May 2018 Dog of the Month!!

May 2018 Dog of the Month – Odie

Our May 2018 dog of the month has to be one of our most unusual clients. He is also a great representative of how working with dogs’ individual personality will help it to succeed.

Odie is a 2-year old Tamaskan Dog, a breed which originated in Eastern Europe. Pronounced “TA-MAS-KIN”, these dogs are rare in the US with only a handful of breeders. The idea behind the breeds’ creation was a dog that had the intimidating look of the wolf but with little or no wolf bred into them. This breeding would allow them to keep the domestic dog personality and temperament.

They are literally a “sheep in wolfs’ clothing”.

While their wolf-like appearance is the thing they are best known for, they are also highly intelligent, independent, loyal and protective. Not to mention, good family dogs. They are still used as guard dogs and military dogs in areas of Russia and Czechoslovakia, where they are also referred to as Czechoslovakian Wolf Dogs.

Odie demonstrates all his breeds’ traits. While he may not rush to greet people he doesn’t know, he is completely devoted to his owners’ young granddaughter, smothering her with kisses every time he sees her. And as the pictures will attest he will put up just about anything if it involves her.

Odie began coming to AZ Dog Sports as a young dog and quickly showed us that he was up for any challenge. At the same time, he also made it very clear it had to be on his own terms. He is a quick learner. Odie also is blessed with a sensitive side and won’t tolerate being forced into anything.

This is why the reward-based training we utilize at AZ Dog Sports has helped him thrive!

Odie now succeeds in multiple sports classes including Agility, Scentwork and Treibball. He is a member of our Outdoor Adventure classes on weekends as well. In the process of completing 3 levels of Obedience, as a young dog, he showed us that he wasn’t as comfortable in close settings with groups of dogs. So, he occasionally does private lessons with us as well. This keeps his active mind engaged with new games and ideas. He is not unusual in that respect; many dogs will do well in some classes but may act out in others due to insecurity or over-stimulation.

Our job at AZ Dog Sports is to find what works best for each dog. In Odie’s case we have created a program that allows him to not only to participate, but excel in his classes. And occasionally, if we’re lucky enough, he thanks us with a quick lick and the slightest of tail wags…which he saves just for his closest friends.

We are proud to call you one of our own, Odie!

~by Will Bruner

Diary of a Service Dog – Part 6

Diabetic Alert Dogs

Another way we are helping our friends

My mom says that almost 10% of the US population lives with Diabetes on a daily basis (CDC.gov). Although the rate is slowing in the older population, the rate of children and adolescents with diabetes is not. This means that as the years go by, more of our population is being affected by this disease.

Did you know Service Dogs can be trained to aid someone with diabetes?

They are called Diabetic Alert Dogs.

Here you can see my friend Lilly as she alerts her handler that his glucose is rising too high.

Lilly is using “sit pretty” to indicate to her handler that his blood glucose is rising too high. First Lilly gets his attention with a nudge, then she can indicate if his blood glucose is leaving a safe range by going too high or too low. Handler’s always have to check their blood glucose level when their dog alerts.

Isn’t that cool?

Here Lilly is alerting right in the middle of class!

What’s also cool, is that AZ Dog Sports trains service dogs!

All of the pictures I have been sharing with you are from dogs being trained to be service dogs at AZ Dog Sports.

Diary of a Service Dog – Part 5

Working as a Service Dog

My partner is my number one concern when I am working as a service dog.

I have a very important job to do, and I know it. This means that in order for me to be there for my partner, I must also keep myself safe. Among other things, I am trained to obey the “go in” or “under” cue.

Here Wilhelm the black lab, and Kiki the German Shepherd, are practicing the “go in” or “under” cue.
This behavior asks us to fit ourselves underneath a seat or table while out in public.
This training keeps us safe and out of the way when we stop for a break with our partner.

When I am resting or not working, but still with my partner, I tuck myself neatly under something nearby so that I am not in the way.

Here Service Dog Lilly is doing a great “go-in” cue.
It is important that service dogs be as unobtrusive as possible, which helps keep them safe while working in public.
Most service dogs are trained to put themselves away under a bench, seat, or at table.

So, when you see a service dog under something, we are not hiding or trying to get away; we are simply protecting ourselves so that we can continue to be there for our partners.

Check out our Service Dog Training Program here

Call us for more information 602-237-6775

What is a Holistic Vet?

What exactly is a Holistic Veterinarian?

Natural. Organic. Whole. From the Source. Holistic.

These words seem to be all the buzz in the food and medical worlds nowadays. We are being bombarded from all angles about how we need to get back to the source and back to the natural way of living. And that this will heal what ails us.

This is all good and well for humans, but what about our pets? Don’t they deserve the same care and attention we give ourselves? This is where the Holistic Vet movement comes in.

Holistic Veterinarians have actually been practicing for many years, but they are just now starting to gain traction and get the recognition that they deserve. Just as their human counterparts, Holistic Vets are attempting to heal our pets using excellent nutrition, less pharmaceutical medicine and more naturally derived modalities and products. And what’s good about this movement is you don’t have to say goodbye to your trusted vet, many holistic vets will work in conjunction with them!

Holistic Veterinarians use varying types of healing avenues, including:

It’s been a long time coming, blending the natural world with the Veterinarian world, but it’s happening and it’s here to stay. You can read here where Dr. Jodie Gruenstern helps to explain how the Holistic Veterinarian practice works.

Whether you’re new to the Holistic Veterinarian movement or already trying some of the remedies with your pet, you might still have some unanswered questions. We want to help!

You can have the chance to meet Dr. Jodie Gruenstern this Friday (April 13, 2018) at AZ Dog Sports and ask her for yourself. See more info here.

If you want to talk to someone about Dr. Jodie’s presentation, give us a call 602-237-6775 and we’d be happy to answer your questions!

April 2018 Dog of the Month!!

Our dog of the month for this month is Wager, an English Pointer owned by Kathy Duffy.

Kathy owned Wager’s mother as well, so she has literally known her for her entire life. At the ripe old age of 5, Wager has the unique distinction of being the most titled dog we know here at AZ Dog Sports. In the dog world, titles are given out to a dog after it completes a specific number of tasks in a sport or receives a qualifying score or higher in competition.

As of today, Wager has currently earned or been awarded 11 different titles from three different organizations.

They are as follows:

Obedience (AKC) Titles –

Novice (Beginner level)

CGC-Canine Good Citizen

CGCA-Canine Good Citizen Advanced

CGCU-Canine Good Citizen Urban

Rally Novice (Beginner level)

Tricks (Advanced level)

Farm Dog

Field/Hunt Titles –

Junior Hunter

Novice Fieldwork

Sport Dog – All Around

Other

Certified Therapy Dog

Kathy only moved to Arizona 3 years ago and while Wager received some of her titles beforehand, we are proud to say Wager has achieved most of her titles while working with us here AZ Dog Sports. Congratulations Wager & Kathy for earning Dog of the Month from AZ Dog Sports!

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