And the first year with any new dog regardless of age or breed type will put more demands on the owner than any other time, for this is when you are setting up house rules and routines which will last for the lifetime of your dog.

America has become a nation of disposable pet owners. Doesn't your family dog deserve better? Choose wisely, for when the bond breaks, everybody concerned suffers. Make selecting your new family dog a life-affirming act.

Try these Healthy recipes for you & your pet! 

Simple Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients:

5 eggs

5 tablespoons milk

1 pat of butter

Kosher salt

Ground pepper

Directions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine eggs and milk with a fork. In a nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat until it bubbles. Stir a pinch of salt and pepper into egg mixture then pour into pan, stirring slowly with a heat resistant rubber spatula.

2. As soon as curds begin to form, increase heat to high and instead of stirring, use the spatula to fold the eggs over themselves while gently shaking the pan with your other hand. As soon as no more liquid is running around the bottom of the pan, remove from the heat and serve.

Harvest Veggie Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 pound skinless boneless chicken breasts, diced

5-3/4 cups chicken broth

1-1/2 cups of 1/2-inch-diced yams

1-1/2 cups of 1/2-inch-diced red potatoes

2 zucchini, diced

2 summer squash, diced

Directions:

In a large stockpot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook chicken, stirring often, until no longer pink. When chicken is fully cooked, add stock, yams and potatoes and bring to a boil, boiling for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add zucchini and squash and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the portion you will set aside for your dog (about a cup a day). You can even mix the soup with his dry food for a pleasant change.

Lean Mean Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1-1/2 pounds ground turkey

1/2 pound ground beef

2/3 cup peas

2/3 cup carrots

1 cup oatmeal

1-1/4 cups milk

2 medium eggs

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients well. Place in a loaf pan and bake for 1-1/2 hours. Serve your pet, and then garnish with garlic powder or other spices to your liking.

Foods to never feed your pet ”There are quite a few foods and beverages we can consume that our pets should not, including onions, garlic, mushrooms, macadamia nuts and alcoholic or caffeinated drinks," .

 “For instance, if you are using baby food in any meals for your pet, read the label first to make sure it doesn’t contain onion powder. That being said, whenever you are cooking a meal for yourself and your pets, you should substitute ingredients or reserve a ‘pet-friendly’ portion beforehand.” Then you can add other ingredients and seasonings to the meal to make it palatable for you, your spouse and your kids.

There are a number of other foods and drinks you should never feed your pet. 

Many herding dog breeds are afflicted with a mutation of the multi-drug resistance (mdr1) gene. This gene encodes a protein (P-glycoprotein) that is responsible for removing certain drugs and toxins from the brain. Dogs that carry the mdr1 genetic defect cannot rid their brains of the problem drugs. The result is a neurotoxic buildup that can cause abnormal neurological symptoms and/or death.

Breeds known to carry the mdr1 mutation include Australian Shepherds of all sizes, Collies, English Shepherds, Longhaired Whippets, McNabs, Old English Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Silken Windhounds. Research has shown that three of every four Collies have at least one copy of the mutated gene.

This also means that if your mixed breed dog has, or you think s/he might have, any of these breeds in its pedigree, you should test your dog and avoid the drugs on the list until you have test results.

There is now a test available to screen for the presence of the mutated mdr1 gene. Test results indicate if the dog carries two, one or no copies of the mutated gene. For further information on the mdr1 genetic mutation and the test, visit the website of the Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine at http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/

From C.A.Sharpe http://www.ashgi. org

I was recently contacted by someone asking whether a dog could have an MDR1

reaction due to eating feces from Ivermectin-treated livestock. I wasn't

sure about that, so I checked with Dr. Katrina Mealy at Washington State

University. Dr. Mealy is the scientist who discovered the MDR1 gene.

She told me that Ivermectin and the related drug, selamectin, were shed in

feces of treated animals in active form. She went on to say that .they have

had a number of reports on dogs that had ingested enough feces to have

serious to fatal MDR1 reactions.

If you have Aussies or dogs of any other MDR1 breed who are prone to poop

eating and may have access to excrement from livestock, it would be wise to

do whatever you can to prevent them from doing so.

Download the MDR1 Vet Fact Sheet/Problem Drug list Problem Drugs

Dogs from affected breeds who carry the mutated gene OR who have not been tested for the mutation should avoid using drugs from the MDR1 Problem Drugs List (see next page). The list is divided into drugs known to cause mdr1 mutation problems and drugs suspected of causing mdr1 mutation problems.

The most commonly prescribed drug on the list is ivermectin, a wormer used in many canine heartworm preventative treatments including Heartguard, Iverhart, Tri-Heart and Advantage DUO. Dogs in the affected breeds should use milbemycin oxide (Interceptor) for heartworm preventative instead of ivermectin as it’s generally considered a safer alternative. Ivermectin can also be found in many livestock wormers (dogs should be kept away during and for several days after livestock worming), and in home and yard insecticides (under the names avermectin or abamectin).

Other frequently used drugs on the list include loperamide for diarrhea (most commonly sold as Imodium); morphine; butorphanol for pain and cough suppression; and acepromazine (prescribed as Ace, ACP, or Atravet) for tranquilizing, calming, and anesthesia use.

These problem drugs are dispensed in many forms including pills, liquids, injections, and ointments. Check ALL drugs you are considering giving your dog against this list if your dog either carries the mutated gene or has not yet been tested for the gene.

BusterAlert.org

Canine MDR1 Mutation

Info Center

MDR1 Problem Drugs List

with North American Brand & Trade Names

Dogs who test as having a mutated mdr1 gene OR dogs from afflicted breeds* who have not been tested for the mutation should avoid these drugs.

Drug names in bold are the generic drugs identified as problems by the scientists from the VCPL at Washington State University. Below each generic drug is a list of some of the synonyms, brand, and trade names for the generic drug provided by BusterAlert.org. More drugs are likely to be added as mdr1 research progresses.

Drugs PROVEN to Cause Neurotoxicity Acepromazine

Ace

Acepro

Aceproject

Acevet

ACP

Atravet

PromAce

Butorphanol

Dolorex

Stadol

Torbugesic

Torbutrol

Torphajet

Cyclosporin

Atopica

Cicloral

Ciclosporin

Cyclosporine

Gengraf

Immulem

Modusik-A

Neoral

Optimmune

Restasis

Sandimmune

SangCya

Supremunn

Digoxin

Digibind

Digitalis

Lanoxicaps

Lanoxin

Mapluxin

Doxorubicin

Adriamycin

Adriblastina

Caelyx

Doxil

Doxolem

Doxotec

Hydroxydaunomycin

Hydroxydoxorubicin

Hydroxyldaunorubicin

Myocet

Oxicina

Rubex Ivermectin

Abamectin

Acarexx

Advantage DUO

Avermectin

Bimectin

BMD/Ivomec

Ecomectin

Equell

Equimax

Equimectrin

Eqvalan

Heartguard

Ivercare

Ivercide

Iverhart

Iver-On

Iversol

Ivexterm

Ivomec

Mectizan

Megamectin

Noromectin

Panomec Phoenectin

Primectin

Privermectin

SparMectin

Stromectol

Tri-Heart

Unimectrin

Virbamec

Zimecterin

Loperamide

Acanol

Acqta

Anti-Diarrheal

   Formula

Cryoperacid

Deroser

Diahalt

Diamode

Diarr-Eze

Diarrhea Relief

Hurplex

Imodium

Imogen

Imperim Kao-Paverin

Lomotil

Lop

Loperacap

Nodiamex

Permidal

Pramidal

Raxamida

Rediarin

Top-Dal

Valfam

Vinblastine

Lemblastine

Velban

Velbe

Vincristine

Citomid

Leurocristine

Oncovin

Vinblax

Vincasar

Vincrex

Vintec Drugs SUSPECTED to Cause Neurotoxicity (research is ongoing)

Domperidone

Motilium

Etoposide

EPEG

Etopophos

Etopos

Toposar

Vepesid

VP-Tec

Mitoxantrone

Formyxan

Mitroxone

Neotalem Novantrone

Morphine

Analfin

Apokyn

Astramorph

Avinza

DepoDur

Doloral

Duralmor

Duramorph

Graten

Infumorph

Kadian

M-Eslon

MOS

MS Contin (MSC)

MSIR

Oramorph

RMS

Roxanol

Statex

Ondansetron

Zofran

Paclitaxel

Abraxane

Asotax Bris Taxol

Onxol

Paclisan

Praxel

Taxol

Quinidine

Biquin

Chinidinum

Cin-Quin

Quinact

Quinaglute

Quinalan

Quinatime

Quinidex

Quinora

Rifampicin

IsonaRif

Rifadin

Rifamate

Rifampin

Rifater

Rimactane

RMS

Rofact

Roxanol

Many owners love to lavish goodies on their pooches: bacon and cheese snacks, pig ears, and an endless stream of table scraps. But all that affection comes at a hefty price. Before Fido turns fat, it may be time to consider healthy dog treats.

In other words, skip the cheesy chews and bring on the baby carrots.Baby carrots? Yes. “Dogs like the crunch,” says Ernie Ward, DVM, aveterinarian in Calabash, N.C. Ward is also president of the Association forPet Obesity Prevention. He founded the group in 2005 to highlight the growing  problem of heavy, out-of-shape pets. He has treated many overweight dogs that come to his practice with osteoarthritis. “That is the number one thing that wesee: obese pets that are literally crippled by pain,” Ward says.

Heavy dogs also face heightened heart disease and cancer risks, Ward says. About 44% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight orobese, according to statistics from his group’s web site. But he tells WebMD that owners can take action. “When you look at obesity-related disorders,” Wardsays, “they are typically chronic, incurable, expensive, but generally preventable.”

Are treats making dogs fat? Treats have a place in a dog’s diet, veterinarians say. Besides spicing up adog’s day, treats -- such as small liver treats or salmon flakes -- are anexcellent way to motivate and reward puppies. One example might be duringhouse-training.

But today, Ward says, too many commercial dog treats are loaded with fat and sugar. “This makes these treats almost irresistible,” he says. “This is whyyour dog will dance and howl and yip and run and do amazing things just to getone of these goodies. I call them calorie grenades.”

Even a single, high-calorie treat, such as packaged beef, bacon, or cheese snacks, can fill as much as one-fourth to one-fifth of a small dog’s daily calorie needs. “It’s really dangerous,” says Ward, “because pet owners are inthe habit of giving two or three treats at a time. Voila -- obesity.”

Experts say that too many owners forget to factor treats into a pet’soverall caloric intake. “A general recommendation is that treats should notmake up more than 15% to 20% of the pet’s total diet,” says Sarah Abood, DVM,PhD. Abood is an assistant professor of small animal clinical sciences at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She tells WebMD that the restriction still holds whether it’s commercial treats or people food.

Certain store-bought treats, such as dried chicken strips, are a better,low-fat choice than some of the heavily processed, high-fat snacks, says MarkNunez, DVM, a veterinarian in Van Nuys, Calif. Nunez is also president of theCalifornia Veterinary Medical Association. “I usually tell my clients, if it sounds like junk food, it probably is junk food,” he says.

Natural Dog Treats For owners interested in homemade or organic dog treats, Ward says, “It’sstill better to give natural, whole foods. I look for crunchy vegetables.” He suggests offering small portions of snacks such as green beans, celery, or cooked yams, including canned ones. “You have to experiment with your own dog,”he says. But avoid onions, garlic, grapes and raisins, which are toxic todogs.

Some owners have told Ward that their dogs refuse veggies. But he encourages them to keep putting healthy choices before them, as parents would do with children.

In the summertime, Ward freezes small chunks of apples, kiwi, and watermelon into ice cubes for his dog to lick outdoors. “They’re great for a hot day.Those are simple things that people can do,” he says.

Nunez says chicken hot dogs or tofu hot dogs -- the ones for human consumption -- can also be cut into pieces for dog treats.

It’s also easy to concoct delicious, natural dog treats at home, Ward says.Here’s one of his recipes:

Lickety Split

1 frozen banana

1 cup rice milk or nonfat yogurt

Place ingredients in blender. Mix until creamy. Serve chilled.

Each 4 oz. serving has about 65 calories. To reduce calories, substitute 2/3cups strawberries instead of using a banana.

Table scraps and bones What about feeding a dog from the dinner table? Nunez discourages the habit because it trains a pet to become a meal time mooch. “You don’t want to get the dog used to begging at the dinner table,” he says.

In contrast, Ward believes that it’s unrealistic to expect dog owners to avoid table feeding. But that doesn’t mean that owners should slip their dogs greasy chicken skins or scraps of fat. “I think it boils down to having good choices,” Ward says. “If you’re going to feed from the table, make it vegetablechoices.”

Both veterinarians agree, though, that contrary to popular belief, dogs should not chew on bones, either from the pet store, butcher’s counter, or leftovers from owners’ meals.

“It’s a common thought that dogs have been eating bones since the dawn oftime. But bones can cause a lot of problems,” Nunez says. Dogs can fracture aback molar when they crunch down on a bone, or they may swallow bone splinters and suffer gastrointestinal irritation. “As a general rule of thumb, I tell people to avoid bones,”Ward says. “I don’t see any need from a nutritional stand point, and it runs aninherent risk.”

Compressed rawhide bones, horse hooves, and pig ears can also irritate orobstruct the intestinal tract, experts say.

So what’s a bored dog to do? Instead of giving a dog a bone to gnaw, place afew healthy treats inside a rubber Kong dog toy, which makes the pet work harder to dislodge snacks with its tongue. “That occupies a lot of time,”

Pets Are Natural Mood Enhancers It only takes 15 to 30 minutes with a dog or cat or watching fish swim to feel less anxious and less stressed. Your body actually goes through physical changes in that length of time that make a difference in your mood. The level of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is lowered. And the productionof serotonin, an important chemical associated with well-being, is increased.Reducing stress saves your body a lot of wear and tear.

DOGS CAN EAT A VARITY OF STRANGE THINGS.SOME DOGS HAVE ABNORMAl DESIRES TO INGEST NONEDIBLE SUBSTANCES, INLUDING WOOD, FABRIC, OR SOIL. TALK TO YOUR VETERINARIAN ABOUT POSSIBLE HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THESE SPECIFIC HUNGERS, AND ABOUT POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THAT COULD RESULT FROM EATING THESE ITEMS. THE MOST COMMON AND SEEMINGLY APALLING NON- FOOD ITEM EATEN BY DOGS IS THEIR OWN FECES. THIS HABIT, CALLED COPROPHAGIA, HAS BEEN BLAMED ON BOREDOM, STRESS, HUNGER, POOR NUTRITION, AND EXCESSIVELY RICH NUTRITION, BUT NONE OF THESE HAS PROVED A COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION. FOOD ADDITIVES ARE AVAILABLE THAT MAKE THE STOOL LESS SAVORY, AND YOU CAN ALSO TRY ADDING HOT PEPPER TO IT, BUT A DETERMINED DOG WILL NOT BE DETERRED AND THE BEST CURE IS IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF ALL FECES. MANY PUPPIES EXPERIMENT WITH STOOL EATING BUT GROW OUT OF IT.

IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN OLD AUSSIE, YOU STILL MUST ACCEPT THAT AN END WILL COME. HEART DISEASE, KIDNEY FAILURE, AND CANCER EVENTUALLY CLAIM MOST OF THESE SENIOR CITIZENS. EARLY DETECTION CAN HELP DELAY THEIR EFFECTS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY CAN SELDOM PREVENT THEM ULTIMATETLY.

DESPITE THE BEST OF CARE, A TIME WILL COME WHEN NEITHER YOU OR YOUR VETERINARIAN CAN PREVENT YOUR CHERISHED PET FROM SUCCUMBING TO OLD AGE OR AN INCURRABLE ILLNESS. IT SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A FOCAL POINT OF YOUR LIFE, A REAL MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY.

YOU SHOULD REALIZE THAT BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE SHARED SO MANY GOOD TIMES, BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOUR AUSSIES REMAINING TIME IS STILL PLEASURABLE. MANY TERMINAL ILLNESSES MAKE YOUR DOG FEEL VERY ILL, AND THERE COMES A POINT WHERE YOUR DESIRE TO KEEP YOUR FRIEND WITH YOU AS LONG AS POSSIBLE MY NOT BE THE KINDEST THING FOR EITHER OF YOU. IF YOUR DOG NO LONGER EATS ITS DINNER OR TREATS, THIS IS A SIGN THAT IT DOES NOT FEEL WELL AND YOU MUST FACE THE PROSPECT OF DOING WHAT IS BEST OFR YOUR BELOVED FRIEND.

EUTHENANSIA IS A DIFFICULT AND PERSONAL DECISION THAT NO ONE WISHES TO MAKE, AND THAT NO ONE CAN MAKE FOR YOU. ASK YOUR VETERINARIAN IF THERE IS A RESONABLE CHANCE OF YOUR DOG GETTING BETTER, AND IF IT LIKELY THAT YOUR DOG IS SUFFERING. ASK YOURSELF IF YOUR DOG IS GETTING PLEASURE OUT OF LIFE, AND IF IT ENJOYS MOST OF ITS DAYS. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE A FACTOR IF IT MEANS GOING INTO DEBT IN EXCHANGE FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. YOUR OWN EMOTIONAL STATE MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED.

IF YOU DO DECIDE THAT EUTHENANSIA IS THE KINDEST FAREWELL GESTURE FOR YOUR BELOVED FRIEND, DISCUSS WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN BEFOREHAND WHAT WILL HAPPEN. EUTHENANSIA IS PAINLESS AND INVOLVES GIVING AN OVERDOSE OF ANESTHETIC. IF YOUR DOG IS SCARED OF THE VETERINARIAN CLINIC, YOU  MIGHT FEEL BETTER HAVING THE DR MEET YOU AT HOME OR COME OUT TO YOUR CAR. ALTHOUGH IT WON'T BE EASY, TRY TO REMAIN WITH YOUR DOG SO THAT ITS LAST MOMENTS WILL BE FILLED WITH YOUR LOVE.GATHER YOUR MEMORIES OF YOUR AUSSIE AND PEN THEM IN YOUR HEART FOREVER. WHEN IT IS TIME TO LET GO, THANK YOUR AUSSIE FOR A JOB WELL DONE, AND GIVE IT THE FINAL RELEASE. THAT'LL DO.

HARSH CORRECTIONS ONLY MAKE MATTERS WORSE.

DOGS LIVE IN THE PRESENT AND CANNOT MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THEIR EALIER MISDEEDS AND LATER PUNISHMENT.

DOGS REPEAT ACTIONS THAT BRING IMMEDIATE REWARDS.

DOGS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF MAKING AN EZCEPTION "JUST THIS ONCE."

DOGS HEAR WHAT YOU SAY, NOT WHAT YOU MEAN TO SAY. BE CONSISTENT WITH COMMANDS.

DRUGS

CHOCOLATE (ESPECIALLY BAKERS CHOCOLATE)

RODENT , SNAIL,AND INSECT BAITS

ANTIFREEZE

HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS

PAINT THINNER

TOILET FRESHNERS

NUTS, BOLTS, PENNIES, WHICH CAN DISSOLVE IN THE STOMACH AND CAUSE ZINC TOXICITY

PINS AND NEEDLES, AND ANYTHING IN A SEWING BASKET

CHICKEN BONES OR ANY BONE THAT COULD BE SWALLOWED OR COULD SPLINTER

SPONGES AND SPONGE RUBBER BALLS

ANY OTHER SMALL ITEM THAT A PUP COULD SWLLOW, WHICH CAN CAUSE INTESTINAL BLOCKAGE