When I get out our Nina Ottosson toys our dogs get all excited.  They know they are in for a fun time and treats.  Nina Ottosson toys mentally stimulate your dog by making them solve puzzles to find hidden goodies.  You’ll be amazed at how smart your dog is once they get the hang of it.  Watch Simon and Sophie play with the toys below.

Salmon Fudge

14 oz can salmon
1 1/2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic (optional)
1/4 cup grated parmesan or other Italian cheese (optional)

Mix salmon, garlic, egg and cheese in bowl
Add flour and mix to a brownie-like consistency
Spread into 13×9 greased pan (it’s pretty thin in pan, but helps so you can cut into tiny pieces for training treats)
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes
When done they will a putty-like texture and the edges will pull away from the sides of the pan.

Use a pizza cutter to cut into squares (or cut with cookie cutter) and refrigerate or freeze.

Sardine Treats

3 eggs
2 tins of sardines packed in olive oil
1 package of graham crackers (an inside sleeve, not the entire box)

Dump everything into a blender (I use a bowl and mixer and broke up
the graham crackers by hand a little before mixing) and blend until
completely combined.  Pour into an 9 x 13″ baking dish and spread out.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes until top looks
rubbery.  Cut into treat sized pieces and refrigerate or freeze.

A trained dog is a joy to have as a companion. It’s no coincidence that most dogs surrendered to shelters have never had an obedience class and behavior problems are one of the top reasons dogs are relinquished to shelters and humane societies! Dogs were born with the instincts to be dogs. Despite our domesticating them, they share over 99% of their DNA with the wolf! Most dogs only need classes because we want them to act differently than their doggie instincts tell them. We need to take the class so we can learn to communicate with the dogs in our life.

I’m a believer that there are no bad dogs, only untrained dogs! I’m also a believer that every dog should take their human to an obedience class! Every one of my dogs has taken a basic obedience class at the very least. Like I tell all my first time students who hope their “dog will learn in class”, I tell them they will learn more than their dogs because it’s we who need the training!

Before continuing on with the many benefits of a training class, I would like to share a somewhat humorous account of why I say every dog and human should attend class! About two decades ago, I adopted two wonderful adult dogs from shelters (translation: someone else trained them for me) that were very well behaved and generally good dogs. Sure we had some initial separation anxiety problems but overall they were great dogs. I feel bad with what I know now because those two dogs, although I am sure I gave them the best life I could, got an inexperienced owner who thought she knew how to communicate and train dogs. After all, I grew up with toy poodles from the time I was 8 years old. Later in life I went on to foster Greyhounds, then adopt and foster Italian Greyhounds. Based on some basic abilities that I had observed and learned over the years and probably some basic instincts, the dogs and I did just fine. That is until an IG named Ayanna came along!!!

Oh yes, many of you know my beautiful blue girl who, I joke, “put every gray hair on my head”. I adore her. I adopted her about 9 years ago and Ayanna and I share a bond that is so wonderful. We know what each other is thinking and we communicate very well. If she could talk, we would finish each other’s sentences! Today at 10, she is still a challenge, but that’s part of what I love most about her now that I know how to manage it! I always say that just when you think you know it all about animals, they have a way of humbling you! Ayanna did more than humble me. She made me realize that I didn’t know much about dogs and their behavior and I most likely just got “lucky” to have good dogs and fosters! Now I had met my challenge with her. I also always joke “never get a dog that is smarter than you” and I had a foster that was smarter than me when it came to the dog world. Of course at first I was in denial. Ayanna was just a “bad girl”. Still today she wags her tail when I say that and thinks it’s a good thing! She would potty wherever she wanted, wouldn’t listen, would mark my belongings (yes, girls can mark), constantly pushed the envelope and basically made my life hell! Fostering was no longer fun. It was a challenge and I had met my match, even though she came in as a very shy, very underweight, and malnourished 10 pound package!

Not only did I not enjoy living with this foster girl, I had no bond with her at all! I threw a fur coat and fancy collar on her thinking “thank God she’s pretty, someone will adopt her and love her”. As time went on things got worse, not better. Ayanna had a lot of health issues so she was going to be with me awhile. One day it hit me like a brick that if I didn’t enjoy living with this girl, how was anyone else going to enjoy her? No fancy clothes or pretty face would make up for what a pain in the butt she was! I vowed to do something about it. I took Ayanna to both regular obedience classes and private lessons. She was so badly behaved in the car that I remember the trainer and I driving around for an entire training session just to work on her car behavior! I had a list a mile long of Ayanna’s inappropriate behaviors for the trainer! Of course none of this could be my fault. She was just a bad dog. So, what did we really learn in these training classes? I say we, but it was mostly me who had to do the learning! Ayanna learned to listen, but more importantly I learned how to communicate with her and how to provide the mental and physical stimulation that a smart dog needs! So what else did I learn, and why should you train your dog?

Improves Communication

Even with people, if you can communicate well you are more likely to get along. Communication is the key to success in both the human world and the dog world! Imagine if you were suddenly dropped into a foreign country where all the rules were different and you didn’t speak the language. Well that’s what our dogs live with everyday! They don’t speak English. Sure they can learn words, but they communicate in a very different manner than we do and by relying on other senses such as their eyes through body language, their nose through scent, etc. Training classes will help your dog learn our language but more importantly, it will also help you learn their language!

Builds a bond

When your dog understands what you want from him, he is more secure and happy and you don’t become frustrated with your dog’s behavior. You understand each other. You can communicate without saying a word! You have a bond that truly grows from communication and understanding.

Gives you tools

Training gives you tools and alternative behaviors to help your dog deal with new situations, and you to deal with problems that arise. Training or learning is never over in the dog or human world. We are constantly learning and training helps us to learn new ways to manage behaviors that might come up. Our dog companions are usually with us for 10-15 years. We need tools to help them live in our world!

Socialization

It’s socialization with people and dogs in a controlled setting. Dogs need to be with dogs. Dogs need to get along with people. A class provides interaction for your dog with other dogs and other people, in a very controlled environment with people of similar interests! Therefore it is fun and educational for both your dog and you! Nothing is sadder, in my opinion, than a dog afraid of other people or worse yet, unable to interact with his own kind!

Fun

I never thought training could be fun! I never thought dogs really liked to learn but I was wrong. I have yet to meet a dog that doesn’t like to learn! It’s fun for them. When I start training one of my dogs, they all come running as if to say “I want to try it” or “I can do that”. Think about how we learn new things all the time and that learning or school can be fun for humans and for dogs!

Enhanced Live

Often dog owners say “well my dog sits (insert behavior) at home just fine” but the key to a well behaved dog is to have them listen around distractions and other settings. Training teaches your dog to be a good citizen in public, not just at home. My dogs have gone to senior homes for therapy visits, traveled on vacation with me, gone to work, and stayed at nice hotels because they are generally well behaved. I think dogs, just like children, should behave in public and the reward is a more stimulating life where they can go many places!

Builds confidence

Training builds a dog’s confidence. Just like people are more confident when they learn new things, so is a dog. There is nothing sadder in rescue than a dog that is insecure. I know no better way to make a dog more confident, secure and happy in our world, than to teach them new things and to teach them to listen.

Safety, piece of mind

I always teach my puppy owners that if you can only teach your dog one thing, and you can teach him to do it perfectly, teach the come command. In my opinion every dog should have a very reliable recall. It’s the one and only command that might just save your dog’s life one day. It amazes me how many people say it 100 times a day, don’t reward a dog when he does come, and basically teaches their dog that come is “optional”. This command (if taught properly) can truly save your dog’s life! That alone is worth an investment in training classes!

Ayanna

So, what happened with Ayanna? I did place Ayanna twice with great previous adopters, but she was too much for them so she was returned. I cried both times she left and knew I made a huge mistake. After all, our bond was so strong from the training, and I had learned so much from Ayanna! When she was returned a second time, I adopted her. She went on to get her Canine Good Citizen Certificate, Junior Coursing title, become a therapy dog, and also do some agility for fun. Almost a decade later, she continues to remind me that I don’t know it all and humbles me when I think I do. She also continues to challenge me and remind me that I have to meet her needs too and not just expect her to meet mine, that she lives in my world but I also must understand and live in hers! I adore her and we are so close. That isn’t all Ayanna did for me. I was so forever changed by my training experiences that I became an assistant at class and went on to become a trainer. All my own dogs (and several fosters) have all gone through at least basic obedience classes in a classroom setting so they can get the socialization. I have taught at the same place that trained Ayanna and me, for about 8 years now. Ayanna loves to go to each class with me, where she sits in her soft bed watching me almost as to proudly say “I taught her everything she knows!”

Curious, I asked her why she thought Tim needed a dog right now? She explained their neighbor had bought a miniature dachshund puppy from a breeder in Lake Geneva and her son was enamored of it. My insides screamed “Where do I begin?” First, there was the whole situation of Sandy adding another responsibility into her already chaotic life, then the issue of buying a puppy from a so called “good breeder”? I decided to try and talk her out of this step by step, point by point.

#1. Puppies are a lot of work

Sandy works a full time job plus has to be mom and dad to both her children. Puppies need a lot of time and patience to housetrain, and establish good behavior and manners. They need someone around them to teach them. Leaving a puppy alone 8-9 hours a day is not fair to either the dog or to you. A small breed dog like a dachshund cannot be responsible for accidents when left alone all day. No matter how responsible your children may be and at any age they cannot be held accountable for taking care of what essentially a “baby”. Sandy answered that her life was crazy already, what’s one more thing?

#2. Owning a puppy costs money

The initial investment can be hundreds of dollars, then the real fun begins. Vaccinations are a must and puppies are required to get more than an adult dog. Vet exams, tests, vaccines and heartworm medication are a must not to mention spaying/neutering the puppy sometime in the first year. One bout of diarrhea or vomiting can cost a lot of money to clear up. Food, toys, collar, leashes, treats etc are not free either. For Sandy, money is always tight.

#3. A puppy will not make Tim’s problems go away, it will just add more stress in your home.

Sandy had struggled to get Tim’s illness and behavior under control. His medication was constantly being changed and therapy visits were a weekly thing for them. He had to be hospitalized once when Sandy could not control him. Prone to outbursts, Tim could act out without much warning and this concerned me with a puppy around. Puppies can nip and jump and be annoying in any circumstances. Yes, Tim thinks he wants a dog now, but what about in 2 months when he tires of him?

#4. Good breeders are not necessarily good just because they have a website

Sandy had looked at the site and spoken to the breeder in Lake Geneva only to find out they did have a litter due in a month or so but they also had some “older puppies” who hadn’t been sold yet that she could get at a cheaper price. She was going to see them that weekend— but just to look. Ugh, I warned her to ask the right questions: how many types of dogs do they breed, ask to see the mother and father of the puppies, ask what the return policy is (any decent breeder will take any of their dogs back, anywhere, anytime) what are the health risks in the breed? Finally, I stressed to her, wait and think about this, there are a lot of good dogs out there, don’t make this decision by emotion only.

The following Monday she announced “We bought one!” Seems her boyfriend paid the hundreds of dollars for one of the “older puppies” and they brought him home, without asking any of the questions I advised her too. I tried to be semi-supportive and helped her with all the basic puppy behavior questions. I pushed her into going to puppy classes with him. The breeder told her he should only get to be 8 lbs but he quickly surpassed that, Sandy has no idea how big he will be? Rocky was the best dog ever for awhile until he developed a case of diarrhea and became very sick. Sandy had to put that Vet bill on her credit card. A few months later another Vet bill came. Grandpa paid that one. Rocky had an accident and they were worried something was wrong with his spine. Tim was hospitalized again after he got mad and threw the dog into a wall. The therapists asked him why he did it and he said “My mom and sister weren’t giving me enough attention”

Despite the obvious, that Sandy should never have adopted a puppy at this stage of her life for her son, the dog has turned out to be good therapy for Sandy. She adores him and can’t see living with out him when the rest of her life is so crazy busy. So the lesson I learned was no matter how hard you try to talk someone out of an irrational decision they just might not listen. I only hope and pray Rocky doesn’t end up in a shelter sometime soon because he is “too much” for the family. So many of these impulsive buys from “good breeders” do.

I also hope no one else at work asks me about buying a puppy, at least not for awhile…..

A dog’s nails are important parts of their anatomy. Unlike cats, dog claws are not weapons, but are used when he runs to grip the ground when accelerating and turning corners. Outdoor dogs run around enough over different surfaces and wear their own nails down. But our house-bound companions don’t get that natural wear from carpet, hardwood, or vinyl flooring. And since IGs have nails that grow more quickly than most other breeds, it’s easy for them to get too long.

Having long nails changes the way a dog carries himself. The diagram below shows how a long nail causes the bones in the foot to flatten and the Metacarpal, Phalanx I and Phalanx II bones to sit more angled every time the dog walks or stands. The different angle of the bones when pressure is applied causes joint stress and can lead to joint pain and arthritis. It also leads to dropped wrists which make the dog look flat footed. Women reading this article can probably relate if they think about wearing high heels all the time. Long toe nails essentially do the same to dogs by changing the natural alignment of leg bones which adds torque or twisting to the joints. Personally, high heeled shoes wreak havoc on my knees and I suffer from knee joint pain for days after wearing them. I can’t imagine the pain a dog goes through whose owner never trims his nails or doesn’t trim nails often enough.

Left: proper alignment with short toenail. Right: angled alignment because of long toenail. Image provided by Dr. Lisa Kluslow

Changing the natural alignment also makes the dog less steady on his feet and can contribute to an increased probability of broken legs. If the dog’s joints are out of whack, he can’t catch himself from falling or landing as well. Again, if you compare how steady you ladies are in sneakers compared to high heels you can relate to how a dog with long nails might feel all the time. Since broken legs are already such a problem for Italian Greyhounds, this makes keeping your Iggy’s nails trimmed even more important.

The image shows how the bones of the paw and wrist angle back when a dog has long nails, but the damage doesn’t stop there. All the bones in a dog’s body are connected and the leg bones connect all the way up to the spine. Some of you might relate to how an injury on one part of our body can cause us to carry ourselves differently and create pain in another part of our body. Unfortunately, our dogs can’t tell us when they have a headache or shoulder ache and many times we miss the slight signals that they are in pain. Since dogs can’t trim their own nails, it’s up to us to make sure this dog maintenance is performed before the pain sets in.

Where to cut a dog's toe nail.

IGs usually need their nails trimmed every two to three weeks, if not more often. Frequent walking (daily, fast paced, long walks) can help wear down nails and increase the time between trimmings. For our dogs, nail trimming is a two person job and my husband holds dogs on his lap with their feet sticking outwards while I clip. The red line in the diagram to the left shows where to cut the nail. The nail comes straight out, and at the point where it starts to bend downward, you should cut at a 45 degree angle. It’s always a good idea to have Kwik Stop or another blood stopping product on hand in case you hit the quick. If trimming nails is not your forte, groomers or vet clinics are good alternatives to keep your dogs’ nails well groomed.

Some dog owners prefer to grind down (commonly using a Dremel tool) their dog’s nails. For comprehensive instructions on how to Dremel your dog’s nails, please refer to Tia Resleure’s article “The Importance of Proper Nail Grooming to Dogs, especially Italian Greyhounds!”.

Unfortunately, it is easy to overlook this basic grooming. Many of the dogs we take in to rescue, regardless of what their situations were before, need a nail clipping when they arrive. Similarly, I’ve noticed at playdates there are always a couple IGs with very long claws. Remember though, that trimming claws is not merely a cosmetic issue, but it is also a health issue. You and you IG may dread biweekly trims, but it is one of the most basic things you can do to take stress off your pups’ joints as they age.

Kate with new brother Paolo

In your opinion, what are some of the benefits of adopting a rescue, or, why did you adopt?: We were originally interested in adopting Greyhounds. My husband was slightly leery because he was afraid they would be too sedate – too fond of the couch. We started doing research on whippets when I ran across Carol Sumbry’s rescue site. I instantly fell in love with Italian Greyhounds. I contacted Carol and after a lot of emailing back and forth and a home visit, I met Paolo. What a sweet-heart!! He is a boundless bundle of energy and love. The satisfaction I have gotten from adopting rescues has been indescribable. I adopted Paolo in July 2007 and Kate two months later. Kate is a black and white IG and I am convinced she is the prettiest and sweetest dog on planet Earth. Providing a loving and healthy home for my two rescues has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I feel like they’ve been with us for such a long time. I cannot imagine my life without the joy they bring. I feel like the luckiest dog owner in the world because no other dog, especially no other dog outside the IG breed, could possibly have as much personality as my two dogs. I’m a big, bragging Mama in that regard I’m sure I’ve absolutely bored the tears out of everyone at work talking about my dogs.

What commands does your dog know? Kate and Paolo know “Sit,” “Stay,” “Wait,” “Leave It,” “Let’s Go Potty Outside,” “Let’s Go Crate” and the best one of all – “Hugs”

If this is your first IG, was there anything that surprised you about this breed after you brought yours home? I was pleasantly surprised by how much affection they are willing to give and receive. Kate and Paolo are by my side from the minute I get home to when we crate them for the night. If I go to the the kitchen for a glass of water, they get up to follow me. I know that if they are not snuggled up on the couch with me, or at least somewhere within my sight line, they are making mischief.

I was a little concerned at first at how Paolo seemed to potty in his crate every time he spent more than an hour in it. He only had a couple of accidents outside of the crate, but inside was another matter. For the first two months I had him we had his crate in a room in the back of the house, where he only had to go when it was time to go to his crate. When we brought Kate home, we decided to move the crates into one of the main rooms on the first floor. This seemed to help quite a bit, but he still had a couple of accidents weekly in the crate. What really did it was when we made the decision to crate them at night. When they slept with us, the two dogs would wake up multiple times a night. They would flap their ears back and forth and it would wake both Doug and me up. So we decided that for our own sanity, we would crate them. Now both dogs crate like angels, never whining, never scratching to get out. This is huge change for Paolo; he hated the crate. He howled and whined and scratched and rocked the crate to get out – he was a bit of a nightmare at first. Now, we can even crate them when we are home. For example, if we need to mop, we can tell them “Go Crate” and they just hang out until we are done. So I was very surprised at the change in crate behavior in just a matter of weeks when we started crating them at night.

What is your favorite thing to do with your newly adopted IG? Since we no longer sleep with them in our bed, my favorite thing to do is to take naps with them. Paolo curls up behind my legs and Kate likes to sleep in my arms with her head on my neck. I also like watching movies with them. We all climb under the blankets and snuggle. Long walks are fun because the whole neighborhood oohs and ahhs over how beautiful the dogs are.

What is your favorite personality quirk about your IG? Without question my favorite personality quirk for both Kate and Paolo is the dance they do when I come home from work. I’m sure every IG owner knows it. It is like a joyous case of the wiggles, where both dogs will dance around me and jump up and compete for hugs.

What about your IG keeps you the busiest and how do you keep your IG busy? Kate keeps me busiest of the two; she’s a bit of a rascal. She likes to shred paper; this little pastime has claimed two library books, three PBS TV guides and countless toilet paper rolls. We have to keep all the wastepaper baskets off the floor or she’ll find something in it and shred it. She also loves pulling the inserts out of my fur slippers and chewing on them. Paolo follows Kate around and tries to nab her attention from whatever has her interest. He’s like her dutiful little brother. So cute.

Simon - at his ideal weight. Simon has a nice tuck up and in person you can see a trace of one or two ribs.

In Wisconsin, we are known for our brats and cheese lifestyles, but we all know being fat is not healthy. Canine obesity is the number one health problem in dogs today. According to a study by Imperial College London, Nestlé Research Center (NRC) and Nestlé-Purina, dogs lived on average 1.8 years longer on a low calorie diet. See the study for more information. Considering your Italian Greyhound will probably live on average only 12-15 years, 1.8 years is a big difference. As your dog ages, you’ll be glad to have those extra years. If keeping your dog slim will not only make them healthier and happier, but will also add a couple years to their life, why wouldn’t you keep them slim?

Other points to keep in mind about the weight of your iggy:

1 extra pound on a 10 pound dog is equal to 15 extra pounds on a 150 pound person. A couple pounds of extra fat on an IG is like an average person being almost 30 lbs overweight. WIth IGs, even a few extra pounds can make the difference between slim and obese.

Just like in people, in dogs obesity can lead to:

• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Trouble Breathing
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Skeletal Problems/Lameness
• Inactivity/Low Energy/Lethargy
• Non-allergic skin conditions
• Stress on the organs

Also, due to their fine bone structure and thin legs, iggies can’t handle the extra weight. Keeping your IG a healthy weight is the first defense against leg breaks.

A healthy weight for an Italian Greyhound varies greatly with size. Small IGs could weigh as low as 6 lbs and very large IGs might be slim at 20 lbs. Average weight is usually around 12-14 lbs on an average sized Italian Greyhound. To determine what your dog’s healthy weight should be, you have to go by how they look.

So what should a healthy IG look like? From the top down, they should not resemble a stuffed brat. They should have a smaller waist than rib cage and, speaking of the rib cage, you should see some of those ribs! When you can see ribs on a furry dog, it usually means they are too skinny, but IGs don’t have fur to hide those ribs. A good rule of thumb is, you should see a trace of the last three ribs. From the side, they should have a nice tuck up between their rib cage and belly. This is the shape that drew most of us to this breed in the first place. Don’t overfeed your dog so they lose the classic “IG look”. I’ve seen some IGs that are so fat they don’t even look like Italian Greyhounds anymore!

A common place IGs gain weight is over their shoulders. I’ve had a couple fosters who arrived at our house fat and had extra weight on their bottom. Yes, IGs can have a fat booty and hips – and I’m talking about the here boys too. You should be able to see the ripples in the muscles on their legs and bottom. An Italian Greyhound is an athlete designed to run 35mph and your IG should look an Olympic sprinter – thin and well muscled.

Rocky from the top down when he first came into rescue. Rocky used to resemble a stuffed brat and had rolls of fat on his shoulders.

Rocky from the top down after he lost 2 pounds. Now you can see Rocky has a waist!

So, you’ve read the above and realized Bella or Guido need to go on a diet, but how do you put a dog on a diet? The answer is easier than you think. Dogs can’t raid the refrigerator for ice cream in the middle of the night when nobody is looking. The number one cause of obesity in dogs is their owners.

Some Misconceptions About How to Take Weight Off Your Dog.

Getting another dog or hoping Bella or Guido will exercise or limit their food intake on their own is not the answer. While a fence is great to allow your dog the freedom to run when they want to, it is not going to force your IG to run. And a fat dog will not run that much.

“I feed Guido the amount the dog food bag says to. I don’t understand why she is overweight.” I’ve heard this many times. Remember dog food companies want you to feed as much as your dog will eat! They sell more food when you feed too much so they always the list the amount of food higher than your dog needs! Also, the amount a dog needs varies from dog to dog. Some pups are more laid back and expend less energy than a high strung dog. Don’t rely solely on the feeding amount the bag recommends. Use it as a guide and tweak the amount depending on your dog. A 1/2 cup two times a day might be the right amount for some IGs, but others might only need 1/4 cup two times a day. So far, I have not had a foster or owned an Italian Greyhound who needed more than a 1/2 cup of food twice a day. And I have had some big active boys who, at their ideal weight, were 18 or 19 pounds.

Rocky from side after losing weight. Rocky has a nice tuck up and in person you can see a trace of a couple ribs.

Also remember, if you feed your dog a snack or treat between meals, you might need to cut back the amount of food you feed him in his next meal. Every bit of food counts.

Cutting Calories

We always recommend not free feeding your dog. Free feeding is when you leave kibble out all day for your dog to snack on. The benefits of only offering your dog his food bowl once or twice a day are numerous enough to cover in a future article, but for weight loss, the benefit is obvious. You can control how much your dog is eating if you only offer your dog specific amounts of food twice a day. This benefit becomes even more obvious with more than one dog in your home. If you have more than one dog and you free feed, you can’t control their weight loss — at all! One dog might be fat and the other skinny because the fat one eats all the food. Dogs are domesticated wolves and wolves are used to binging and fasting. Wolves don’t have access to food 24-7. Sometimes they only eat a couple times a week. We shouldn’t expect our companion dogs to desire, or need, access to food constantly either. Offering them food twice a day, and not leaving kibble in their bowls to go stale, will please them just fine.

A former foster when he first came into rescue. This IG was obese.

But Bella or Guido gives you big puppy eyes or whines when hungry. The beg, they drool…they have you wrapped around their paws to do their bidding. This behavior can be changed! My dogs are fed twice a day and they never tell me when they want to eat. When they are fed is a decision they can make when they get a job and start doing the grocery shopping and cooking themselves!

Dogs do what works. They are very much like us in this way. Dogs whine, so we do what works to stop the whining and give them supper a little early. Dogs want their supper, so they whine because it worked yesterday and you gave them food. It can be an endless cycle unless you, the human–and hopefully the smarter of the two–put an end to it. I’m not saying it will be easy. Dogs can take awhile to learn a new behavior, especially if the behavior has been rewarded time and time again for years. In their minds, if “whine = get food”, they are not going to stop whining for food very easily. But with consistent training, most behaviors can be altered. If your dog’s behavior is locational, for example, he goes to the kitchen and sits and whines for his meals, block the kitchen with a baby gate so he can’t. Many times, just by being a step or two ahead of the dog, you can put a stop to the learned behavior.

One important thing to keep in mind is to make sure your dog looses weight slowly. I am not advocating starving your dog till he is back to his ideal weight. This can lead to other health issues. Cut back their food, but do it slowly. Losing weight takes time, but the end result is worth the journey.

Exercise

We all know to loose weight you should decrease calorie intake and increase calorie use. If your dog is a fat couch potato, get him out for frequent walks or jogs. Being skinny is not the end-all to being healthy. Fitness is a key ingredient to keeping the vet away! One vet put it best when he said “igs need about a minimum of 5 miles a week”. They need to get out, stretch their legs, sniff and see the world outside their house. This is good for them not only physically but mentally!

Eat Healthy

Many cheap, commercial dog foods are loaded with fillers. Those added fillers, oftentimes grains, don’t help your dog stay trim. Feeding your dog a good quality kibble with more meat than grain will go a long way in keeping your dog slim. Just as humans lose weight on the Atkins diet, our dogs, being carnivores, are even more metabolically engineered to thrive on a high protein diet. My dogs only have grains on occasion and I never worry about them gaining weight.

Human Food

You are probably thinking you know what is coming: the usual dogs shouldn’t eat human foods mantra. However, this is a myth. Food is food, whether it is kibble, biscuit, cooked steak or raw apple. I am a firm believer that dogs should not subsist on only that so-called “100% complete” kibble diet. No animal naturally eats a 100% complete diet in every meal and even animal nutritionists paid the big bucks make mistakes when calculating what a 100% complete diet is for our dogs. When was the last time you balanced all your nutrients, vitamins and calories so you ate a 100% complete meal? My guess is, probably never.

I’m a huge proponent of feeding your dog some healthy “human” or real food and of course cutting back their daily meals when they eat other food. Feeding human food will not teach them to beg unless you feed them from your plate. Feed them human food in their bowls or as training treats and they will not learn to beg at the dinner table. If you don’t teach them that begging from you will result in food in their bellies, they won’t do it.

Dogs’ noses are many times more sensitive than ours and, trust me, they know your steak is going to be a lot better than their kibble. Even if they have never tasted it before. Smell is a big part of the ability to taste foods. Remember how food loses its taste when you have a stuffy nose?

There are some human food dogs should never be fed. Onions, chocolate, grapes or raisins are out because these can make your dog very sick and even cause death, but other human foods can be good for them just like they’re good for you.

If you have tried everything and your dog won’t loose weight, a trip to the vet might be in order. There are some health issues, like low thyroid, that can cause weight gain. But if your dog is otherwise healthy, only you are to blame for their extra pounds, and only you can fix the problem. Bella is not going to look in the mirror one day and decide she must go on the Atkins diet tomorrow so she looks good in her bikini come spring. Guido is not going to start working out at the gym so he can pick up chicks. However, you can look at Bella or Guido and decide they will be happier, healthier and live longer if they drop a few pounds, so you are going to slowly cut back her food and start exercising them daily to make this happen.

Justin – adopted October 5th, 2007 by Tiffany and Steve

Justin in his first formal portrait.

Justin survived the first 6 years of his life in 2 puppy mills in Iowa and Missouri. We first met Justin and his foster parents Erik & Bridget at a puppy mill round table in September 2007. We fell in love with Justin immediately. While his foster family took wonderful care of him, he had hernia surgery along with some dental work that included the removal of many teeth. We adopted Justin shortly after his surgery.

Justin was extremely shy and afraid of people. He was so brave to attend many puppy mill roundtables to expose the treatment he endured during the first 6 1/2 years of his life.

He has the typical flat feet from the wires he stood on along with poorly developed shoulders and legs. He looks bull-legged from having to balance on the wire floor he once knew as home.

Justin napping with his big sister Bronte

Justin napping with his brother Kimi.

Justin adapted rather quickly to his new home in WI. He has a sister named Bronte (Greyhound) and a brother named Kimi (Cat). They both welcomed him into our home. They knew he needed extra love and tender care and they both took him under their wings.

 

Justin

From Justin: I am so happy in my new home. I’ve forgotten most of my painful past. I love to snuggle with Bronte. I never leave her side. She has taught me how to play, chew on rawhides, potty and poop outside even in rain or snow! I love to play a game with her by hiding all her toys and bones but I have to be watchful because as soon as I turn my back, she steals them all back! I used to be deathly afraid of cars and now I get really excited and love going on car rides. I played this year with some other dogs my size at a dog park. Boy that was fun. Never dreamed a life like this could ever exist!

Justin in his bee costume.

I even had my picture taken with Santa this year and dressed up as a bumblebee for a Halloween party! My favorite time is when the whole family goes to sleep. I get to snuggle right under daddy’s chin against his chest while Bronte gets the middle and Kimi sleeps above mommy’s head. During the night I even sneak away from daddy to snuggle up to Kimi and Bronte to be close. We are one happy family. This year mommy and daddy are bringing me to obedience class and I will be working towards being a therapy dog with my sister Bronte. I have so much confidence now and people do not scare me. I love to go right up to them and introduce myself. I often get called a big dog in a little dog’s body. I act more like a greyhound than an IG. I love to relax and lay around with my sister. I can behave like a crazy flying squirrel if I still want to. My parents have spoiled me so much that they even bought me a lot of toys and some really cool outfits for the changing weather. I am no longer cold or hungry. I am so very grateful to all of the people that helped to save my life.

Love,
Justin

Justin with Santa

Justin has brought so much joy to our lives. Every morning he lies in bed wagging his tale. He loves to say good morning with wet kisses and snuggles. We have never seen a dog before that wags his tail from morning to night. Just a smile will get his tail wagging.

He cannot bark because the mill debarked him but he has learned to communicate to us. He rings the bells on the door when he wants to go outside. When he wants attention, there is no lack of communication – he just makes himself available for petting. Justin has enhanced our lives more than we could ever imagine.

We love our new son with all of our hearts.

Carol: I have a lady who said she “found” this Italian Greyhound on the side of the road.

Me: Oh, do you want me to foster it?

Carol: Can you? Maybe just for the weekend?

Me: Is it a male or female?

Carol: (knowing I prefer males) Ahhh, it’s a female, and it’s small.

Me: Well, OK I’ll try it.

Carol: Oh yeah, it’s also a puppy.

Having never fostered a puppy before I left to meet the woman in the parking lot of a nearby restaurant. Needing moral support I also took my 17 year old daughter who adores all animals. The dog was in a crate in her car. She said she can’t pick the dog up, she lets it come to her. Red flag #1. She brought the dog over to my crate and placed it inside. Sheepishly, my daughter and I peered into the crate. She signed the surrender papers and we quickly said goodbye. As we climbed back into the car I angrily whispered to my daughter “That is not an IG, it’s a flippin’ Chihuahua.” Red flag #2.

Tiny Paris

As soon as we got home I immediately called Carol at her work to inform her of this momentous error. I didn’t even want to bring it out or introduce it to my dogs since I assumed it wasn’t going to stay with me? One hour later Carol was at my door. She went to take the little girl out of her crate and the puppy went ballistic and tried to wiggle, kick and bite her way out of her grasp. Red flag #3. I then learned the professional trick dog people do when they handle a difficult dog–they wear gloves. What a concept? Work or garden gloves make it a lot easier to deal with a fearful 3.5 pound puppy. I was about to ask Carol how quickly we can get rid of this Chihuahua when she announced it was an Italian Greyhound. The type they were breeding 30 years ago for a miniature size. Oh God, now what do I do? Carol offered to take her for me. My insides screamed “Take it, take it” but my daughters face said something else. My head spinning, I sat immobile. Right now I should tell you a secret, Carol is not only the local IG Rescue Coordinator, she is also psychic. Reluctantly, I agreed to “try to foster it–whatever it is” and on the condition I get to keep the garden gloves. Deal. Carol put her in a harness and made a tiny collar out of a cat collar with smaller holes. Her parting words to me were “In 24 hours this might be a totally different dog?” As the door closed I had that sinking feeling of dread and doom, will this be my first IG foster who will be unadoptable?

I gave the puppy a little time to settle in, get used to her crate and our house. Mustering up all my courage, I approached the small crate, and would wrap her up in a blanket with my big gloves on. I must have looked ridiculous holding onto a 3.5 pound dog, like it was some kind of wild animal. I petted her and talked gently to her for a few minutes every few hours. No lie, within 24 hours the gloves and blanket were gone and this tiny little girl would not leave my lap. I enjoyed showing her off to my family since she was so incredibly small. I joked that she isn’t really a dog, she’s a wind-up toy. We tried thinking of an appropriate name for her, most didn’t fit. My sister came up with Paris since she resembled the type of dog the heiress carries around. Paris now enjoys everyone she meets. She is learning commands and knows her name. She bounces around in our backyard like a rabbit. She has at least 4 adorable outfits to fit her and keep her warm. We worried about her size and climbing stairs and jumping on furniture. Paris has no boundaries, she goes up and goes down anywhere she wants to. Paris is an IG who loves to snuggle under your favorite blanket with you, but has also been known to put my older, bigger IG’s in their place if they approach her without respect. My husband enjoys recreating the opening scene of “The Lion King” while holding Paris up as Simba. I have learned so much living with Paris, including the process involved with indoor training a small dog. Her personality is huge compared to her size. We all adore Paris but no, we will not adopt her. Someone wise once told me I could do a lot more good fostering, than just keeping a lot of dogs. Paris’s life starting out with me was anything but simple, but she has really come into her own and has been adopted by a loving family in Illinois.