Patience with reactive dogs

Patience is the key which solves all problems. -Sudanese proverb

      This applies to all aspects of life , however I think we need to especially remember this when it comes to our animal friends. They have memories and fears just like we do. Sadly they do not understand English and we need to be patient. We need to particularly remember this when it comes to reactive dogs.
     What is a reactive dog?  Sara Reusche, CPDT-KA, CVT, ANWI  states, "Simply put, reactivity can be defined as an overreaction to external stimuli."  Personally living with a semi-reactive dog, I believe just like autism, it is not a disease, but just a handicap that we can work with. We do not turn our backs if a child is autistic or has learning disabilities. We find ways to make that light bulb come on over their heads and we don't set them up for failure . The same principles should be applied to our canine friends. We have to celebrate making it over the hurdles and celebrate the accomplishments, not punish their downfalls.

     In my case and in many others I have seen, reactive dogs are highly intelligent. It is so important to give those pets jobs, structure, and positive activities to celebrate that intelligence.
     There are many tools available for reactive dogs, and also for basic obedience for that matter. In my opinion, there should never be force,violence or hitting in training. Structure and positive reinforcement are the key.  One method that is highly effective in working with a dog, is to not free feed, but make your dog earn their dinner by watching  you , and performing basic obedience such as sit , stay , down, etc.  There are fun ways that will keep them thinking and earn  food. You can purchase puzzle and treat toys and hide their food around the house and teach them to "find".  Rally and agility are excellent activities that allow your dog to bond with you and teach them to pay attention and look to you with trust and joy for commands.

      Please make sure you take all proper precautions with a reactive dog, you want to protect your dog at all cost. If you know there are going to be small children or other dogs at an event and your dog is reactive to them , PLEASE DO NOT take your dog or take the proper precautions, such as bringing a kennel.

 Your dog would much rather feel safe in a kennel than to be thrown in a situation they cannot handle. Do not be afraid to be bold or even rude to protect your dog. If someone bends down to stick their face in my dog's face,  I have no problem telling them, "back off, he cannot handle that". When I teach kids bite prevention, I stick my face one inch from their nose and asking them if it makes them uncomfortable. We need to give dogs that personal space and not be afraid to tell others too. I suggest hanging a small sign on your door that says something like, "please be advised my dog needs space, please give it to him." You are your dogs voice and you need to speak for them.
     Some helpful tools to help you with your reactive dog are handouts and literature from Dr. Sophia Yin http://drsophiayin.com/. A gentle leader is a great tool to take a reactive dog into public. To make sure people are not rude and give your dog the space they need, I found a great snap on leash sleeve in bright yellow that says, "I need space". This reminds people to ask before they pet, so you can instruct them the polite way to approach a fearful or reactive dog. You can find these on this site http://www.thedogperk.com/products/leash-sleeve-i-need-space-brights
     I suggest contacting a kind, reputable trainer in your area that specializes in your problems. DON'T be afraid to ask for multiple references. If a trainer is rough, cruel, or in any way makes you uncomfortable, speak up for your dog and don't allow it. Force will only make matters worse and don't let any trainer convince you otherwise. There are so many positive activities now for reactive dogs. They can now even compete without being exposed to other dogs or people that they may fear in cyber rally and agility.
     If you are in West MI and want a trainer who specializes in reactive dogs and who can assist you with cyber competitions, I highly recommend Dog Blessed LLC.  http://www.dogblessedllc.com/ 616-430-0297.
Odin and I wish your pets a joyous stress free life.
 Please feel free to read the first chapter of my book and more articles at www. furryphilosophy.blogspot.

Paws and Remember the Magic of Christmas

Most of us remember the wise words from  Dr. Suess,

"Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!"

"Well, in Whoville they say - that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinches, plus two!" 

     I believe, our pets often share the same message, gifts from the heart mean so much more; it is the laughs, homemade gifts , and the things you did to give back that will resonate the most in your memory. Our pets don't care the price of things, for them it's about the love and fun.

     There is something about Christmas that puts that sparkly fairy dust in the air. We bake ,we wrap, we want to give and make merry. 

      Odin,Raven and I would like to ask that you spare just a smidge of that magic in your heart and merriment and remember to give back in anyway that resonates with your heart.

    Giving back can be not only rewarding but fun. I really enjoy heading up charity pet photos with Santa. It is a evening of laughter, joy and giving back. You cannot help laugh at pets in their Christmas attire and feel their happiness as they know something good is happening. They enjoy getting special goodies thanks to our ever faithful and gracious hostess, Tonya from "Must Love Dogs Boutique and Spa".

     I recently interviewed a wonderful man, 'Grandpa Phil' who was one of the organizers of the first Iditarod. He now lives in Long Boat Key, Fl. and he protects the nests and aids  the  baby turtles to safety every year.  He is 88 years old and still running two miles a day on the beach. I asked him to share some of his secrets of longevity he would like to convey. He said, " If it ain't fun don't do it". He has spent his life enjoying it, but also giving back in ways that were fun for him. 

     Everyone has a talent. Aren't we put on this earth to share the gifts we are given? For example, I love photography and editing and tweaking photos. Every year I take and collect pet photos from others to collaborate a fundraiser calendar.  

       There are so many ways to give back. Follow your heart ,it will lead you. Do you have room in your home for a rescue? The love the can give is priceless. If you search, you can find the breed you are looking for from a rescue. If you can't rescue , please consider volunteering , donating or giving a small part of your heart. In return you will also feel your heart grow and fill up to the top just like that Grinch.

 This Holiday Season,Odin, Raven and I wish you joy, laughter , and unlimited treats for all the furkids. We also wish that all the homeless pets will find their fur-ever home and receive the love they deserve.

Below are suggestions on ways to give back this holiday season and always. Feel free to use my contact info below for more information on any of these:

* Best Pals animal Rescue charity calendar only $10 full of fun furry friends.

* Foster a pet for Christmas

*Volunteer with Heal with a Horse and be fortunate enough to spend time with those amazing creatures. The mission of Heal with a Horse is to enhance the quality of life of chronically ill and special needs children through equine assisted therapy. 

*Be fortunate enough to be in presence of rescued wolves, exotics, and other miscellaneous  rescues by volunteering at Howling Timbers Animal Sanctuary.

*Buy the perfect Christmas gift for animal lovers  of "Furry Philosophy and Memoirs Set in Stone".  I feel it only fitting since I was given the  gift of memories from the animals to give back to them. $5 from every book sold is donated to the animals with love.  This month (and always on my list to chose from ) I will donate $5 to Best Pals Animal Rescue.

* If these don't resonate with you, remember your heart, it knows the way.   

  Read more Furry Philosophy in my book, “Furry Philosophy and Memoirs Set in Stone.” It is available at Amazon.com or by emailing cani7lupus@aol.com or calling 231-893-1227.  

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Keeping your furry friend joyous and pain free

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."― Josh Billing
     A love that deep, deserves for us,our dog's caretakers, to do the very best we can by them. When we make the decision to be a caretaker for a pet, I believe we owe it to them to give them the best life they can.
     As I was walking through the woods today, hearing the acorns pop under my feet, and seeing Odin's white fluffy tail wagging in front of me, I thought about how thankful I was to have him romping ahead with joy, and not painfully from sore joints, as he has in the past.
     I would like to share some more ideas with you. Odin and I have found different techniques that have helped so  much on his aging stiff  joints, in hopes it can help your furry friend too.
      I few months back  I listed some items that have helped Odin so much. We continue to use these. I think sometimes the cure is not just one thing, but a combination of treatments, that help our friends. To see this list again please go to: http://www.furryphilosophy.blogspot.com/2015/07/keeping-healthy-and-active-natural-way.html
     After writing this article I read a piece by  Mary E. Haight from Dancing Dog Blog  that talked about Passive Range of Motion. I have added these stretches  to Odin's daily regimen and have to say I saw more improvement ! I searched for "how to" videos on passive range of motion and they were all similar. Here is a link that is quick, to the point, I'd like  to share:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2g5CYXlHMsH3NbJ_DxK0Tb2fea9Tavu6
     Even though I saw great improvement , I thought there had to be something I could do to help him even more. I continued to do research and spoke with contacts that raved about cold laser. I had to look further.
     This is a brief history and information on the subject:
 Mikaela Conely  stated " The cold laser therapy is a noninvasive procedure that uses light to stimulate cells and increase blood circulation. At the correct laser wavelength, pain signals are reduced and nerve sensitivity decreases. The procedure also releases endorphins, or natural painkillers, but it is not recommended for animals that have cancer because the device can stimulate blood flow to cancer cells." "The procedure is based on the idea that light is absorbed into the cells. The process, known as photo-biotherapy, stimulates protein synthesis and cell metabolism, which improves cell health and functionality."
     The American Chiropractic Association states, "Light in its various forms has been used for healing from the time of the ancient Egyptian and Greek civilizations."
      Cold laser therapy is now being recognized as beneficial by many veterinarians and it is easy to find in most areas.
     If Odin needed something I would even sell plasma to make sure he received it. But I am also not rolling in dough, I always look for ways to save money. I looked at my options and found for our budget it would be most economical to purchase one and give him daily treatments at home. I found an affordable one Amazon.com called Tendlite Joint Home Therapy. It had very informative instructions and I also did more research on safety. Make sure you read the safety instructions. I found an important part of the body to avoid is the thyroid (throat area).

      I started this therapy on Odin, and MY joints, and found immediate, extreme relief and improvement for both of us . We give the cold laser a 4 paws up, 5 dog bone stars and cannot say enough good things about it !
     If you want to take this one step further I have also used the cold laser on acupressure points. A good reference book for this is, "Four Paws Five Directions" by Cheryl Schwartz. There are good clear charts in the middle of the book.

This is a page  from " Four Paws Five Directions" The BL 60 point is called the arthritis point. It  is a very beneficial point to rub and apply cold laser to.

     I now partner laser with  the passive range of motion and have special bonding time with Odin, that benefits him more than I can say.

Odin, and I wish your pet many fun walks, tail wags and a long, pain-free, joyous life.

Read more Furry Philosophy in my book  “Furry Philosophy and Memoirs Set in Stone.” Available at Amazon.com or by emailing cani7lupus@aol.com . If  you order directly through me you can choose from the list of my animal charities to have a portion of the proceeds to be donated. You can read the first chapter for free on my very first blog post: http://www.furryphilosophy.blogspot.com/2015/02/trying-my-hand-at-blogging.html
Find more fun photos and updates by  following me on Facebook  “Memory stones by Jodi” and “Furry Philosophy and Memoirs Set in Stone.”

Be the voice for the animals!

“There is no fundamental difference between man and animals in their ability to feel pleasure and pain, happiness, and misery.”― Charles Darwin

Odin says, "Be the voice for the animals"

Definition of Vivisection viv·i·sec·tion-the practice of performing operations on live animals for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research

     It has always hurt my heart to think about this. Can animals feel pain?  YES. Did they sign up to be tortured this way? NO.  Is one life more valuable than another? NO.
Why does the human race think it is ok to  torture other species? Can you imagine committing no crime, and being locked up in a cage,and tortured until they eventually kill you?

     While reading one of my the best books ever written, in my opinion, "Dog 281" , it was reiterated to me, 'we can stop this insanity, we can make a change.' I am now reading "The Dog Who Spoke with Gods." It hurts my heart to read what can happen to  dogs in laboratories and how they can go insane from the pain. We are not Gods, as this poor dog believes, and we should NOT play God.

     There are alternatives , there are ways and we need to be the voice for the animals!
Information from NEAVS states, "Alternative scientific tests are often more reliable than animal tests. For example, experiments on rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, monkeys, and baboons revealed no link between glass fibers and cancer. Only after human studies related the two did the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) label these fibers as carcinogenic. The use of human tissue in toxicity testing is more accurate than the animal models.Non-animal tests are more cost-effective, practical, and expedient.. The traditional testing of chemicals using animals can take up to five years per substance and cost millions of dollars, while non-animal alternatives can test hundreds of chemicals in a week for a fraction of the cost."
     This is controversial, but what about testing on humans for human drugs? Test on humans that have committed horrific crimes and are already behind bars, instead of innocent creatures.
     One of my favorite books, by my hero Jane Goodall  states, "a great deal of animal research has been misleading and resulted either in the withholding of drugs, sometimes for years, that were subsequently found to be highly beneficial to humans, or to the release and use of drugs that, though harmless to animals, have actually contributed to human suffering and death.

     Amelia Kinkade's book  "The Language of Miracles" states when talking about animal activist Chris Derose from Last Chance for Animals going undercover in a laboratory that tested animals, "Chris had invited himself to take photographs and shoot video tape. His forbidden footage aired on CNN , allowing some viewers to actually identify their own animals on the news." "He was able to reunite some of the humans with their dogs. Other heartbroken people were only able to get collars and tags of their missing dogs." Amelia  Kinkade also informs us ,"one university in southern California was breaking the legs of animals and subjecting them to third degree burns with no anesthesia so that the students could face "realistic situations" during their final exam." "Other puppy lab 'research' has been funded by tobacco companies, whose researchers pump smoke into the dogs' lungs so that they can breathe nothing but smoke". All of this breaks my heart. We already know smoking is harmful. If humans want to do it, let them, but don't let the innocent suffer from our ignorance.
Did you know there was such a thing as people called bunchers? They either buy animals very cheap on craigslist (this is one of many reasons to NEVER advertise FREE to a good home) or they will actually steal dogs out of people's back yards. They then are sold to laboratories to never be seen again.
      I feel SeaWorld is just as torturous as laboratories. They only have  one thing in mind- making money. Animals are suffering more than we can imagine. Educate yourself and watch "Blackfish." Jane Goodall says "Sea World Needs To Be Immediately Shut Down" & "Dolphins are one of THE most intelligent animals on earth" - Sir David Attenborough
These amazing creatures are enslaved by SeaWorld for the whole of their lives. Never to swim free in the ocean, joyfully ride massive waves, eat fresh fish, live with their own kind. Instead they are forced by Sea World to work every single day to entertain humans until the end of their days."
     In my book "Furry Philosophy and Memoirs Set in Stone"  I wrote, "Who are we to make that one life miserable? Please educate yourself and see how torturous circuses really are and please, refuse to support them. Watch” An Apology to Elephants’ on YouTube.com. Please, see what goes on in factory farms and eat ethically. Please understand why wolf hunting is not the answer and how breaking up a pack can really cause imbalance. Please understand laboratory testing is VERY inaccurate and not necessary, only torturous. If we ALL say ENOUGH and act as friends to the animals who love and feel just as we do, these horrible people will be put out of business and this nonsense will have to stop! This is a dream of mine. TOGETHER we could make it a reality."

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Share this article and other educational materials , talk to the youth in your life.
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EFT and stress in pets

Odin got dressed up to share some new ideas with you 

"Handle every stressful situation like a dog: If you can't eat it or play with it...pee on it and walk away."  Author unknown

I feel this is great advice; however, there are hurdles we need to overcome, so this advice may need some tweaking.

      The past year, I was pleased to meet Scott Kennedy and allowed him to assist me with some hurdles. When we were chatting, we decided to experiment with trying these procedures with pets.

     Here is short blurb from Scott with a brief explanation of what I am talking about:

"Even though I have been using Emotional Freedom Techniques for 20 years, their power continues to amaze and fascinate me. EFT is a form of emotional acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments. These subtle energies have a profound effect on how our brains process physical and psychological issues. I have had wonderful results using a surrogate to balance the energy of people or/and infants that cannot communicate. This balancing allows their system to reprocess any conflict in the communication between the different hemispheres of the brain.  Resulting in being able to “let go” of negative issue or patterns.

Learning recently, with Jodi’s help, that the effects of EFT’s can be transferred to animals is extremely exciting!  Seeing behaviors, reactions, demeanors being changed in our animal friends with just a very basic and simple EFT is extremely encouraging.

 These early findings are very intriguing.  I am looking very forward to the opportunity to explore the use of EFT’s with animals much more."

Scott Kennedy CCH

Sktherapy.com

Scott Kennedy is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist located Spring Lake, Michigan

Odin and Scott

     My dog Odin has some nervous issues. In previous writings I have stated, I believe it is not one thing that helps, but a combination of many things to treat the WHOLE body and MIND.

Previously I have tried DAP (Dog appeasing Pheromones), lavender and rescue remedy which all seemed to have helped my dog and cat in numerous ways.

     Now that I have met Scott and combined EFT, I can say my success has improved greatly.

These are some of the experiences I have documented:

     Odin came into Scott's office with me when we tried this exercise, the first time. It is so easy it just combines deep breathing with some light tapping with you being the surrogate for you dog.

Odin is very fearful, and if he is approached too fast, he panics, especially if someone comes out of nowhere. He also gets very jumpy when we drive on a rumble strip. After the appointment with Scott, someone walked in the door very quickly, and Odin acted like it was just fine, the same experience on the way home with the rumble strips. A few weeks later I was trying to get some tangles out of his fur, which he usually flails and protests very adamantly, this day was no different. I stopped grooming and perfumed some EFT, when I continued grooming I saw a measurable difference and calmness.

     In another instance I was giving my friend's dog Max a bath and he was panic stricken, shaking and cowering. I stopped and performed EFT and I was astounded at the dramatic effect. The shaking stopped and he calmed down. He did not LOVE the bath but the fear subsided so much!

     I have taken my kitty, Raven, in our motor home many times and after the first half hour she stops meowing and enjoys the rest of the trip. The pheromones seem to help a lot but when I incorporated the EFT the meowing lessened tremendously and she calmed down much quicker.

     Just recently a friend has been working with Scott. This dog, who is afraid of men, actually allowed Scott to touch him, which does not normally happen.

     We have only been experimenting with this for a short time, and I will keep documenting the progress. I did want to share with my readers the success we have had so far, in hopes to help other animals and also their owners. This method is amazing and I recommend it whole heartily.

     Odin, Raven and I give it four paws up!

Keeping Healthy and Active the Natural Way

"My face may be white but my heart is pure gold. There is no shame in growing old" ~E.H.G.

Odin staying active

     Although his face is always white, because he is a white dog, I unfortunately see other signs of aging in the love of my life, Odin J. He tires a bit faster than he used to and was getting sore when he played too long. I love him so much and hate to see him anything but joyous and happy.

     I do not take drugs to just mask pain and will not give them to Odin either. I believe that Mother Nature has a cure for what ails us. If we try to find and treat the cause, it is much more successful and healthier than masking the symptoms.

     I have tried many natural remedies, with success and failure. Every dog is different, just like we are. What may work for one, may not for another, but I would like to share some of my success stories with you. I hope your pet can benefit from some of these ideas. Remember, when trying a new product make sure you try one at a time and give it ninety days to be sure of the results. Do this to make sure you give the product enough time to build up in the system. This will allow you to know any adverse effects the product may have, even though it is natural. We can be allergic to grass and pollen, there is a slim chance your dog could be allergic to anything. You also want to do this to give the product time to repair. The damage takes time to happen to a body, it is only logical to allow time for the product to help repair the damage.

     You could opt for the instant fix and give pain killers such as Rimadyl. As a LAST resort this drug may help with pain, but it is not the cure all. I personally know of a dog that died after one week on this drug. Rimadyl had been known to cause GI bleeding and risk of liver toxicity. For a two sided view of this drug see: http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/rimadyl.deaths.html . I would only resort to this drug if you have exhausted all avenues and your option is either this drug or euthanasia. I want to state this is MY opinion based on research and personal experience.

    What are the other options? I have found in many cases, it is not one thing that helps, but a combination of many things to treat the WHOLE body. I am pleased to report that Odin is doing so much better and playing hard with my grand puppy Cash and all his other friends without being sore afterwards.

Odin and Cash resting after a day of play

     Odin is a 55 lb. dog; keep in mind you may have to adjust according to your dog's weight.

This is the regimen we have been using:

     ~ I cup of homemade bone broth which supplies the purest form of Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Collegian. For the recipe see: http://www.k9instinct.com/blog/the-benefits-of-bone-broth-for-dogs

      ~ 4 oz. of raw goat’s milk. This not only will help the joints, but is one of the most amazing remedies for allergies I have ever experienced. It is amazing for digestion and is a pre and probiotic. If you have read about the canine flu, this is one of the best preventatives available. I cannot rave about this product enough. If you live in West MI you can purchase this product at "Must Love Dogs" in Grand Haven. You can purchase it frozen and keep a large supply handy in the freezer. If you don't live in West MI and want to find a supplier in your area go to: http://www.k9instinct.com/blog/the-benefits-of-bone-broth-for-dogs

       ~ Homemade tart cherry treats. Tart cherry juice is an anti-inflammatory. I personally make mine from pure pumpkin, coconut flour, coconut oil, flax meal and cinnamon. Read the dose for a human on the bottle and adjust to your dog's weight and multiply how many days of treats you plan to bake. You could add the tart cherry juice to any dog treat recipe but the coconut oil and flax meal are also great for joints. Just mix all ingredients to dough like consistency.

       ~500 mg of Ester C. This boosts the immune system and had been known to reduce swelling also.

       ~ Glycoflex 3 -2 x a day, that is a natural supplement for joints.

    

Odin and I wish your pet many fun walks, tail wags and a long, pain free, joyous life. 

 Side notes from the author:

After writing this article, I read a great blog by Mary E Haight that talked about Passive Range of Motion

I have added it to Odin's daily regimen and have to say I see more improvement ! I searched for "how to" videos and they were all similar. Here is a quick to the point one I found to share:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2g5CYXlHMsH3NbJ_DxK0Tb2fea9Tavu6

Also, Odin went swimming the day after they sprayed our lake with Diquat for weeds. Shortly after that he had severe stomach upset diarrhea. Coincidence?

Warning on Diquat  “Exposure to Diquat Dibromide can irritate the eyes, nose, and   throat and may cause  nosebleeds. * Exposure to  large amounts of Diquat Dibromide may cause severe poisoning with  nausea,  vomiting, diarrhea,  tremors,  convulsions, and even death.” 

I wanted to inform my readers that goats milk has helped heal his belly much quicker than normal GI upset in the past.

I am putting feelers for environmentally conscience individuals who may want to join an alliance to help educate ,and research alternative methods to his chemical and/or  college students looking for a project in this field in the West MI area.

Nosey Dog

"The sense of smell in all dogs is their primary doorway to the world around them."
 ~Robert Crais

     Are you looking for a new activity for your dog? One that you can have fun playing and allowing your dog to just be a dog?  Are you looking for a sport for your reactive, fearful, or hyper dog? Look no further, NACSW K9 Nosework is a sport that is beneficial to every kind of dog. The NACSW was formed by three detection dog trainers in 2005. It has just recently gained popularity, and competitions are starting to pop up more and more. Whether you compete or just play this sport, it will bring out the best in your dog while bringing you closer with your best friend, more than any other sport you may have tried.
     You may be asking yourself, “How in the world does a sport achieve this?" The answer is simple, K9 nosework builds up the canine's confidence by allowing them to pay attention to their innate instincts and enjoy the thrill of the chase and independent hunting. K9 Nosework can help them come out of their shell in ways that will amaze you.
     Odin and I recently attended a seminar by Beth Bishop, which my UKC Muskegon Lakeshore Training and Obedience (MLOTC) offered. Odin absolutely loved this seminar and gives this sport four paws up! I think the reason Odin loved it so much is because this sport allows the dogs to train us, instead of us training them. It creates the expectation of the hunt, which dogs innately have. In the wild, dogs are born with the desire to find prey. This sport allows the dogs to abandon themselves to the hunt and forget that they may be surrounded by a room full of people. Odin is normally afraid of slippery floors and crowds and forgot all about them while playing this game.

Odin waits not so patiently for his turn to go find more treats in the boxes 

     I recall reading awhile back, if you compare a dogs olfactory system to a humans,  a human's would be the size of  a postage stamp size , whereas a dog's would be the size of  a football field. When we attended the seminar Beth reiterated that fact by stating, if you walked into someone's house and they had stew cooking on the stove, your senses would say, "mmmm smells like stew" whereas a dog's sense would say," I smell, 1 lb. round meat, 1/2 lb. of carrots, 1 stalk celery etc." A dog can also smell a scent that is 2 weeks old.

Rue above and Lilo below following their nose

     Now that you know why this sport is beneficial to the dog's natural instincts, let's touch on what the sport entails. The sport is introduced by  just playing with every day normal various sized boxes, which you pick just one or two to put extremely high value, strong smelling food (such as liverwurst, fish, etc.) into only a couple of the boxes. Make sure you use the same boxes for the treats, as the dog will smell them long after they are removed. You start out by just arranging an assortment of five to ten boxes, and just let the dog find the treats on their own with no direction from you. Beth explained to us we must keep up their motivation by making it easy. After this no longer becomes a challenge you can start making it harder by stacking boxes, turning them sideways and hiding in different parts of your house for about a month. The next step is moving the boxes outside, where there is whole new realm of smells for them to differentiate between. After this game is mastered, you can move to getting little tins such as altoids containers and punching holes in them with food in it, and start the game all over. Eventually different scents such as birch, anise, cloves and myrrh are incorporated on q-tips in containers, and you add the scents in the containers instead, and set food in box with container. Your final step is to just have them find the scent and give food as soon as they find the scent. There are many little details, which I do not mention here or this article would be a book. You can learn these details once you start researching or practicing this sport.
     Odin says, "Just like Toucan Sam used to say, 'Follow your nose, it always knows.' and let your dog join in the fun."

Casey and Bonnie (above) and Bella Rae (below ) enjoying the game.

      For information on this sport in Michigan contact Beth Bishop:  phone 517-641-7345, or email  bugsanddobes@gmail.com . If you live outside of Michigan feel free to check out this website www.k9nosework.com
Read more Furry Philosophy in my book  “Furry Philosophy and Memoirs Set in Stone.” Available at Amazon.com or by emailing cani7lupus@aol.com or calling 231-893-1227.If  you order directly through me you can chose from the list of my animal charities to have a portion of the proceeds to be donated to. You can read the first chapter of my book and more articles  at www. furryphilosophy.blogspot.com
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Facebook –ing  “Memory stones by Jodi” and “Furry Philosophy and Memoirs Set in Stone.”