Dogs have been texting and using “Facebook” (although I can think of a different name) for thousands of years. Humans have observed this phenomenon in animals for generations but not until recently have we developed our own public “instant messaging system” capable of efficiently transmitting a significant amount of pertinent information with minimal effort, in a short time span.
With regards to your dog, it goes something like this:
You're strolling down Cambridge on a pleasant afternoon. Bowser, anticipant of getting over to Burns Park (popular canine meeting place), is compelled to “log on” and check some recent posts. His hovering nose peruses the content. Suddenly he stops. Having landed on something interesting he chooses to further investigate the profile. It reads: I am an unattached (except by a leash, LOL!) 2 yr old Afghan/Borzoi mix. Physically fit and fixed, but still active on the dating circuit. My walking schedule is 9-10:30 a.m and 5-6 p.m., mon-fri. Until we become true friends, I am unavailable on weekends. If interested, message back!
Now, Bowser would really like to put some care into formulating his reply to this one, but your beckoning leash tugs only afford him the chance to shoot off a quick response: Let's hook up!
In communities and neighborhoods with high density dog populations, like we have here in Ann Arbor, this incessant primal desire in dogs to network will eventually and inevitably evolve to the next level, posing the question:
After all the texting, tweeting, messaging and such, when we do finally meet in “person” during one of our prospective outings, are we gonna date?
For the dogs this suggests some sort of physical interaction and brings a lot of variables into play/questions to be answered, for them and their owners as well. Did I read your message right? Are you really who you said you were? You don't look like a Borzoi. Does you-know-who know?
Now it's time for the parents to step in... That's you.
All cutesiness aside, many dog people do confess that it is difficult, at best, for them to discern why their dogs react certain ways with certain dogs, and so differently with others. They admit that despite their careful considerations, they are never 100 percent sure if a prospective “date” is going to flourish or flounder — a familiar scene with people too! So it goes, that when you enter into the public domain with your dog: although you may think you have a clear sense of the status of your relationship and how you expect things to go, the neighboring dogs, their owners and possibly your dog as well may propose an altogether different agenda. This is where a little communication can make a big difference in the outcome.
Here's the dilemma...
In order for you and another dog walker to establish any kind of rapport about the “dating” status of your dogs, it requires you to be in close enough proximity to communicate verbally, then devote the necessary energy needed to convey your message. It may be that you just want them to know that Fifi, who is elderly and arthritic, really isn't interested in the advances of their gregarious Golden Retriever. The problem is that by the time you're close enough to touch base, the dogs are already convinced that a date is imminent and their respective opinions are beginning to manifest, possibly with agitation against the leash, barking, whining or growling.
Here's the question...
Do you find this to be an issue for you and your dog or observe it as an issue for your neighbors/their dogs? If so, do you think a method of instant messaging that conveys the basic theme of your personal status with your dog during a walk, could be helpful?
Here's a possible solution...
I have been mulling this idea around in my mind for quite a while now and, if only for the purpose of giving it a place to go, I think it is time to publicly let the cat out of the bag.
Modeling the basic premise of traffic signal communication, it works like this...
Step 1) All neighborhood participants would, by scrounging around the house or visiting the nearest thrift store, obtain three bandanas. Solid bright red, bright yellow and bright green.
Step 2) Next, before heading out on a walk with your dog consider your current status.
RED:
Perhaps your dog is indeed elderly, arthritic and prefers to not be bothered by the advances of an exhuberant pup. Or, you've had a long, exhausting day and are looking forward to an uneventful hoof around the neighborhood with your buddy. Simply tie the red bandana high up on your leash in plain sight to signal to the immediate world that for whatever reason, right now, “we need our space respected.”
YELLOW:
In turn, a yellow bandana could pronounce that your dog is a youngster in training and although you are “open to a greeting, you could use a moment to, for the sake of consistency, get her under control before allowing contact.” Or it could mean something as simple as “my dog is timid at first.”
GREEN:
The green would of course indicate a status along the lines of, “my dog is good with greetings and we welcome them. He/she is calm, friendly, and there are no concerns with aggression.”
You get it?
Step 3) Give some thought to how this enhanced ability to communicate your basic position in the moment could help advance your and your dog's comfort zone. Be creative. Whether you are working on a training issue, or with a dog who is extremely shy because of previous experiences, the ability to communicate the basic situation expediently could serve as an aid to broadening versatility and the overall enjoyment of your walk!
It's that simple.
A canine that can seemingly smell cancer could be in line for some special dog treats.
Special dog treats could be in store for one animal after it helped researchers to sniff out cancer.
While it is well known that dogs have an acute sense of smell, one Labrador has shown researchers that she can even pick out the smell of cancer.
A study conducted at Kyushu University in Japan and published in the journal Gut found that the eight-year-old black Labrador could pick out cancer samples from their smell.
With breath tests, the animal found the cancer 33 out of 36 times, while with stool samples, 37 out of 38 cancers were detected.
While the researchers acknowledge that using dogs in clinics may not be practical, they do hope the discovery could help with the development of new screening techniques.
Hideto Sonoda, who worked on the study, noted that the ability of dogs to detect scents does vary from animal to animal and even in the same creature on different days.
According to the BBC, some early research has now been conducted on developing an electronic dog's nose.
While it is well known that dogs have an acute sense of smell, one Labrador has shown researchers that she can even pick out the smell of cancer.
A study conducted at Kyushu University in Japan and published in the journal Gut found that the eight-year-old black Labrador could pick out cancer samples from their smell.
With breath tests, the animal found the cancer 33 out of 36 times, while with stool samples, 37 out of 38 cancers were detected.
While the researchers acknowledge that using dogs in clinics may not be practical, they do hope the discovery could help with the development of new screening techniques.
Hideto Sonoda, who worked on the study, noted that the ability of dogs to detect scents does vary from animal to animal and even in the same creature on different days.
According to the BBC, some early research has now been conducted on developing an electronic dog's nose.
Canine conflict: Off-leash dog leads to $3,217.50 in Kiawah Island fines
Graham Banks is howling mad over the more than $3,000 in tickets he received from the town of Kiawah Island because of an incident that began when his dog, Boo, was running on the beach.
He turned down a plea bargain offered by the town to settle the matter for $500. Instead, he will argue the case before a jury at a trial scheduled for Feb. 10 in municipal court. Banks received three tickets on Sept. 28. Each citation was written for $1,072.50.
"Part of the outrage is the amount of the fine that they're giving me. It's draconian. I can't look myself in the mirror if I put up with this," he said.
Banks said he is a poet, investor and day trader who lives in Branchville. His family has a home on the island. He said that he has never had a problem letting his mixed-breed Jack Russell terrier/Labrador retriever exercise off-leash at the island beach.
His name on a copy of the tickets is listed as "Fred Thompson," which he said is a reference to the former senator from Tennessee. "It was just a joke," Banks said. He signed the tickets as Graham Banks.
Town attorney Dennis Rhoad said he was not familiar with the specifics of what happened on the beach when Banks received the three tickets. Most of the time, someone violating the ordinance is just asked to put their dog on a leash, Rhoad said.
"For whatever reason, it didn't go down that way. Somehow it escalated," Rhoad said.
The case is a simple one based on the town ordinance governing the situation, he said.
"Was the dog on a leash? I don't think it's really that complicated," Rhoad said. "He might come up with some brilliant legal argument that I've overlooked."
If Banks accepts the proposed plea bargain, the town will drop charges that he disrupted the peace and failed to cooperate with the code enforcement officer, Rhoad said.
The town has tried to strike a balance between dog lovers and people who don't like canines roaming on the beach. "Kiawah is really a pretty friendly place," Rhoad said. "There aren't a whole lot of tickets being issued."
Banks said his argument before the jury will be presented like an essay about his experience that day. When he arrived at the beach, Banks said he saw a sign that said no dogs were allowed unless on a leash. However, he knew from experience that an unleashed dog is allowed on the beach in fall and winter if the dog is controlled with voice commands. The sign he saw did not have dates on it that specified when dogs on the beach had to be on a leash, he said.
"They did not make me aware of the law. It's totally confusing," he said, referring to the sign. "It was the off-season and you always have been able to walk your dog on the beach (without a leash) in the off-season."
Banks said that a code enforcement officer on an ATV shadowed him as he headed to his family's beach home. The officer pulled in front of Banks and stopped to talk about his unleashed dog. When Banks learned he was receiving a $1,000 ticket for violating the island leash law, he said that he challenged what was happening and refused to provide information the officer requested. As a result, he received two more tickets, he said.
On most of the island's beach, including where Banks was ticketed, dogs are allowed off-leash from Nov. 1 to March 15 if they can be controlled by voice command. Other times of the year, dogs must be on a leash, according to the town website.
Banks said his dog is trained to heel right beside him and otherwise responds well to voice commands.
"It was after the equinox and I thought it was fine to do it. The beach was deserted. There wasn't anybody on the beach," he said.
"Part of the outrage is the amount of the fine that they're giving me. It's draconian. I can't look myself in the mirror if I put up with this," he said.
Banks said he is a poet, investor and day trader who lives in Branchville. His family has a home on the island. He said that he has never had a problem letting his mixed-breed Jack Russell terrier/Labrador retriever exercise off-leash at the island beach.
His name on a copy of the tickets is listed as "Fred Thompson," which he said is a reference to the former senator from Tennessee. "It was just a joke," Banks said. He signed the tickets as Graham Banks.
Town attorney Dennis Rhoad said he was not familiar with the specifics of what happened on the beach when Banks received the three tickets. Most of the time, someone violating the ordinance is just asked to put their dog on a leash, Rhoad said.
"For whatever reason, it didn't go down that way. Somehow it escalated," Rhoad said.
The case is a simple one based on the town ordinance governing the situation, he said.
"Was the dog on a leash? I don't think it's really that complicated," Rhoad said. "He might come up with some brilliant legal argument that I've overlooked."
If Banks accepts the proposed plea bargain, the town will drop charges that he disrupted the peace and failed to cooperate with the code enforcement officer, Rhoad said.
The town has tried to strike a balance between dog lovers and people who don't like canines roaming on the beach. "Kiawah is really a pretty friendly place," Rhoad said. "There aren't a whole lot of tickets being issued."
Banks said his argument before the jury will be presented like an essay about his experience that day. When he arrived at the beach, Banks said he saw a sign that said no dogs were allowed unless on a leash. However, he knew from experience that an unleashed dog is allowed on the beach in fall and winter if the dog is controlled with voice commands. The sign he saw did not have dates on it that specified when dogs on the beach had to be on a leash, he said.
"They did not make me aware of the law. It's totally confusing," he said, referring to the sign. "It was the off-season and you always have been able to walk your dog on the beach (without a leash) in the off-season."
Banks said that a code enforcement officer on an ATV shadowed him as he headed to his family's beach home. The officer pulled in front of Banks and stopped to talk about his unleashed dog. When Banks learned he was receiving a $1,000 ticket for violating the island leash law, he said that he challenged what was happening and refused to provide information the officer requested. As a result, he received two more tickets, he said.
On most of the island's beach, including where Banks was ticketed, dogs are allowed off-leash from Nov. 1 to March 15 if they can be controlled by voice command. Other times of the year, dogs must be on a leash, according to the town website.
Banks said his dog is trained to heel right beside him and otherwise responds well to voice commands.
"It was after the equinox and I thought it was fine to do it. The beach was deserted. There wasn't anybody on the beach," he said.
He turned down a plea bargain offered by the town to settle the matter for $500. Instead, he will argue the case before a jury at a trial scheduled for Feb. 10 in municipal court. Banks received three tickets on Sept. 28. Each citation was written for $1,072.50.
"Part of the outrage is the amount of the fine that they're giving me. It's draconian. I can't look myself in the mirror if I put up with this," he said.
Banks said he is a poet, investor and day trader who lives in Branchville. His family has a home on the island. He said that he has never had a problem letting his mixed-breed Jack Russell terrier/Labrador retriever exercise off-leash at the island beach.
His name on a copy of the tickets is listed as "Fred Thompson," which he said is a reference to the former senator from Tennessee. "It was just a joke," Banks said. He signed the tickets as Graham Banks.
Town attorney Dennis Rhoad said he was not familiar with the specifics of what happened on the beach when Banks received the three tickets. Most of the time, someone violating the ordinance is just asked to put their dog on a leash, Rhoad said.
"For whatever reason, it didn't go down that way. Somehow it escalated," Rhoad said.
The case is a simple one based on the town ordinance governing the situation, he said.
"Was the dog on a leash? I don't think it's really that complicated," Rhoad said. "He might come up with some brilliant legal argument that I've overlooked."
If Banks accepts the proposed plea bargain, the town will drop charges that he disrupted the peace and failed to cooperate with the code enforcement officer, Rhoad said.
The town has tried to strike a balance between dog lovers and people who don't like canines roaming on the beach. "Kiawah is really a pretty friendly place," Rhoad said. "There aren't a whole lot of tickets being issued."
Banks said his argument before the jury will be presented like an essay about his experience that day. When he arrived at the beach, Banks said he saw a sign that said no dogs were allowed unless on a leash. However, he knew from experience that an unleashed dog is allowed on the beach in fall and winter if the dog is controlled with voice commands. The sign he saw did not have dates on it that specified when dogs on the beach had to be on a leash, he said.
"They did not make me aware of the law. It's totally confusing," he said, referring to the sign. "It was the off-season and you always have been able to walk your dog on the beach (without a leash) in the off-season."
Banks said that a code enforcement officer on an ATV shadowed him as he headed to his family's beach home. The officer pulled in front of Banks and stopped to talk about his unleashed dog. When Banks learned he was receiving a $1,000 ticket for violating the island leash law, he said that he challenged what was happening and refused to provide information the officer requested. As a result, he received two more tickets, he said.
On most of the island's beach, including where Banks was ticketed, dogs are allowed off-leash from Nov. 1 to March 15 if they can be controlled by voice command. Other times of the year, dogs must be on a leash, according to the town website.
Banks said his dog is trained to heel right beside him and otherwise responds well to voice commands.
"It was after the equinox and I thought it was fine to do it. The beach was deserted. There wasn't anybody on the beach," he said.
"Part of the outrage is the amount of the fine that they're giving me. It's draconian. I can't look myself in the mirror if I put up with this," he said.
Banks said he is a poet, investor and day trader who lives in Branchville. His family has a home on the island. He said that he has never had a problem letting his mixed-breed Jack Russell terrier/Labrador retriever exercise off-leash at the island beach.
His name on a copy of the tickets is listed as "Fred Thompson," which he said is a reference to the former senator from Tennessee. "It was just a joke," Banks said. He signed the tickets as Graham Banks.
Town attorney Dennis Rhoad said he was not familiar with the specifics of what happened on the beach when Banks received the three tickets. Most of the time, someone violating the ordinance is just asked to put their dog on a leash, Rhoad said.
"For whatever reason, it didn't go down that way. Somehow it escalated," Rhoad said.
The case is a simple one based on the town ordinance governing the situation, he said.
"Was the dog on a leash? I don't think it's really that complicated," Rhoad said. "He might come up with some brilliant legal argument that I've overlooked."
If Banks accepts the proposed plea bargain, the town will drop charges that he disrupted the peace and failed to cooperate with the code enforcement officer, Rhoad said.
The town has tried to strike a balance between dog lovers and people who don't like canines roaming on the beach. "Kiawah is really a pretty friendly place," Rhoad said. "There aren't a whole lot of tickets being issued."
Banks said his argument before the jury will be presented like an essay about his experience that day. When he arrived at the beach, Banks said he saw a sign that said no dogs were allowed unless on a leash. However, he knew from experience that an unleashed dog is allowed on the beach in fall and winter if the dog is controlled with voice commands. The sign he saw did not have dates on it that specified when dogs on the beach had to be on a leash, he said.
"They did not make me aware of the law. It's totally confusing," he said, referring to the sign. "It was the off-season and you always have been able to walk your dog on the beach (without a leash) in the off-season."
Banks said that a code enforcement officer on an ATV shadowed him as he headed to his family's beach home. The officer pulled in front of Banks and stopped to talk about his unleashed dog. When Banks learned he was receiving a $1,000 ticket for violating the island leash law, he said that he challenged what was happening and refused to provide information the officer requested. As a result, he received two more tickets, he said.
On most of the island's beach, including where Banks was ticketed, dogs are allowed off-leash from Nov. 1 to March 15 if they can be controlled by voice command. Other times of the year, dogs must be on a leash, according to the town website.
Banks said his dog is trained to heel right beside him and otherwise responds well to voice commands.
"It was after the equinox and I thought it was fine to do it. The beach was deserted. There wasn't anybody on the beach," he said.
Pet owners fete dogs with lavish birthday parties
Children aren't the only ones being lavished with expensive birthday parties. Pet owners are also marking their dog's special day with celebrations.
Lexi, a year-old black and white dachshund, celebrated her birthday in a Manhattan apartment with multi-colored balloons. She munched on dog-friendly cakes made of peanut butter, yogurt and carob, sipped Prosecco and nibbled on miniature cocktail hot dogs with her 15 canine guests.
"I've met so many people in the neighborhood, thanks to her," said actress Robin Brenner, who said she wanted to do something special to celebrate the occasion.
"She's kind of brought us all together."
But not all dog owners are ready to meet the challenges of holding a party for their pooch at home.
New York-based media buyer Jessica Winston, has held two birthday parties for her 3-year-old Bichon Frise, Ernie, including last year's "Bark Mitzvah.
"In dog years," she explained, "Ernie turned 13."
She recently celebrated her pet's third birthday at a dog-friendly watering hole, "Drop Off Service," in Manhattan's East Village.
The birthday dog, along with eight guest, spent a snowy, Sunday afternoon lapping up homemade "pup cakes" made of oats, carrots and cream cheese, while beer and hors d'oeuvres were served to their owners.
As Ernie and his dog pals donned birthday hats and received gift bags and doggie Snuggies, or blankets, their human companions sang "Happy Birthday."
Brenner and Winston are not alone in their quest to honor their dogs with a canine cotillion.
Betty Wong, owner of Pawtisserie, a dog bakery in Brooklyn specializing in natural dog treats, has seen a sharp increase in the number of people throwing birthday parties for their dogs.
"Originally, we opened the bakery because I wanted to give my finicky-eating dog, Buttercup, some healthy menu choices," Wong explained. "We've seen a rise in the number of birthday cake orders during the past few years, and the numbers are steadily growing."
If organizing a pet birthday bash seems daunting, Dorothy Moore can help. In 2005, Moore opened The Dining Dog Cafe in Edmonds, Washington, featuring a pet-friendly restaurant for dogs and their owners. Complete with white tablecloths, soft music and chandeliers, doggie birthday parties are popular at the restaurant.
Moore is also a party planner for canines. She organized about 100 dog parties last year, ranging in price from $100 to $500, including high-end soirees in which owners rent limos for their dogs and guests. A princess theme is also popular with the dogs donning tiaras and all-pink decorations.
A groomer by trade, Moore believes the socialization that naturally occurs during dog parties is good for the pets and their owners.
"Not only do the dogs love the attention, but their owners also seem to get a lot out of the parties," Moore said. "Some people may appear shy at first, but something about the sheer joy of the event brings them out of their shell."
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at The Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Boston, also recognizes the positive benefits of organized dog gatherings.
"The opportunity for dogs to interact with each other, for whatever excuse, enables fulfillment of a basic biological need," Dodman said.
For dog party enthusiasts, it's never too early to begin planning the next party.
Winston has already begun to ponder Ernie's 4th birthday. "After all, he'll be 28 in dog years," she said.
Lexi, a year-old black and white dachshund, celebrated her birthday in a Manhattan apartment with multi-colored balloons. She munched on dog-friendly cakes made of peanut butter, yogurt and carob, sipped Prosecco and nibbled on miniature cocktail hot dogs with her 15 canine guests.
"I've met so many people in the neighborhood, thanks to her," said actress Robin Brenner, who said she wanted to do something special to celebrate the occasion.
"She's kind of brought us all together."
But not all dog owners are ready to meet the challenges of holding a party for their pooch at home.
New York-based media buyer Jessica Winston, has held two birthday parties for her 3-year-old Bichon Frise, Ernie, including last year's "Bark Mitzvah.
"In dog years," she explained, "Ernie turned 13."
She recently celebrated her pet's third birthday at a dog-friendly watering hole, "Drop Off Service," in Manhattan's East Village.
The birthday dog, along with eight guest, spent a snowy, Sunday afternoon lapping up homemade "pup cakes" made of oats, carrots and cream cheese, while beer and hors d'oeuvres were served to their owners.
As Ernie and his dog pals donned birthday hats and received gift bags and doggie Snuggies, or blankets, their human companions sang "Happy Birthday."
Brenner and Winston are not alone in their quest to honor their dogs with a canine cotillion.
Betty Wong, owner of Pawtisserie, a dog bakery in Brooklyn specializing in natural dog treats, has seen a sharp increase in the number of people throwing birthday parties for their dogs.
"Originally, we opened the bakery because I wanted to give my finicky-eating dog, Buttercup, some healthy menu choices," Wong explained. "We've seen a rise in the number of birthday cake orders during the past few years, and the numbers are steadily growing."
If organizing a pet birthday bash seems daunting, Dorothy Moore can help. In 2005, Moore opened The Dining Dog Cafe in Edmonds, Washington, featuring a pet-friendly restaurant for dogs and their owners. Complete with white tablecloths, soft music and chandeliers, doggie birthday parties are popular at the restaurant.
Moore is also a party planner for canines. She organized about 100 dog parties last year, ranging in price from $100 to $500, including high-end soirees in which owners rent limos for their dogs and guests. A princess theme is also popular with the dogs donning tiaras and all-pink decorations.
A groomer by trade, Moore believes the socialization that naturally occurs during dog parties is good for the pets and their owners.
"Not only do the dogs love the attention, but their owners also seem to get a lot out of the parties," Moore said. "Some people may appear shy at first, but something about the sheer joy of the event brings them out of their shell."
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at The Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Boston, also recognizes the positive benefits of organized dog gatherings.
"The opportunity for dogs to interact with each other, for whatever excuse, enables fulfillment of a basic biological need," Dodman said.
For dog party enthusiasts, it's never too early to begin planning the next party.
Winston has already begun to ponder Ernie's 4th birthday. "After all, he'll be 28 in dog years," she said.
Canines are top dogs in Alaska rescue group
January 27, 2011 8:21:00 pm
by Mary Beth Smetzer, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Associated Press
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — As 8-year-old Toby closed in on a sunspot reflecting off the side of a leather couch, Marty Williams pointed out that the German shepherd's intense focus is called "prey drive" in search and rescue circles.
Prey drive is just one of the canine attributes that make for a successful search and rescue dog. And Toby is a veteran seeker.
Toby, a certified search and rescue dog, trained under his late father, Fritz. But Williams has another up-and-coming talent, 1-year-old Maya, also a German shepherd, now Toby's protege.
"Maya, she's going to be a firecracker," Williams predicts. "She has the fundamentals down real well. Now we have to fine tune her."
For more than a decade, Williams, 53, has been a member of the local PAWS search and rescue group, a nonprofit group of volunteers who locate missing people — someone who may have strayed away from home or become lost in the woods, as well as drowning victims. And from time to time, PAWS members may be involved in criminal investigations.
Raised in Alaska, Williams has worked as a commercial pilot and feels confident searching the Bush.
The big game trophies on his living room wall, ranging from musk ox to moose, attest to his outdoor skills.
"Marty has lot of energy and is very devoted to his dogs and spends a lot of time working with them," said Cathie Harms, the only remaining charter member of PAWS who still lives in the Interior.
PAWS' roots date back to 1985 and a three-day wilderness search for a woman and family members who became lost while berry picking. A couple of local dog trainers were called in on the third day and were hot on their trail when an air searcher located the lost party a short distance away, Harms said.
Like Williams, Harms works a full-time job, and trains and works her German shepherd, Link, Toby's brother, in her spare time.
"In Europe, search and rescue is a career choice," Harms said. "But in the U.S. there are enough wing nuts to do it for free."
Williams grew up with German shepherds as pets, and when Fritz came into his life he realized Fritz needed a job and PAWS was the likely answer.
Williams joined the group in 1998.
"You're responsible for training your own dog, but you have guidance from the older members," Williams explained.
"I know a lot more about dog training than I did 15 years ago," he said, "and we're learning more all the time."
The local group invites Outside trainers for classes, and Williams teaches classes Outside, where he says he always picks up more information.
He also speaks to elementary and high school classes locally about trail and scent searching with trained dogs.
Water searches are Williams' favorite, in part because they are intangible — a mystery to be solved — and the dog senses what its trainer can't see.
"Toby gets so excited when we go out in a boat ride with the wind in his face. Then we go to work. The dog tells you where it's at. You have to trust your dog. You don't get to help; it's all dog," Williams explained. "We never find the body, the divers find them."
But Williams points out that a dog is not a sure thing in search and rescue.
"Every dog is different and they make mistakes," he said. "They're just another tool."
PAWS members meet regularly every Saturday for training either indoors or outdoors. During the warmer months, training sessions are more frequent.
North Pole veterinarian Margy Eastman said Williams is a good dog person and has taught her a lot during PAWS training sessions.
"He's very capable and he's kind of the epitome of Alaskan self-reliance," she said. "He's an experienced pilot, and he's very comfortable in the back country, and that's not suitable for everybody."
Eastman said Williams is good at reading terrain and wind and sets up some challenging problems for training searches.
"The best way to see the woods around Fairbanks is to have Marty set up a problem for your dog," Eastman said.
Eastman did search and rescue in Wisconsin previous to moving to Alaska in 2004, where, she said, you can see 30 feet in front of you and between trees, not like Alaska's often unpenetrateable wilderness.
It's nice, Eastman said, to have somebody on the team, able to pick up his gear and be flown to a remote location to assist in a search.
"Marty's dogs are fit and acclimated as well," she added. "He's dedicated countless hours and provided good reliable search help for law enforcement when they needed it.
Harms, who works at the Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife, agrees.
"Marty has high drive dogs. They're not couch potatoes — they work hard; they work fast, they are very focused."
As a search organizer, Harms said, she doesn't have to worry when Williams is out on a cross-country wilderness search.
"His dogs don't get lost, and he doesn't get lost. He knows how to handle himself in the wilds; he knows how to get around," Harms said.
When not working, Toby and Maya are house pets at the Williams homestead.
Williams, a longtime employee at N.C. Machinery, takes personal leave when necessary to assist on searches locally or in remote areas of the Interior.
In September, Williams and Toby survived an aircraft accident on their return home from the western Alaska village of Tuluksak, where they had been searching for a missing man. The plane crashed into trees at the end of the village runway at takeoff.
Both were banged up, and Williams assisted in giving first aid to the pilot and Alaska State Trooper who were injured more severely.
But the experience won't keep Williams and his dogs from going out again.
"We don't intentionally put ourselves in jeopardy," he said.
by Mary Beth Smetzer, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Associated Press
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — As 8-year-old Toby closed in on a sunspot reflecting off the side of a leather couch, Marty Williams pointed out that the German shepherd's intense focus is called "prey drive" in search and rescue circles.
Prey drive is just one of the canine attributes that make for a successful search and rescue dog. And Toby is a veteran seeker.
Toby, a certified search and rescue dog, trained under his late father, Fritz. But Williams has another up-and-coming talent, 1-year-old Maya, also a German shepherd, now Toby's protege.
"Maya, she's going to be a firecracker," Williams predicts. "She has the fundamentals down real well. Now we have to fine tune her."
For more than a decade, Williams, 53, has been a member of the local PAWS search and rescue group, a nonprofit group of volunteers who locate missing people — someone who may have strayed away from home or become lost in the woods, as well as drowning victims. And from time to time, PAWS members may be involved in criminal investigations.
Raised in Alaska, Williams has worked as a commercial pilot and feels confident searching the Bush.
The big game trophies on his living room wall, ranging from musk ox to moose, attest to his outdoor skills.
"Marty has lot of energy and is very devoted to his dogs and spends a lot of time working with them," said Cathie Harms, the only remaining charter member of PAWS who still lives in the Interior.
PAWS' roots date back to 1985 and a three-day wilderness search for a woman and family members who became lost while berry picking. A couple of local dog trainers were called in on the third day and were hot on their trail when an air searcher located the lost party a short distance away, Harms said.
Like Williams, Harms works a full-time job, and trains and works her German shepherd, Link, Toby's brother, in her spare time.
"In Europe, search and rescue is a career choice," Harms said. "But in the U.S. there are enough wing nuts to do it for free."
Williams grew up with German shepherds as pets, and when Fritz came into his life he realized Fritz needed a job and PAWS was the likely answer.
Williams joined the group in 1998.
"You're responsible for training your own dog, but you have guidance from the older members," Williams explained.
"I know a lot more about dog training than I did 15 years ago," he said, "and we're learning more all the time."
The local group invites Outside trainers for classes, and Williams teaches classes Outside, where he says he always picks up more information.
He also speaks to elementary and high school classes locally about trail and scent searching with trained dogs.
Water searches are Williams' favorite, in part because they are intangible — a mystery to be solved — and the dog senses what its trainer can't see.
"Toby gets so excited when we go out in a boat ride with the wind in his face. Then we go to work. The dog tells you where it's at. You have to trust your dog. You don't get to help; it's all dog," Williams explained. "We never find the body, the divers find them."
But Williams points out that a dog is not a sure thing in search and rescue.
"Every dog is different and they make mistakes," he said. "They're just another tool."
PAWS members meet regularly every Saturday for training either indoors or outdoors. During the warmer months, training sessions are more frequent.
North Pole veterinarian Margy Eastman said Williams is a good dog person and has taught her a lot during PAWS training sessions.
"He's very capable and he's kind of the epitome of Alaskan self-reliance," she said. "He's an experienced pilot, and he's very comfortable in the back country, and that's not suitable for everybody."
Eastman said Williams is good at reading terrain and wind and sets up some challenging problems for training searches.
"The best way to see the woods around Fairbanks is to have Marty set up a problem for your dog," Eastman said.
Eastman did search and rescue in Wisconsin previous to moving to Alaska in 2004, where, she said, you can see 30 feet in front of you and between trees, not like Alaska's often unpenetrateable wilderness.
It's nice, Eastman said, to have somebody on the team, able to pick up his gear and be flown to a remote location to assist in a search.
"Marty's dogs are fit and acclimated as well," she added. "He's dedicated countless hours and provided good reliable search help for law enforcement when they needed it.
Harms, who works at the Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife, agrees.
"Marty has high drive dogs. They're not couch potatoes — they work hard; they work fast, they are very focused."
As a search organizer, Harms said, she doesn't have to worry when Williams is out on a cross-country wilderness search.
"His dogs don't get lost, and he doesn't get lost. He knows how to handle himself in the wilds; he knows how to get around," Harms said.
When not working, Toby and Maya are house pets at the Williams homestead.
Williams, a longtime employee at N.C. Machinery, takes personal leave when necessary to assist on searches locally or in remote areas of the Interior.
In September, Williams and Toby survived an aircraft accident on their return home from the western Alaska village of Tuluksak, where they had been searching for a missing man. The plane crashed into trees at the end of the village runway at takeoff.
Both were banged up, and Williams assisted in giving first aid to the pilot and Alaska State Trooper who were injured more severely.
But the experience won't keep Williams and his dogs from going out again.
"We don't intentionally put ourselves in jeopardy," he said.
Dog specialist teaches owners to communicate with their pets at Taunton lecture
Taunton —
What is the dog trying to say with its barking and behavior?
Tracie Laliberte, a dog specialist who is studying the canine mind for a doctorate at Salve Regina, answered these questions in a detailed lecture to approximately 35 dog owners at the Silver City Canine Training Center on Sunday morning.
At one point, Laliberte imitated several dog barking sounds and interpreted them for the crowd. She let out four quick, sonorant woofing sounds, paused and then did it again.
“That is, ‘I think there’s a problem,” she said. “‘There may be danger. But the pack leader needs to check it out.’ Guess what? The pack leader might be you.”
Next, Laliberte produced a series of mid-pitched barks, spaced out by three seconds each.
“Somebody shut that dog up,” Laliberte joked. “But what that means: ‘Is anybody there? I’m lonely.’ If you are going to tie your dogs up, at least tie it up with a friend, so there is two.”
The two-hour lecture cost $25. Jo-Ann Laughlin, owner of the center since it opened six years ago in the Myles Standish Industrial Park, said it’s important that dog owners, breeders and show trainers try to understand the language of dogs.
“The people that are here to learn are a mixed group,” Laughlin said, noting the spectrum of dog handling experience in the crowd.
“People need to learn to communicate with their dogs so they are not disappointed with their behavior. It’s important to be able to communicate with dogs. Is your dog exhibiting aggression or is it afraid? Let’s back up to understand. Sometimes, it’s just about confidence. We can build the confidence of the dog if we understand them.”
Laliberte said people need to prepare themselves for handling a dog by becoming better acquainted with their language.
“My goal is to understand what their body language and sounds mean,” Laliberte said. “It’s teaching people dog languages, basically. Like if you were an American going to France, you’d have to learn French to communicate effectively. I’m trying to help (people) understand what all the different body languages and sounds mean.”
Laliberte said dog owners are often confused by their dog’s actions.
“A good example of that is when a dog is acting like he wants to rip a toy to shreds,” she said. “Some people think the dog is being aggressive. It means the dog is being joyous and playing. When a dog kisses you it’s not affection. It’s actually showing you submission. In the wild, dogs lick their mothers’ faces to show them they submit to their authority.”
Tina Sparuk, of Easton, said the lecture was informative and helped her understand one element of her dog’s behavior that, prior to the lecture, she had been misinterpreting.
“I wanted to get info on reading my dog’s signals and to be able to communicate with him better,” said Sparuk, who brought along her border collie. “This was very informative. I learned that I was misreading one of my dogs behaviors. It was (a) herding, or crouching behavior when it saw other dogs. Now, I think it’s a sign of stress.”
Laliberte divided dog behavior into three basic categories. She said the drive for prey, the drive to be part of a pack and the drive for self-defense all are part of the chemistry that helps explain dog actions.
Laliberte also explained how humans can employ dog language when dealing with pets. She said that if people, specifically children, learn to approach dogs with a sideways stance, they will be perceived as less threatening to a dog, allowing it to stay calm.
Before the lecture Laliberte laid out some ground rules.
“No question is a stupid question ... and no peeing on the floor,” Laliberte said, eliciting a wave of laughter from the audience.
What is the dog trying to say with its barking and behavior?
Tracie Laliberte, a dog specialist who is studying the canine mind for a doctorate at Salve Regina, answered these questions in a detailed lecture to approximately 35 dog owners at the Silver City Canine Training Center on Sunday morning.
At one point, Laliberte imitated several dog barking sounds and interpreted them for the crowd. She let out four quick, sonorant woofing sounds, paused and then did it again.
“That is, ‘I think there’s a problem,” she said. “‘There may be danger. But the pack leader needs to check it out.’ Guess what? The pack leader might be you.”
Next, Laliberte produced a series of mid-pitched barks, spaced out by three seconds each.
“Somebody shut that dog up,” Laliberte joked. “But what that means: ‘Is anybody there? I’m lonely.’ If you are going to tie your dogs up, at least tie it up with a friend, so there is two.”
The two-hour lecture cost $25. Jo-Ann Laughlin, owner of the center since it opened six years ago in the Myles Standish Industrial Park, said it’s important that dog owners, breeders and show trainers try to understand the language of dogs.
“The people that are here to learn are a mixed group,” Laughlin said, noting the spectrum of dog handling experience in the crowd.
“People need to learn to communicate with their dogs so they are not disappointed with their behavior. It’s important to be able to communicate with dogs. Is your dog exhibiting aggression or is it afraid? Let’s back up to understand. Sometimes, it’s just about confidence. We can build the confidence of the dog if we understand them.”
Laliberte said people need to prepare themselves for handling a dog by becoming better acquainted with their language.
“My goal is to understand what their body language and sounds mean,” Laliberte said. “It’s teaching people dog languages, basically. Like if you were an American going to France, you’d have to learn French to communicate effectively. I’m trying to help (people) understand what all the different body languages and sounds mean.”
Laliberte said dog owners are often confused by their dog’s actions.
“A good example of that is when a dog is acting like he wants to rip a toy to shreds,” she said. “Some people think the dog is being aggressive. It means the dog is being joyous and playing. When a dog kisses you it’s not affection. It’s actually showing you submission. In the wild, dogs lick their mothers’ faces to show them they submit to their authority.”
Tina Sparuk, of Easton, said the lecture was informative and helped her understand one element of her dog’s behavior that, prior to the lecture, she had been misinterpreting.
“I wanted to get info on reading my dog’s signals and to be able to communicate with him better,” said Sparuk, who brought along her border collie. “This was very informative. I learned that I was misreading one of my dogs behaviors. It was (a) herding, or crouching behavior when it saw other dogs. Now, I think it’s a sign of stress.”
Laliberte divided dog behavior into three basic categories. She said the drive for prey, the drive to be part of a pack and the drive for self-defense all are part of the chemistry that helps explain dog actions.
Laliberte also explained how humans can employ dog language when dealing with pets. She said that if people, specifically children, learn to approach dogs with a sideways stance, they will be perceived as less threatening to a dog, allowing it to stay calm.
Before the lecture Laliberte laid out some ground rules.
“No question is a stupid question ... and no peeing on the floor,” Laliberte said, eliciting a wave of laughter from the audience.
Bed bug-sniffing beagle lends a nose
Imagine only eating as a reward for hard work. Now imagine that hard work involves searching for bed bugs — oval, reddish-brown, wingless insects that tend to inhabit beds or other nooks and crannies in an unsuspecting victim’s home.
Hardly an incentive to eat, but it works well for Radar, a 2-year-old beagle mix from Newton who is employed by Preferred Pest Control in Des Moines.
“He’s up to 98 percent accuracy in finding bed bugs,” said Brad Smith, fully accredited entomologist and president of Preferred Pest Control. “He’s the only dog in Iowa that’s trained to ... only alert to live bed bugs, down to one egg, which is about 1 millimeter big.”
Beagles are naturals when it comes to Radar’s job due to their “searching mentality,” Smith said. Other dogs commonly used to find bed bugs are schnauzers and Jack Russell terriers.
Radar is one of many rescue dogs trained by J&K Canine Academy, a Florida-based dog training facility that describes itself as the “gold standard in the entomology canine detection field with the only termite and bed bug programs in the world with scientifically proven results.” (www.jkk9.com)
Smith notes that while there are other canines trained to find the parasitic bugs, Radar is the only National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association-certified dog in the state. Both the dog and his handler, Newton resident Justin Etter, must apply for re-certification through NESDCA annually, which includes a test to sniff out living bed bugs.
“They (NESDCA members) select four rooms that we’re going to search,” Etter said. “In two of the rooms, they hide live bed bugs. Anywhere in the room is fair game. In the other two, they hide distracters — dead bugs, sheddings, droppings. He’s trained only to indicate on the scent of live bed bugs. If he indicates on the dead bed bugs, he automatically fails.”
Radar alerts Etter when he finds live bed bugs by pawing or scratching at the area. He is then rewarded with a treat.
To keep the dog’s sniffing skills sharp (and his tummy full), Radar must be trained a minimum of twice per day — usually an hour before the normal work day and an hour after. To continue Radar’s training, Etter keeps a bed bug “farm” at home with a combination of live and dead bugs.
“I have to raise bed bugs because he only indicates on live bed bugs, or the scent and odor of live bed bugs or viable eggs,” Etter said. “Right now, I have them in a bug container and I put a screen over them. I have them in three individual containers.”
Smith said his clients love having Radar check their apartments, homes, hospitals or other places for bed bug infestations because he’s fast and efficient. With traditional methods of searching for the parasites, “We would have to flip mattresses, open drawers — you really invade a person’s living area,” he said. “So, we’ve reduced the searching time from maybe an hour per apartment to two or three minutes. People are very happy with him.”
The first sign of a bed bug infestation is the appearance of small brownish or reddish spots on mattresses or bed sheets.
“These are bed bug droppings and blood spots,” because the parasites feast on exposed skin Smith said in a video on his website, www.preferredpest.com. “Also, heavy infestations may result in an odor described as sweet smelling. Bed bug bites, which are actually entry points of their blood-drawing beaks, often result in red itchy welts which appear as a red dot with a lighter ring around them.”
To avoid full-blown infestations, Smith said many apartment complex owners, home owners, hospitals and even funeral homes are calling for Radar to check their property as a precautionary measure.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and bed bugs have really only come about in the last five or six years in our area,” Smith said. “Last year they made up half of our revenues, and the year before it was less than 1 percent, almost not even on the radar at all, and now it’s literally half of our work. I’ve hired four full-time people just to treat bed bugs everyday.”
He even decided this week to apply for another scent detection dog from J&K Canine Academy. The dogs don’t come cheap — Radar cost over $10,000 — but they’re well worth the money and time spent on training if they can help Iowans avoid parasite infestations.
Radar doesn’t seem to mind working every day, either.
“When he’s sitting at home he kinda lays around or mopes around,”Etter said, “but when he’s at work he gets excited.”
Hardly an incentive to eat, but it works well for Radar, a 2-year-old beagle mix from Newton who is employed by Preferred Pest Control in Des Moines.
“He’s up to 98 percent accuracy in finding bed bugs,” said Brad Smith, fully accredited entomologist and president of Preferred Pest Control. “He’s the only dog in Iowa that’s trained to ... only alert to live bed bugs, down to one egg, which is about 1 millimeter big.”
Beagles are naturals when it comes to Radar’s job due to their “searching mentality,” Smith said. Other dogs commonly used to find bed bugs are schnauzers and Jack Russell terriers.
Radar is one of many rescue dogs trained by J&K Canine Academy, a Florida-based dog training facility that describes itself as the “gold standard in the entomology canine detection field with the only termite and bed bug programs in the world with scientifically proven results.” (www.jkk9.com)
Smith notes that while there are other canines trained to find the parasitic bugs, Radar is the only National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association-certified dog in the state. Both the dog and his handler, Newton resident Justin Etter, must apply for re-certification through NESDCA annually, which includes a test to sniff out living bed bugs.
“They (NESDCA members) select four rooms that we’re going to search,” Etter said. “In two of the rooms, they hide live bed bugs. Anywhere in the room is fair game. In the other two, they hide distracters — dead bugs, sheddings, droppings. He’s trained only to indicate on the scent of live bed bugs. If he indicates on the dead bed bugs, he automatically fails.”
Radar alerts Etter when he finds live bed bugs by pawing or scratching at the area. He is then rewarded with a treat.
To keep the dog’s sniffing skills sharp (and his tummy full), Radar must be trained a minimum of twice per day — usually an hour before the normal work day and an hour after. To continue Radar’s training, Etter keeps a bed bug “farm” at home with a combination of live and dead bugs.
“I have to raise bed bugs because he only indicates on live bed bugs, or the scent and odor of live bed bugs or viable eggs,” Etter said. “Right now, I have them in a bug container and I put a screen over them. I have them in three individual containers.”
Smith said his clients love having Radar check their apartments, homes, hospitals or other places for bed bug infestations because he’s fast and efficient. With traditional methods of searching for the parasites, “We would have to flip mattresses, open drawers — you really invade a person’s living area,” he said. “So, we’ve reduced the searching time from maybe an hour per apartment to two or three minutes. People are very happy with him.”
The first sign of a bed bug infestation is the appearance of small brownish or reddish spots on mattresses or bed sheets.
“These are bed bug droppings and blood spots,” because the parasites feast on exposed skin Smith said in a video on his website, www.preferredpest.com. “Also, heavy infestations may result in an odor described as sweet smelling. Bed bug bites, which are actually entry points of their blood-drawing beaks, often result in red itchy welts which appear as a red dot with a lighter ring around them.”
To avoid full-blown infestations, Smith said many apartment complex owners, home owners, hospitals and even funeral homes are calling for Radar to check their property as a precautionary measure.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and bed bugs have really only come about in the last five or six years in our area,” Smith said. “Last year they made up half of our revenues, and the year before it was less than 1 percent, almost not even on the radar at all, and now it’s literally half of our work. I’ve hired four full-time people just to treat bed bugs everyday.”
He even decided this week to apply for another scent detection dog from J&K Canine Academy. The dogs don’t come cheap — Radar cost over $10,000 — but they’re well worth the money and time spent on training if they can help Iowans avoid parasite infestations.
Radar doesn’t seem to mind working every day, either.
“When he’s sitting at home he kinda lays around or mopes around,”Etter said, “but when he’s at work he gets excited.”
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