The Smooth Collie twins have struck again! Just as my house was tidy and clean in anticipation of the hubby coming home from his week out of town, I made a grievous error in judgment—bringing them in for some quality time as I wrote this blog.

The mistake became clear the instant I opened the door. A mad rush of sable fur tore past me at breakneck speed. Before I could utter a single word from my mouth, Jest was on the sofa—the one with the neatly arranged pillows hand-sewn by mother-in-law. In a joyous moment completely free of the restraint of his thinking brain, he began tossing pillows in the air before finally settling in for a good back scratch on the cool leather. Satisfied with the destruction of the couch, he moved onto the matching loveseat, repeating the carnage against the innocent pillows.

Meanwhile, his more devious sibling was taking advantage of my shock and loss of speech (or perhaps we should call it “shock & awe” Collie-style) by surfing the nearby game table. There, to her great delight, she found dishes left by my teenage children. After occupying herself licking up any morsel left—fit for consumption or not—she headed for greater challenges.

Bren has mastered door opening—no door in my house is too difficult for her high-level abilities. I am quite convinced that she has an opposable thumb cleverly concealed as a dew claw…Opening the door to the man cave, the hubby’s office, and, finally, to the kennel room, she was on a hunt for forbidden treasures. Once in the kennel room, she scored the ultimate prize—a jumbo-sized bag of Pupperoni carelessly left on the grooming table. As I approached to finally gain control of the situation, she resembled a raccoon caught in a garbage can, up to her neck in the Pupperoni bag.

While I am not proud to admit this, this rampage is repeated in my home on a daily basis. The victims of the carnage change depending upon which door of the house I open for the beasts. Bringing them in from the deck onto the main floor of the house results in an all-out Wild West Stampede through the kitchen, straight for the pantry. If the pantry door is closed—no problem. Bren has that one covered with that cleverly disguised opposable thumb. I have adapted to the daily pantry raid by placing high value items on a higher shelf. But occasionally I forget—just ask my kids about the loaf of Hawaiian bread they didn’t get a bite of last week…

For all of the chaos they bring to my life, I love the smoothie twins with all of my heart. I know that right now they are a living parody of the cobbler’s kids who had no shoes. My smoothies are the dog trainer’s dogs who haven’t been trained. The truth is, even a dog trainer has only so many hours in the day to devote to training dogs. After my hours spent with clients, teaching group classes, or writing behavior plans, I have little left for my own pets.

I admit this to you—my failure in training my own dogs--so that any of you struggling with your dog’s behavior know that we all struggle with the same things. No dog is perfect—there is always something to be worked on. I coach my clients to make training a fun activity for both they and their dogs…work on sits and downs for 5 minutes in the kitchen at doggy dinner time, or work on sit-stays during commercials while watching TV. I think it’s time for the trainer to take her own good advice and start working with the smoothies!

In the meantime, their exploits still leave me grinning ear to ear. The joy that they bring me easily surpasses any inconvenience of living with them. And, I vow, that the next time you hear about the smoothies, training will have become a regular part of their daily routines. I can’t wait to tell you some of those stories—I bet there will be some doosies!

Happy Training!

Zeb, saved by Angels Among Us Pet Rescue

Yesterday on Facebook, I shared the plight of an abandoned, blind Chocolate Lab named Zeb. From his picture, it was obvious that he was well into his senior years, although the shelter did not have his age. Poor Zeb was very frightened by his new surroundings. The shelter located his owner who refused to come get Zeb, but was willing to pay a euthanasia fee instead.

I have to censor myself carefully here because of my rabid outrage. I will leave it that I know in my heart with absolute certainty that there is a special place reserved in hell for people like Zeb’s owner. When I shared Zeb’s photo and information, he had just a few hours to live—he was scheduled for euthanasia at 7 am the following morning. Thanks to the dedication on an amazing rescue group, Angels Among Us, Zeb was pulled from the shelter and saved. Zeb already has a legion of fans, several of whom are clamoring to meet and potentially adopt him. I have no doubt that Zeb will know only love and happiness for the rest of his life.

I have been blessed in my life by several dogs who remind me of Zeb. Each awkwardly (and, occasionally, painfully!) transitioned from puppyhood to adulthood before making a graceful and dignified transition to become seniors. As they aged, my appreciation and love for them continued to grow—puppy love has nothing on the love of a grey muzzle.

My Sheltie, Shadow, was a blessing each and every day of her life. She was diagnosed with diabetes at age 6, losing her vision to its complications by age 8. I wish humans could accept disability with the courage and common sense that Shadow—and all canines—accepted her new limitations. Shadow was the undisputed queen and guardian of our house long after she lost her vision. She continued to play fetch for hours daily by switching from tennis balls to fetch toys which made noise when thrown—her favorite was a stuffed cow whose “Mooooooooooooooo…” could be heard for nearly a minute. If her hearing failed to help her locate the prize, her keen nose soon took over. She would furiously hunt until she could pounce on her treasure, returning it to me for another toss.

I have absolutely no regrets over the minor modifications I made in my life to accommodate Shadow. I carefully scheduled mornings and evenings for her twice daily insulin injections. She would let me know when it was time, barking loudly from in front of the refrigerator where she knew the insulin was kept. The promise of a cookie after the shot was good enough for her! Few other changes were necessary—changing the furniture around was a no-no unless we wanted to see her bumping into things. Otherwise, she navigated flawlessly through the house.

Zeb, like Shadow, has so much to offer a family. The idea that because he is old and blind he is somehow inferior is absolutely ridiculous. That the wretched human being who would allow his life to end in such a callous way had no loyalty to an animal which loved him unconditionally for years speaks poorly on him and all of the other humans who so carelessly throw away a life.

If Zeb’s story makes a difference to you, or if it reminds you of a special senior dog who enriched your life, I encourage you to support rescues such as Angels Among Us who come to their rescue. These rescues tirelessly give of their time, money, and love to help pets like Zeb. Support rescue efforts by offering to foster, work adoption events, donate supplies, or sponsor dogs so that they can be saved from animal shelters.

For those who would like to find out more about Angels Among Us and the wonderful work they do on behalf of homeless pets, please visit their website at www.angelspetrescue.org. If you “Like” them on Facebook, you can follow the animals that need foster, adoption, as well as success stories. If you are outside of Georgia, find a rescue group near you by visiting Petfinder, www.petfinder.com. Rescues all over the country depend on our support to continue their mission of rescuing animals in need just like Zeb.

Please consider sharing with us stories about a special senior pet in your life. Nothing makes me smile more than hearing about these special friends!

Hug your pups!

Monique

Have you ever feared that a dog was going to bite you? Perhaps you were out on a walk when a stray approached you and you were unsure of his friendliness…or maybe you remember a dog from your childhood that frightened you? When you think of a dog which frightened you, what type of dog do you picture? Is there a breed which particularly scares you?

After all of my years professionally working with dogs, the mental images I conjure of aggressive dogs might surprise you. The first dog which I think of is my grandmother’s Lhasa Apso. Boo Boo, who weighed in at a whopping 18 pounds, terrorized her house and everyone in it. Boo Boo was an extremely aggressive dog-- a serious resource guarder of any and all things placed below counter level. If you put the newspaper you were reading down on the couch to go get a drink, by the time you returned, the paper had become his—and he would defend it with Piranha-like teeth and quickness . His frequent bites were Level 3 and Level 4 on Dr. Ian Dunbar’s bite scale, with punctures, multiple lunging attacks, and head shaking while biting.

Another dog which left me shaking in my boots was a Cocker Spaniel in the adoption kennels of an animal shelter. A volunteer dog-walker said she was concerned about his behavior. She put him in one of the shelter’s interaction rooms for me to evaluate—although, looking back, I’m not sure how she did it. The interaction rooms were spacious, with benches lining the walls, dog toys, and large windows to watch the pooches and their prospective adopters. Approaching the room, I saw an absolutely Disney-like Cocker Spaniel—blond, flowing coat, wondrous ears. But I never made it past the door to greet this beautiful dog…he viciously attacked the door and windows of the room once he saw me. With lowered head and a whale eye, he began to resource guard any and all objects in the room. In my mind, I saw the family which would adopt him—a nice mom and dad with a couple of children who wanted their very own Lady from Lady & the Tramp. But they wouldn’t be getting Lady…they would be getting Cujo. I couldn’t let that dog be adopted, so I let the shelter staff know my painful decision.

Thankfully, I don’t have to make life and death decisions for dogs very often. Many of the aggression cases I work with can live normal lives with their families after working through behavior modification protocols and implementing good management programs. Some require a lot of work, but do not present a danger to their community.

What types of dogs do I see most frequently for aggression? Would you believe me if I said Chihuahuas? Golden Retrievers? Cocker Spaniels? Dachshunds? The small, designer dog mixes? You should believe me, because those really are the breeds I see the most frequently for aggression. Notice anything? Did I mention Pit Bulls? Dobermans? German Shepherds? Rottweilers? No, I didn’t. Talking to trainer colleagues, I hear the same list of breeds over and over again. We all share a concern for the temperament of the so-called family dogs like Golden Retrievers.

Any and all breeds of dogs can be aggressive and potentially physically harm people. After all, all dogs have teeth, right? How do we prevent aggression? Is it through breed bans and legislation? Should we enact sweeping legislation aimed at particular breeds? Should all dogs of a particular breed suffer and be destroyed for the actions of a single dog?

As a trainer, I truly want to see the number of serious dog bites each year begin to decline. I am saddened to hear about the “dog bite epidemic” in our country. And, every day, I work with dogs to help find a solution to this widely publicized issue. But, I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty, that enacting legislation to eradicate breeds which are potentially dangerous is absolutely not the answer. If we enacted laws based on the breeds I see in practice, Atlanta would have passed breed bans on Goldens, Cockers, and Chihuahuas years ago…

The answer to our nation’s dog bite problem is in education—educating breeders on selecting for temperament, educating dog owners on selecting a breed which actually fits their life style, educating veterinarians on socialization practices for puppies…

I wanted to write on this topic today because of a disturbing editorial piece which was shared on Facebook. The writer, Teresa Chagrin, is a member of PETA—People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. On July 13th, she wrote a piece for Fredericksburg.Com advocating that the only way to kindly deal with Pit Bulls was to spay and neuter all adult Pits and to euthanize all Pits in shelters. In other words, death for all Pits is a far better fate than potentially going into a responsible home, receiving proper socialization and training, and living a happy doggy life. She actually says in the article that responsible people don’t adopt Pit Bulls. Interesting, coming from a group which supposedly wants to save animals, isn’t it? Below is a link to the article—tell me if I am misreading it:

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/072011/07132011/638588?______array

As a trainer, I can’t imagine a world in which we have decided that any particular breed is such a danger that it must be exterminated. I have to hope that we will deal with dogs and their behavioral issues individually, rather than condemning an entire breed based on the actions of just a few. I hope that the dog lovers reading this will check into legislation pending in their communities. Find out how your community is working to define “dangerous dogs.” Does the label apply to the behavior of an individual dog or does it broadly proclaim a list of dangerous breeds? Pay attention—breed specific legislation is a very slippery slope which someday may affect your breed…

Atlanta. July. The weather forecast remains the same each day—ridiculously hot, miserably humid, and at least a 40% chance of thunderstorms. For most of us, the thunderstorms present little more than a minor inconvenience—they might make the evening commute more difficult, or interrupt plans outdoors. But for some of us, those afternoon thunderstorms represent something far more ominous—another torturous afternoon for our thunderstorm-phobic dogs.

Despite years of research, we still do not know what causes thunderstorm phobias in dogs. Some dogs seem to be genetically programmed to be fearful of thunderstorms. According to the AAHA, herding breeds and hounds display thunderstorm distress more frequently than other types of dogs. They may be responding to noise of the thunder, the flash of lightning, changes in pressure, or changes in the natural electrical field— we just don’t know. Other dogs develop thunderstorm phobia as the result of a bad experiences, such as my Shelties, Bock and Shadow.

Bock and Shadow did not develop a fear of thunderstorms until the middle of their lives. We moved to coastal North Carolina in 1996. During our time there we experienced hurricane after hurricane—Bertha, Fran, Bonnie, Floyd…and I may even be missing one or two. Each hurricane brought with it hours of high winds and heavy rains. The noise from the storms could be unbearable, leaving us worried for our safety. The tall pines outside would whip violently with the winds, often breaking and causing tremendous damage to homes and property. The storms would be followed by days of oppressive heat made worse by a lack of electricity. Not having a generator, opening the windows was the best we could do to help cool the house.

Those storms and their aftermath left us all shaky and frightened, including the dogs. Bock and Shadow both developed severe cases of thunderstorm phobia following our first hurricane experience. They were able to identify a storm approaching over an hour before its arrival. Panting, pacing, whining, and hiding under the bed were all behaviors that preceded the arrival of a storm. Once the storm was upon us, both Shelties would shake violently, pant, and huddle as close to us a possible. As the storm passed, both dogs would fall into an exhausted sleep. Their fear of storms also became associated with other normal events, however, such as the opening of windows.
At the time, I knew few ways to comfort my dogs, other than to just be there for them. Fortunately, our understanding of dog behavior has grown exponentially in the past fifteen years. We now have many highly effective interventions for thunderstorm phobic dogs which help ease their fear and anxiety.

Help your dog by learning to recognize subtle cues to stressed behavior so that you can act quickly with fear-reducing interventions. The first cues that your dog is becoming stressed may include whining, sweaty paws, lip licking, yawning, and overall restlessness. As he becomes more stressed, you may notice unexpected house training mistakes—diarrhea is common, rapid/shallow breathing or panting, drooling, shaking, and hiding in closets, under furniture, or even in bathtubs or showers. By intervening at the first signs of stress, you may prevent a major fear episode.

For dogs will mild thunderstorm phobia, food dispensing toys such as the Tug-A-Jug, Kibble Nibble, and Kong provide both mental and physical stimulation which helps reduce stress. I know that when my stress levels peak, I head straight for the fridge. Eating is a pleasant experience which helps alleviate my stress (at least until the next time I step on a scale…) Chewing provides similar stress relief for our dogs—but they don’t have access to the fridge like we do. Providing one of these toys may help your dog through thunderstorms. Eating the food released from the toy is a pleasant experience for the dog, which classically conditions the dog to view the storms in a more positive light. Other chew toys may also provide relief. I prefer bully sticks as they are high in nutrients and fully digestible, unlike rawhide. Hollow marrow bones are also effective, as the hollow center of the bone can be stuffed with human food items such as peanut butter or spray cheese.

For dogs with more severe thunderstorm distress, prepare a safe room for your dog. Identify the hiding spot your dog has chosen and adapt the space so that it provides even more comfort and safety. Crate trained dogs may prefer the safety of their crate. Covering the crate with a blanket may increase your dog’s comfort. I never close the crate door of a dog with thunderstorm phobia! If the dog panics, they may severely injure themselves by trying to escape the crate!

One of my favorite additions to a dog “safe-room” or crate area is Dog Appeasing Pheromone, marketed commonly as Comfort Zone or DAP. DAP is similar chemically to the pheromones produced by lactating bitches. It works because it reminds the dog of the security of being with mom and littermates. DAP is available in a spray form and as a plug-in diffuser. Adding DAP plug-in diffusers in the dog’s safe area may provide comfort. DAP spray can also be applied to a bandana worn around the dog’s neck or on your pant leg if he prefers to move around with you during a storm.

Music, such as Through a Dog’s Ear, a CD available through DogWise, www.dogwise.com, can also lessen anxiety associated with thunderstorms. We recommend Through a Dog’s Ear frequently, as the music was chosen specifically for its calming effect on dogs. Playing this music in the dog’s safe room/crate area during thunderstorms, other stressful events, or even in the car for trips may have a positive calming effect for fearful animals.

My favorite intervention for thunderstorm phobic dogs, by far, is the Thundershirt. Don’t be put-off by its appearance—yes, it does look like a doggy coat. But, no, I am not encouraging you to dress your dog up in cute outfits. The Thundershirt works by applying constant, gentle pressure on your dog’s body. Think of it as swaddling a baby—remember how an inconsolable infant falls asleep after being snugly swaddled in a blanket? The Thundershirt works the same way. Using pressure to relieve anxiety has been used in many settings for many years—and it really does work. Studies indicate that symptoms of anxiety are reduced in 80% of pets wearing a Thundershirt. The Thundershirt is available online at www.thundershirt.com, as well as in progressive pet stores such as Pet Supermarket. In a pinch, a tight-fitting t-shirt, or even an ace bandage wrapped around your dog’s abdominal area may provide similar relief as well.

Finally, drug intervention may be an appropriate choice to help your dog find relief during thunderstorm season. Natural remedies such as Rescue Remedy and Melatonin may provide relief for dogs with mild anxiety. For dogs with more extreme fear, Benadryl, Xanax, and Clomicalm may be necessary. Discuss these options with your veterinarian to determine which is best for your dog.

I cannot stress safety for you thunderstorm phobic dog strongly enough. Never leave a thunderstorm phobic dog outside unattended during thunderstorm season. Their desire to escape the storm may lead them to dig out or go over a fence. They quickly become lost and disoriented from their fear. Don’t let your dog’s fear lead to another tragedy—losing his family. All thunderstorm phobic dogs should be permanently identified by microchip, as well as always wearing collar ID tags.

I hope this information helps keep all of your pooches safe during thunderstorm season! If you have any questions on how to help your pet, please feel free to contact me, monique@shadowmedogtraining.com. I would be more than happy to help!

Summer hikes have always been one of my family’s favorite activities to share together. Escaping into the cool recesses of a mountain forest is pure joy for all of us, but especially for our dogs, who have always joined us on these adventures. Our Shelties delighted in chasing deer and rabbits through the wooded hills behind our quarters at Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia. The lopsided hang of their tongues and their crazy doggie grins spoke volumes. Can you imagine the simple joy of running through the woods for a dog? Time with their favorite people, running free, catching the scent of new and unfamiliar animals…pure doggy bliss!

The company of our dogs on our summer wilderness adventures, however, does require preparation, planning, and training in order to be a truly safe and enjoyable activity. Making sure that Fido is healthy and fit enough to participate in your journey should be first and foremost in your mind. If Fido is spends his day lounging on the couch and finds the idea of chasing the squirrels away from his yard too much effort, he is most likely unprepared to hike the wilds with you. Prepare for your hike by taking shorter walks through your neighborhood or nearby parks, gradually lengthening your walks over a period of weeks. Games of fetch and chase also build stamina and muscle tone which will help Fido be at his best for your longer summer adventures.

To further ensure Fido’s health on his hiking expedition, be sure to check his paws—are his nails short enough to trot and run on uneven terrain comfortably? Are his paw pads healthy? Paw pads help provide both traction and shock absorption for your pooch. They should be free of redness, irritation, and cracks. Help prepare Fido’s paws by trimming the excess hair which grows over the pads and in between the toes of the coated breeds. If you see signs of redness or irritation, treat Fido to a paw spa by applying a specially formulated paw moisturizer for several weeks before your hike. If your pooch is tender-footed, consider acclimating him to boots to further protect his feet.

Have a plan to keep Fido free of unwanted hitchhikers—fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. I am cautious for both myself and my dogs with the use of insecticides, so my dogs receive garlic supplements, Bug-Off by Springtime Inc (www.springtimeinc.com), during the spring and summer months. I also choose natural flea and tick products whenever possible. Products containing citronella, rosemary, and wormwood can be found in pet boutiques, health stores, and some lawn and garden stores.
One of the best things about hiking with your pooches is letting them lighten your load! Dog backpacks allow your pets to carry their own supplies. Healthy, fit dogs can carry up to 25% of their body weight in a well-fitted dog backpack. Check the fit of the backpack by measuring around your dog’s girth—the area behind his elbows, circling his chest. Most backpacks are sized according to that girth measurement. Train your dog to carry his pack on short walks, gradually adding to his load. After your walks, check Fido for signs of chaffing or irritation and make adjustments to the pack as needed.

What supplies should Fido carry? Water bowls, water, food or snacks, toys, and a first aid kit. Hydration is important for humans and dogs alike. Don’t depend on letting Fido drink from streams, ponds, lakes, or rivers—carry your own supply. Water from outdoor sources may contain parasites or contaminants which could make Fido sick. On long hikes, plan on bringing snacks for Fido—either an extra provision of his regular food, or perhaps a doggy energy bar, found at specialty dog food stores or internet sources such as Clean Run, www.cleanrun.com. A pet first aid kit is an absolute essential—even the best trails can have unexpected hazards. Consider taking a pet CPR and First Aid class so that you will be ready for anything. These classes are often available through local Red Cross offices. Pet Tech certifies instructors in pet first aid and CPR as well. Visit their website, http://www.pettech.net, to find an instructor near you.

What other equipment will you need to hike with Fido? I like my dogs to wear regular buckle collars with current ID attached—check into permanent ID, micro-chipping, if you plan to be a frequent hiker. Choke collars and prong collars pose a danger—if the collar catches on a branch, your dog’s airway could be dangerously constricted. I love hands-free waist leashes for hiking because they leave my hands free to hold a water bottle, camera, or to just help balance myself. They also allow me the security of knowing that I cannot accidentally drop the leash. My favorite waist leash is by Sarah Kalnajs of Blue Dog Training, www.bluedogtraining.com. The leash is made of quality material, has several different length adjustments, and has not one but two connection points for the leash. In hot summer months, cooling collars can also be a comfort to our dogs—check Clean Run for some of the latest summer gear available.

Is Fido well-trained? At a minimum, Fido should walk well on a loose leash and have an absolutely wonderful recall back to you—even if the rabbits and deer are beckoning him forward! I like to teach my dogs to return to me by a whistle. The sound of the whistle carries much farther than a human voice, so if the worst happens and Fido flies off after unseen prey in the woods, he will hear the sound of the whistle much farther away than he will your voice. Also, a whistle is small and convenient to carry—a good piece of safety equipment for a hiker to have on hand for emergencies anyway. Pam Dennison has a wonderful video on teaching a whistle recall—look for it on Amazon or Dogwise, www.dogwise.com. Also, many trainers now offer short obedience classes focusing only on teaching a reliable recall—check with trainers in your area to see what they may be offering. A good resource for finding trainers near you is the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, www.ccpdt.org

Finally, be sure that Fido is welcome on the trail you have chosen. Today, not all trails and hikes are Fido friendly, such as parts of the Appalachian Trail. Call ahead or research on the internet, especially if your planned hike is out of the area. If Fido is welcome, be sure to use good trail etiquette. Many trails that allow dogs require Fido to be on-leash at all times. I usually keep my dogs on-leash just to be safe. However, be courteous to trail-fellows by keeping Fido from rushing up to other hikers, or chasing bicyclists. Even in the woods, pick-up after your dog—either bring baggies (biodegradable would be great!), or plan to bury Fido’s offering off the trail.

Now, off you go! Plan a hike with your favorite pooch today--take a camera and a care-free attitude and plan to make some wonderful memories! And be sure comment back here to tell us about some of your adventures!

What All the Cool Dogs Are Doing this Summer…
Summer is in full-swing here in the South—school has been out for over a month now and every single parent of a school-aged child has already heard the dreaded words, “I’m bored!” Even my dogs seem to be uttering those dreaded words as well—the Smooth Collie puppies (now nearly 3 years old, but perpetual pups to me, their human mom) seem to be cruising the house and yard looking for mischief. My human teenagers are easy to occupy—tell them to call a friend, send them to the pool, or suggest that they clean their room and TaDa! The summer induced boredom quickly disappears! But what to do for the canine kids?

Summer enrichment activities for our canine kids can be as much fun for us as for them. A filled kiddy pool is the answer to my Border Collie’s dreams. He loves watching soccer balls and tennis balls floating by in the water. The pool is also handy for cleaning off balls which have gotten too dirty for even his mouth. Finally, when he gets too hot from herding his soccer ball under the canopy of backyard trees, he flops fully into the pool himself, napping with his head resting on the edge.
If your dog has never tried a kiddy pool before, peak his interest by playing in it yourself when you fill it the first time. Laughing and carrying on as if you have never had a better time may be enough for him to try it for himself. Try floating a few of his favorite toys in the pool as an added enticement. Remember bobbing for apples when you were a kid? The canine version is bobbing for hotdogs—your pooch will thank you for it!

The Smooth Collie siblings are largely uninterested in the kiddy pool. At most, they incorporate it as an obstacle in their high-speed chase games. They endlessly chase butterflies through the yard by day, moving on to chase the fireflies at dusk. Boredom busters for them (when the butterflies don’t cooperate…) include kibble searches through the yard…I scatter a cup or two of kibble mixed with a few other favorite treats through the grassy part of the yard. The nose-work search for kibble lasts long after the last morsel has been found and they enter the house exhausted and with a certain primal satisfaction after hunting for their food.

Ten years-old this month, Bandit is the Rough Collie elder statesman of the group. He would never consider getting his carefully groomed white paws wet or muddy in the pool—or worse, look like he was playing with the Border Collie. A little too stiff now to participate in the fly-by’s of the smoothie siblings, he now acts as the playground monitor, standing safely to the side of their improvised racetrack, barking his warnings to stop having so much fun.  Even though his body shows the unmistakable signs of his mature years, his mind is still as sharp as ever and he too appreciates some of the fun activities summer can provide. Bandit’s favorite summer treat is a giant block of ice—not any block of ice, but a lovingly prepared block filled with doggie delights. Premier Pet Products offers what to Bandit is sheer canine summer delight—the Kool Dogz Ice Treat Maker (http://www.kooldogz.com).

With a deep bucket and specially designed stainless steel stand, the Kool Dogz Ice Treat Maker is a summer home run for almost any dog. Fill the bucket with water and your dog’s favorite treats for hours of canine fun. Bandit’s favorite recipe is absolute doggie decadence:

Low-Sodium Beef or Chicken Bouillon—enough to give the ice just a bit of color and flavor
Dollops of Peanut Butter
Dollops of Evo canned dog food
Beggin Strips
Pupperoni
MilkBone Original Treats (the ones that look like miniature hotdogs—referred to as “Doggie Crack” at our house)

The Kool Dogz Ice Treat Maker stand is staked into a shady spot in our yard—conveniently located near several windows for the humans’ viewing pleasure. When unmolded onto the stand, Bandit’s favorite Ice Treat Recipe honestly looks horrible and inedible by human standards, but it is literally pooch Nirvana. Bandit will stand for hours over his prize, licking the ice and chewing through particularly tasty sections. The other pups are not allowed to share in this bounty with him, so our recommendation is to purchase more than one Ice Treat Maker if you are a multiple dog household. Lower calorie versions of Bandit’s favorite treat might include other goodies such as sliced apples, bananas, spoonfuls of canned pumpkin, or even kongs, tennis balls, and other chew toys—anything your dog loves really.

Take some time this summer to enjoy all the season has to offer you and your canine family members--run through the sprinklers with the pooches, splash in the kiddy pool and bob for hotdogs, or sit down with a frozen summer concoction while your pooch enjoys a frozen treat made especially for him!