W estmount
D og
O wners
A ssociation
"Sure, Jacques. Feel free to put the cartoon up."
Terry Mosher's (Aislin) reply to his being requested permission for it to be posted for free.
Thank you, Aislin!
W estmount
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Gentle Readers,
This week, the column is about dogie-do, poop, or, in the vernacular, --oops! can't use that word in print! Anyway, poop collection or lack of it, is arguably the most visible attribute of dog ownership. When I was growing up (long ago and far away in a definitely different universe!), it was the norm that poop was not collected. Indeed, our two terriers were let out on their own for a bedtime speed-pee or speed-poop.
Well, the times, they have changed, to misquote Bob Dylan. We think for the better. Whether one is thinking in terms of general cleanliness, or health (dogs and ours!), or our shared environment, piles of brown material along streets, on lawns, in parks or dog runs, are no longer acceptable!
There are two ways to deal with poop collection. Both are effective and easy. One is to pick it up in a plastic bag. Any size large enough for the job wi1l do, and it probably doesn't matter if the bag is opaque or clear. This may be Westmount, but we don't need designer bags -what the groceries or any other purchase came home in, wi1l do nicely. The method is simplicity itself. Place your hand into the bag, reach down, collect the poop, and simply pull up the top of the bag with your other hand -- the poop is inside, & you haven't touched it! The bag is tied at the top (just twist it & loop the top through), and carried home. It is then deposited with the household garbage. Voilà.
The other effective way is to use a pooper-scooper, of which several models are popular.This is a purpose- made tool designed to collect the poop for transport. Again, the poop returns home with you and is deposited into the household garbage, or flushed down the toilet. A garden trowel, or a child's shovel wi1l do the trick as well, but as these are not enclosed, transport home can be a bit tricky.
Two practices are not acceptable. Leaving the poop, or putting it down city street drains. There is no excuse not to pick up. None. Ever. It is also not acceptable to place uncontained poop in the street gutters, or to drop poop in plastic bags down the storm drains. Why, you ask, since both methods remove poop from lawns and side- walks ? Because, in both cases, the poop goes straight to the river, bypassing entirely the sewage purification plant. Can't you just picture little brown blobs and plastic bags floating past Quebec City and the once-pristine Saguenay ?! Ugh! Sewage treatment may be a messy issue in Montreal, but responsible dog owners and walkers do not wish to contribute to the controversy !!
Yes, you can use public garbage pails, but please, only for bagged poo. Even that can produce strong odours during the hot months. Unbagged poo really raises a stink! The City would much prefer the poop went home with you. And, you know, there's a real cachet to taking the poop home. You are so visibly being a superior soul and a responsible citizen !! Carry your bag or scooper with pride !!
Bridget C. Blackader Pres., WDOA
Gentle readers, the short answer is -- yes. Picture two scenarios, both of which happen daily in Westmount. In the first, a youngster (10 yrs, maybe 60 lbs?) has a dog of maybe 80 lbs on the leash for the afternoon walk. It is near Spring, the dog catches a scent, and pulls away from the youngster, bounds across a road, and disappears from view. The youngster is crying from skinned knees, several drivers have applied ABS, the dog is (hopefully only temporarily) gone. In the second scenario, several quite young, chattering and out-shouting each other, have a small dog on a medium lenght leash. Absorbed in each other, they do not notice the dog's repeated attempts to stop for a pee. While they pause for a red light, the dog positions itself for a poo. The light changes, and the youngsters start across the street, dragging the dog behind. The dog is dropping small bits of brown material behind it.
Something went wrong in each scenario. What? In the first, the youngster probably did not have verbal control of the dog, and certainly no physical control. In the second, the kids were doing the right thing in walking the dog, but perhaps hadn't grasped the importance of allowing the dog time to sniff, pee, poop. Certainly they weren't aware of the importance of picking up.
The fallout is annoying, and can be catastrophic. The dog is gone and a search has to be organized. Or, there's pee on your best carpet in the morning.
So, how to prevent these messy outcomes? Happily, it's straighforward. First, recognize that the woofs need at least two main outings per day , of a half hour or more. This allows ample time to sniff (collect news), pee (leave news), and poop. Some dogs will do the peeing & pooping early in a walk, others will distribute these activities throughout the walk. You'll know your dog's preferences quickly, with a little observation. As exercice and contact with other dogs are most important, allowing for some play time and/or free running with other dogs, will make these outings really fun times for your woof. The results are a happier, calmer, dog. Like us, dogs benefit from access to toilet facilities every 4 - 6 hrs. Unlike us, they can't just walk into the loo at home or work. So a before-breakfast, and before bed-time speed pee are also mandatory. Midday outings, especially for older dogs, are a responsible kindness.
Second, if the kids are to be responsible for (some of) the dog walking, try some extra forward planning. Will the dog at full growth (1 - 2 yrs) outweigh the child responsible for walks? Will the breed accept the kids as superior pack members, and listen to commands? Are you prepared to enroll the puppy and the kids in puppy obedience school? Will the kids be shown a good way to walk the woof, allowing time for smelling, peeing, pooping, and poop collection? Can you make sure they'll follow through?
Every "yes" answer decreases the possibility of lost dogs, skinned knees, uncollected poops, soiled carpets. Every "yes" answer raises the probability of happy and funfilled outings, of smiling kids and romping dogs. Picture this: family portrait with proud parents, two and four-footed kids - all part of the team. Great, eh?
Gentle reader, have you encountered another person whom, for some reason, or none, you've disliked? Immediately? Instinctively? Even, perhaps, unfairly? Mayhap it's a side effect of sapiency and sentience. Well, it can happen with dogs too. We would be fools to assume all dogs will get along with one another at all times. Good gracious, humans can't manage that, why should dogs? Although, heaven knows, they do manage better than we most times?
So, what is the correct etiquette for meetings on streets or in dog runs? When encountering another (unfamiliar) dog during an outing, shorten or keep the leash to about three feet. Approach the other dog slowly, allowing time for various signals to be exchanged. Some mutual sniffing or circling is fine, it's part of the greeting rituals. If either dog becomes more aggressive than you accept, a short leash allows you to haul the woof away and out of range. Letting dogs unfamiliar with each other meet and greet at the end of 10 - 15 ft leashes is probably OK most of the time, but it is definitely living dangerously. There is absolutely no way you can haul your dog out of the situation if he is at the end of a long lead. Prove it to yourself by yanking on a 3 ft leash and watching how quickly it moves. Try it again with a 10 ft or longer lead, and observe how little the end moves when you jerk the handle.
A similar approach applies for dog runs. If the dogs do not all know each other, a group descending en masse upon the entrance gate can appear as aggressive to you dog, who may well choose to enter in full protective aspect, snarling and snapping. In no time flat, there's a "situation". It's perfectly correct to ask the other walkers to call their animals away from the gate. It's also perfectly correct to ask another person to call his dog away from yours if it appears to be playing very aggresively, or repeatedly humping your dog, etc. And remember, not all adult dogs want to play with puppies, who can have a tendancy to bore in, demanding attention. The attention they receive may not be what the owner/walker had in mind!
And please remember, not all dogs are familiar or comfortable with the (very) young. A child running up from behind or from the front, screaming happiness and/or waving arms, can be easily interpreted by your dog as a unprovoked attack. The response could well include teeth, with a dreadful outcome. For that reason alone, allowing the very young into dog runs can pose some real risk. There are play areas for the woofs, and separate ones for the kids -- for good reason. Please be sure that you or whoever is with your kids outdoors, never allows them to run up to, or run after, dogs.
How should folk of any age approach a dog? Quietly, from the front in full view, with an out-stretched hand for the dog to smell. This is a polite and dignified greeting. If you wish to pat the dog, check with the walker first, then pat or stroke gently under the chin, on the chest, or along the body. Thumping the dog on the head can make it nervous, as it can't see what you are doing. Do you like being thumped on the head? Me neither. Pretty undignified, isn't it?
Dear readers, there's a wonderful bumper sticker driving around town. It reads: "Dogs are for life, not just for Christmas". This should be a real cliché, so clearly true it needs no elaboration or repetition. Unfortunately, t'ain't always so. Way more often than we like to admit, dogs find themselves moved between temporary homes or worse, at a shelter, because they "didn't fit in", or their needs were greater or different from initial expectations. I'm sure you'll agree that this is a lousy way to treat a species which aligned itself with us so many thousands of years ago. And, more often than not, it is preventable.
As we can choose our friends, so we can choose our dogs. So, be choosy!! After you've considered the beauty and the cuddle factor, consider time, money, exercise, adult size, grooming, temperament.
Time and timing. A big factor. Can you make time in your usual schedule for play, for 2 or preferably 3 real outings per day? Time for house training and obedience classes during the first months? Do you travel a lot -- would the dog be kennelled frequently? Can you expect to be home at hours that mean the dog won't be alone with an uncomfortably full bladder of an evening?
Money. Well, the beasties needs feeding, and annual check-ups, a few toys, maybe a winter coat or booties to protect against salt, a collar and leash. It also needs an annual licence, possibly an annual kennel stay during your vacation, possibly occasional professional grooming.
Exercise is another real consideration, and there's a considerable range of requirements with this. Greyhounds are amoung the world's more accomplished couch potatoes, but terriers will generally take as much as you can give them! Are you ready to increase your daily outdoor quotient? Are you waiting for a hip replacement? Have you counted on doing the walks at +30, -30, in high winds, sleet, knee-deep snow? It's everyday, twice a day, for the next 8, 10, 14 years.
Size and grooming. Well, a Great Dane spread across the bed is fine for some, but others will prefer a smaller presence. Is grooming an Afghan for 4 hrs your idea of a great Sunday afternoon? Could be. Or maybe you're happier with a professional brushing, clipping, shampoo for the Wheaton every 3-4 months. Or perhaps a shorthair friend makes a match for you.Temperament is critical. Some breeds are quite prepared to have kids tripping around them, to others this is the worst aggravation possible. Some insist on independant thinking, while others will try to guess your preferences.
Does all this sound like marriage or kids to you? You betcha. You're signing on for years when you get a dog. So be as choosy as you can. Your reward for a little preplanning will be years and years of unqualified love and moral support, a non-judgemental companion through good times and bad. This friendship is one of the world's best investment!
Bridget C. Blackader, Pres., WDOA
So, gentle reader, you've taken the plunge ? Ya wanna dog. Great! Should be one of your best decisions ever, and it will be with just a little more prep.
Where to get a dog ? An excellent first move, if you're leaning toward a particular breed, is to phone the Canadian Kennel Club in Toronto, for a list of reputable breeders near you. Contact the breeder, and expect to be asked about your expectations and lifestyle. Good breeders are keen to make good matches for their animals. If you're not asked about yourself, think of dealing with a different breeder.
The local SPCA or shelter is another place to find a friend. The good ones try hard to place any animal who looks to have a chance (history , temperament, health) of finding a new home. Shelters have puppies, and adult dogs too --no house-training required ! Spend some time with candidates, and if it looks as though you have a "fit", go for it. You'll be saving your new friend from disaster.
Pet stores are not a safe bet. There are just too many risks regarding breeding characteristlcs, history , health. And remember, mixed breed has the same good potential for a lifelong love affair as pure-bred !
Think twice about having a puppy shipped. Can you imagine the sustained terror of long flights or rail journeys, in a bumped and tilted cage, with noises too loud and smells all strange, only minutes after you've been separated from Mum and your littermates ?!
Being the keen and responsible soul you are, by the tlme you're actually looking for this new family member, you will have done some reading on dogs, and/or on raising puppies. The info is all there, at the Library , in the bookstore, even on the Internet. You will have organized basic kit (food and water bowls, leash and collar with a name and telephone tag, some chew toys) and quality food, and a quiet place for sleep and rest that is away from main traffic areas, but not isolated. You w1ll also have a schedule for walks, meals, and play in mind, and an understanding of who among the two-footed family will be responsible for what. You have a good idea of how house-training works, with or without a cage, and you have a cage plenty big enough for freedom of movement. And you're all ready for an initial vet visit to confirm health and arrange for any vaccinations.
If you feel these all represent significant changes in your life, you're right ! And remember, they are significant changes in your new friend's life, too! Be gentle, both emotionally and physically, with your new love. Dogs pick up even subconscious emotional clues with great rapidity. Stroking, many hugs (even a lOO-lb woof likes a hug !!) will reassure both of you that this will work, and that you can work it all out together. As with any new love, check with each other often !
New dogs, especially puppies, are much like the very young. Feed one end, keep the other end clean (at least the woofs can generally manage this part on their own !), apply simple but utterly consistent rules, supply lots of love. Works every time ! Rough hands and rough words can easily become physical or mental abuse. You'll not be needing or using them.
Take a deep breath, and you're on your way. That feeling, oh! that lovin' feeling ! (soft music in background. ..) Enjoy.
Thought you'd heard the last of me, hum? Well, so did I, until I remembered a couple of important summer-time doggie concerns which haven't been mentioned.
Along with serving your woof no chocolate or bone-in poultry (the BBQ sauce remains a legitimate treat!, cars and poles are big-time worries. Or could be, unless you consciously exercise your good common sense.
It all starts with sweat. While we have our entire skins as an interior temperature control mechanism, and can sweat across the full extent of our bodies, dogs have only their tongues. This is very little in comparison with size. Relatively brief periods in full sun, even at temps we might consider simply balmy, can bring a dog to the edge of heat prostration.
So, leaving your woof in the parked car while you do your errands, albeit with a window open, is very dangerous. The interior temperature can climb above 100 F within minutes, and your friend can die minutes later. That's a shocker, now isn't it?! On hot days, leaving the car in the shade ain't a great help either. The process just takes a little longer.
Just as risky, perhaps even more so, is taking your darling on a walking tour of errand-running. While you get brownie points for some additional exercise and time together, these are removed when you leave Fido attached to a telephone pole or lamp standard while you nip inside for the arugula or wine. First off, if he's in the sun, the overheating worry is real. The worse worry now though, is kidnapping. Yessiree, every year dogs go missing from poles.
A car stops, a burly someone exits from the rear, cuts the leash with a sharp knife & tosses the dog in the back seat, throwing himself in after. Neither you nor your dog has much of a chance to react. The exercise takes maybe twenty seconds. Panic elbowing your way through the cash line and hitting the sidewalk at a run will afford you nothing, not even a licence plate number as the car disappears into the traffic. While your woof may be in the process of acquiring a new home by unusual means, the sickening probability is that he's headed for a research lab. There is still testing on animals for all sorts of products, from floor cleaners to dyes and drugs. It's all horrible, often acutely painful, and eventually, the dog dies miserably. The labs ask no questions, the providers net about $250 per animal.
There's no point in thinking your friend is mixed rather than purebreed, that he/she won't go with strangers, that the folks on the street or the chap putting groceries into the car, will help. It's not their responsability, and they don't know the true owner from Adam (or Eve). The result remains the same: severe embarassment, shame, guilt. And the knowledge you've sentenced your main cuddle to a shortened and brutal life.
Be savvy. On warm days, and especially on hot ones, leave your woof at home. There he or she has shade, perhaps some breeze through an open window, a bare floor, and the fresh water you provided before leaving. This way, you'll have someone to strargaze with, to play frisbee with, to read by the lake with, all summer long. And long may it last, for all of us. I wish you health, safety, and quiet summer joys.