Tuesday, May 31, 2011

LET'S CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF TWO NEW CP FAMILY MEMBERS!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Yesterday two Cairns found their freedom thanks to Col. Potter! They've never had a chance to enjoy the things our resident furkids take for granted, but that's all about to change! They will now receive the medical attention they need to address ongoing conditions and they will receive the love and attention to change those scared, wild eyes into soft, loving ones.

As we celebrate this Memorial Day, let's give thanks to all the veterans who gave their lives for this great country and give us our freedom every day. I would also like to thank the volunteers and supporters of Col. Potter who work so hard to support the rescue efforts and make freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif available to these little furkids we all love so much.

In celebration of two have crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge, I am honored to introduce:

Sister: Female, born 5/15/03. Wheaten with crumpled black ears. Her name was donated by Kris B. whose friend loved her cat, Sister, for more than 20 years.




BenBen: Wheaten male, born 4/7/09. BenBen's name was donated by Denise H. in honor of her Benny (CP's Martin) who went to the RB in June, 2010.



Let us all take a moment to remember and thank those that helped make freedom possible for all ...

Eraser toasts the holiday

Eraser and the rest of Inwood would like to send our best holiday wishes out to
everyone,remember the reason we celebrate this day and between the ballgames andhotdogs to give thanks to those who gave all for us and this country and the
freedom we all enjoy, and a special oooouuuuuuurrraahhhhhhh to the 2nd marinedivision at camp LeJeune NC

Monday, May 30, 2011

Do you need to go to the emergency vet or can you wait to see your regular vet?

Contributed by a CP Volunteer

the following article actually covers some topics that we've had questions about

Bandage


Most emergency situations are obvious: trauma from being hit by a car, bleeding, collapse, bloat, inability to urinate, seizures, vomiting blood, etc. But there are numerous situations that you can either treat at home or wait until the following business day when you can make an appointment with your vet. However, if the situation changes or if the pet develops more signs or worsens, it is time to go to the ER.

Here are some of those non-emergency situations:

Lumps and bumps - If you are petting your dog and feel a lump that you haven't noticed before, you don't need to immediately go to the veterinarian. If it isn't bothering the pet, you can wait and see if it gets larger. Contact your vet the following day so it can be noted in your dog's record. If the lump grows or changes, diagnosis may require bloodwork, biopsy and/or x-rays. If the lump turns out to be benign costs can range around $300 to $500. If it is not benign, treatment can be over $1,000.

Breath smells bad and some teeth are loose or falling out - As long as your dog is still eating and drinking, you can wait to contact your veterinarian to make an appointment to have his mouth examined and get his teeth cleaned. If you don't have pet insurance, be prepared. Dental cleaning, anesthesia, x-rays and medication can be around $500.

Small tongue or mouth laceration - Most people notice this when the saliva looks pink tinged or the water in their dog's water bowl is pink. The majority of wounds in the mouth heal quickly. If there is no active bleeding and your dog can eat and drink, you can wait. Put some ice cubes in the water. Cold can help constrict blood vessels therefore reduce bleeding.

Dirty, smelly ears - Typically this can wait. Even if your dog is shaking his head a little. Clean the outside part of the ear with a cotton ball or Q-tip but do not insert a Q-tip into the ear. If there is an infection, Q-tips can hurt. Avoid using any medication until you speak to your veterinarian. Treatment for ear problems typically costs $200 to $250 for ear swabs, cultures, cleaning and medication.

Toenail torn or bleeding - If your dog will let you, try to examine the nail closely. Sometimes the nail tip has fallen off or just needs to be slightly pulled. Place a bandage around the foot, covering the nail and contact your veterinarian the following day.

Hopefully, this information can help you to make the decision about what to do for your dog.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Introducing Carmichael

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



Little Carmichael was found sitting near a busy intersection in a large southern city by a guardian angel. His angel had no problems getting him to come to her. Fortunately, this angel works at an animal hospital and took him there for a microchip scan, exam and boarding. Because of the microchip, they were able to locate the owner only to find out he had been missing for over a month and the owner couldn't take him back. The owner asked the vet to find Carmichael a new home. So they contacted Col Potter for help.

Carmichael is estimated to be 7-8 years old, described as friendly and very mild-mannered. He’ll be heading to his foster home tomorrow and I’m betting it won’t be long until he has a forever home.

Welcome little guy!

Sunday Sweets

Sunday is full of SWEETS! Each week we will showcase the sweeter side of Cairns. If you have a sweet filled cairn and would like us to consider YOUR picture for an upcoming "Sunday Sweets" send it to us at cpcrnblog@gmail.com! (All photo submissions become the property of CPCRN and may be used for fundraising, promotion and/or outreach purposes.)

Rocky

Kasey

Gem & Abbie

Cozi

Chloe

Saturday, May 28, 2011

PLEASE WELCOME A NEW MAN TO THE CP FAMILY!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes



FREEDOM! There are different forms of freedom. There's the freedom when someone escapes an oppressive situation. There's the freedom when someone is released from their ailing human body and their spirit is set free. Both of these forms of freedom form the background for our newest member of the CP family. He is currently getting a taste of his first day of freedom with loving hands touching him, good food to eat, fresh water to drink, a bath for probably the first time in his life and the comfort and security of being inside and safe. He also has the protection from a very special spirit, a guardian angel.

Please help me welcome the new man in the CP family, Uncle Jack.

Uncle Jack is a male, he's estimated 5 years old and is black brindle. He so wants to trust a human and comes right to the front of his kennel at the vet, but if you enter his kennel, he runs to a corner and cowers. Uncle Jack was a donated name by the Intakes Team in memory of Curt and Marsha S's Uncle Jack who passed away earlier this year. Uncle Jack was a lover of dog's and we know Curt and Marsha's furkids who have gone to the RB, Sid and AJ, are riding around on the golf cart with Uncle Jack right now.

Uncle Jack, I know you're going to learn to love FREEDOM!

The Considerate Canine: Barking - Post 2

Lowcountry Dog Magazine

by cindy carter on Monday, May 23rd, 2011 at 11:55pm | filed in The Considerate Canine Training


The Problem: My Pug Sugar barks at any sound outside. How can we get her to hush when we command her to?

The Solution:

Barking is a tough behavior to get under control, after all, dogs do bark. It is also a very self-rewarding behavior: she barks at a passing dog and the dog goes away, or she barks at a noise and you pay attention to her. Continually telling her to hush or shouting is really perceived as attention, therefore encouraging her to bark even more. Barking, like any behavior, only gets stronger if allowed to continue or is rewarded.

Your first goal is to truly define the trigger and manage the situation. Is she actually barking at a noise or is she seeing something that alerts her, priming her to bark? Does she bark at specific times of day, when lots of people and dogs are on the street or the garbage trucks are making their rounds?

If she is responding to visual stimulation, block her view of the street by closing curtains, or moving furniture to deny her access to vantage spots where she can see outside. When you are away, leave a radio or television on to help mask the outside noise, hide stuffed Kongs or other treats around the house to keep her busy.

Make sure that she is getting plenty of exercise. If necessary hire a dog walker to get her out during the day, so she is getting plenty of physical and mental stimulation.

Now for training.

Teach yourself to notice when she is being quiet and reward he
r, after all this is what you want. You can praise her or give her a tiny treat, just be consistent in letting her know when she gets it right. If there are other people in the house, get them on board, the more consistent you are the easier it will be.

Pay attention to her
. When you are with Sugar, practice calling her away from what she is barking at and reward her for a different behavior: coming when called, sit, down, etc. Therefore, she is engaging with you and not the other thing.

If Sugar is barking so much she barely pauses to catch a breath, do something to momentarily distract her: clap you hands, lightly stamp your foot, or make some kind of mild distracting noise. For this to work, you need to be close to her, so you can reward her quickly. Mark the instant she stops barking with a clicker or yes, then give her a treat for being quiet. At first, you may only get a second or two, but the more you practice this, the longer you can stretch the interval of quiet.

You could also teach a variation on the Control Unleashed exercise of Look at That -- into Did you hear that? You would actually cue her to notice the noise and immediately turn her attention to you for a reward.

In this situation, the noise actually becomes the environmental cue to pay attention to and interact with you.

Regardless of the method that you choose. Be consistent, set her up for rewardable successes, make sure to reward even the smallest correct response and be patient. The problem didn’t develop overnight and will not be corrected in a few days.

Happy and quiet training!

If you have a question for Cindy Carter of Mindful Manners Dog Training, email your question to leah@lowcountrydog.com using the subject line: The Considerate Canine.

Cindy Carter has been training dogs in the Charleston area for the past 4 years, the last year as owner of Mindful Manners Dog Training. Cindy is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, CGC evaluator for the AKC, and member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has written articles for local publications and been featured in several publications focusing on local business owners.

As the owner of two dogs with “issues” she is uniquely qualified to help owners develop and implement management and training plans. She brings commitment and empathy to owners struggling to help their dogs have better lives.

For more information about our training programs visit us at www.mindfulmanners.net

Friday, May 27, 2011

Eraser's science program

Written by CP foster Eraser


all the scientists and learned people in inwood have been assembled today tohelp fight a scurge on our city, i can just come right out and say it , fosterdaddy stepped in poopy again today then spent 10 minutes wiping and dancing inthe grass and washing with the hose. i mayor Eraser will not let this happenagain , our science team will find a way to give an alarm before daddies footsteps on the foul deed, we believe we can even have a dvd player installed init. no expence will be spared as long as it isnt over a dollar.now back to ourregular programming.


Eraser and Cindy U. are being fostered in Pennsylvania and you can learn more about them and the other cairns available for adoption by clicking here.

Friday's Funnies

Raising Duncan

by Chris Browne

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Col. Potter to the rescue in Joplin

Contributed by a CP Volunteer

Col. Potter gets many of our rescues out of commercial breeding facilities. A lot of those are in the Joplin area and we have a vet there that we use regularly. That vet stores crates, etc. for us. After the tornado we called to find out that the other 2 clinics in town were demolished leaving him the only one open. He was taking in tons of animals and working like he never worked before to help the injured animals. He had used Col. Potter crates and hoped it was OK. Of course it was.

Col. Potter is an organization with heart. During and after Katrina we helped in all sorts of way. The same with Hurricane Rita. And now, just as with Katrina and Rita, unasked help just sprung up.

Below is a post from one of our wonderful volunteer husband and wife teams who live in IA and decided to go to Joplin to drop off supplies. BTW they had just finished an almost 1300 mile transport last weekend with the husband just getting his leg out of a cast. But, if help is needed, someone in CP always finds the time and energy to help.

Col. Potter was founded ten years ago to rescue Cairn Terriers. To my personal and certain knowledge during these years the Col. has rescued not only Cairns but numerous other breeds of dog as well as several cats. There are also more than one or two people who have been given a helping hand as well.

Tonight we packed our car.

Col. Potter volunteer getting packed

Have to pack the back seat too

We have donations from friends, family and strangers. We have Col. Potter's crates and beds and grooming supplies and just about anything that we could think of and at the last moment our son Adam, who was helping us pack the car, reached up onto the garage wall and lifted down the carefully furled and stored American flag and said

"Mom, you just donated Old Glory"

Almost ready to close the hatch - Old Glory inside

What a fitting addition to our trip.

We will be on our way before first light. Wish us luck folks....


They left about 6:30AM IA time yesterday. About 3PM they reached the vet clinic. It was organized chaos. They unpacked their car and were back on the road to IA about 3:30. In a way very characteristic of CP they waited for no personal accolades or the like. Unpack and go. And they are on their way home to wait until they are needed again. (Of course they are constant fosters and do all sorts of other things for CP but never hesitate to jump in and go to where help is needed.)



The Considerate Canine: Barking - Post 1

Lowcountry Dog Magazine
by cindy carter filed in The Considerate Canine Training


The Problem:

Our 1 year old springer/flat coat mix barks at the neighbors' dogs when he is out and they are out. We couldn't really socialize him much as a pup because he was so sick. How can I train him to live peacefully with the neighbors? Our beagle is fine with the other dogs. Thanks!

The Solution:

This is a tough situation and one that plagues many of us. There are many reasons that your dog may be barking at the neighbor dogs: frustration, fear, excitement or territorial guarding to name a few. Regardless of the reason it can create problems with the neighbors, stress for yourself and encourage your other dog to join in. In some cases it can become dangerous if the dogs are able to reach each other through the fence.

The first step is management.

1) Do you leave your dog unattended in the yard? If so, stop. Let him out only when you are in the yard with him. Unattended dogs frequently spiral into relentless barking, a very self rewarding behavior. The more he practices barking, the more he barks, and then all the other dogs start to join the party! What could be more exciting from a dogs point of view?

2.) Try to meet with your neighbors, explain the situation and let them know you are working to change your dogs behavior. Regardless of the outcome it may go a long way in preventing complaints and you may be able to get some help from them while working with the dog.

Exercise.


A dog left to his own devices in the yard is not exercising himself, mentally or physically. Yes, he may run around for a few minutes, but it isn’t the same as a long walk or run. If he is running around barking, he may be just getting himself more anxious and over stimulated. Mental stimulation can be in the form of “work for food” toys: a stuffed Kong or food dispensing toy such as Busy Buddy makes him “earn” his meal. Also high on the list of mental stimulation is training: basic obedience, tricks, or a dog sport requires him to use his mind.

It is an old saying but so true -- a tired dog is a good dog.

Training.

Teach your dog to respond to his name. We all assume that our dogs know their names and maybe he does under normal conditions. But running a fence line is anything but normal, he is in a highly aroused and emotionally charged situation. Begin teaching him to attend to you when he hears his name. Start in a low distraction environment, somewhere in the house where you can control things. Show him a treat and toss it a short distance away - when he starts to lift his head from the treat, call his name. The instant that you see his head begin to shift towards you, mark that behavior with a “yes” and toss another treat. Be sure that you are getting enough distance so that he has to turn his head to look at you. Do not wait for eye contact, you want to mark the instant he shifts his attention. Practice this in all kind of places: the kitchen, the driveway (with him safely on leash), in the backyard without the distraction of the other dogs.

Leave it: Teach him to walk away from something he wants in order to get something even better. As with all training you will do this in small steps. Begin with a treat in your hand, say leave it and close your hand over the treat as he tries to take it. Hold your hand still, opening it as he moves his head slightly away. The instant that he shifts his head away from your open hand, say yes and present him with a different treat, he never gets the bait. Gradually begin to teach this in harder locations and with “real” life items.

Come when called: This is a vital cue for all dogs, whether they are barking at the neighbors or off leash at the dog park. The first rule for teaching come is to NEVER call your dog to come if you aren’t prepared to go and get him if he doesn’t respond. Second rule, NEVER call your dog to come for something that he finds aversive, be it a bath or going into this crate.

a) Once again start in a low distraction area. Call his name and say “come” in a very happy voice. When he starts towards you, encourage him to hurry by clapping your hands, telling him to hurry or dashing off in the other direction. When he reaches you, touch his collar and give him yummy treats.

b) If possible, have someone help you. They can lightly restrain the dog while you get him very excited. Call his name, say come and encourage him to dash to you, reward immediately upon arrival. Then you hold his collar while the other person calls him back. Pretty soon you’ll have a dog that dashes back and forth between the two of you.

Reward hush: It is always tempting to yell at the dog to hush while he is barking. But that must seem as if we are joining the party, the more we yell the louder he barks. Instead reward your dog for being quiet. Wait until he is quiet for a few seconds, say “hush” and pop a treat into his mouth. The more you work on this the longer you can wait between the last bark and the “hush” cue and reward. You are not only rewarding no barking but calm behavior. This does not happen over night, it is a long process but worth working on.

If you are lucky, your neighbor may be willing to give you a hand in the training department. Have all dogs on leash for this. The rule of thumb: the leash is only to keep the dog from leaving you, DO NOT use the leash to correct the behavior. Have your neighbor stand with his dog some distance from the fence and remain still and quiet. You will have your dog in your yard at a distance where he is comfortable, able to see the other dog without barking or lunging. With lots of yummy treats you’ll have him notice the neighbor and feed while he is calm. If he barks or lunges, you are too close, walk away and start further away. Always work at a distance which allows your dog to remain calm. Reward him for seeing the other dog, remaining calm and then walk him away. Repeat as often as possible, always working where the dog can be calm. Use short training sessions instead of one long, exhausting session where everyone becomes anxious.

Remove your dog. If your dog wants to be outside more than anything, bring him inside when he starts to bark. Let him drag a short traffic lead around, 12” or so is good, that is short enough to not get caught on something but long enough for you to pick up. DO NOT let him drag a line unsupervised. When he barks, be calm and just go get him: don’t call him to come or lecture him about his bad behavior; simply walk up to him, catch his lead and take him inside. He stays inside until he is calm, not barking and able to respond to some simple cues such as sit or down. Then out he goes.

Expose him to more dogs. Make sure that all of his encounters are positive. He does not have to meet the dogs, just see them and remain calm in their presence.

I wish there was a quick fix for this and all problems concerning our companion dogs. Unfortunately that isn’t the case. No one can fix this over night. Instead develop a plan and stick to it.

If the problem continues or gets worse, consider working with a trainer to help you implement a training plan and behavior modification program.

Happy Training!

If you have a question for Cindy Carter of Mindful Manners Dog Training, email your question to leah@lowcountrydog.com using the subject line: The Considerate Canine.

Cindy Carter has been training dogs in the Charleston area for the past 4 years, the last year as owner of Mindful Manners Dog Training. Cindy is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, CGC evaluator for the AKC, and member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has written articles for local publications and been featured in several publications focusing on local business owners.

As the owner of two dogs with “issues” she is uniquely qualified to help owners develop and implement management and training plans. She brings commitment and empathy to owners struggling to help their dogs have better lives.

For more information about our training programs visit us at www.mindfulmanners.net

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

WELCOME THE TROPICAL FLOWERS TO CP!

Written by CP's VP of Intakes

Most of your Tropical Flowers are a little tougher, a little stronger and their blooms last a little longer than many other flowers. They tend to have a waxy coating and appear in vivid, stunning colors.

Recently, three little girls made their way to Col. Potter that could most definitely fit the description of Tropical Flowers. They have found freedom for the first time in their lives and it certainly took strength and toughness for them to survive to this point. They now get the chance to blossom and bloom into the beautiful Tropical Flowers they were named for.


Lotus - born 3/17/03, dark wheaten brindle





Orchid - born 6/13/02, gray brindle with black markings





Plumeria - born 6/13/02, black brindle




Many people only want to consider the younger furkids. These Tropical Flowers have had to sacrifice their early years through no fault of their own. Now, they are ready to make up for lost time and really show you how they can become the most gorgeous Tropical Flower in anyone's home. Please consider opening your home to a furkid in need - BECOME A FOSTER HOME. Without our foster homes, these Tropical Flowers would have withered and died without ever knowing freedom and how truly beautiful life can be.

Please help me Welcome the Tropical Flowers - may their blooms last a lifetime!

Wacky Wednesday!


Wednesday is the day to be WACKY! Each week we will showcase a terrierific cairn picture with an appropriate caption. If you have a terrierific cairn and would like us to consider YOUR picture and caption for an upcoming "Wacky Wednesday" send it to us at cpcrnblog@gmail.com! (All photo submissions become the property of CPCRN and may be used for fundraising, promotion and/or outreach purposes.)

A big shout out to Missy for being our Wacky Wednesday model this week!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Introducing Paget

Written by a CP Intakes volunteer



This adorable little guy was found on the streets by an animal control officer and taken to the shelter. His owners were found, and promised to claim him, but they never showed. The shelter called Col. Potter as Paget had been at the shelter for weeks and his time was running out.

CP arranged for someone to fetch him from the shelter and take him to a vet. Paget is estimated to be 3-4 years old. Not much more was known about him, but he’s proven to be an adorable, funny little guy who has won the hearts of everyone at the vet’s office.

Let’s all give a warm CP welcome to our newest intake!

What started the war with the squirrels

Contributed by a CP Volunteer

some of you know I taught history so I found this very enlightening as to why my furkid hated squirrels and Barney especially hated squirrels.... and as far as he was concerned this never stopped and was unending reality.... only it was pine cone seeds in our case.... and then the 'eaten' cones were thrown at the kids from the roofs of the storage sheds

Monday, May 23, 2011

Ask the Trainer: Muddy Paw Woes

Lowcountry Dog Magazine


by Susan Marett on Monday, May 16th, 2011 at 11:55pm filed in Ask the Trainer Training


The Problem: I have a 5 month old Irish Wolfhound named Remus and 3 young children (2-6). Remus gets up and has a run in the yard before my daughter goes to school but the bad thing is that he likes to stand up and put his paws on us when we come out in the morning. We end up taking my daughter back in to change her muddy paw print clothes. He gets LOTS of attention and is always around us. Is there any way I can stop him from pawing us constantly? I really dont mind it, but one day he will be almost as tall as me on all fours so it might be a good idea to teach him not to "climb" the kids. He can already reach my shoulders with his front paws!

The Solution:

One solution for school mornings would be to leash walk him before she's dressed. He then won't be muddy or overexcited from running in the yard. When he's finished with his walk, use a tether in the house so that he is prevented from jumping. A good place to use a tether would be in the kitchen secured to a sturdy place or doorknob. Ask for a sit, then pet him only when all four feet are on the floor. If he jumps, your daughter can step back slightly and wait until he is grounded and sitting. A good resource for tethers is www.pettethers.com/.

A good way to teach polite behavior to puppies is to ignore unwanted attention-seeking behaviors like pawing, and only reinforce polite behavior such as all four feet on the ground. Having Remus sit for all rewards and petting would help to teach him good manners.

If you have a question for Susan Marett of Purely Positive Dog Training, email your question to leah@lowcountrydog.com using the subject line: Ask A Trainer.

Susan Marett has 14 years of full time dog training experience. She has appeared on local radio show Pet Docs, the South Carolina Public Radio Business Review, and local TV Channels 4 and 5 to present training methods and answer questions on dog behavior. Susan has also authored numerous articles for local publications on training and behavioral issues, and spoken to Charleston area shelter and veterinary staff on behavioral problems.

Susan is also a Canine Good Citizenship Evaluator for the American Kennel Club and a trainer mentor for Animal Behavior College. Her dogs have titled in Agility and Rally Obedience, and earned Therapy Dog Certifications. Susan is an Honors College graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Film.

Learn more at www.purelypositive.com

Eraser manages the 'end of the world'

DATELINE INWOOD



its past 6pm so someone find the cat and call to have the paper started again
cause i hate to miss the sunday funnies, eraser mayor of inwood

Special End of The World Orders by Eraser, mayor of Inwood

because the end of the world is 5/21/11 as reported on the news today, the mayors office is asking that the last person out of the city hall turn off the lights and let the cat out, please call the paper girl and stop the newspaper, office of the mayor

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Life with Hazel

Written by Hazel's foster mom



Hazel has perfected the balance beam in her quest for the ever elusive chipmunk(s) Here's the set-up. I had a small section of fence that divides the side part of the yard (with the shed) from the main part. This is rather handy since I can close off that section when I am getting the mower out, etc. so I didn't have them remove it when they put up the BIG fence. I have so much brush from my trees that there are piles on either side of the fence. That doesn't stop Miss Hazel - She has figured out how to jump up there and patrol the area. In addition to the brush piles, the chipmunk goes regularly under the shed (several Hazel dug holes there) and in the shed (she ALMOST got him in the bottom of the wood pile)

So this weekend we had chipmunk sightings or soundings first under the screened in porch. She started digging and wacking her paws against the lattice to try and get under there. So I grab a big piece of fencing and spend about a half hour tying it up against the lattice so she can't get under the porch. FOILED!

Then he is heard in the downspout of my gutters on the other side yard.I heard him too so she wasn't dreaming. Grabbed her and her Mom and took them in - then I came and rapped on the spout to get the little critter OUT of there! Back out they came to worry at it some more. Hazel pulled off the part of the gutter that comes unhitched and dragged it into the middle of the yard to discover it was empty. I think I put it back on 3 times after she kept pulling it off. In order to make sure she didn't destroy my downspout, I found MORE fencing and managed to get the whole thing fenced in. She patiently sat beside this fencing for most of Saturday and early Sunday until she figured out he must have left.

She's 10 years old and she's making ME 100 YEARS OLD!!! What a Cairn........ Good thing it was a nice weekend - if it had been raining,I would have been cursing.

Hazel is being fostered in Vermont. If you would like to learn more about her, please click here.

Sunday Sweets

Sunday is full of SWEETS! Each week we will showcase the sweeter side of Cairns. If you have a sweet filled cairn and would like us to consider YOUR picture for an upcoming "Sunday Sweets" send it to us at cpcrnblog@gmail.com! (All photo submissions become the property of CPCRN and may be used for fundraising, promotion and/or outreach purposes.)

Zander

Tess

Logan Taylor

Duke

Amtrak & Joey

Cagney

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Taming the Wild Side Taming Tip

Contributed by Terri Elkins, Owner / Trainer -




Note from from CP Blogger: We would like to thank Terri Elkins for allowing us to post her weekly taming tips on our blog. Her training facility is located in Fort Worth, Texas.


Each week we'll share a Taming Tip for you, your family and friends to do with your dog(s)! These tips will help teach your dog real world manners in a fun way. Leave us a comment and tell us how it went!

Taming Tip #12:

Help your dog be polite and friendly this week! Stand or sit in front of your dog and hold your hand towards his nose as if giving a treat, when your dog's nose touches your hand to investigate, say "hello" then click and treat! Put your hand behind your back and repeat. Everytime your dog's nose touches your hand, give him a reward and cue "hello". Practice with friends and family members. After your dog sits and says "hello" he can have a treat and be petted!! Have fun!!


Please click here to visit their blog.

Stomach Obstructions in our furkids

Written by a CP foster mom and volunteer

I hope I am not misspeaking here as I am not a vet or any other type of doctor but I just feel so bad for Celeste, who lost her Indy, and Deb, who almost lost Bows tonight, so I thought I would share some of the tips that I have learned in dealing with a dog who has or may have an obstruction.


Just a little history, I adopted Ellie in 2007 from CP and she lived with us for 18 months. She had a bladder infection and stopped eating all of a sudden after being on the antibiotics for a day. I took her back to the vet after she had vomited twice and the second time, the food was undigested. Unfortunately, she had a tumor right at the beginning of her stomach and I lost her that day as she would have never been able to eat again.

So two years later, I get Jenner, my foster, who is a ball of energy. I often think he has ADHD because he is just so hyper! I had him for about six months and one day he was his hyper self and the next day he started vomiting. He ate his dinner, but vomited about 3 hours later. The next morning, I fed him again, this time, 12 hours later, he vomits and the food is still undigested. I knew then that I was dealing with another Ellie situation and I got him to the vet. That was his first surgery and he had a rubber foot from a toy stuck in the back of his stomach. A year later, again, he was playing hard one day and the next day he was sick. This time we almost lost him and I had to move him to an emergency overnight vet so he could be watched 24 hours. This time it was a plastic piece of a ball that he had chewed off and swallowed and it was again blocking his intestine. His last surgery came a short three months later when he swallowed a large hair tieback. In this surgery, he lost 6 inches of intestine and became painfully thin. I swore that I was going to have him moved and never take another foster again, this dog was killing ME along with himself...

Well, it's been almost a year and he is doing very well. He has put on quite a few pounds and is a healthy 14 pounds and although I still have to watch him like a hawk, every day, he is doing great with the drop it command and now hunts things down to take out to the kitchen to the treat jar. He is not a dumb dog.... He has swallowed socks (I have to stop buying the small ones!) and I have made him throw them back up. I buy a 12 pack of peroxide so that I always have fresh stuff and it has been quite a while since he has swallowed one, I am now just looking for things to trick him into eating the peroxide now.

So here are my lessons learned from dealing with Jenner, the sweet loving..cairngoat..

1.) If you have fed them and they vomit after a couple of hours and the food is undigested, you could be dealing with an obstruction. Like I said, it was a couple of times that I actually fed him and then he would vomit and after 12 hours that the food was undigested, I knew he was in trouble.

2.) He usually drinks alot of water when he is blocked. At one point, he drank the whole large bowl of water before I thought about what he was doing. He then went outside and got sick again and wanted more water. He was very dehydrated and that was less than 24 hours into him feeling punky. I have now been taught how to give him IV fluids here at the house to save on the costs of the vet visit until we can see if he can pass the object himself. I was told to not let him drink lots of water for the obvious reasons as above, it makes him throw up but give them a little water every hour.

3.) The biggest sign we have with Jenner is the fact that he doesn't leave my side when he's sick. He doesn't bark at the cars that go by, he follows me and lays by me all the time. Then we know that we keep a watchful eye on him and watch his progression as he is not doing so well.

4.) When he is feeling punky, we have also started giving him the food the doctor gives him, which is just Science diet (I can't think of what's it's called) but just a teaspoon with lots of water, mostly water actually, about every two hours. Even if they have just a stomach bug, that is what I give him and it works really well.

5.) One of the simplest signs for Jenner is that his nose gets warm and dry and usually its very wet, then I know he feeling ill

Well, I think I have covered it all and I again I don't know everything, none of this is scientific, just what I have learned. You should always talk to your vets, but if we can help our furkids along the way to feeling better before we get them to the vet, it's more kisses for us! ;)

Again, I am so sorry for everyone's loss and feel free to ask me about Jenner anytime! I am still working on bringing out his positive sides to find him the perfect home, but for the time being, he is just fine with us, making me crazy, but making me one hell of a foster mom...

Friday, May 20, 2011

Chicken in every pot and a Cairn in every garage



Deer Mayor Eraser
Will you be taking your campain on the trail (so to speek). We wood lob to hab you come and speek in our State - maybee you shud be runnin for Bice President instead ob Mayor!! Da world need to hab a Man Corn Dog in a posishun of Power!! Pleese lets us no if you are comin fru WesBirginya - wee will meet you atta trane stashun

The Dixon Kidz - Diva, Maxx, Ozzie, Patches, Rosie and Leroy an our Mam Sydney

Eraser Says:
If reelected i will form a comittee to study the problem of murder and mayhem of the minorities, as you know in my last term how good the no cairn left behimd program worked, and i know with enough funding we can end this scurge of pink chickens and blue squirells green shoes and etc sitting around thinking they can just squeek and rattle with unabated abandon with out getting their aasss chewed off,remember a vote for me is a vote for freedom

Eraser and Cindy U. are being fostered in Pennsylvania and you can learn more about him and the other cairns available for adoption by clicking here.

Friday Funnies

Raising Duncan

by Chris Browne

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Dog returns home after storm with two broken legs

Myfoxal.com



BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -
Amazing stories of survival from the April 27th tornadoes don't just include people. There are some amazing 4-legged tales of endurance being told including the story of one dog who just returned home yesterday. He is clearly battered, but alive.

Mason, a terrier mix, now rests inside the Vulcan Park Animal Care Clinic where he's waiting to find out what kind of surgery he will need to repair 2 badly broken legs. This is only the 2nd night he's spent under any kind of roof in the last 2 weeks and the story of how he got there is almost too amazing to believe.

On April 27th, Mason was hiding in his garage in North Smithfield when the storm picked him up and blew him away. His owners couldn't find him and had about given up when they came back Monday to sift through the debris, and found Mason waiting for them on the porch.

"He's got 2 broken legs and they're distal radial ulnal fractures, they've not been able to be in alignment so neither one of them have healed so he had to crawl on 2 broken legs to get home," said Dr. Barbara Benhart, staff veterinarian at the Birmingham-Jefferson Co. Animal Control Shelter.

"This is probably the most dramatic we've seen as far as an injury in an animal that's survived this long," said Phil Doster, also with the shelter. "It's kind of tapering off, the amount of animals we're seeing because of the storm. For an animal just to show up on someone's porch after this time was pretty remarkable, especially with the condition he's in."

Mason's owners asked the shelter to take him because they're not able to care for him while they try and piece their lives back together, and now Mason's amazing tale gets better with the help of a donation from the Vulcan Park Animal Care Clinic.

"He called and asked if there was anything he could do, last week, and this dog appeared today and so I called him, and never a hesitation, he offered 'bring it on over and he'll see what he can do," said Dr. Benhart.

Now with a little luck and a lot of love, Mason may become a mascot for storm survivors on four and 2 legs.

"For an animal to go through what he's gone through and not to be ugly, to be happy for any companionship is remarkable, we're honored to be part of his recovery," said Doster.

Mason was evaluated this afternoon but no course of treatment has been set yet. The hope is that after he recovers, he can return to his original family. If not, the shelter says they will find a home for Mason to start his new life with new mobility.

Copyright 2011 WBRC. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

My cairns aren't so good

Contributed by a CP Volunteer

You all talk about how smart your furkids are. They can open toys, climb tall columns of stuff, know who is at the door and act accordingly, whatever.

Let me tell you about how the other half lives!

Coconut: dump truck is out front emptying loud cans, Coco is at the back of the house barking her head off.

Time to go to bed? Coco runs right for the couch, waits until I am comfortable situated in bed, then whines and jumps against bed until I am up again.

House cleaning means Coconut tips over the Lily water bowl on stand AFTER the kitchen floor is clean, walks in it and leaves a dogdesign pawprint picture on the living room floor.

Felicity: I come home fron errands, through the garage at the side of the house, she is in the guest room on the other side barking and whining for attention.

Time to go to bed? Felicity strolls into her crate and lies down, waits for me to get comfy after lifting Coco up on the bed, then has a tearing fest with whatever toy/blanket or piece of noisy plastic she can find.

House cleaning means waiting until after the vacuum is run, then destuffing something. Toys are ignored at every other moment but this.

I could go on, but it is just too distressing.

Eraser Wins!! Thank you for your support


Mayor Eraser has won the right to enter the general election, he won the faithfull party voters and the undecided, and in a twist of fate he won the anti eraser vote too by showing his fast thinking during the now famous culprit riot, today he will rest but tomorrow off on the campain trail again

Wacky Wednesday!



Wednesday is the day to be WACKY! Each week we will showcase a terrierific cairn picture with an appropriate caption. If you have a terrierific cairn and would like us to consider YOUR picture and caption for an upcoming "Wacky Wednesday" send it to us at cpcrnblog@gmail.com! (All photo submissions become the property of CPCRN and may be used for fundraising, promotion and/or outreach purposes.)

A big shout out to McIntyre for being our Wacky Wednesday model this week!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

NEWS FLASH INWOOD


After a peacefull start at the poles the notorious gang called the culprits stormed the poles and threw oranges and overturned the mayors limo, Mayor Eraser called in world famous detective from scottland yard , big red irish mcguinness, to capture the culprit gang,calm was restored by the mayor and voteing resumed. exit poleing still doesnt show a leader this early in the day



Eraser's big speech : it's primary election day!



aammmmm My fellow citizens, we are standing on the edge of a great canyon we can just jump in or we can build a bridge to the other side,if you just jump in its a hard landing , i say lets build that bridge to the future .a future of prosperity and well being for all our citizen. one where we can stand up in the jeep and look out the window without being jostled about because the road is too bumpy, or a future where we can walk down the road without a fast food bag making us hungery with nothing in it but paper and crumbs, I say let me take the leash and guide the citizens down the road and over the bridge to tomorrows that are happier then they were, vote for Eraser in the primary election

In Praise of Foster Moms and Dads

Contributed by a CP foster mom

Every single player in the remarkable organization that is Colonel Potter's Cairn Rescue Network is essential to our success and to the future happiness of these adorable dogs. From officers of the Board who clearly give hours of time each week, to lurkers on the list serve who may chime in from time to time or simply follow the escapades and hold a good thought for those who need support.

But we must never forget that, at the heart of everything, is the irreplaceable network of Foster Homes who nurture these frightened and confused dogs, teaching them house manners, trust, and the joy of being free. Each foster parent puts a piece of their heart, a ton of their time, and a generous helping of patience and good humor into the mentoring of each dog that passes through their home. Without them, there would be no point in rescuing anyone. Without them, very few of these damaged fur-kids would have a chance to successfully transition into a dedicated guardian, trusted companion, and entertaining little scamp.

I suppose we all know this intellectually but trying fostering may be the only way to truly gauge and appreciate the depth and breadth of their contributions. I took that step not too long ago and have been blown away by the experience. There is no way we can praise or thank them enough for what they do.

To my chagrin I have had to conclude that I'm not very good at this with all the other challenges in my life right now. These exquisite volunteers are SO compassionate that they are willing to step up to help even me, by taking in my current foster so they can help him grow to the next level. Imagine! Remarkable¦ At the same time, now that I fully appreciate the dedication required and the rewards that accrue, I am better prepared to step up again when my life circumstances allow.

If you haven't tried fostering, please seriously consider taking the plunge. It will open your eyes as nothing else can to the secret heart of our effort, and will deepen your appreciation for those whose ministrations work tiny miracles every day. And even if, like me, you find you can't do it long term, you will be making a difference for one or more Cairns an experience that will keep you smiling for years to come.

Foster moms and dads I salute you!!!

Note from CP Blogger: If you would like to find out more about fostering a cairn, please click here. Col. Potter has a wonderful network of volunteers to assist you.

Monday, May 16, 2011

NEWS FLASH INWOOD ELECTION - election eve

Eraser


the culprits


Eraser is very tense today, last minute rubber chicken dinners and womans club meeting then off to the voting place to check the voteing machine, he is very worried about the undecided vote,but if hard work means votes he has to win this primary, then off to november for the general election when the real work begins

DATELINE INWOOD while inspecting the voting place Mayor Eraser discovered monkey shines, quote the mayor "this monkey business better stop from my political enemies"

pictures of the culprits have that been cought red handed are printed

The Considerate Canine Proper Walking

Lowcountry Dog Magazine

Zander and Neha - easy walk harness attaches at the front


The Problem
: How do I get my 3 year old Cocker Spaniel to stop pulling on the leash? She pulls my arm off if we go to the beach with all the birds! I wish I could take her more.

The Solution:

Walking calmly on leash is a learned behavior, it certainly isn’t natural for a dog to walk slowly, in a straight line, especially when there is something as interesting as birds to chase.

The very first step in teaching your dog to walk politely on leash, not pulling, is to make a commitment that she never goes forward while pulling. Each time you allow her to pull you forward towards her goal, she is being rewarded for a behavior that you find unacceptable.

You may want to consider using different equipment while teaching her to walk on a loose leash. Front clip body harnesses such as the Sensation Harness or Easy Walk are simple to use, just put the harness on and off you go. Head halters, like Gentle Leaders, are also a good choice, but they require a period of adjustment and some leash skills on your part.

Since she has a history of pulling while heading to the beach and birds, begin working on this new skill in a less exciting environment: inside your house, back yard or on walks around the neighborhood. Teaching her to walk on a loose leash does not mean giving her more leash, it means that she walks with you, at your pace, in the direction that you choose.

Choose the side you prefer for her to walk on; traditionally it is the left side, but it doesn’t matter as long as you are consistent. Hold the leash in a relaxed manner, below your waist, with relaxed arms and shoulders. The clasp of the leash should hang loosely from the dogs collar not extended straight from your hand to the dogs neck.

There are several methods that we use to teach the dog where they should be. All of them require that you pay attention, letting your dog know when she right and when she is about to make a mistake, before the leash is tight.

Red light - green light

As she starts to move out in front of you, simply say oops and stand still. Wait until she looks back or moves toward you, say yes and move forward. This may not be the best method for a dog who is easily distracted. As you patiently wait for her to focus on you, she may well become interested in something else.

Walk in the opposite direction

When you pup starts to tighten the leash, say oops, turn around and stride off in the opposite direction. You have the leash, so the dog has to follow you. Please be sure that you are not jerking the dog off of her feet when you turn around. Saying oops lets her know she is making a mistake and alerts her that something is happening. Walk several feet until she is back at your side and paying attention to you.

Back up

This is my personal favorite. As in the other methods, you will quickly alert her that she is making a mistake and begin to walk backwards. Again, she will have to follow. Continue to step backwards until she is at your side, reward her with a yes, maybe a treat, and start to walk forward again. The advantage of this method is she will end up being in the correct position by following your lead.

Our tendency is to correct our dogs, pointing out what they are doing wrong. But they also need feedback when they get it right. Be liberal with rewards, give her tasty treats and lots of praise for being in the “right” place.

Happy training and many great trips to the beach.

If you have a question for Cindy Carter of Mindful Manners Dog Training, email your question to leah@lowcountrydog.com using the subject line: The Considerate Canine.

Cindy Carter has been training dogs in the Charleston area for the past 4 years, the last year as owner of Mindful Manners Dog Training. Cindy is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, CGC evaluator for the AKC, and member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has written articles for local publications and been featured in several publications focusing on local business owners.

As the owner of two dogs with “issues” she is uniquely qualified to help owners develop and implement management and training plans. She brings commitment and empathy to owners struggling to help their dogs have better lives.

For more information about our training programs visit us at www.mindfulmanners.net

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Senior Cairns are Special - Just ask Holly's adoptive mom!

Written by Holly's adoptive Mom

Holly likes her ball

our pretty girl

I love to play!

Holly is one of our 5 Cairns. She started out as a foster that we picked up when we drove to the Texas CRAP (Cairn Rescue Annual Party), and stayed with us for 6 months, before we adopted her. Holly, fka Neosho, was a part of the Kansas Confiscation Group that Kaaren J. helped to get into CP. I believe this mill had been shut down by the State of KS (Kaaren correct me if I am wrong!) and they seized all of the breeding stock. CP had been contacted to take the Cairns. I believe Holly was one of 3 that Kaaren fostered and she adopted the other female.

I really wasn't looking for a 4th Cairn, but one weekend, when my parents were visiting, they asked why we would uproot her, again, after everything she endured. Holly is a mess, physically, and I knew she would have limitations, such as never being able to do stairs, and she is a over-sized Cairn, so it would be difficult for someone to carry her up and down stairs. In fact, I was a matchmaker at the time I was fostering Holly, and Susan C. had told me she was interested in Holly. I talked her out of it, because they have stairs and she weighs about 23 lbs. Thankfully, I quickly matched her with Sunny/Hannah! When I took Holly to my vet, while fostering her, she was diagnosed with LeggsPerthe Disease and luxating patellas. It was decided to wait on surgery, because she wasn't limping or skipping in her gait. Well, it's now about 5 years later and here is Holly playing in our yard this evening with McDuffy (6 yrs. her junior) and her favorite ball. It is thought that she is about 12-13 y.o., but we really don't have a clue. As you can see, Holly doesn't think she has any limitations.

I've had people comment about how ugly she is, well, it was a teacher a worked with, when I was fostering Holly at the time. Of course, I nailed her and told her that Holly looks the way she does, because of humans! You will notice that she has a crooked ear, missing many teeth, is sway-backed, very long body, and her belly pretty much touches the ground. I see the most gorgeous round, brown eyes; an amazing double coat that grows out every 2 weeks (I just stripped her earlier this week!), and a gentle soul who will walk over to you and sit patiently in front of you, waiting for a pet. (She did this a lot at the Cactus Cairn Round-Up to Florence's friend Sue.)

Oh, and I forgot to mention, she is a champion marker! You just can't get mad at her when she marks, because she looks up at you with a little smile on her face, like she did something good. She really doesn't have a clue that she is doing anything wrong. She used to wear a panty in the house all of the time, but now she has graduated to just wearing one when we leave the house. If she didn't wear one, then there would be 10-15 half-dollar sized pee spots when we got back home.

If you look at her ears, it looks like an "L", so I always tell her to "Give me an L for love!" Of course, she obliges. :)

So, just like Debra's Bianca, Holly is also a special CP senior alumni.

Please consider making an older cairn part of your 'furmily'. Please click here to learn more about our available cairns.


Sunday Sweets

Sunday is full of SWEETS! Each week we will showcase the sweeter side of Cairns. If you have a sweet filled cairn and would like us to consider YOUR picture for an upcoming "Sunday Sweets" send it to us at cpcrnblog@gmail.com! (All photo submissions become the property of CPCRN and may be used for fundraising, promotion and/or outreach purposes.)

Patti

Zach

Tyra
MacKenzie

Gem

Zander, Bea and Neha

Amtrak