Dog Blog

The following article brings up a subject that many dog lovers would like to avoid - our beloved older dog’s risk of contracting cancer.

Cancer effects more than just people

From The Nevada Appeal, August 2, 2006

Tine Leutheuser isn’t your typical cancer survivor. When her right leg was bothering her a few months ago, the sable haired, brown-eyed beauty took a trip to the doctor only to find she had bone cancer.

A few days later while deciding on a course of action, her leg broke, leaving few options - she’d just have to get by on her other three.

Yes, Tine is a dog, and like many of her human counterparts in Incline Village, she is a cancer survivor.

So is her owner, Incline resident Ed Leutheuser, who beat bladder cancer 12 years ago.

The duo plan to walk in Friday’s Relay for Life event to celebrate cancer survivors, help raise money for cancer research and remember loved ones.

One person who Leutheuser, 75, will be remembering on Friday is his wife, Sue, who died of ovarian cancer in 2004.

“The great benefit of Relay for Life is that it’s a lot different than just writing a check,” Leutheuser said. “You actually get out there and participate and see other people participate. It’s a whole new dimension for the awareness of cancer treatment; the importance of helping to find cures.”

Leutheuser purchased nearly 30 luminaria bags this year to recognize the people close to him directly affected by cancer. His father, wife, two brothers and sister died of cancer.

“Cancer has touched me because (it has affected) a lot of people in my family, a lot of people I’ve known for a long time,” said Leutheuser, an Incline resident since 1999. “It’s a very personal thing for me this year.”

And last spring, cancer almost took his dog.

Walking by his side on Friday will be 10-year-old Tine, a Belgian Malinois Shepard, who had her right hind leg and right hip amputated in April. She will be donning a red short-sleeved sweatshirt that reads “Cancer Survivor.”

“Tine recovered fantastically,” Leutheuser said. “She bounds out of the house in the morning like a deer. She doesn’t hurt anymore - that’s all. She doesn’t know she has three legs.”

Cancer is common in dogs as they become middle-aged or older, said veterinarian James Lane of Incline Veterinary Hospital, who performed Tine’s surgery.

Cancer is a major cause of death in dogs, he said.

“I think (Tine’s story is) a great inspiration,” Lane said. “I’m not sure if this will be an inspiration to other dogs, but hopefully it will be an inspiration to their owners.”

Relay for Life takes place from 4 p.m. Aug. 4 to 7 a.m. Aug. 5 at Preston Field in Incline Village. For more information, contact Ginny Moore (775) 888-4204 or email vmoore@tfhd.com.

I just visited the local Humane Society, and it reminded me of the most difficult problem you experience when choosing a “used” dog. It’s a canine version of “false advertising.”

The quietest dog in the kennel could turn into the most exhuberant barker in your yard. The friendliest dog may just be begging to be uncaged - and he may be just as eager to find his way out of your yard and into trouble. The dog that looks the biggest and baddest may be a couch potato who licks your cats instead of chasing them, and who will be far happier on your lap (although he couldn’t possibly fit) than in the back yard.

It’s easy to take home the dog you think will be perfect, based on past experiences with other dogs, while the pooch you really need, (and who really needs you), was never noticed.
So how do you get to know the dogs well enough to choose the right one? By getting to know the people at the pound.

Anyone who works or volunteers at an animal shelter is deeply in love with animals. They know that finding the wrong home could be just as traumatic for their dogs as not finding a home at all.

For that reason, they will be honest if you ask about a particular mutt in their care. They’ll want you to know every idiosyncrasy, every strange habit, every destructive or inconvenient behavior. They won’t just tell you the good things about the dog, because they don’t want you to be surprised when you get your new dog home.

Even better than finding a dog and then asking about his history and temperment is to find a person at the shelter that you trust and ask him or her to watch for the perfect canine companion. Let this person know what type of personality you’re looking for, the perfect age, and the level of training you would like your new dog to have before you adopt him. Also share a bit about yourself - your age, your expectations, your limitations. Call back regularly to let the shelter know that you’re serious about finding the perfect dog for you, and they’ll call you when “your” dog walks through the receiving door.

My stepmother used this technique to find Oscar, a Wolfhound/Airdale cross who was a perfect fit in her household. If she were looking on her own, the size of this big-hearted mutt could have turned her away - but the shelter folks knew that Oscar belonged in her home, and she trusted them enough to begin a long and successful relationship. He finally passed away 4 years ago, and he is still sorely missed.

I finally met my brother’s new used dog, a Mini-Austrailian Shepherd. The little guy is one year old; his previous owners didn’t have time for him - a common problem with any of the herding breeds. He now has a perfect home - three acres of farm and woodland, and a new owner who adores him.

After meeting this sweet little dog, I got to thinking - does he still belong to the herding breeds? Genetically, he certainly does, and his behavior and personality fit with the Aussie mold. But he’s so little!

When we research dog breeds, in order to find exactly the right one for our family, we don’t always use the scientific breed categories, which are based on genetics. Instead, we consider basic personality, size, and behavior. However, these two go hand-in-hand - a true companion breed will never act like a bloodhound, or a search and rescue dog. Companion breeds were selected over many years for just one job - being with, and entertaining, people.

So we have to wonder - what happens when a breed that is remarkably well-suited for active, intelligent work in the field, like the Aussie, is then modified to have a smaller body so it will fit into the standard-sized home? His genetic makeup will still give him an intense curiosity and great problem-solving skills, and an obsessive desire to work. Whether or not that personality fits into a family setting is going to depend on the family. Can you give your new dog the time and attention that his powerful brain and active body will demand? Or would a slower dog (both mentally and physically) be a better fit for your lifestyle?

As the mini and toy Aussies become more and more popular, they may find themselves keeping company with the many Border Collies at the local Humane Society - a sad result of poor planning and selection on the part of their previous owners, but a great opportunity for people like my brother, who have the time and space that’s needed to keep one of these intelligent, loyal dogs happy.

Does everyone have that one dog in their life that all other dogs are measured against?

Mine was Simka, a big, hairy mutt whose mother was part German Shepherd. His father was unknown. My roomate and I both picked out a pup from the litter of 12, and Simka and Mica coudn’t have been more different. Her Mica was headstrong, sociable, and always ready for a game. My Simka followed every rule he could understand, tolerated other animals only because he had to, and acted like a grumpy old man before his first birthday. But he was amazingly loyal, loving, and devoted to me - and of course it was mutual.

My most recent dog, (who was 9 years old when I adopted her), was a darling Border Collie who was always polite, well-mannered and happy. Pepper’s only fault was a minor obsession with her Frisbee, but with Border Collies, an obsession or two is part of the package. No matter how you looked at it, she was a perfect dog - but I admit that there were times when I compared her to Simka. It wasn’t fair, of course (almost like comparing children - it just shouldn’t be done). But it happened.

I’ve known people who give up on dogs because they grieve the loss of that “special” dog that they know they’ll never be able to replace. But that’s just not my way. They’re all special, in one way or another, and it’s such a pleasure to get to know them. And who knows - it’s always possible that the next one will be even more perfect that old Simka was.

Carol, a reader, submitted the following:

I highly recommend adopting an older dog. We were fortunate enough to adopt an old Newfoundland about 1 1/2 years ago. She was rescued by the fire department from a storm drain which she had somehow gotten stuck in. They think she was stuck there for several days.

She was taken to the local animal shelter where they had to completely shave her because of all the mats. Afraid that no one would adopt a bald, elderly and very large dog, a worker called my sister to inquire if she knew anyone who would adopt this dog, and my sister called me. I didn’t hesitate to say, “Yes.”

We only had Suzie a year before she had to be put to sleep, but during that year I fell in love with Newfoundlands. Suzie was the sweetest, most gentle and patient dog I have ever had or known.

She spent her days indoors with us, sprawled out so she looked like a big black bear sleeping in our house. At night she went outside to sleep in a giant dog house my husband built for her, with a giant dog pillow for warmth and comfort.

We miss Suzie.

Carol

http://www.freegardentips.info

Forest Service workers in Southern Oregon discovered a dachshund out in the woods who had been mauled by animals. The dog gratefully accepted their help, and he was rushed to the local animal hospital. Thankfully, this dog story has a nice ending. Read about Stitch in the Mail Tribune.

Meanwhile, a company in California is now trying to sell flavored water for dogs - will people really buy “Toilet Water” for their spoiled pooch? I kind of hope not, but you never know.

———–

The love of dogs - Is it in the genes? 

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to be born dog lovers, and other people really can’t understand what all the fuss is about? I have a theory, (which may be completely nuts, of course), that an affinity towards dogs and other animals has a genetic component.

Have you ever known a feral cat who hisses and spits before he’s old enough to open his eyes, and never feels comfortable in the company of people? I adopted one once, when I lived in Spokane. His mother was an abandoned Siamese who was found in a neighbor’s basement, and the father was probably a wild cat - there were hundreds of them in the area.

You could say quite honestly that my cat was not a “people person,” and no amount of spoiling ever turned him around.

When he grew older he could tolerate me if I was sitting down, but when I stood up he raced for the kitty door in terror, as though he had never seen me before. However, he was madly in love with my Miniature Schnauzer.

Some dogs are bred on purpose to like humans, but only a little. If a dog is running through the woods after a fox or coon, he won’t be worth much if he keeps turning around to see if his favorite human approves of him. A Border Collie would make a lousy coon dog.

Yet most dogs and cats love humans from the moment they’re born, just as some children are immediately drawn to puppies and kittens. So, if dogs and cats can be genetically inclined to love and adore humans, (or not), why couldn’t it be the same for us?

Did we end up being dog lovers because it’s in our genes, or because that’s how we were raised? Or both?

If you’ve read Jan Fennell’s dog training book, The Dog Listener, you’ll know why I’m pleased to announce that she’ll be speaking at the Northwestern University in Evanston, IL on May 3, 2006.

If you have a chance, be sure to attend. Jan has a wonderfully rational approach to training dogs, and I hope her method becomes even more popular in the US. You can find additional information and a registration form on Mary Lynne Doleys’ website peacefulpaws.us

Jan’s new book, The Seven Ages of Man’s Best Friend and her DVD will be on sale at the event. (Her new book will be of special importance to anyone who adopts a mature dog, which fits in rather nicely with the theme of this site, doesn’t it?)

Thanks, Mary, for letting us know about this event.

Jonni

I recently saw an ad for an adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that was being sold for $250, when the only Cavalier puppies available in the area that week were being sold for $800 to $1200.

Can you imagine a farmer selling a full-grown cow for a third of the price he charges for 2-week old calves? It’s a silly idea - but most puppies often bring much higher prices than older dogs. The exceptions are dogs that have been raised and trained for a specific purpose, such as the specialized hunting dogs, sniffer dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

Most dogs in the United States have only one purpose: To be pets. And for some reason, other people’s pets lose value the longer they live with those other people.

When most dog owners need to sell their adult dogs, you can bet they won’t get the price they paid for them as puppies.

Lab and pit bull owners who need to “re-home” their pets have to beg folks to take them, or the dogs end up in the pound.

I’m going to bring the discussion back to those specially-trained dogs for a moment. I suspect that the reason a mature working dog sells for big money and mature pets do not, is that Americans assume that other people’s pets have been “damaged” somehow, through bad training or permissive ownership.

Any dog that needs a new home, we believe, is “somebody else’s problem.” Why would anyone pay extra for a dog who has been getting away with murder? (And we assume he has been, or he wouldn’t be looking for a new home).

Maybe if we had a dog training class in every high school, and we all learned how to raise civilized dogs, we would begin to assume that other people’s dogs learn good habits as they mature.

Then it would be easier to believe someone when she tells us that her “active” dog needs a new home (with a strong fence and no small children) because the owner has to move and can’t take the dog with her. Perhaps older dogs, in other words, would begin to get the respect they deserve.

Last Tuesday our local paper ran a story about bad dogs - including a snappy Chihuahua, who were turned around by good dog trainers. The story reminded me that we all love our dogs, and we want them to be loved by our friends and neighbors, too. But sometimes things can turn ugly.

Even little dogs can do some damage to your ankles if they become aggressive, and can’t be controlled.

One of the few dog breeds for which I have a strong dislike are dachshunds. I don’t care that they’re cute, that they like to sleep under the covers, that their owners all love them to pieces. I was subjected to an untrained doxie when I was a kid, and that one dog’s bad behavior turned me against them. I know better now, but it doesn’t help.

A recent conversation on the Portland Craigslist started because a woman tried to adopt an adult doxie from a dachshund rescue group, but her offer was rejected, and it hurt her feelings. The rejection was based on the fact that the person wanting the doxie already had two small children. The rescue group said one reason the adoption wouldn’t work has to due with the very expensive back surgery that many of these elongated dogs need after kids pick them up or roughhouse with them.

But the other reason was that doxies can’t really be trusted around kids - they were originally bred as hunters, they said, and they tend to chase anything that moves.

The dachshund I experienced as a child would hide under our couch, which had legs just long enough to give him a good hiding place. When a child sat on the couch with bare feet, the dog would “hunt” our toes. Sharp teeth. Not fun.

I honestly don’t know if all older doxies need to be adopted by families with no small children - I suspect that there are many examples of when it turned out just fine. But I would tend to pay attention if a rescue group was discouraging me from taking one of their animals - they know their dogs, and don’t want to see them rejected by another family. And they have a right to choose who their dogs go to - it’s their passion, after all, or they wou’dn’t be doing it.

That brings up another point - can a good dog trainer change a dog’s inbred behaviors, if those behaviors don’t fit the family it lives with? And how do you know if it’s just a badly trained dog (like my mother’s dachshund, perhaps), or a dog with a built-in bad temperament? Will a good trainer help in either case? Or should you resort to muzzles, t-shirts, and double leashes so you can keep a dog with a bad attitude, as one dog owner-turned-trainer who was interviewed for the newspaper article?

A coworker has a 5 month old Ausie who is starting to guard her bed from her 7 year old child. (It was kind of “cute” when the pup guarded her from her husband, but now it’s getting out of hand.) Is it “just natural” for Ausies to be overly protective, or can a good dog trainer change the owner’s behavior enough to save the dog? In the next month or so, we’ll find out.

If you have any comments on training, dog behavior, dog adoptions, or any other issue that is related to dogs, please feel free to submit an article to this blog. This is a new blog, which I created to make it easier to add articles of interest to my older-dog.com website. Your participation is encouraged - if you love dogs, we’d love to hear from you!