April ’07 Newsletter

Pet Food Recall News

The list of recalled pet foods continues to grow and even human food is being tested for melamine, the substance suspected of killing many pets. We've heard some stores are not pulling recalled products from their shelves, so please stay on top of recall news by visiting the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html. If you are concerned about what to feed your pets, this month's Whole Dog Journal (May 2007) has excellent information regarding the Pet Food Recall. The Whole Dog Journal is sold in many locally owned pet food stores, or you can subscribe online. Also, don't hesitate to contact your rescue representative for more information about dog food.

Walking Your IG

by Carol Sumbry

Italian Greyhounds are an active and athletic breed that require some good hearty exercise. Walking is a key element in having a healthy and happy dog. Years ago dogs worked, moved and hunted for their food. In today's world many dogs are alone, trapped inside four walls for 8 to 10 hours each day. This isolation and lack of exercise causes them to become frustrated, bored, anxious and sometimes destructive. We have domesticated our dogs to the point of boredom. To the person who tells me " My dog sleeps all day", I ask "Does he or she have a choice?" We are all our dogs have. They don't have a job, friends, etc., so we must provide them with the stimulation they need and crave! Even a fenced backyard is no substitute for a good walk. Dogs, like people, need to get out! It is a good thing if you do have a backyard because your dog can explore, run, soak up the sunshine and get fresh air. However, a back yard is no substitute for a walk. A dog with a big back yard can still develop frustration and anxiety without the regular outside stimulation that a good walk can provide. That is why daily walks are so important. When I say walk, I mean a walk brisk enough for both the dog and their person to get some real heart pumping exercise! I often hear the excuse, "I don't walk my dog because he/she pulls on the lead". Walking on a leash is a skill YOU must teach your dog. If you are unable to teach your dog to walk nicely on lead, a good obedience class can assist you and your dog in mastering this skill.

If you don't have a fenced backyard, it is wise to find a place where your dog can really "burn" occasionally. This breed can run at a speed of 35 miles per hour! A fenced dog park with a "small dog" area can be a good option. (Note dogs parks, especially those that don't separate dogs by size, are NOT without their risks, so do your research first. Although dog parks can be a great way to exercise your dog, you need to be aware that all dogs that come there may not be friendly and that there is an increased risk of communicable diseases, parasites, etc.). A fenced ball field or tennis court can also work well for exercising. Indoor rentals of training facilities, obedience classes and even agility are great winter "sports" for your dogs when temperatures dip below freezing and walking is not an option. (Keep in mind that dog coats are necessary when outside in cold weather and the weather must always be a consideration when exercising your IG. A good rule of thumb is: If you need a coat, your IG needs a coat.) Remember, just like people, dogs need exercise for good health. There is nothing more therapeutic and healthful than fresh air and exercise for both 2 legged and 4 legged creatures!

So how much exercise does your IG need? A veterinarian I know put it best when he said they need to walk a MINIMUM of 5 miles each week. That might be 3/4 miles daily or maybe a few blocks daily with occasional longer walks throughout the week. I think this is a good gage for a MINIMUM amount of exercise for this breed. I have a very athletic 7 year old IG who requires almost double that amount of exercise on a weekly basis. Exercise needs can vary from dog to dog, but they should all get the minimum recommended by my vet. This does not count indoor or yard play. The required exercise is the stimulation of brisk walking outside. You should vary your route for variety and, when possible, hit the woods or nature trails for a great walk. This will make the walk more interesting and stimulating for your canine companion. There is nothing like getting back to nature for both human and dogs! Remember, walking a dog is like your dog "reading the newspaper". He sniffs, he learns, he NEEDS activity, he needs to find out what's going on outside his world!

There are a few other perks that come with exercising your IG: (1) Walking is great for both your health and your dog's health. Obesity is the number one health problem in dogs today. Exercise will help your dog's heart and control your dog's weight. (2) According to a study, dogs that are the proper weight live 15% longer! (3) You have probably heard the expression "a tired dog is a well behaved dog". Exercise will curb the anxiety that is often at the root of so many behavioral problems we see in dogs today. Dogs need exercise, especially Italian Greyhounds due to their athletic build. After all, this breed was bred for 2 things, companionship and to run. They need both to have a balanced, healthy life.

Carol is an IGCA member and has been an IGCA volunteer for ten years. She is presently the IGCA/IGRF Rescue Rep for Wisconsin. She is also a ten year member of Midwest IG Rescue which serves Wisconsin, Illinois, and the greater Chicago area.

Mommy, I Want a Dog! (Or why we adopted our first Italian Greyhound?)

by Karyn Sehmer

Anyone with kids dreads the day they hear those tormenting words. "Mommy I want a dog!"

Honestly, with most kids I think the phase passes rather quickly, kind of like night terrors and T-ball.

But for some of us, we fall victim to the relentless, annoying child who doesn't give up with a casual "We'll see honey" In my house it was daughter #2. Without going into details I'll just tell you I did grow up with dogs, I should say Beagles so I knew what I was talking about. Why Beagles? Because my Mom thought they were cute. All I remember was the howling, barking, hair all over my clothes and messes in the yard which my dad told me was my job to clean up. When I got married I swore I'd leave that all that dog stuff behind me, like curfews and lying to my parents about the scratches on the car, and I did it successfully until daughter # 2.

It started when she was about 4. By 10 she became addicted, every trip to the bookstore or library was spent in the "Dog Breed Book" section. Any car trip was accompanied by the identification of any dog being walked down the street. She could tell a Norwegian Elkhound from a Husky, a Silky Terrier from a Yorkshire Terrier. I considered calling an intervention but instead opted to go for the age old parenting technique of "negotiation". I said "You can get a dog when you are 16 and old enough to take care of it."

Pretty soon it was, "Maybe when you are 14." At 12, the day arrived I'd been fearing all along- she got through to Dad. My husband looked at me and said "We'd better just get her a dog, she's wearing me down with all her chatter" So it begins... We all sat down and started discussing what type of dog to get. My husband wanted a big dog, I mean what man doesn't? Each of us poured over the books and the internet to find our "ideal" dog type. The computer program for my match was a Giga-pet type computer dog that was a toy.(ha,ha) I am ashamed to admit our search soon led us into some area pet stores, just to look. All I learned from pet stores are that they are very expensive and Boston Terriers make my daughter break out in hives.

One day we visited my sister at a local pet fair and as we walked the aisles with no particular interest we spied a woman walking 2-3 odd looking dogs. The dogs looked vaguely familiar to me so I assertively asked the woman if her dogs were Italian Greyhounds? She answered yes and then things became very strange.

She said she lived in Waukesha, WE lived in Waukesha! We said we have been looking at Italian Greyhounds as a pet, she happend to be the rescue coordinator for the Midwest (cue the scary music now). After a brief chat, she mentioned she and her dogs would also be at another local event the following day. Later, Carol admitted she thought she'd never see us again. But there we were the next day, after church in our Sunday best, rolling around the ground with her IG's. That same day we filled out the adoption application at Culvers, since we all know Mom will do anything if ice cream is involved. The knot in my stomach developed when I realized we just might be serious about this. A few weeks later I found myself deep cleaning my house for the "home visit". There we met Carol's beloved Stretch, who proceeded to entertain us by rubbing his neck all around my family room carpet. I fell in love, Stretch was such a good IG ambassador even I couldn't resist. Soon we were matched up with a 2 year old blue/white IG who had lived with an elderly couple before he came into rescue. My only concern was if "Joe" would get along with our beloved cat, Scooter and his foster mom thought he would be fine with a cat. That was 6 years ago and we now have 2 permanent IG's living with us and have seen over 25 IG fosters pass through our doors to their forever homes. But that's another story for another time.

P.S. We now love the dogs more than the cat.

Karyn Sehmer and her family have been fostering IG's for 7 years (25 dogs and counting!) having adopted her 2 dogs Eddie and Sugar through Rescue. She could not do it if it weren't for her husband, Paul and teenage daughters who understand the Breed as well as she does. Each foster has taught her something new, especially the importance of being patient and consistent with training. Any success she has with the fosters she credits to her mentor, Carol Sumbry--the ultimate Pack Leader!

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