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Cesar Millan - Punishment .v Positive Training

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:01:39 GMT

Cesar Millan uses traditional, old-school punishment and aversive methods to train dogs, that the American Veterinary Society has their own position statement on:

http://avsabonline.org/uploads
/position_statements/Combined_Punishment_Statements.pdf

"AVSAB’s position is that punishment
(e.g. choke chains, pinch collars, and electronic
collars) should not be used as a first-line or
early-use treatment for behavior problems. This
is due to the potential adverse effects which
include but are not limited to: inhibition of
learning, increased fear-related and aggressive
behaviors, and injury to animals and people
interacting with animals."

In Cesar's shows, there are some episodes where I have seen him use positive reinforcement training but it is rare. Usually he chokes the dog with their collars to 'calm' them or let them know who's boss, or he kicks them in the ribs to change their mindset. Aversively training any animal results in loss of trust, fear, avoidance behaviors, aggressive responses, and can even make the behavior worse (depending - some dogs may think they are receiving attention for a bad behavior, or they can even become less pain sensitive). here's a study that's more scientific
[http://binalunzer.com/Links_files/aversivestimulation.pdf ]. Training like this on TV makes the general public think that it is OK to do this form of training even if animal is in pain, and families routinely try to 'alpha roll' dogs at home resulting in dangerous confrontations. Oftentimes a family trying to mimic Cesar's training gets in trouble. Don't forget children are watching the show, too.

Positive training can train dogs just as well as punishment training most times. So, why should we use shock collars, kick dogs, and choke dogs? Positive training is safer, effective, and family-friendly. If you do your own on-line search, you will see the wide array of opinions on Cesar - for example see this New York Times article [ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/opinion/31derr.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 ]. I have seen Cesar use an electric shock collar on the show and not tell the audience, and I have seen dogs pee themselves out of fear on the show as well. He never addresses what's going on at those times; [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh9YOyM2TAk ]

There's no arguing that punishment training can work (it has for 75 years), but if there are better methods out there that are just as effective and scientifically proven to be better, we should use them, in my opinion.

Don't you want your dog to look happy when they train?

Puppies and Chewing - how to make it stop

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:37:08 GMT

How do you get your puppy to stop chewing on your things, and start chewing on their own things?

This is one of the most frustrating aspects of being a new parent. Your puppy is not born knowing what to chew and what not to chew. They chew for the first 6 months (approximately!) because they are teething, and it is your responsibility to help them teethe responsibly!

A lot of people try to wait until their puppies 'grow out of it' - but this can be a bad plan, because if your puppy grows up enjoying your shoes, he might just make a habit out of it!

Here are some tips to make sure your puppy is chewing on their own things;

1) *Rotate, rotate, rotate* : Most people buy their dogs plenty of toys, but leave them all in a basket the puppy can get to whenever it wants. This is often boring for a puppy. So, only give your dog access to half its toys at one time. Then switch!

2) Make sure you're not accidentally playing 'chase' with your dog when its chewing on something its not supposed to! Tons of smart puppies learn quickly to get to play chase, all they have to do is grab something that doesn't belong to them !

3) You can use a taste deterrent, but make sure to try them first yourself! Spray the deterrent in the air, and see if makes your entire body taste badly. These sprays can be really noxious and not good for expecting parents, as well as dogs. Some puppies get sick from them.

4) Make sure your puppy has enough great and satisfying chew toys. It's important to distinguish between a chew toy and a regular toy. Get a Kong that you can stuff with peanut butter and freeze it. Anything frozen will soothe teething :)

5) Replace the inappropriate object that your puppy is chewing on and give them an appropriate one - make it more exciting than the other thing and play or interact with the good toy to make sure your puppy gravitates to the new toy in the future!

6) Never punish your puppy for chewing on inappropriate objects after the chewing has been done! Your puppy will not understand that the object is inappropriate - so instead he will be afraid of you!

7) If your puppy is 6 months or older and is still chewing on inappropriate items, you may have more serious issues like like separation anxiety and stress.

What Do You Think of Animal Care & Control? Facebook Article Sounds Off

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:59:04 GMT

SEE THIS LINK FOR FULL ARTICLE ON FACEBOOK:

>>>LINK<<<

NYC Animal Care & Control (or "ACC" to those of us in NY) is New York City's "pound." It operates in large part to "control" the homeless animal population in the city.

History:

In 1894, the ASPCA agreed to take charge of the "care and control" of NYC's homeless dogs and cats. To facilitate this, NY State passed a special law allowing mayors of major cities the power to designate an agency to deal with "lost, strayed or homeless animals."

In 1972, the ASPCA's then board member Gretchen Wyler sued the ASPCA for financial irregularities and cruelty to animals. The ASPCA settled with Wyler and, for the first time, sought financial aid from NYC. In 1976, Mayor of New York Abe Beame assigned the City's Department of Health (DOH) to administer the ASPCA and set the annual budget.

In 1994, the ASPCA formally resigned from performing care and control services claiming that operating a "high kill" shelter was tarnishing its reputation, and that the city's funding was inadequate.

Mayor Giuliani's office responded by creating the "Center for Animal Care and Control" (CACC), a 501(c)(3) entity, to assume responsibility for the City's homeless pet population. While ACC is technically a stand-alone nonprofit corporation, DOH controls every aspect of ACC's existence: drafting its by-laws, selecting its executive directors and directors, setting its budget, and imposing various requirements. Despite its nominally private status, the ACC is subject to FOIA, in part because it is a "volunteer organization on which a local government relies for the performance of an essential public service" and the City of New York (in the form of DOH) "exercises a great deal of control over its operations and financial affairs," including, but not limited to, the composition of the ACC's board of directors (see Van Ness v ACC, Index No. 103410/97 [Sup. Ct. NY Cty 1999]). (Also see Shelter Reform Action Committee for history.)

The Contract:

The DOH mandate is to safeguard the "public" (i.e., human) health.

The current contract between NYCACC and DOH is visible at: http://www.shelterreform.org/files/2010AugContract.pdf.

Per the contract, DOH has "the power and duty to administer Departmental programs relating to the impact of animals on public health," and ACC was created, in part, "for the public purpose of seizing animals deemed to be a threat to the public health, providing and operating facilities to shelter, hold, examine, test, treat, spay, neuter, place for adoption, assure humane care and disposition of and otherwise control animals which the [ACC] has seized or accepted for shelter" (2011 contract, p. 1).

Funding: DOH funds ACC. ACC will receive $35,793,710 for the five-year period from July 2010 to July 2015, or $7,158,742 per year.

Mayor's Alliance, Maddie's Fund, and New Hope:

Please see the FAQ for this information.

Current Staff:

ACC Board Members and Titles

Dr. Thomas Farley, Chairman (also the Commissioner of DOH)
Adrian Benepe, Director
John M. B. O'Connor, Director
David Colon, Director
Patrick Nolan, Director
Bruce Doniger, Treasurer
Jay Kuhlman, DVM, Secretary
Executive Team Members

Julie Bank, Executive Director (jbank@nycacc.org; p: 212-442-2059; f: 212-442-2066)
Dr. Stephanie Janeczko, Director of Operations (resigned June 13, 2011)
Risa Weinstock, Director of Administration/General Counsel
Richard Gentles, Director of Development and Communications (rgentles@nycacc.org)
The above individuals can also be reached by mail:

Animal Care & Control of NYC
11 Park Place, Suite 805
New York, NY 10007
Board Meetings:

ACC holds board meetings that are open to the public approximately twice per year, in January and June.

However, controversy ensued at the last meeting (June 21, 2011) concerning, among other things, the fact that ACC turned away members of the public.

Kill Statistics:
Dog and cat statistics according to ACC were as follows for the period from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011:

Total intakes: 32,396
Total adoptions ("includes animals transferred to New Hope partners"): 20,893
Total killed (this does not include "owner"-requested kills, kills for "illness," "injury," or "aggression"*): 8,271
Total returned to "owner": 1,495
*ACC notes that it "only performs Owner Requested Euthanasia to relieve the suffering of a pet when the pet's life has seriously deteriorated due to illness or injury and no other remedy is possible. Aggressive animals are also euthanized. Healthy, well tempered pets are not euthanized on demand."

Thus, there were 1,737 dogs and cats taken in who were unaccounted for in these statistics. Presumably these animals were surrendered by guardians who requested that they be killed, were "aggressive," or were ill or injured. It is unclear how ACC determines what kind of illness or injury should result in a death sentence. It is also unclear how ACC determines animal temperament.

For "others" (i.e., animals other than dogs or cats), the figures are as follows:

Total intakes: 2,482
Total adoptions: 1,584
Total killed (this does not include "owner"-requested kills, kills for "illness," "injury," or "aggression"**): 576
Total returned to "owner": 46
**Thus, there were 276 animals other than dogs or cats taken in who were unaccounted for in these statistics. Presumably these animals were surrendered by guardians who requested that they be killed, were "aggressive," or were ill or injured. Again, It is unclear how ACC determines what kind of illness or injury should result in a death sentence, and it is unclear how ACC determines animal temperament.

Other Recent Controversy:

In addition to the controversy surrounding the lack of access to ACC's most recent board meeting, ACC has come under fire recently in several areas:

Allegations of neglect: Several months ago, WABC Eyewitness Investigation carried a story about the deplorable conditions in the Manhattan ACC.
Budget cuts: DOH cut ACC's budget by about $1.5 million dollars this year. The reporter for this article noted: "New York City is downright miserly when it comes to funding for Animal Care and Control. It allocates one of the lowest per capita rates in the nation for animal control—85 cents per resident. National animal control recommendations suggest 4 to 7 dollars per capita to provide appropriate animal services." (Id.) As a result of these budget cuts, ACC has terminated their lost-and-found system (so they will no longer help reunite guardians with their lost pets) and reduced their field operations, leaving strays and abandoned animals to fend for themselves in the city streets. According to Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC), these services were supposed to be "mandatory" under ACC's contract with the city.
However, according to SRAC and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, budget cuts are only the symptom of a deeper, structural problem with ACC: the fact that it is funded and administered by DOH. Stringer notes: "AC&C is controlled by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, an agency whose core focus is the welfare of people, not animals. This institutional limitation causes AC&C's budget to shrink every year. AC&C and its small, seven-member board lacks both the independence and fund-raising capabilities that would help it fulfill its important mission." (emphasis added) (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-stringer/protecting-new-yorks-anim_b_928513.html) He and SRAC advocate a "top to bottom" restructuring of ACC so that it can fulfill its mission. Unsurprisingly, DOH responded unfavorably to Stringer's analysis and proposal (http://www.shelterreform.org/ACCvsCPConservancy.html).
ACC's killing (AKA "euthanasia") policies: As noted above, ACC excludes several categories of animals from its kill tally. While this makes ACC's kill rate look less onerous, what it means is that many animals' deaths are completely invisible to the public. Recently, the Examiner shed light on another excluded category--near full term animals. The story concerned the aborting of eight near full term puppies during a spay operation. The puppies were apparently removed from the mother alive, and then killed. The reporter notes:"Everyone needs to understand this: aborting puppies this late in Ginger's pregnancy means that each of these eight puppies was old enough to survive on its own. That means the ACC cut Ginger open, took out each of the eight squirming puppies, one by one, and gave each puppy the same injection that they use to kill grown dogs every other day of the year. Those are eight lives who would have had rescue groups fighting to take them. Instead, they are eight forgotten bodies that the ACC will not include in its daily tally of killed dogs." (emphasis in original)
Volunteer and employee policies: ACC's volunteer policies are also controversial. ACC has come under fire recently for terminating volunteers who express disagreement with the organization. Additionally, SRAC notes that the volunteer program is poorly run and does little either ensure that volunteers will be prepared and effective. Nor does ACC's treatment of employees appear much better.
What's Next? Proposed Shelter Reform Legislation:

The COMPANION ANIMAL ACCESS AND RESCUE BILL (CAARA) is proposed legislation which would, if passed, allow "qualified" rescue groups to pull animals from a shelter (such as the ACC). Equally important, CAARA would also set out basic minimum standards of care for shelter animals. CAARA was introduced in the NY Senate in May, 2011, by Assemblyperson Micah Kellner under bill # A7312-2011. You can read the text of the bill here: http://m.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/A7312-2011.
As noted above, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has called for ACC to be decoupled from the administrative umbrella of DOH, and restructured "into a quasi-independent, not-for-profit with a large, diverse board that can bring both new resources and new expertise to the city's animal welfare system."

Raffle Benefit Raises Thousands!

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:29:21 GMT

Just to update everyone, the event went very well and we raised over $2,000!

Thanks to everyone for coming!

Raffle Benefit for K9 Sandy Victims!

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 05:51:23 GMT

Everyone come down to 30 Gansevoort Street this Sunday to take part in a raffle to benefit K9 victims of Hurricane Sandy in NYC.

Here is the invite:

Doggie Seatbelts

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:28:47 GMT

See Article
Bergan Auto Harness
Bergan
We buckle up. Why shouldn't our best friends? Minimize driving distractions and increase protection for both you and your dog. Bergan's Auto Harnesses meet V9DT B2009.1. Pet Safety Durability Test (see www.v9dt.com). The minimum durability thresholds are designed to ensure confidence that a harness will withstand forces generated from sudden stops while minimizing distractions from traveling pets. The complete harness system comes equipped with an adjustable safety tether that has two high-grade aluminum carabiners. These carabiners are climbing-grade and have been tested for 2,500 lbs. for the small size and 5,000 lbs. for the large. The Bergan Auto Harness is durable but also lightweight and comfortable for the dog, and easy to use!

Note: Any tethered car harness can be released if the dog accidentally steps on the release button. For ultimate safety, we recommend using the Angel Guard Seat Belt Release Cover to prevent this from happening.

Comes in four fully adjustable sizes.

FDA Approves Neutering by Injection!

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:12:26 GMT

What a wonderful, phenomenal, game-changer. See below! Neutering by injection costs $12!

"FDA approves shot to neuter puppies WASHINGTON (AP) -- Veterinarians now can offer an alternative to surgery to neuter puppies.

Called Neutersol, it's a shot administered directly into the testicles of puppies at the right age for neutering. The ingredients -- the amino acid l-arginine and a zinc salt -- cause the testicles and prostate to atrophy.

The alternative, surgically removing the testicles, guarantees sterility. In a study of 224 dogs, Neutersol did almost as well: Semen analysis showed only one sterilization failure, said Dr. Melanie Burson of the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA approved Neutersol in March, but did not announce the approval until Monday.

A type of chemical castration already is available for humans. Sex offenders often are sentenced to regular injections of hormones that deplete testosterone. But that's not permanent sterilization.

The new method for dogs is permanent, but some testosterone production continues because it's not hormonally driven, Burson said. So unlike surgical castration, Neutersol may not eliminate unwanted male behaviors such as roaming, marking and aggression, the FDA warned.

Pet overpopulation is a serious problem, and scientists have struggled to find ways to make animals infertile. Some were dangerous either for the animal or for the veterinarian administering them, said Bruce Addison, founder of Addison Biological Laboratory of Columbia, Missouri, which is selling Neutersol.

For some reason, Neutersol ingredients are toxic to cells when injected directly into the testicles but not other parts of the body, Addison said.

It is crucial for vets to administer the shot properly, and for owners to care for the puppy during the following week to avoid ulceration and infection of the injection site, the FDA said.

Scientists now are studying whether Neutersol can safely sterilize older dogs and cats, Addison said."
>FULL ARTICLE<

A Puppy Graduation Video From 2011

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:39:39 GMT

Watch our puppy graduation video from a 2011 class below or at this LINK:

If your video does not display correctly >CLICK HERE<

Puppy Graduation from Zaheer Cassim on Vimeo.

Is It OK To Change Your Dog's Name?

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:58:30 GMT

It happens to rescue dogs all the time - and they are usually fine it. I would rather a person changed their dog's name than call them MORE than 1 name! Here's another OK example:

Article from: The Bark Magazine
By: Karen B. London

Tim Tebow’s Dog has a New Name Bronco has become Bronx Karen B. London, PhD | May 16, 2012 Tim Tebow and his dog, Bronx Football player Tim Tebow ‘s every action seems to attract attention, so it’s no surprise that when he changed his Rhodesian Ridgeback’s name recently, it made the news. The name Bronco, which was such a great name when he played for the Denver Broncos, became awkward once they traded him to the New York Jets.

Many sportswriters are discussing how cruel it was to make this name change and claiming that the dog will suffer terribly as a result. Most dog professionals, myself included, think that changing a dog’s name is fine, even if the new name is nothing like the old one.

Bronco to Bronx is a minor change, which makes me suspect that Tebow made a real effort to change his dog’s name to something similar. Most people do think that it’s a big deal for a dog, so this gesture may have been prompted by a thoughtful attempt to minimize any issues for his dog.

Love him or hate him, Tebow’s big news is a sign of many things: his status as a cultural icon, the pattern of naming our dogs after what’s important to us, and the ever-increasing importance of dogs in our culture.

LINK

How to Choose a Dog Breed (Book Reco)

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:04:58 GMT

Link to book website

Breedfreak – The Dog Breed Guide for Normal People with Real Lives, Families, Houses, and Budgets is a complete guide to picking a dog breed. While other breed atlases and breed organizations have a financial interest in making sure you think their breed is flawless, we are here to lift the veil and give you the dog breed secrets that all vets, behaviorists, and dog trainers know but are afraid to tell you.

There are no “bad” breeds but there are breeds that will make your life a nightmare if you do not choose wisely.

Each breed entry includes a thorough, extremely biased, and remarkably opinionated breed description; an estimate of what you can expect to spend on your dog (hint: it is more than you think); and a whopping dose of humor to keep you interested. Here is a list of breeds that are included in the book.

In addition to the breed entries there are several background chapters with excruciatingly important information you need to know about selecting a breed including:

The basics of picking a dog breed
The truth about owning a “tough guy” dog
Information about mixed breed dogs that every prospective dog owner should know
A guide to the most important congenital health issues in pure bred dogs
The truth about health certification including hip dysplasia screening (the truth is out folks)
What is REALLY costs to own a dog
Which breed thinks like this: “Here comes a little kid, should I bite him in the face or should I let him live a scar free life? Wait, I cannot stop barking. Why am I barking. I think I just bit him. Wait, I just peed. Dammit. I keep peeing all over. Duh.”

This book is not for everyone and comes with a PG-13 rating. If you are OK with with words and phrases like turd and crack baby; and you like your dog breed descriptions with a small dose of crass and a side of humor, you should order your copy today. If you listen to what we have to say you will save THOUSANDS of dollars in headaches, destroyed furniture, and maybe even a failed marriage. Yup. It’s that good. Buy it today.