Off the Leash
Friday, February 27, 2015
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Col. Potter Training Tips: Proper Introductions!
Contributed by a Col. Potter
Volunteer
Proper introductions are essential for harmony in the pack! |
Are you thinking about adding a new Rescued Cairn
to your family? There are many things to
consider, and lots of planning to do. You can expect to get many great tips to help
you integrate your New Cairn into your home, so it is good to know that some of
this advice will also apply to your current resident dogs. Introductions is a great example.
Think
Ahead about All Introductions!
Whether making introductions to family and friends
or other dogs, it is important that you have your calm, secure, Alpha attitude
firmly in place so that you can communicate to your New Cairn that this is all
under control and there is nothing to worry about. Remember:
your New Cairn is a body language expert, so you communicate everything you
project. Be sure to send the right
signals to your Cairn!
Whenever
possible, plan ahead when your new Cairn is first meeting a family member or
friend, especially if they also have a dog.
Arrange to have both dogs walking outside, in a neutral setting, moving in the same direction, towards a
meeting point. If you imagine a wide “V”,
you each start out on opposite sides of the wide end and walk towards the
narrow end at approximately the same pace.
Walking in the same direction allows both dogs to get closer and closer
while not actually presenting the threat of facing a “new” dog. When
you get close enough to talk to the other person, speak in a happy, positive
voice so both dogs know this is a friend. Avoid handshakes or hugs, at this point, so
you don’t accidentally communicate that either dog should feel the need to
defend their human.
You
should expect the two dogs to scope each other out. The best situation is where the dogs sniff one
another, without any signs of dominance by either one, and, after a few
minutes, they basically ignore one another and begin sniffing the grass or
acting as if they want to continue their walk. Sometimes this happens. Often it doesn't.
Sometimes
one dog may really want to sniff and sniff and sniff, and the other dog feels
that he or she has been sniffed enough. Use whatever words you use around the house to
calm the other dog down, like "EASY", stated firmly as “Ease-eeeeeeeeeee”,
and it helps the dogs to back off each other.
Then you should continue your
walk, as you would normally.
Be
calm and observant, always prepared to act quickly if needed. You will know by your Cairn’s body language
how to proceed in a natural manner that communicates “All is well and under
control!”
Rescuing one Cairn will not change the world,
but it will surely change the world for that one Rescued Cairn
but it will surely change the world for that one Rescued Cairn
Read More About It:
Toto:
The Other Side of the Story!
And
the Oscar goes to…
Col. Potter Needs a Few More Introductions!
Please
Volunteer to Foster and help us help every Cairn in need!
Please Consider being a CP Volunteer!
CP
Foster Home Application form:
CP
Transport Volunteer Driver form:
CPCRN
Volunteer form:
Col. Potter’s Name a Rescue Cairn
Program
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
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 out reach purposes.
A big shout out to Skye for being our Wacky Wednesday model this week!
A big shout out to Skye for being our Wacky Wednesday model this week!
Monday, February 23, 2015
Sprout is Healthy, Happy and in His Furever Home
Forever Mom Val Rae wrote:
Ann personally delivered Sprout with her daughter Sommer yesterday (02/21/15).
From the moment he entered our home, our cairns were happy to see him and have accepted him as part of the pack.
Sprout is quickly integrating into the family and has been busy exploring his new home and finding his favorite spots. He doesn't seem to mind the cold MN weather at all and spent a little time exploring the yard today on one of our coldest days of the year so far.
Here are the photos I took this weekend.
He is such a sweetheart, so full of love, and has the most beautiful soul. I know this is thanks to the loving care he received in his foster home.
In just 6 days we are celebrating the 1 year anniversary of Pippa's adoption! Thank you to all of the volunteers, the foster homes, and Col Potter for brining so much joy to our lives.
Barrett, Val Rae, Sparky, Pippa and Sprout!
Ann personally delivered Sprout with her daughter Sommer yesterday (02/21/15).
From the moment he entered our home, our cairns were happy to see him and have accepted him as part of the pack.
Sprout is quickly integrating into the family and has been busy exploring his new home and finding his favorite spots. He doesn't seem to mind the cold MN weather at all and spent a little time exploring the yard today on one of our coldest days of the year so far.
Here are the photos I took this weekend.
He is such a sweetheart, so full of love, and has the most beautiful soul. I know this is thanks to the loving care he received in his foster home.
In just 6 days we are celebrating the 1 year anniversary of Pippa's adoption! Thank you to all of the volunteers, the foster homes, and Col Potter for brining so much joy to our lives.
Barrett, Val Rae, Sparky, Pippa and Sprout!
Sunday, February 22, 2015
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.).
WiiGii just waiting for Spring! |
Bilbo, Jameson fka CP Chevy, and Hemingway |
Happy Birthday Gibbs! |
Birthday Girl Anna and sister Daisy |
Yvonne |
Tori |
Gertie fks CP Trudy Lou |
Kenzie |
Tommy R |
Lola fka CP Egypt |
Sprout |
Sadie Jo and Skye La |
Labels:
and Hemingway,
Anna,
Belgium,
Bilbo,
Daisy,
Egypt,
Gertie,
Gibbs,
Jameson fka CP Chevy,
Kenzie,
Lola,
Luigi Earl aka WiiGii,
Sadie Jo and Skye La,
Sprout,
Sunday Sweets,
Tommy R,
Tori,
Yvonne
Friday, February 20, 2015
Got Kefir?
Contributed by a CP Volunteer
Dogs love the taste of Kefir and are happy to lick the bowl - or bottle! |
One
of the easiest and best things anyone can add to their dog’s food which will
give enormous benefit to their digestive tract, nervous system, and overall
immune health is a wonderful milk product called Kefir (pronounced “Kee-fur” in the US and “ki-Fear” in Europe). Most dogs really love the taste of Kefir and
consider it a wonderful treat!
Kefir is easy to make at home! |
Kefir
is a thought of by many as a “liquid yogurt” but it is fermented milk, with no
cooking involved, and it is loaded with beneficial bacteria. Kefir originated in the Caucasus
Mountains more than 2,000 years ago, meaning “feel good" in
Turkish. It helps to balance the intestinal
flora, helping the body to maintain optimal health and strengthen immunity,
enhancing longevity.
Many
use Kefir as part of our overall, day-to-day preventative health routine for
our dogs (and ourselves!), but adding Kefir can be especially important after a
course of antibiotics. Antibiotics kill
the good intestinal flora along with whatever bad bacteria was the target, and
this has a negative impact on our overall health – human or canine. Simply adding Kefir to the diet will quickly
improve the situation!
In
addition to balancing our digestive flora, Kefir also delivers the natural
healing powers of minerals and essential amino acids, including Tryptophan,
well-known for its beneficial effects on the nervous system, plus calcium and
magnesium, critical nutrition for a healthy nervous system. It is also rich in vitamin B12, B1, and
vitamin K, and is an excellent source of biotin, aiding regulation of kidney
and liver function, as well as promoting healthy looking skin, boosting energy
and promoting longevity.
All you need are healthy Kefir grains and milk |
Humans
can enjoy Kefir in many flavors, but dogs must use only plain, which you can
buy in the grocery or health food store, or you can make it yourself at home!
Making Kefir at Home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlZrlm9tsrw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8inJzX-6yE
Understanding Probiotics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEYS9_POt1A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlZrlm9tsrw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8inJzX-6yE
Understanding Probiotics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEYS9_POt1A
Labels:
digestive health,
Kefir,
make at home,
nervous system
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Col. Potter Training Tips: No Place Like Home!
Contributed by a Col. Potter Volunteer
Keep in mind that your little one has experienced at least TWO major disruptions in life already: being rescued from whatever his or her original environment was, then leaving the safety of the Foster Home to become your adopted dog. Just think about your new Cairn’s story and imagine yourself in the same situation… Changes – even for the better – can be very stressful. It's no wonder they experience a bit of overload. Quiet time in the crate will help your Rescued Cairn adjust more easily - and more quickly.
When life is a little stressful, it’s nice to have a place to call Home! |
Are
you thinking about adding a new Rescued Cairn to your family? There are many things to consider, and lots of planning to do. You can expect to get many great tips to help
you integrate your New Cairn into your home, so it is good to know that some of
this advice will also will apply to your current resident dogs. Learning
to use a crate effectively is a great example.
Crate
Training Essentials for Your New Cairn
Your new dog has been Crate Trained, and is
accustomed to sleeping in his or her crate.
He or she is also accustomed to spending some "down time"
relaxing in the crate. This is a
practice that we HIGHLY recommend you continue.
Crate training is definitely NOT "cruel" as many people
believe. Numerous studies have shown
that, contrary to being cruel to dogs, it's compassionate and caring. Canines are, by nature, pack and den animals.
They feel safe and secure when they have their
own den-like containment area. A
cage/crate serves as such. Maintaining a
positive pattern of regular, daily crate time will serve you well and will
provide your new Cairn a safe and familiar place of his or her own.
Another helpful hint is that we often give the new
dog too much attention at first in an attempt to make him or her feel welcomed,
secure, and loved. Please be aware that your new Rescued Cairn will be on emotional and
physical overload for at least a couple of weeks. Give them time and space to
"decompress." To become
familiar with and comfortable in your home and with your family, on his or her
terms.
A wire crate lets your Cairn
feel like part of the activity
in the room, and a sheet or blanket can be
draped over it
to give a more den-like feel when a more quiet time is desired. |
Keep in mind that your little one has experienced at least TWO major disruptions in life already: being rescued from whatever his or her original environment was, then leaving the safety of the Foster Home to become your adopted dog. Just think about your new Cairn’s story and imagine yourself in the same situation… Changes – even for the better – can be very stressful. It's no wonder they experience a bit of overload. Quiet time in the crate will help your Rescued Cairn adjust more easily - and more quickly.
Crate him or her at night and while you are away to
help him or her feel secure. Also, give
him or her "time outs" in the crate whenever you sense the beginning
of a little over stimulation or overloaded.
Sometimes everyone - human and
canine - needs a chance to catch their breath.
Take it
Easy and You’ll Get it Right!
Basically, TAKE IT EASY with your new Cairn! We recommend that you not take the new dog
into a lot of new situations right at first.
Many mistakes are made because
the new adoptive home is so excited about their dog that they want to share
their new little one with all their friends and family. This new dog has NO CLUE that the adoptive
family is their new family, nor will they have a clue who these new people are
- especially new people who have dogs. Give your New Cairn time to adjust to you,
your immediate family, and your home before taking him out to visit friends or
relatives. If your friends and
family cannot wait to meet your new family member, please introduce them to him
or her slowly and allow time to
adjust and welcome each member one at a time.
A large number of unfamiliar humans descending on a newly adopted Cairn has
the potential to be overwhelming and can cause them to react in a negative way.
You cannot
go too slowly... but you can move too quickly by
exposing your new adoptee to too many new people, places, sights, sounds and
smells at first. Be sure to use the
crate wisely to give your new Cairn time to relax a few times each day, always
making it a gentle, positive experience going in and coming back out. Little
bits of cheese in your hand help in any crating exercise, and it will reinforce
the absolute goodness of your hands!
Good luck! And thank you again for opening your
heart and home to a rescued Cairn!
Rescuing one Cairn will not change the world,
but it will surely change the world for that one Rescued
Cairn
Read More About It:
It’s
Always Best to Start at the Beginning!
I’m
Not Sure we’ve been Properly Introduced!
Toto:
The Other Side of the Story!
And
the Oscar goes to…
Col. Potter Needs a Few More Beginnings!
Please
Volunteer to Foster and help us help give a new start to every Cairn in need!
Please Consider being a CP Volunteer!
CP
Foster Home Application form:
CP
Transport Volunteer Driver form:
CPCRN
Volunteer form:
Col. Potter’s Name a Rescue Cairn
Program
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