Sunday, August 31, 2014

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.).


Happy Labor Day!
Jack

Yogi Berra

Gus
 
Spice fka CP Radish

Sugar fka CP Parsnip

MacPerry

Ripley

Gipper fka CP Tootles

Bridget fka CP Syracuse

Foster Cougar

Folly

Laddie





Saturday, August 30, 2014

Col. Potter Links with GoFundMe!

Col. Potter rescues many dogs with serious medical needs, doing what we can to bring them back to health so they can have a brighter Forever.  Here are some of the CP Fosters currently requiring expensive treatments.  A small donation of $5 or $10 from many caring people will all add up to more healthy Cairns!

Harper
Heartworm Treatment

Laurier
Heartworm Treatment
Lovemuffin
Laser Treatment for Deep Spinal Wound

Simon Rubin Paddy
Surgery to Remove Cancerous Tumor

Skip
Surgery to Save his Vision
Sprout
Surgery to Repair Liver Shunt

Trudeau
Heartworm Treatment


There are many other ways to give to our Cairns, becoming a Foster Home or Transport Volunteer among them.  We welcome your donations to help these Rescued Cairns, and we hope you will consider becoming a Col. Potter Volunteer!


Col. Potter Needs a Few More Helping Hands!
Please Volunteer to Foster or Transport and help us Rescue every Cairn in need! 

Please  Consider being a CP Volunteer! 

CP Foster Home Application form: 
http://www.cairnrescue.com/rescue/foster.htm 

CP Transport Volunteer Driver form: 
http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/transport.htm 

CPCRN Volunteer form: 
http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/volunteer.htm 

Col. Potter’s Name a Rescue Cairn Program 
http://mall.cairnrescue.com/forms/frm_namecairn.htm











Friday, August 29, 2014

Friday's Funnies!

Off the Leash

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Earning His Paycheck!

Does your dog work for his paycheck?

How You can Become Your Dog’s Benevolent Leader

We all strive for peaceful and respectful relationships with our dogs.  In order for that relationship to remain in balance, one of you must be the benevolent leader in the relationship.  A dog will gladly work to earn his paycheck (the rewards) from his benevolent leader if that leader provides consistent and fair leadership.

Establishing your leadership does not require physical methods or a daily battle of wills.  It requires wrapping your hands around their minds, not their bodies. By instituting a daily practice of asking your dog to do something in order to get what he wants, you can maintain a balanced relationship where you are the benevolent leader and your dog a willing, respectful follower.

You must first teach your dog some simple commands and/or tricks such as “Sit”, “Down”, “Paw” or “Shake”, “Wait” or whatever else you wish to teach your dog.  Once your dog has learned how to successfully respond to your command(s) you can use those commands to institute this program.  Remember to use a firm (but not angry) tone of voice when giving commands.

It is very important that you - the benevolent leader - must control your dog’s resources such as food, treats, toys, walks, petting or any other attention.  Anything that is valuable to your dog can be used as the “paycheck” they receive for successfully completing their “work”, i.e., appropriately responding to your commands.

The formula is simple:

You give a command + your dog successfully responds (i.e., works for you) = you provide the paycheck!

Use this simple formula in your every day life.  With consistent practice your dog will realize that you are the giver of all good things if he works with you.

Here are some good examples:

Mealtime: Ask your dog for a “Sit” and you may put the food bowl down after the dog sits.

Doors: Ask your dog for a “Wait” or a “Sit-Wait” at the doorway.  Go through the door then call your dog to follow.  The leader should control entrances and exits.  Also, ask your dog for a “Sit” before getting attention from any guests that may come through the door.

Play/Toys: Ask your dog for a “Sit” or “Down” before throwing the ball or playing any other game.  You should start and end all games.  If your dog nudges or barks at you to initiate play, ask them first to “Down” before starting the game.   Make sure there are rules for all games, particularly tug-of-war.   Rules should include “teeth never touch human skin” and any violation of the rules automatically ends the game.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

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 Odo for being our Wacky Wednesday model this week!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Tuesdays with Tabasco!

Contributed by CP Tabasco in LA

CP Tabasco Available for Adoption in LA

Well, Hello Again!

Tabasco here – still waiting for my Forever Home to fill out an application to adopt me!

Yes, I’ll put the link right here again to make it easy:

Now, I think some people were so impressed with my adorable photo and my video, they thought the "LA" thing meant I was in LA - like a big movie star!  Well, not that LA!  I'm in Louisiana - LA - just like the Big Easy (where we do have Hollywood types!), but I'm sort-of North/West, almost closer to Dallas - and there are Hollywood types there too!  So really, if you think I have the right "look" you might want to hire me to star in your Life video???  You can see more of my beautiful eyes in the video below, to help you imagine how I would look up at you in Your home!

Can you Sit?

I can!  Especially if Foster Mom has a great Treat in her hand!  I can Sit, I can Down, I can Stand...  Anything you want!  Take a look and see what you think:



Check Out my Intake Story:

Check Out my 1st Tuesdays with Tabasco:

Check Out my Matilda’s Journey Story:





Monday, August 25, 2014

Kit Carson Blazes a Trail to Col. Potter!

Written by a CP Intakes Coordinator

Kit Carson, an approximately 2 year old Rescued Cairn

Well, pards, looks like Col. Potter is having a round-up of frontier fellers this week!

We’ve already met Jim Bowie, and now we have Kit Carson bellying up to the bar at the Col. Potter “Kibble and Bone Saloon.”

Kit Carson hails from the Wild West and again comes to us through the many travels of Charlene and Bill M. (“Have Crate—Will Travel!”)

Kit is a young high-spirited Wheaten Cairn boy at just about two years old.  He may have some filling out to do yet, but meanwhile he’s looking right good at 14 pounds.

We’re showing here a before and after picture of life in the shelter for this young Kit Carson.  The terrified, crouching little dog in one picture taken at the shelter is now seen in the next picture as a more relaxed, maybe even smiling little dude after he knows he’s free and safe and being cared for at the vet hospital.


Kit Carson suffered great emotional distress in the shelter, as do so many Cairns who have the misfortune to end up in this setting – or worse.
You can see the difference almost immediately when he realizes he is safe at the vet’s office!

Oh what a feeling!  It’s what rescue is all about…

Let’s now all of us give Kit Carson a big rousing Howdy as he joins the Col. Potter family! 

Col. Potter Needs a Few More Adventurers! 
Please Volunteer to Foster or Transport so we can serenade every Cairn in need! 

Please  Consider being a CP Volunteer! 

CP Foster Home Application form: 
http://www.cairnrescue.com/rescue/foster.htm 

CP Transport Volunteer Driver form: 
http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/transport.htm 

CPCRN Volunteer form: 
http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/volunteer.htm










Jim Bowie Takes a Stand at Col. Potter!

Written by a CP Intakes Coordinator

Jim Bowie, a darling 9 year old Rescued Cairn

Let’s all give a rousing “Howdy” to the new kid on the block, Jim Bowie. This handsome and trim 17 pound Wheaten dude is coming to us here at Col. Potter straight off the Dude Ranch.  When his original owner realized that she couldn’t keep her little 9 year old sidekick anymore, she dropped poor Jim Bowie off at the ranch and headed for the hills.

Well, when Col. Potter saw the Unwanted Poster on this guy, we sent a posse up to nab him quicker’n you can say “Remember the Alamo!”  And hats off to Bob and Ellen O. for blazing that trail to rescue Jim Bo!

This boy is as good as they get - happy and playful - and, it’s going to be some very lucky Forever-folk who are chosen to corral our own Jim Bowie.  But in the meantime, let’s give Jim Bo a big, hearty Welcome to the Col. Potter clan!

Col. Potter Needs a Few More Forts and Trailblazers! 
Please Volunteer to Foster or Transport so we can help every Cairn in need of Rescue!

Please  Consider being a CP Volunteer!

CP Foster Home Application form:

CP Transport Volunteer Driver form:

CPCRN Volunteer form:










Sunday, August 24, 2014

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.).

Dude

Foster Kyler

Foster Carrot


Foster Cougar
 
Callista

Smuckers

Baby D
 
Foster Baby Jake

Foster Trudeau

Ty and Tartan



Saturday, August 23, 2014

Myers Finds a Few New Friends at Col. Potter!

Written by a CP Intakes Coordinator


Myers, a friendly 8 year old Rescued Cairn-Westie Mix


Respectfully borrowed from “Fiddler on the Roof”

(Col. Potter and an unnamed Rescue group)


"And among ourselves, we get along perfectly well. Of course, there was the time when they told us a Cairn, but delivered a Westie, but that's all settled now. Now we live in simple peace and harmony and..."


(1st Rescuer)
"It was a Cairn!"


(2nd Rescuer)

"It was a Westie!"


(Chorus)
Cairn!
Westie!
Cairn!
Westie!
Tradition, tradition... tradition!


Okay, genug! (enough)
 


What’s important is that we all give a big hearty Welcome to Myers, the new guy at the Col. Potter table.

CP’s Myers was picked up as a stray by animal control in a major left-coastal city, and he was placed in a high-kill shelter there, where they had no history on him at all.  So, until we saw him in person, no one was quite sure of his pedigree.  But we knew he needed rescue.  Well, as it turns out, Myers is rather Westie-ish with a splash of Cairn.  Hey, nobody’s perfect!  But this dude comes close enough. Myers is about 8-years-old and a strapping 21 lbs.  And according to his new vet, he’s very friendly and grateful for his second chance at a happy life with people who will love him and take care of him.

Myers’ rescue story is actually a very involved one, with lots of intrigue, rumors and false reports.  This darling Westie/Cairn remained on the “list” while we waited to hear confirmation that we could indeed go and fetch him and bring him home.  And at the eleventh hour, we got the go-ahead, and with the outstanding help of Charlene M. and Brenda F., we brought Myers home to our family.

All of our CP volunteers do wonderful, selfless work, and one of the few ways that Col. Potter can honor them is to name a dog after them.  And each time we do, we are honoring all of our good people as well as our namesake volunteer — because, as we know, it takes a village.

If you’d like to volunteer with us, just let us know.  We have many jobs for creative, dedicated people. Just click one of the links below and fill out the application!

And now, let’s please Welcome Myers to the Col. Potter clan, with open hearts and open arms! 

Col. Potter Needs a Few More Fiddlers!
Please Volunteer to Foster or Transport so we can serenade every Cairn in need! 

Please  Consider being a CP Volunteer! 

CP Foster Home Application form: 
http://www.cairnrescue.com/rescue/foster.htm 

CP Transport Volunteer Driver form: 
http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/transport.htm 

CPCRN Volunteer form: 
http://cairnrescue.com/rescue/volunteer.htm








Friday, August 22, 2014

Friday's Funnies!

Off the Leash

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Training Tips for Rescued Cairns

Contributed by a CP Volunteer

Even young Cairns rescued from puppy mills need extra understanding


Rehabilitation of a Puppy Mill Dog

Every mill survivor is different.  What works on one or many, will completely fail on another.  The only thing that is consistent is that they will need lots of patience, understanding and love.  And probably, most importantly, acceptance:   Unconditional acceptance of what they are capable of giving - and taking. 

At first glance, a mill survivor may look like many of your friends' dogs.  Maybe not a perfect example of the breed, but close.  What you won't see is the condition that they came into rescue in.  Hair so matted that it all had to be shaved off.  Even the short haired breeds suffer from thin dull coats when they come to us.  Many times removing the filth and matting have only revealed open sores, usually from flea allergies or sarcoptic mange.  Ears are full of filth and usually mites.  Some survivors suffer from permanent hearing loss because of untreated ear infections.  Most survivors require the removal of rotten teeth, even young dogs.  The gums are usually very infected and the teeth have excessive buildup on them.  Many vets who are not familiar with puppy mill rescued dogs will misdiagnose age if going by the teeth.  Many survivors also suffer from swollen, splayed and sore feet from so much time walking on wire.  So, while finally getting some good nutrition and extensive medical care can go a long way on the outside, the real damage has been done to the inside. 

I'd love to say that every puppy mill survivor only needs love to turn it into a wonderful family pet, but that would be a lie.  Love is definitely needed, in large amounts, but so is patience.  The damage done during the years in the mill usually can be overcome, but it takes time and dedication.  It takes a very special adopter for one of these dogs.  Not being "up to it" is no crime, but you need to be honest with yourself, and us, about your expectations.  These dogs have been through more than they ever should have already.  If the entire family is not willing to make the commitment, the dog is better off staying in our care until the perfect home for them is found. 

This puppy was in terrible condition...
...but see what Love, patience, and training have done!

Handling:

Many mill survivors have spent their entire life in the mill.  No romping around a living room playing with friends of the family for them - Only a cold wire cage and one person "tending" to them.  Puppies who grow up in a mill miss out on many crucial socialization periods with humans.  They don't learn to trust, to love, to play.  They have had very minimum physical contact with people.  No cuddling and kissing for them. 

The physical contact that they have received probably has not been pleasant.  For one thing, because they are not handled enough, they are scared.  Many mills handle their "stock" by the scruff of the neck.  They have work to do, and don't really want to stand around holding some stinky little dog any longer than necessary.  So it is not uncommon for these survivors to be sensitive to the backs of their necks, after all, it brings the unexpected.  Many mill dogs will try to always face you, not trusting you enough to give you easy access to them from behind.  NEVER startle a mill survivor from behind, you will lose any trust that you may have gained.  Always make sure that they are anticipating you picking them up and consistently verbally tell them what you are going to do with the same word, like "up". It is not uncommon for a mill dog to drop their bellies to the floor when they know you are going to pick them up.  Some will even roll onto their backs in submission.

Always be gentle and try to avoid picking them up until you see that they are receptive to it.  It's almost a “hostage” type situation to these dogs.   Imagine how you would feel if taken hostage at gunpoint.  The gunman may never harm you in any way, but you are aware of the danger the entire time and you don't have the ability to leave when you want.  No matter how nice the gunman is to you, you will never enjoy the experience and will always watch for an escape route.  However, you can turn the tables around and see a ray of hope.  Imagine the gunman has been captured and you decide to visit him in jail.  Now you are in control.  You call all the shots, you have the ability to leave at any time.  The bottom line is that these dogs have to progress at their own pace.  Anything you force them to do will not be pleasant to them. 

Learning about the House:

Many times when you bring a mill survivor into your home, it is their instinct to hide in a quiet corner.  Any new dog that you bring into your home should be kept separated from other family pets for 7 days.  During this time it is fine to crate or confine them to a quiet area.  After that though, they need to have exposure to the household.  If crating, the crate should be in a central location.  The ideal spot is one where there is frequent walking and activity.  This allows the dog to feel safe in the crate, yet observe everyday activity and become used to it.  They need to hear the table being set, the dishwasher running, phones ringing, and people talking. 

Very few mill dogs know what a leash is.  During this time, when the dog is out of the crate and supervised, it is not a bad idea to let them drag a leash around with them.  Let them get used to the feel.  It is easy to fall into the mindset that they must be pampered and carried everywhere, but leash training is important.  It will make your life easier to have a leash trained dog, but also will offer your dog confidence in the future.

Gaining Trust:

A mill dog has no reason to trust you.  Your trust needs to be earned, little by little.  Patience is a very important part.  I have seen a lot of mill dogs not want to eat whenever people are around.  It is important that your mill dog be fed on a schedule, with you near by.  You don't have to stand and watch over them, but should be in the same room with them.  They need to know that their yummy meal is coming from you.  For the majority of mill dogs, accepting a treat right out of your hand is a huge show of trust.  Offer treats on a regular basis especially as a reward. 

While you shouldn't overly force yourself upon your dog, it does need to get used to you.  Sit and talk quietly while gently petting or massaging your dog.  It is best to do this an area where they, not necessarily you, are the most comfortable.   They probably won't like it at first, but will get used to it.  Some dogs sadly, never do though, and I'll talk more about them later. 

Never allow friends to force attention on a mill survivor.  Ask them not to look your dog directly in the eyes.  It is not uncommon for mill dogs to simply never accept outsiders.  Let your dog set the pace.  If the dog approaches, ask them to talk quietly and hold out a hand.  No quick movements.  Ask that any barking be ignored.  Remember that dogs bark to warn and scare off intruders.  If you acknowledge the barking you may be reinforcing it with attention.  If you bring your guest outside you have just reinforced to your dog that barking will make the intruder go away. 

Housebreaking:

A child spends the first 12-18 months of their life soiling their diaper and having you remove the dirty diaper and replace it with a clean one.  A puppy mill dog spends its entire life soiling its living area.  Potty training a child and housebreaking a puppy mill dog are the exact same procedures: you are UN-teaching them something that they have already learned to be acceptable.  A regular schedule, constant reinforcement, praise, and commitment on your part are a must!  Would you ever scream at your child, march them to the bathroom and make them sit on the toilet AFTER you discovered they soiled their diaper?  A dog is no different in this sense.  Scolding them after the deed is done is of no benefit to anyone.

The two most important things you can do are to get your new dog on a regular feeding pattern (which will put them on a regular potty pattern) and observe them closely after feeding time. 

Getting them on a premium, low residue food is very important.  This will produce a stool which normally is firm (very easy to clean up) and only one or two bowel movements a day are normal.  Low cost or over the counter foods have a lot of fillers and it is very hard to get a dog on a regular cycle using these foods. 

Before you even begin to housebreak them, you must learn their schedule.  Most dogs will need to “go” right after eating.  As soon as they are finished eating, command "Outside".  Always use the exact same word in the exact same tone.  Watch them closely outside and observe their pattern as they prepare to defecate.  Some will turn circles, some will scratch at the ground, some may find a corner, some may sniff every inch of the ground, some will get a strange look on their face - every dog is different and you have to learn to recognize how the dog will behave right before he goes.  This way you will recognize it when he gets ready to go in the house. 

We could give you a million tips that our adopters have found to work best for them, but as I said, every dog is different.  As long as you always keep in mind that housebreaking and potty training are one in the same.  Never do to a dog what you would not do to a child.  It may take a week, it may take a month, it may take a year - and sadly, some dogs will never learn.  Never give up and never accept “accidents” as a way of life.  In most cases, the success of housebreaking depends on your commitment.

More Great Training Tips for your Rescued Cairns:
http://cairnrescue.blogspot.com/2014/07/simple-training-tips-for-your-rescued.html