THE NEWSPUPPER DECEMBER 2008
Dr. Al Grossmanwww.winningsolutions.info <http://www.winningsolutions.info>
We are all aware of the difficult times we live in. The economy is in thetoilet and the dog world is not in the best of shape either. Entry andregistration fees are up, majors are rare and what we are paying handlersfor each show today would support a family for a week in the ³good olddays.² We just can¹t afford to put out an inferior product to compete in thetough competitive world out there. We have to make sure that every dollar wespend can significantly help us succeed in our hobby. How then can we insurewe are pursuing the best cost effective path to breeding and winning withtop flight dogs? Without exaggeration we are now offering a new and highly unique service, aprofessional Mentoring Program from an outstanding professional on the dogshow scene. Dr. Al Grossman is the author of The Standard Book of DogBreeding, Winning with Pure Bred Dogs, The Great American Dog Show Game andThe American Cocker Spaniel. An AKC judge of all Sporting Breeds for overthirty years, his syndicated column ³From The Skeptic Tank² appears in some24 magazines. He bred 25 champions in only 24 litters over 25 years. Manywere BIS, BISS and Group winners. His stud dogs sired well over 50champions. His judging career saw him judging in fourteen foreign countries, many ofthem more than once. He judged the prestigious World Show in Amsterdam andthe Paris International and many of the top shows in the United States aswell as the American Spaniel Show on six occasions. There is more than theory here. Dr. Grossman¹s real life experience,educational style and communication mastery makes him and his staff one ofthe best resources for helping you succeed in the Dog Show Game. You can learn from a master communicator by clicking onwww.winningsolutions.info <http://www.winningsolutions.info> and thenchoosing Special Reports to obtain a FREE detailed report titled "The Roadto Success in Pure Bred Dogs.² This report can be downloaded to yourcomputer immediately. In the Special Reports section there are 20 other reports detailing what ittakes to be a winner and develop an in-depth knowledge of all the important³stuff² it takes to rise to the top. If you are interested in Dr. Grossman doing a seminar for your club see theSeminar section. by Aleesha LondonThere is a need for you to go through great lengths to stop aggressive dogbehavior. You could be putting both your dog and other people in danger byleaving aggressive dog behavior unchecked. Like any other problem though,this one requires a step-by-step procedure.Step 1: Find out the cause for aggression.Managing aggressive dogs should begin with awareness. You should know thatdogs are not dumb animals and that they usually have a reason for beingaggressive. It is possible for example that a dog may only be exhibiting hisnatural tendency to be dominant. Your dog may feel that it is the alphacreature in the house and will react negatively to any attempts that seem toundermine its superiority. It is also possible that aggressive dog behavioris the result of traumatic experiences. Your dog may have been subjected toviolent treatment in the past.There are other reasons for dog aggression. Whatever the reason for yourdog¹s aggressive behavior, it is up to you, as the owner, to identify whatthey are. Some information on dog psychology will definitely keep you on theright track on how to curb your dog¹s aggressive behavior.Step 2: Find the most ideal training program for your dog.Training is the best way to stop aggressive dog behavior. There are manyapproaches to training though. You want only the best and most suitable foryour best friend. One option is to simply enroll your dog in professionalobedience classes. This will ensure that an experienced trainer is handlingyour dog. Should you choose this option though, you should remember thattrainers use different techniques and also have different levels ofexpertise. To be sure that your dog is in good hands, you have to conductyour own basic research to find a good trainer.Of course, you also have the option of training your dog yourself. This willnot be a problem at all especially if you have a natural love for animalsand a natural instinct of handling your dog. However, since you are not aprofessional, you will need all the help you can get to train your dogright. Read up as much as you can on tips and methods from well-seasoned dogtraining professionals. Learn the basic commands that dogs usually react to.Step 3: Show affection and understanding for your dog.You may have done everything in your power to manage your dog. You may haveenrolled your pet in expensive training sessions or gone through the effortof training yourself. Even so, there is no guarantee that your dog will befree of aggressive tendencies. If your dog continues to show aggression, bepatient. Training is a gradual process.Keep in mind, too, that dogs have different personalities. Differentapproaches, therefore, work differently for different dogs. Keep track ofthe changes in our dog¹s behavior so you¹ll know which strategy works andwhich does not.Training a dog to stop aggressive dog behavior cannot be stressed too highlyenough. All you need is to find the right technique and to have the rightamount of patience and perseverance to go through it. Owners keep pet groomed despite economic woesBY AMY SACKS DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERSaturday, November 29th 2008, 4:00 AM Nancy SacksA golden retriever enjoys a bath at the Dog Wash.Cindy Knoll <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Cindy+Knoll> is willing tosacrifice her own needs before scrimping on luxury items for her Shih Tzu,Titus."My dog would be the last thing I cut back on," said Knoll<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Knoll+Inc.> , 30, an interior designerfrom Manhattan <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Manhattan> .She's hardly alone. Despite the bleak economy, the American Pet ProductManufacturers Association<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/American+Pet+Products+Manufacturers+Association+Inc.> estimates Americans will spend $43.4 billion this year ontheir pets.Still, many consumers are rethinking expenses, choosing quality and functionover luxury and style on everything from treats and dog beds, to vet careand training."They're still spending, but they're spending differently," said APPMAPresident Bob Vetere <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Bob+Vetere> of theestimated 71 million U.S. <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/United+States>pet owners.Pet food is one area where few will compromise. Last year's massive pet foodrecall caused concerned consumers to switch to higher-quality foods - andfew are switching back.Buying in bulk is the best way to save on pet food, says George Zimmerman<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/George+Zimmerman> , who runs Pet Healthon the upper West Side. "The cost per pound of whatever you're buying isabsolutely less expensive," he said.Randy Doran, who works in publishing, won't skimp on good quality food forCooper, her four-month-old Boston <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Boston>terrier. In order to cut costs, she buys heartworm prevention andprescription drugs through Petshed.com <http://www.petshed.com/> , an onlineretailer, which charges less than her local vet.Cutting her pup's nails and washing him in the sink saves on grooming costs.And she hopes networking with other Boston terrier owners will help save onfuture doggie day care.It's no surprise that services such as grooming and day care are alsofeeling a tightening of the leash.At Kiki's Spa Boutique in Fort Greene<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Fort+Greene> and Prospect Heights,Brooklyn <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Prospect+Heights+(Brooklyn)> ,owner Saron Nurse <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Saron+Nurse> isoffering creative incentives to lure back wary customers. The "EconomicBailout" promotion offers a 25% discount on a full grooming package, whichstart at $40.Home grooming is one alternative. Those with tiny bathrooms and big dogs,however, can head to the Dog Wash, on MacDougal St., where the cost to scrubyour own pooch is $19, including shampoo and supplies. Visit the store's WebSite at www.dogwashnyc.com <http://www.dogwashnyc.com/> .Services such as pet insurance and vet care are also seeing a shift inspending.Laura Bennett <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Laura+Bennett> , who runsEmbrace Pet Insurance<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Embrace+Pet+Insurance> , says an economicdownturn is when buying pet insurance makes sense to plan for a catastrophe,but fewer people are making the commitment.Veterinarian Philip Raclyn of Riverside Animal Hospital<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Riverside+Animal+Hospital> says thatwhile routine appointments are steady, more people are putting off electivesurgery. He recommends trying to catch problems early, instead of waitingfor them to become big problems.Consider the following cost-saving tips:Compare prices using online resources, such as shopzilla.com<http://www.shopzilla.com/> , pricegrabber.com<http://www.pricegrabber.com/> or googlebase.com<http://www.googlebase.com/> .Buy pet food in bulk. If you don't have a car, find a store that offers adelivery service, to avoid buying from the closest store out of convenience.Shop around for pet insurance. Many policies will discount if you pay infull for a year. If you don't want to invest in a plan, consider PetAssure,which offers a 25% discount on all care from participating veterinarians.Use low-cost spay/neuter services at the Humane Society of New York<http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Humane+Society+of+New+York>(www.humanesocietyny.org <http://www.humanesocietyny.org/> ), which charges$75, or the ASPCA <http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/American+Society+for+the+Prevention+of+Cruelty+to+Animals> 's free spay/neuter mobile van, available to eligibleparticipants (aspca.org <http://www.aspca.org/> ).Don't be shy: Ask around for discounts and specials. For example, Biscuitsand Bath's offers free Monday night playgroups for small and large dogs(www.biscuitsandbath.com <http://www.biscuitsandbath.com/> ). OPINIONDon't tax vet billsSure times are tough, but should animal lovers be footing the bill to closethe budget gap?By Jennifer FearingDecember 8, 2008Across California, municipal animal shelters and humane societies arereporting increases in pet relinquishments this year as high as 30%.Families losing their homes in the credit crisis or losing their jobs aredropping off their Fluffies and Fidos, adding moral and emotional insult toeconomic injury. And Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has found a way to make matters worse.Included in his November budget proposal, but lost amid major political hotpotatoes like the vehicle license fee, was a plan to add a sales tax toveterinary services as part of the solution to the state'smultibillion-dollar budget shortfall. In other words, because state leadersfailed in their basic responsibility to keep government functioning, petowners may have to foot the bill, and pets themselves may pay the ultimateprice. Before anyone thinks pet owners are not a constituency to reckonwith, consider this: California has the highest number of households of anystate -- 7.3 million households, or 57% -- that own a pet, including anestimated 7 million dogs and nearly 9 million cats, according to the lateststatistics from the American Veterinary Medical Assn. In 2006, Californiansspent about $2.7 billion on veterinary services such as routine exams,vaccinations, prescription medications, surgery and emergency care. This does not even include expenditures on veterinary services for themillions of animals that enter California animal shelters each year, thetens of millions of animals raised for food each year on California farms orthe thousands of wild animals aided by local and state agencies every year.For example, the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services writes checks toarea veterinarians totaling $2.4 million annually for spay/neuter andmedical services. With a sales tax possibly increasing to 10.25% in LosAngeles County, the governor's tax idea would thus take nearly a quarter ofa million dollars from these critical local programs that help care forabandoned animals and prevent unwanted births. Under Schwarzenegger's proposal, these medical expenses now would be lumpedinto a proposed category of taxable services such as "appliance andfurniture repair, vehicle repair." Does the governor really think repairingdishwashers and Dodges is the same as "repairing" dogs? The state doesn't tax cosmetic surgeries, so why should we tax an essentialmedical cost for animals? We can't skimp on veterinary care withoutjeopardizing the health and safety of our pets and other animals in ourcollective care. We all know these are difficult times and that lawmakers are under the gunto close an $11-billion gap for this fiscal year alone. And those of us whocan should be prepared to pitch in. But under the governor's plan, many whoare already making tough economic choices would be forced to add as much as10.25% to the cost of veterinary care. This new financial burden would not only result in less medical care foranimals, it would almost certainly result in more dogs and cats beingabandoned or relinquished to animal shelters. It is bad policy that wouldadd to the taxpayers' burden through higher animal-control and shelteringcosts, increase the cost of caring for animals raised for food and be a stepbackward in the otherwise progressive trajectory toward our treatment ofanimals. During a previous budget crisis, Schwarzenegger was dubbed the "petterminator" for proposing to cut state-mandated funding for animal shelters.After an outcry from animal lovers across the state, he quickly scuttled theidea, crediting one of his daughters with pointing out the error of hisways. Let's hope the Schwarzenegger children are paying attention now. Our state'sanimals are counting on their wise and compassionate counsel once again. Jennifer Fearing, based in Sacramento, is the chief economist for the HumaneSociety of the United States.
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