Category: Pets

Happy December! While you’re collecting little goodies to stuff in your dog’s stocking, consider picking up an extra for your local shelter. The dogs – and the staff – will appreciate the love! Many animal shelters and animal rescue organizations run adoption and fundraising campaigns during the holiday months, which we’ve listed in our December dog events.

We want to see your holiday spirit! Show us how you and your #dogsterdogs are enjoying your holiday season by tagging us in your photos on social media.

Don’t see your dog event on the list? Email us at dogstermag@belvoir.com and we will include your dog event.

 

Daily dog holidays, December 2022

December 1, 2022: National Twin with Your Dog Day #twinwithyourdogday
December 2, 2022: National Mutt Day
December 5, 2022: Celebrate Shelter Pets Day
December 9 , 2022: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
December 10, 2022: International Animal Rights Day
December 11, 2022: Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals

December 2022 Dog Events

Through December 31st, 2022: Blue Buffalo Home 4 the Holidays. Annual holiday pet adoption drive. Find your volunteering location on the website and read more about the adoption drive here.

Through December 31, 2022: Embrace Pet Insurance will cover the adoption fees of cats and dogs adopted through all Best Friends Lifesaving Centers and programs across the country, as well as all animals at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT. Additionally, Embrace will be offering a 10% discount on all policies sold as a result of the partnership. To participate, click here.

Through December 31, 2022: Morris Animal Foundation is holding a campaign that will fund scientific research for dogs, such as canine health studies on treatment for a deadly blood disorder, identifying genetic and behavioral factors for weight gain and accessing the feasibility of orthopedic implants. In addition to direct gifts, donors can support the foundation by ordering holiday cards. Learn more about how you can help at morrisanimalfoundation.org.

Through January 1, 2023: 36th Annual San Francisco SPCA/Macy’s Holiday Windows. See adoptable dogs and cats in Macy’s windows and live cam in San Francisco’s Union Square. Learn more about this annual holiday tradition here.

December 1-3, 2022: North Shore Animal League shopping fundraiser. Support North Shore Animal League by doing your holiday shopping (you must register first here) at participating Americana Manhasset and select Wheatley Plaza stores during these days. Twenty-five percent of your designated full-price, pre-tax purchases will be donated back to North Shore Animal League America. This annual event kicks off on Dec. 1 at Blue Mercury at 2034 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, NY. To register for this shopping event and learn more about how your donations make an impact, click here.

December 1-4, 2022: Empty the Shelters Holiday Hope National event, sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation. The organization sponsors reduced adoption fees at participating shelters nationwide. Use the interactive map at bissellpetfoundation.org to find a location near you.

Through December 4, 2022, 2022: Cynosport Dog Agility World Games in Scottsdale, AZ. For more information on this annual event, click here.

December 3, 2022: Fanny Mae Memorial Reindog Parade. Held at 3 p.m. in downtown St. Joseph, MI.

December 4, 2022: Reindog Parade at the 42nd Annual Budapest Event. Held at 2 p.m. in downtown Buda Main Street, Buda, TX. For more information, click here.

December 17-18, 2022: 9th Annual AKC Obedience Classic. Sponsored by Eukanuba and held in conjunction with the AKC National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Click here for more information.

December 17-18, 2022: AKC National Championship. Presented by Royal Canine and held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The 2022 AKC National Championship will showcase canine athletes and include attractions, such as the Best Bred-by-Exhibitor competition, the AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals, the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, AKC Fast Cat Invitational and the NADD/AKC Dock Diving.

 

Want to see what dog holidays are coming up in 2023? Check out Dogster’s dog holiday list.

Pets and People Together is a wonderful new pet launched by the Ad Council, Maddie’s Fund and the Humane Society of the United States. #BeAHelper is just the first messaging wave, encouraging us all to help pets and people in our communities by keeping them together as the best place for pets is with their people.

“We are incredibly excited for this new campaign. If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s the vital role our pets play in our health, happiness and well-being, and how amazing it is when our community comes together,” says Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Executive Leadership Team at Maddie’s Fund in the campaign announcement. “Keeping families together is more important than ever, and we all have the opportunity to help make this happen.”

Any of us could have a crisis that affects our ability care for our pets. Help those in this situation by:

• Donating pet food to a pantry
• Donating funds for vet care
• Fostering a pet short- or long-term for someone in need
• Helping to reunite a lost pet with their family or sharing what to do when someone loses their pet.

Kitty Block, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, says about the program, “Our new Pets and People Together campaign highlights that each of us has a role to play in our community to help ensure that families and their beloved pets stay together.”

The campaign has three new video public service announcements (PSAs). The heartwarming film “Magic Hour” shows how the small act of donating pet supplies to families in need brings joy to pet owners and their pets. The second film, “Muse,” unveils how financial donations from “helpers” keep pets and people together through unexpected hardship. The third film, “Moon,” looks at the benefits of short-term foster care by neighbors or friends and how it can make a huge impact.

Creative agency Wunderman Thompson donated its services to develop the strategy and create the PSAs. In addition to television PSAs, the campaign features print, digital, out-of-home and radio PSAs. The resource-packed website, PetsandPeopleTogether.org, was developed in partnership with digital agency Viget.

“Pets and People Together showcases the important role that community can play in keeping pets and people together. Everyday people can take actions both big and small to help ensure families with pets can stay together, even in the face of financial or medical hardships, or if a pet gets separated from their family,” says Heidi Arthur, Chief Campaign Development Officer at Ad Council, in the announcement. “We’ve proven countless times that when the Ad Council partners with the Humane Society of the United States and Maddie’s Fund, we can change an issue for the better. We’re proud of our continued partnership with these two impactful organizations.”

Want to see what you can do or find out more information? Go to petsandpeopletogether.org to learn valuable information ilike how to foster a pet for a friend, neighbor or family member or how to donate toward the cost of a pet’s veterinary care and what to do when you find or lose a pet. Follow @Pets and People Together on social media. Use the hashtag #BeAHelper to share what you are doing in your community to help keep pets and people together.

Maltipoos are one of the most commonly-spotted dogs at pet salons, says Paige McIlwain, director of training at Salty Dawg Pet Salon. That’s because their fur, like other mixed breed Oodles and Oos, is a combination of two breeds with very different coats. A Maltese has thin, straight-to-wavy silky hair, while the Poodle has thick curly course hair.

Depending on genetics, says Paige, “Maltipoo coat types can be closer to one of those breeds or anything in between.”

The varied coat textures put each Maltipoo in a unique grooming situation. However, there are a few grooming tips that all Maltipoo pet parents can follow to maintain that white fluffy look without the tangles that naturally come along with it.

How often should I get my Maltipoo groomed?

Maltipoos benefit from regular professional grooming, but how often you take your dog to the groomer depends on how long you like to keep the coat. For shorter cuts, such as ½ inch or shorter, you can spread your groomer visits out somewhere between six to eight weeks, Paige says. For lengths 5/8 to an inch, Paige recommends grooming every three to six weeks and for anything longer than an inch, every two to four weeks.

“These guidelines not only keep the pet manageable for the owner and the stylist, they also keep pets on a low-stress routine while looking their best,” Paige says.

A realistic approach to how often you’ll be able to brush your dog’s hair at home and how frequently you can bring your dog to grooming appointments should guide your Maltipoo’s hair length.

What grooming services should Maltipoos get?

During their grooming appointments, Maltipoos should receive:

• Hair brushing and cut and detangling of any knots
• Nail trim and filing (every two to four weeks to maintain a healthy length)
• Ear cleaning by wiping down the outside of your dog’s ears
• Bath

Leave anal gland expression, ear-hair plucking and more in-depth ear cleaning to your vet.

Grooming styles for Maltipoos

There is no hairstyle standard for Maltipoos because they are mixed breeds, but there are the most popular Maltipoo haircuts requested:

• Teddy bear cut: A simple one-length around the body with a slightly more fluffy and rounded head. “We like to call them Lifestyle Maintenance Grooms,” says Paige. This style is versatile and can be cut to any length. Ears and tail lengths are typically trimmed to owner preference.
• Lamb cut: a shorter body with fuller flared legs. This style is adaptable to many combinations of coat lengths, tail, ear and face styles. This gives the impression of longer hair without the full body long hair style. “Just remember to keep up with brushing and combing the longer legs to keep the style intact,” advises Paige.

Maltipoo grooming costs

On average, a Maltipoo grooming will cost between $65 and $80 per month. However, costs will depend on where you live and if extra time needs to be spent detangling and de-matting your dog’s coat, which is a top grooming problem and typically costs more.

Other top Maltipoo grooming problems Paige sees include:

• Tangling or matting
• Reluctance having their paws handles for nail trims, clipping or brushing
• Fear of blow dryers

Mats and tight tangles on Maltipoos — and any dog breed who has longer fur— are painful because of the constant tension on the dog’s skin.

“Detangling weeks or months’ worth of tangles is extremely uncomfortable for your pet,” Paige says.

Grooming your Maltipoo at home

The most important at-home grooming is brushing and combing your Maltipoo’s coat daily.

“This keeps your pet’s hair from forming tight painful knots and mats, so that you can keep your pet in any desired style,” says Paige.

If a Maltipoo’s coat gets too tangled, it’s typically advised to shave the fur down short to promote healthy regrowth.

What’s the best brush for Maltipoos?

Grooming professionals recommend a slicker brush for daily home grooming. Slicker brushes break up tangles into smaller segments. Pair your slicker brush with a dual-sided metal comb with wide and fine teeth to brush the remaining knots out, Paige says. The fine-tooth side of the comb also works for combing other debris and food out of the coat.

Paige recommends the Flying Pawfect slicker brush, which you can purchase on Amazon, and the Calfhelp Dog Comb, also available on Amazon.

Other grooming brushes we recommend:

More at-home Maltipoo grooming tips

Wipe down your dog’s muzzle area, inner eye corners and potty areas, says Paige. A couple of our favorite grooming wipes include:

A bath should be given at the halfway point between your haircut appointments with your groomer, and many salons even offer bathing services if you’re not able to bathe your dog at home.

After the bath, detangle your pet’s coat while or immediately after drying to prevent knots from getting larger and tighter.

Paige says, “If upkeeping a high-maintenance clip does not fit in your schedule, opt for a shorter cut for ease of care between salon appointments.”

If you have ever benefited from massage therapy in your own life, chances are you may be wondering if your dog can receive this bodywork in similar ways. The answer is a resounding YES! The benefits of dog massage are practically endless and with minimal contraindications.

So how do you know if your dog needs a massage, and more importantly, how do you massage a dog? Rest assured I’ve got you covered —  answering all of your burning questions about dog massage and how to incorporate it into your pup’s life.

The history of dog massage

While canine massage has only recently become popular among companion pets, it has actually been around since ancient times. Julius Caesar traveled with a personal massage therapist, who also worked on his war dogs. Egyptian hieroglyphics depict massage therapy being used via animal healers. Massage therapy has been used for agility dogs and horses for many years. These examples are not only super cool, but hopefully validate that considering massage therapy for your dog does not land you in the crazy pet-parent zone. People have been utilizing this powerful approach on animals for many, many years.

Benefits of dog massage

Massage therapy is considered the manual manipulation of muscles and soft tissues of the body. This can be achieved using passive touch and other various strokes that we will cover a bit more below.

Most dogs feel the benefits of a therapeutic massage after as few as three professional sessions. You can incorporate basic massage techniques at home to deliver similar health benefits to your pup as well.

Here are just a few of the incredible benefits of dog massage:

• Promoting circulation
• Nourishing muscles and reducing muscle wasting
• Relieving muscle tension and reducing discomfort
• Stimulating lymphatic circulation, therefore boosting immune function
• Promoting faster healing times
• Deepening the human/animal bond
• Relieving anxiety, fear and stress
• Aiding in the grief process
• Comforting during palliative and hospice care

Canine massage therapy is indicated for many situations. Whether your dog is young and athletic, old and arthritic, or anywhere in between those life stages, massage therapy is an easy and safe modality to boost your pup’s overall quality of life. What I’m saying is: Being alive is practically indication enough.

Here are a few more formal indications. Dog massage is good for:

• Arthritis
• Soft tissue injuries
• Anxiety, fear and grief
• Joint diseases (such as elbow and hip dysplasia)
• Active dogs (such as working dogs, agility dogs or hiking dogs)
• Dogs with chronic GI disease such as irritable bowel disease (IBD), constipation or sensitive stomachs
• Luxating patellas and other anatomic anomalies

The primary contraindications (reasons for dogs not to receive massage therapy) are:

1. Cancer
2. Fever
3. Antibiotics

Massage therapy increases circulation. Normally, this is a really great thing. However, you may not want to increase circulation when a fever, infection or neoplasia are present. Increased circulation may potentially exacerbate the severity of these.

This list of cancer, fever and antibiotics in no way includes all situations to avoid massage. Kidney disease, pregnancy, some skin ailments and many other conditions also do. Consult with your veterinarian before starting massage therapy.

Some contraindications can be gray areas, depending on where your dog is in their healing journey as well as where you are in the approach to their health. An example here is caring for a senior dog with cancer. Perhaps you are taking a hospice or palliative care approach, and perhaps massage therapy plays a beautiful role at facilitating connection, pain relief and comfort for your pup as they transition through their end-of-life process.

Dog massage therapy at home

When using at-home massage techniques, keep the following in mind to ensure both you and your dog stay safe.

• Consensual touch is really important as you begin to introduce massage therapy to your dog. Consensual bodywork allows for deeper results to be achieved, and keeps you and your pup safe. Watch your dog’s body language and reaction to assess whether your touch is consensual. Signs that your dog may be nervous or stressed include panting, growling, walking away, shaking or yawning. If you notice that your dog is stressed, stop the massage and restart at a later time.
• Signs of pain can be similar to stress and fear. You may notice these signs as you move along a certain portion of your dog’s body. If your dog is in pain during your massage therapy sessions, or if you notice swelling in certain areas of their body, stop your massage session. Consult with your veterinarian and a professional animal massage therapist.
• This is by far the biggest error I see when teaching pet parents how to massage their dog. Your dog does not need deep pressure work, even for sports massage. In fact, the most profound work your dog receives will be when you use no more than 2 pounds of pressure. Press down to the 2-pound mark on your home scale for practice. Less is always more here!
• Avoid direct pressure on the abdomen, spine or joints. Stay 2 inches off of the spine for a large dog and 1 inch off of the spine for a medium/small dog . Never put direct pressure on your dog’s spine, and never press directly down on a bone or joint. Avoid massaging your dog’s abdomen, even if they have gas or stomach pain. One of the most common side effects of these GI conditions is actually lower back pain, so working along the paraspinals (muscles adjacent to the spine) is far more beneficial and can actually promote pooping.
• Consider where you are offering your session. Avoid chaotic times and busy areas in your house.
• Your mood. This is an essential consideration. Do not work on your dog if you are struggling with anxiety or unable to stay present. For maximum benefit and safety, allow yourself to be grounded during these sessions. You and your dog deserve it!

Types of massage therapy strokes for your dog

Passive touch. In order to understand passive touch, you must know about active touch. Active touch is when your dog seeks touch. This is when they rub themselves against your body or back themselves into your lap. Passive touch is the opposite and occurs when you impose touch on your dog’s body. There is a spectrum to passive touch. Never underestimate the power of passive touch. I consider touch to be the most healing and vital sense we ever know in this life.

Benefits of passive touch include:

• Connecting
• Grounding
• Setting intention: Are you trying to calm and settle your anxious or senior dog, or invigorate your hiking companion?
• Stimulating the lymphatic circulation

Effleurage Strokes. Consider this stroke “petting with intention.” This is your assessment stroke. Effleurage is a gliding, gentle stroke along your dog’s body. Your hands remain in a cupped position with fingers together.

Benefits of effleurage include:

• Assessing for heat, coolness, pain, tension and your dog’s reaction
• Warming up the muscles and tissues
• Increasing blood flow
• Promoting lymphatic circulation

Petrissage Strokes. Consider this stroke your “release” stroke. Once you complete effleurage in an area, you perform petrissage. This is a kneading stroke using your entire hand, including the palm or heel portion of your hand and your fingers or your thumb.

Benefits of petrissage include:

• Increasing blood flow
• Promoting lymphatic circulation
• Releasing tension
• Stretching tissues

To learn more about how to massage your dog, please follow my page and stay tuned for upcoming online course announcements.

Massage is powerful, end of story! After implementing this bodywork in their regular wellness routine, I have witnessed senior dogs, dogs with chronic ailments and healthy dogs enter their days with more happiness, ease and zest. You can provide dog massage at-home using basic massage techniques or you can hire a professional for a more therapeutic session. Either way, your pup will thank you.

It’s not only kids who are being molded by their parents’ ways. Researchers at Oregon State University found that different pet-parenting styles affect the patterns of their dogs’ behavior. We broke down the three different pet-parenting styles addressed in the study and how dogs respond to them.

Authoritative dog owners

Dogs with authoritative owners, who were characterized by high expectations and high responsiveness to their dog’s needs, were the most secure, social and sensitive to social context. They were also more persistent and successful on the problem-solving puzzle task given to them than dogs with authoritarian owners (see below).

The findings suggest that dogs with owners who take the time to understand their dogs’ needs have more confident, socially adaptable and resilient dogs.

Authoritarian dog owners

These dog owners are characterized by high expectations and low responsiveness. Dogs with authoritarian owners were more likely to be insecurely attached to their caretakers compared to dogs in the authoritative parenting style group. These dogs also spent more attempting to move physically closer to their owner, compared to an unfamiliar person in the room.

Permissive dog owners

In a social test, the dogs of permissive owners, who are categorized as having low expectations and low responsiveness, followed social cues from an unfamiliar person, but not their owner. In addition, attentiveness did not affect the dog’s desire to be close to the owner. During the problem-solving challenge, these dogs were less persistent and therefore, less successful, at the puzzle task.

More research on domestic pet behavior

This study on pet parenting styles is one example of the growing effort to study cognition and behavior in domestic pets. During another recent study by Emory University’s Canine Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, researchers recorded the fMRI neural data for two awake, unrestrained dogs as they watched videos in three 30-minute sessions, for a total of 90 minutes. The videos showed common canine occurrences like people talking, fetch games, sniff-worthy scenery and other dogs. Researchers were able to monitor the activity in the dogs’ brains while they were watching the videos and reconstruct what they are seeing from the video. Dogs may be more concerned about the action happening around them than who is doing the action.

These advancements in canine cognition will give us insight into dog behaviors, which ultimately, strengthens the human-animal bond, and makes life more enjoyable for all.

An Aussiedoodle is a hybrid of an Australian Shepherd and a Poodle. Aussiedoodles were first intentionally bred in North America in the late 1990s or early 2000s. Aussiedoodles are extremely intelligent, energetic dogs. They aren’t for couch potatoes, but they can be great for active families who want a companion for long walks, running and hiking. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 13 years.

So, if you want a playful, loyal, athletic dog, an Aussiedoodle can be the right dog for you.

Aussiedoodle personality traits

To understand how to best train an Aussiedoodle, let’s look into the personality traits of the parent dog breeds to get an idea of what the Aussiedoodle temperament can be like.

Australian Shepherds are agile, athletic herding dogs who need a job. They are loyal, bold dogs with a strong work ethic. Aussies can be standoffish with new people at first. If not given appropriate tasks, they can become destructive, territorial and herd anything that moves. They have slightly wavy double coats.

Standard Poodles were originally bred as hunters to retrieve waterfowl. They have thick, curly fur that requires regular clipping and brushing. Poodles are very loyal to their family, friendly with people and dogs and highly intelligent. Very active and agile, they need regular outlets to expend their energy.

Aussiedoodles take on the characteristics of both Poodles and Australian Shepherds, depending on which parent dog breed has the dominant genes.

Aussiedoodle traits can include:

• Extremely intelligent and fast learners
• Agile, athletic with strong work ethic
• Retrievers who love water
• Herders of people and moving objects
• Playful and fun
• Sociable with people and dogs
• Devoted to their pet parents
• Sometimes overly protective and territorial
• Likely to test boundaries

Aussiedoodles require a job and can get bored and destructive without one. They need physical and mental exercise. If you have an Aussiedoodle, make sure to do the following:

• Socialize him to new events, people and dogs
• Take him hiking or running
• Take him on long walks
• Provide enrichment activities such as puzzle toys
• Consider getting involved in rally, obedience, agility, dock diving or field events

How to train an Aussiedoodle

Being as intelligent and driven as they are, it’s crucial that the training is challenging and not boring. If it’s too repetitive, the Aussiedoodle may shut down. Keep the training exercises fun and exciting. Of course, use positive reinforcement. As a baseline, teach the following:

• Attention to name and a “look” cue. His herding and hunting drives will otherwise lead to him being distracted.
• Loose leash walking (“Let’s go” cue). He must learn to not to herd moving objects and people.
• Recall and emergency recall and “Leave it” cue. Because of an Aussiedoodle’s hunting and herding drives, it’s essential that he comes to you no matter what distractions there are, or he may chase and nip at passing joggers, people on bikes and skateboards, fast-moving vehicles and small animals.
• Sit, down and stay. These cues will help with impulse control for the high-driven Aussiedoodle and will help prevent jumping on people (especially for the friendly Poodle side).
• Give or drop cues. Retrieval work means he must readily release his prey.
• “Say hello” cue. This teaches your Aussiedoodle when to be friendly to other people, countering any natural territoriality and helping with impulse control if his naturally friendly poodle genes prevail.
• “Place” and “Settle” cues. Both help with impulse control of the extremely active Aussiedoodle.

All of the above cues are essential for any Aussiedoodle. And a working Aussiedoodle who’s off-leash performing obedience, rally, dock diving or field work must adhere to these cues in any distracting environment or will fail in such pursuits.

Aussiedoodles can be great companions for families who desire an active, fun dog. But you must meet the dog’s needs for him to reach his potential and not engage in unwanted behaviors. You can then look forward to all the adventures you’ll have together. And your friends will probably love him as much as you do!

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately 1 in 4 dogs will, at some stage in their lives, develop a tumor, and almost 50 % of dogs over age 10 will develop cancer. But efforts are underway to help pets improve life quality and expectancy — and help owners cope.

Three organizations helping your dog with cancer:

The Pet Cancer Foundation

The Pet Cancer Foundation officially launched in October 2022 and next year seeks to invest $2.5 million in research for earlier cancer detection in pets, $1 million to research pet-specific cancer treatment options and another $1 million to provide veterinarians with better information to improve the cancer care that pets receive.

For more information, visit petcancerfdn.org.

Canine Cancer: Take C.H.A.R.G.E. (Canine Health and Registry Exchange)

Earlier this year, the Canine Cancer: Take C.H.A.R.G.E. (Canine Health and Registry Exchange) established the first-ever national database of the incidence and prevalence of canine cancer to help target diagnoses and treatment decisions. The information is taken directly from dog owners and vets based on personal experience with canine cancer. The database, overseen by eight leading veterinarians who specialize in canine oncology and surgery, is open to the public and the first-of-its-kind resource that will help guide canine cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions from incidence rates reported on a large scale.

For more information, visit takechargeregistry.com

Wild Blue Dogs

Wild Blue Dogs raises money for Comparative-Oncology, a fast-growing field of cancer research that ties together the study of cancer in dogs and humans. The organization fundraisers through weeklong summer and fall dog camps held on Lake Tahoe in California, where owners and their dogs participate in adventurous and bonding activities, guided by dog trainers and coaches. To donate, you can choose whether your funds go toward canine cancer research or treatments. To learn more, go to wildbluedogs.org.

How important is finding support when your dog has cancer?

A multi-year Gallup survey of U.S. dog owners and a retrospective review of more than 35,000 anonymous canine patient records found that when a dog is diagnosed with cancer, the owner often suffers from depression and anxiety. But, if the owner is able to manage his dog’s cancer treatment side effects well, such as pain, urinary incontinence and diarrhea, his well-being improves.

A dog cancer diagnosis is sad and filled with uncertainty, but utilizing these resources and furthering cancer research and treatments for all dogs, can bring the whole family a level of comfort.

Though the number of animals that end up in local shelters and are reunited with their families varies by community, Best Friends Animal Society surveyed more than 2,000 shelters nationwide and found that in 2021 only 21% of lost dogs got back home.

“It’s terrible. There’s a huge percentage of pets that probably could be returned to their owners that are not getting returned right now,” says Marc Peralta. He is the chief program officer for Best Friends and has run shelters and animal control departments across the country.

Experts say while many well-run, well-meaning databases, social media pages and missing pet websites exist — no centralized, “official” site exists that all shelters, animal welfare agencies and the public use to report lost and found animals nationwide.

“It’s kind of a free for all,” Marc says. “Everybody’s independent. It is ineffective.”

Without a central pet reporting system, your lost dog could be in someone’s home five blocks away or in a nearby community’s shelter and you may not know.

“It definitely is frustrating that there isn’t a system that everyone uses. There is a gap,” says Jessica Simpson, senior public policy specialist from the Humane Society of the United States.

That communication gap could leave you at risk of never seeing your dog again. “We have to find better solutions to make it easy for people to find their pets,” Marc says.

Steps to find a lost dog

Given the disjointed system, if you’re looking for your lost dog, the burden is on you to do all you can to find them. Experts say here’s how:

Call in favors — you’re going to need assistance. Mobilize a small army quickly.

“Get your neighbors, social media friends and other people to help. There are so many things that need to be done it becomes an impossible task for one person to try to do this alone,” says Kat Albrecht-Thiessen, a police officer turned pet detective who runs the Missing Animal Response Network and trains people and dogs to find lost pets.

Look for your dog in their favorite places, like parks, neighbors’ homes or your local store that gives out treats.

If your dog is fearful, don’t sound panicked when you call them, they’ll pick up on that.

“Don’t call their name; instead, sing,” Kat says. “It helps to calm everyone down. The dog is still going to hear you.”

• Try food, cameras and traps

If your dog took off in the woods or a specific neighborhood, put out food and a motion-activated camera. If it captures pictures of your dog, then you know they’re still in the area.

Contact a pet detective team or animal control officer to set up a humane trap to try to catch your dog.

Dogs have remarkable senses of smell, so leave familiar ones for them to find. Put out your dog’s bedding, carrier — or your clothing with your scent.

“We’ve seen a lot of cases where the owner is out there for hours trying to find the dog. It gets dark, they leave and when they come back the next morning, the dog is in the parking lot where they’ve left a crate or blanket,” Kat says.

If your dog ends up in a shelter, you must find them quickly. Some facilities only hold dogs for a limited number of days. If you don’t claim your dog, they could be adopted to a new family or euthanized. “You’ve got to beat the clock,” Jessica says.

Report your lost dog to every veterinary clinic, animal control department, and shelter in your area and surrounding cities or counties. Go to your local shelters every day. Be relentless.

“You’re going to have better success finding your pet if you are driving and checking (the shelters) yourself, and not just filing a lost report and waiting for the universe to do what it’s supposed to,” Marc says.

• Notify your dog’s microchip company

Immediately tell your dog’s microchip registry your dog is lost. Make sure your contact information is up to date in their database. Some companies will help look for your dog.

“They’ll send email notifications to people in the immediate area to highlight the fact that there is a missing animal,” Jessica says.

• Go big with lost dog signs

Don’t post measly flyers. Think big: 2 feet tall and wide, neon-colored poster boards that people can’t miss.

Post them where your dog went missing with only keywords and your phone number.

“Use five words people can read in five seconds when they’re going 55 miles an hour. ‘White poodle. Red collar. Lost.’ Make the letters big,” Kat says.

Kat points to this television show video as an example of how people may see a lost dog flyer, not pay attention to it and even walk right past the missing dog.

• Make your car a mobile billboard

Use washable markers to write your dog’s description on your windows. Add your dog’s picture then drive around.

Did you lose your dog in a newsworthy way? Is your story compelling? Email local media outlets with details and ask them to do a story or share your dog’s information on their website or social media pages.

Post your lost dog on community websites like:

1. NextDoor
2. Craigslist

Use social media and lost and found pet sites like:

1. Pet FBI
2. The Center for Lost Pets
3. Lost Dogs America
4. Petco Love Lost

If someone says they have your dog, ask them to send a picture to prove it. Be cautious if they ask for money, even if you’ve offered a reward.

Repeat the steps above, but instead, search the sites for your dog.

Petco Love Lost allows people to search by location. The site also uses facial recognition to match photos of lost pets with found pets and works with more than 1,800 shelters.

The nonprofit hopes to partner and integrate with other missing pet websites and create that one official, free, central reporting site.

“We are determined to make this work because we know the incredible impact it will make on the lives of pets,” says, president of Petco Love.

Frolicking freely through the open wilderness is every dog’s dream. But it can quickly turn into a nightmare, so safety is top priority. Start off-leash training early, and make sure you know how to teach a dog recall.

Since most public spaces have leash requirements, check for safe spaces for your dog to run free. Vigilant monitoring is also key: Know where he is and what he’s up to, so you avoid mishaps, confrontations and injury. And, definitely train a solid check in and recall to make off leash experiences safe and fun.

When to start off-leash training

Since being off leash is largely about teaching your dog “Recall,” you can start off-leash training at any age. However, first consider whether your dog should be off leash and can safely handle the freedom. Here is what you should look for:

• If your dog is overreactive or aggressive to either humans or other animals, it’s too risky — keep the leash on. Unsure? Err on the side of caution and get your dog rewards-based behavioral help first.
• Dogs with strong prey or scent drive (such as Terriers and Hounds) are not good candidates for off -leash time, since their instincts could likely surpass even the most solid training under truly tempting circumstances.
• Does he know basic cues or is he a wild child oblivious to you and your pleas for better behavior? Get a good grip on basic manners, especially a solid Sit and Down for when, not if, things come up off leash.
• Off-leash dogs should be spayed/neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations and flea and tick treatment and easily identified (microchip or ID tags with current info).

Teach a check-in cue first

Once you’ve decided your dog’s a good candidate for being off leash, teach a solid check in; which is invaluable for off-leash training since it encourages your dog to keep tabs on you.

Teach it:

• Start inside the house first and wait for your dog to look/glance at you (yes, it’s that simple).
• When he does, mark (verbally or with a clicker) and reward generously.
• Repeat several times.
• Once your dog’s rocking that, try other rooms in the house.
• Once he gets the hang of it inside, leash him up and take him outside.
• Work check ins into daily activities, walks etc.; make it a part of your routine.

Check-in cue tips:

• Be patient! DON’T say his name or try to get his attention.
• DON’T reward for every check in after the first few — vary the rewards and give out randomly to keep your dog interested, not expectant.
• There’s no cue for this: it’s voluntary, so reward well and often to make it a habit.

How to teach a dog the recall cue

If you want to train your dog to be off leash, he must have a rock-solid recall. Not mediocre or “he comes most of the time” or “when he wants to.” Commit to teaching your dog to respond consistently and reliably. Lightning-fast recall doesn’t happen lightning fast: it takes work and time.

If the learning history with the word Come is ho-hum or even poisoned (to the dog it predicts something uncool), use a different word such as Here! or Front! or something more fun like Banzai! or Jackpot! or any other word you like. You could even try using a dog whistle in place of a word to teach recall.

Teach it:

• Break out the million-dollar treats; experiment to see what your dog really loves (like cut-up turkey franks or freeze-dried meat treats for dogs).
• Start inside a large room or garage with little-to-no distractions with your dog on leash.
• Stand only a few feet from your dog, say your cue (Here, Front, Jackpot or use a whistle) and immediately sprint a short distance away from your dog.
• Mark as soon as he starts following toward you; treat once he gets to you.
• Immediately pay well with treats. No skimping! Slowly dole out several snacks in 3 to 5 second intervals.
• Slowly increase distance and distractions inside but not both simultaneously!
• Once reliable, venture outdoors with your dog on a long line/leash. Repeat the game (short distance, low distractions first).
• Practice in a variety of environments with various levels of distractions.
• Once he’s consistent and reliable, practice in safe (contained) environments off leash.
• Periodically (10% of the time) clip the leash on your dog when he arrives to you, so he gets used to coming and not bolting as soon as you reward. After a second or two release him to resume his previous activity. Increase the duration of the on-leash time slowly up to 10 seconds or so.
• Work into your daily routine/walks/play time etc. so he becomes consistent and reliable in a variety of situations.

Start small, work tall. If your dog can’t respond to you reliably when distracted by a delivery driver, the neighbor’s dog barking or a squirrel on leash walk, he’s not ready for off-leash time!

Tips:

• DON’T take shortcuts. Practice, practice, practice!
• DON’T increase distances and distractions simultaneously.
• DON’T try to do too much too soon.
• If you lose your dog’s attention, go back to where he was last successful and practice more there.
• Are you using those million-dollar treats? He needs to know coming to you is better than anything else on the planet.
• DON’T repeat your dog’s name or the cue. You need your dog’s attention every time. Back up a step (or eliminate a distraction or decrease distance) and practice more. Use clapping, whistling, clucking your tongue, whatever to get your dog’s attention instead.
• DON’T call your dog for anything he might not like in the beginnings of your training and ruin the rockstar reaction. Cuing your dog needs to predict awesomeness so your dog automatically gets the good feels when he hears it.
• DO practice daily, especially with high level distractions specific to your dog.

A word on e-collars: Don’t use them. Despite the wealth of information regarding the detrimental effects of using them, some trainers and training franchises market a “guaranteed off-leash dog” and a “guaranteed recall” with e-collars. Don’t fall for it. Behavior cannot be guaranteed! Besides, no sense crushing your dog’s trust or spirit.

To leash or not to leash

So where can your dog be legally, and appropriately, off leash? Dog parks and dog beaches are two top choices, or you might try looing on Sniffspot.

Even if there are no posted signs or rules on the books, keep in mind that even with a rockstar recall you have no control over the environment and who — or what — is in it.

Potential uh-ohs when dogs are off leash:

• Vehicles
• Hunters
• Wildlife
• Environmental hazards
• Property owners
• Other dogs
• Liabilities (knocking over a child, senior citizen, disabled person)
• Anyone who doesn’t want to be approached by a strange dog

Very few dogs are truly dog social, just like very few people are 100% cool with every person they meet. Don’t put your dog — or someone else’s — in that situation.

Beware environmental hazards, especially in unfamiliar areas. Scope out the scene first before letting your dog run.

Even if you’re in a designated off-leash area or area you believe is safe for your dog, check out his body language. Is he stressed and less able to respond to you or potential situations that arise? Or is he calm and good to go? Are there too many distractions around that your dog might not be able to manage? Set him up for success.

Still unsure whether to leash up? Dog trainer Jenny Williams created this super helpful flow chart to make decisions a snap.

Taking off-leash training on the trail

Ok, so you’ve taught your dog a solid check-in, you’ve got a rockstar recall, you’ve nailed down a safe spot and you’ve evaluated your dog’s current mood, so you’re ready to hit the trails.

Use your leash

Walk with your dog to gauge his reactions to the environment and his demeanor. If he’s giving you the green light, unclip and proceed, reward check-ins and use your recall. Clip the leash. Walk for a bit, continue to reward check-ins and if all is well, unclip for a bit longer. You get the idea. Watch for potentially unsafe or uncomfortable situations (for you, your dog or for others) and help your dog navigate the freedom.

Behavior isn’t guaranteed. Dogs aren’t robots and they, like us, don’t always make the best decisions. Even with the best training it’s possible your dog will make a decision you’d have preferred he didn’t and next thing you know you’re going viral for an off-leash mishap. And everyone appreciates a responsible pet guardian who keeps her dog from acting willy-nilly or invading someone else’s space. All system’s go? Be safe and have fun!

Deafness and age-related hearing loss in dogs (presbycusis) is common. While we don’t have exact figures, most experienced veterinarians will tell you the majority of dogs over age 10 appear to develop some hearing deficiency as they grow older. In fact, many veterinarians say age-related deafness is one of the more common geriatric changes in dogs.

The most common symptoms of hearing loss and deafness in dogs are

• decreased response to voice or clicker commands
• startles easily (especially after sleeping)
• difficulty to awaken
• inability to locate or track sounds
• disorientation and inattention

Young dogs with hearing deficits may be more vocal and play more aggressively.

Hearing loss in dogs from chronic ear infections

In dogs with chronic ear infections, head shaking, scratching and rubbing the ears, ear discharge, redness and swelling and head tilt or stumbling may be observed.

Chronic ear infections are perhaps the most common cause of hearing loss in older dogs. Many dogs suffer from persistent, even lifelong, otitis externa and media (outer and middle ear infections), that eventually cause permanent damage to the anatomical structures that enhance hearing. We speculate that this type of acquired hearing loss may be similar to human age-related hearing loss, with gradual decline in sensitivities to frequencies and volume over time.

Hearing loss in dogs inherited condition

Canine hearing loss is often an inherited condition, perhaps a close runner-up to complications of chronic ear infections. In many dogs, congenital deafness may be related to coat color (pigment-associated deafness), specifically the dominant merle or dapple color genes. Often associated with color-associated deafness are breeds such as:

• Collies
• Dachshunds
• Great Danes
• Shetland Sheepdogs

Studies have shown almost 5% of merle dogs were deaf in one or both ears.

Australian Shepherds and other breeds have been documented to suffer from “white hair deafness.” In fact, white coloration on and around the ear is associated with deafness in many breeds of dog, although this trait is not a guarantee of hearing loss.

Other breeds reported to have a higher incidence of deafness include:

• Dalmatians
• Russell Terriers (commonly referred to as Jack Russel Terriers)
• Australian Cattle Dogs
• Bull Terriers
• English Setters

Note that any dog can have congenital deafness, and the researchers have identified at least 104 breeds with inherited deafness. It is a common myth that dogs with two different eye colors (heterochromia) have a higher incidence of deafness, but research shows that is not the case.

Dog dysfunction syndrome

In any dog experiencing symptoms consistent with hearing loss, lack of attention or motivation, lethargy or loss of training (including housetraining), we next need to assess her cognitive abilities. Over the years I’ve been fooled by cognitive decline in a variety of cases, and I’ve learned to rule out the big diseases first and then carefully analyze a declining dog’s mental status.

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) in dogs affects approximately 14% to 35% of all dogs, and strikes most commonly over age 9. Spayed females are more commonly diagnosed with CDS, and the condition seems to progress faster in neutered males, suggesting certain hormones may also be involved.

The clinical signs of CDS can be similar to those of hearing loss, making an accurate diagnosis more challenging, but even more important in terms of prognosis. CDS often progresses until a dog is unable to function normally and her quality of life is severely compromised, while hearing loss can be accommodated with simple lifestyle and environmental changes.

My checklist for common CDS symptoms:

1. Noticed any aimless wandering, staring into space or general confusion?
2. Loss of housetraining, particularly simultaneous inappropriate urination and defecation?
3. Sleeping and waking at unusual times?
4. Irritability, decreased interaction or withdrawal?
5. Failure to respond to known commands or vocal cues, even when you’re certain she hears you?
6. Loss of appetite?
7. Excessive or unusual vocalization?

To definitively diagnose hearing loss in dogs,  your dog needs to be referred to a specialist for a brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAER) evaluation. This test looks for brain response when sounds are played.

Are there hearing aids for dogs?

Although hearing aids have been developed in the past for dogs suffering from age-related hearing loss, the reality is none of these devices are economical or practical. Years ago, researchers tried to develop hearing aids that could be worn in the ears and anchored to their collars, but found few dogs tolerated them well. Other researchers tried to anchor the hearing aids in bone, but that also turned out poorly. While cochlear implants are feasible, there haven’t been any developed for dogs. If possible, experts estimate a canine cochlear ear implant would cost about $25,000 to $35,000.

How to help a dog with hearing loss

For dogs with hearing loss or deafness, lifestyle and environmental accommodations are the best treatment. Affected dogs can be taught hand-signal commands. In addition, many dogs become highly sensitive to vibrations and can be trained to respond to tapping the floor or other resonant objects.

Dogs with hearing loss also seem to focus on facial expressions and gestures to gain clues on what you’re saying. Maintaining eye contact is an essential key to communication.

I’ve also had success with trying different types of whistles (high- and low-frequencies), increasing your volume when issuing commands (“CHEESE!”), and even responding to flashlights. I once had a client train her dog to different colors of lights (red was food, green was walk and blue was “come here”).

If you have a dog who has hearing loss, follow these tips:

1. Keep away from traffic or other potentially dangerous situations where the inability to hear a threat could be harmful.
2. Fenced yards, leash walks and play with known dogs and people is important to keep them safe.
3. I’m also a fan of placing a “medical alert” collar tag identifying your dog as being deaf.
4. Some dog owners place a bell on their pet’s collar to help find them when they can no longer respond to “Come here! Cheese!”