Paw Prints

ABC Honor Roll Graduates

Chelcee Albert
Jennifer Barker
Kelsey Bond
Megan Civitello
Amanda Clovis
Hannah Curry
Kristen Cuthbert
Katelyn Daly
Jodie Day
Samantha Lynn Eberling
Karissa Edgar
Leslie Gann
Bethany Governo
Shauna Gray
Michele Hinkle
Samantha Kampsen
Helen Kay
Sean Keating
Vincent Lopriore
Brittany Morawski
Stefanie Muhle
Ondrea Plambeck
Sarah Pruitt
Annie Sandfort
Hope Saunders
Delaney Syme
Jillian Turner
Samantha Vargas
Kimberly Visagie
Erin Wales
Tiffany Wangerin

ABC Graduates

Mervat Abdalla
Arlenne Adames
Eileen Algarin Lazu
Shannon Altic
Aaron Anderson
Edward Armbruster
Scott Bacheller
Cheyenne Barrera
Riley Barrett
Melanie Baylis
Kaylee Beaton
Katie Beavers
Alondra Belandres
Carrie Bennett Bland
Anastasia Benoist
Sydnee Berg
Breanna Bernache
Alliesha Binius
Melda Bisak
Debbie Blaisdell
Bailey Bond
Kenia Bonilla
Lucy Borba
Melissa Brehmeyer
Kirstyn Brewer
Samuel Brown
Estefania Buitrago
Brittani Burnetter
Victoria Cardenas
David Cash Jr.
Teresia Castenda
Melissa Cepero
Megan Chiasson
Kathleen Chirico
Selena Ciccone
Elizabeth Coccia
Ryan Collins
Alyssa Corbett
Brittanny Cosme Rivera
Sierra Coy
Selene Cuellar-Landa
Alyssa Czaikoski
Ryleigh Dalleh
Sharareh Dattolo
Lisa Dixon
Vien Do
Sarah Doiron
Mavia Doyle
Heather Dressler
Makayla Dufek
Karey Dufour
Heather Duncan
Leilani Dyer
Katia Eacker
Marian Eccles
Brittany Elmore
Pamela Eremo
Brittany Erickson
Heather Esquibel
Curtis Fay
Melinda Fidler
Marcela Figueroa
Lauren Flanagan
Frances Fleck
Liam Fulton
Kathryn Furman
Abigail Gallegos
Daisy Galvez
Amber Garay
Marissa Garcia
Natalie Garcia
Natalie Garmon
Sarah Garrett
Deborah Goldenberg
Laurie Goldstein
Diana Gonzales-Ricard
Shauna Goodlett
Cecelia Greer
Evelin Gregorio
Megan Harris
Anastasia Hayes
Cristyn Helmick
Sam Helms
Morgan Hill
Katie Hoath
Kenneth Horspool
Patricia Howe
Luke Hutter
Lynn Jensen
Monique Jimenez
Samuel Joe Jr.
Brittany Johnson
Heather Johnson
Jennifer Johnson
Roxann Juarez
Autumn Keene
Emma Kelley
Steven Kent
Ookami Kern
Rebecca Kinman
Eve Knickerbocker
Carla Koziel
Ashley Krieger
Hailey Kuhnhenn
Pei Jung Sher Lee
Viola Lee
Tiara Leet
Ashley Lippman
Jimaryvelis Lopez
Amber Lorance
Josephine Mackewich
Molly Malone
Isabelle Marquez
Breanna Martin
Rachel Mathews
Rosina Mendez
Robyn Michalecki
Devonni Mikesh
Cheryl Miller-Balster
Joeana Mills-Donahue
Tayah Monroe
William Moreland
Jamie Mothershed
McKenzie Moyer
KatiAnne Mullen
Colleen Mulligan
Jamie Nava
Brittany Neef
Jade Neeld
Jessica Nelson
Leslie Ochoa Huerta
Gina Olavarria
Louise Osgood
Tiffany Perez
Isabel Pinal
Amber Pippen
Rogine Preston
Zoya Pride
Whitney Rae
Mauryn Ramirez
Lucas Rappa
Patricia Reposa
Sara Revers
Kristina Reynolds
Kenneth Richards
Natalie Rodriguez
Kevin Rose
Rebecca Roy
Sharon Ruprecht-Brown
Sonia Saldavia
Devon Sampson
Heather Saulnier
Kerry Schnick
Madelene Schook
Kristofer Shepherd
Brionnah Shields
Kayla Short
Paul Sisemore
Christine Smith
Colleen Solomon
Kimberly Stancy
Bayley Steltenpohl
Brennan Stephenson
Jolene Swain
Abby Taylor
Sabre Teale
Cassidy Thomas
Johandry Tudares
Barbara Tullie
Alejandra Twomey
Evenecer Valdivia-Torres
Licely Vale Arce
Trisha Valentin
Cindy Vallesio
Emily Vandyke
Ka-sasha Vaughn
Nathalia Villafrade
Rebecca Wade
Waqas Majeed Warraich
Jacqueline Webb
Megan Webb
Rebecca Wedel
Kaylee Weiland
Ambur Wheat
Kathleen White
Jessica Wiesmueller
Tiana Wilcox
Alex Wilson
Sara Wirta
Taylor Wright
Elizabeth Yusinski
Joselyn Zambrano
Eric Zegar

By Devon Hubbard Sorlie

As Animal Behavior College graduates, you have no doubt studied different training methods. Of the following six training acronyms, can you pick out the one that is unlike the other five? BAT, BARF, C/T, OC, R+ and LIMA. If you selected BARF, you are correct. BARF is short for “biologically appropriate raw food.” The other five describe types of training: BAT (behavior adjustment training), C/T (click/treat), OC (operant conditioning), R+ (positive reinforcement), and LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive).

Beginning in January, those who wish to join APDT are required to attest they use LIMA-based training methods in order to become Premium or Professional APDT members. Those who do not use LIMA-based training may join as a Supporting member. As part of our strategic alliance, Animal Behavior College’s updated dog training curriculum now incorporates the Humane Hierarchy: science-based, positive-reinforcement training philosophies that include using LIMA training techniques.

“APDT has always focused on educating trainers, dog owners and others,” noted APDT Chair Khara Schuetzner in her Chronicle of the Dog column that explained the policy change. “We cannot remain inclusive yet demand everyone be at the same level without educating a person first. Changing a person’s beliefs or ideas takes time, patience and understanding. Think of your clients who come to you with a dog training problem, maybe the clients have a piece of equipment on their dogs you despise; do you turn them away? How can we be educated if we judge? How can we be open if we close down communication on what we just see or don’t approve of? This is why LIMA is important. We must continue to find the least intrusive way to train humans and dogs. If there are trainers who are not LIMA-compliant, they will have access to webinars and other resources to assist them in their learning. Our goal is to educate, not discriminate.”

APDT is asking all of its members, whether they are new or renewing, to answer four questions to determine if they are LIMA-compliant in order to have their profiles on the online trainer search. Those questions are:

1. Do you use any of the following tools/techniques immediately upon training any behavior or for behavior modification: choke, prong, shock, or electronic collars, shaker cans, sprays, leash-pop/leash correction, yelling or any other technique designed to cause fear, pain, or startle in the dog?
2. When training and conducting behavior modification, is the dog continuously monitored for distress signals and/or allowed to opt out? And if the dog is showing signs of stress, do you re-evaluate your training or behavior plan to make appropriate changes?
3. If you are unfamiliar with the issues a dog is presenting, do you attempt to work through the issue anyway?
4. If you are working with a dog and he/she is not showing progress within the normally expected time frame and you have no other ideas or you are not able to keep distress at a minimal (mild) level, do you continue to work with the dog anyway?

What is LIMA?

For a trainer or behavior consultant to be LIMA-compliant, they must use the least intrusive, minimally aversive strategy out of a set of humane and effective tactics likely to succeed in achieving a training or behavior-change objective with minimal risk of producing aversive side effects. LIMA stresses the need to first use positive reinforcement during training, and that punishment does not make up the majority of a behavior-modification program.

LIMA does not justify the use of punishment (prong or shock collars are two examples) in lieu of other effective interventions and strategies. In the vast majority of cases, desired behavior change can be affected by focusing on the animal’s environment, physical well-being, and operant and classical interventions, such as differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior, desensitization and counter-conditioning. To find out more about LIMA, you can view an APDT webinar here.

The goal of LIMA is for its trainers/consultants to determine and use the least-intrusive effective intervention that will address the target behavior. In the course of an experienced trainer/consultant’s practice, they might identify a situation in which a relatively more intrusive procedure is necessary for an effective outcome. In such a case, a procedure that reduces the learner’s control might be the least-intrusive, effective choice. Additionally, wellness is at the top of the hierarchy to ensure that a trainer/consultant does not implement a learning solution for behavior problems that are caused by pain or illness. LIMA offers an ethical checkpoint for consultants to carefully consider the process by which effective outcomes can be most humanely achieved on a case-by-case basis.

APDT is the largest dog training association in the world whose mission is “building better trainers through education.” As an inclusive (open) association, APDT encourages all who wish to train dogs to become members—from beginners to those who hold doctorate degrees—because through education comes change

By Andis Company Staff 

Andis Company is one of the world’s premier manufacturers of grooming products for both professionals and at-home users. In fact, its facility in Wisconsin manufactures millions of blades each year, making it one of the world’s largest blade producers.

“You might say we’re obsessed with quality,” said Matt K. Andis, co-president at Andis. “In our relentless pursuit of excellence, we’ve found a way to improve each step of the blade manufacturing process. We’re always looking for ways to make our products better so that barbers and stylists have the best tools possible.”

It Starts with the Steel

To produce quality-engineered products, Andis starts by using the best materials. That is the company’s recipe for making professional- grade blades—and it all starts with the steel. Andis uses a special blend that is been refined from decades of blade making—both in high carbon-steel and stainless-steel varieties. In addition, the blades are heat treated to optimize durability, resulting in blades that provide users with longer-lasting cutting performance.

Machining for Perfection

With upper and lower cutting blades moving at up to 14,000 strokes per minute, there’s no room for error if you want to make a quality clipper blade. To ensure ultra-close tolerances and low friction, Andis invested in cutting-edge laser technology and uses a proprietary machining process to produce blades with precision specifications—down to the micro-inch. This process results in each individual tooth of the blade just as sharp as the others. It’s this attention to detail in the machining process that allows groomers to create precise, superior cuts for even the most demanding clients.

Relentless Pursuit for Quality

Professional groomers have relied on Andis blades for years and with good reason. Real-time quality control data constantly monitors all aspects of the blade production process to create the best possible blade. In addition, the company validates 100 percent of the blades it makes, with quality technicians scrutinizing every one that comes off the line. From the raw material to packaging, every step along the way is designed to deliver professionals with tools they can rely on to perform all day long.

Andis Blades Designed to Perform

In addition to Andis adjustable clipper or trimmer replacement blades, the company offers UltraEdge® and CeramicEdge® options. Detachable blades offer professionals access to a wider range of blades—many of which are designed for a specific purpose, and they deliver a smoother finish.

By Kong Company Staff

While holiday celebrations will likely be scaled down this year, chances are your clients will still be planning to have special meals with the ones they love—including their pets. Share these tips for ensuring that everyone at—or under—the table safely enjoys their time together.

 Prevent Begging at the Table or in the Kitchen

Think about how the mouthwatering aromas of holiday foods can draw you straight to the kitchen. Now imagine your sense of smell was 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger—like a dog’s is. The temptation to beg in the kitchen (image right) or at the table during the holidays can be especially strong, especially when a dog’s favorite people are gathered together to eat them. Clients can help prevent begging with a bit of preparation—and a treat-stuffed toy. For example, filling Kong Classics with dogs’ favorite treats provides mental and physical stimulation that can help them work off excess energy. The toys not only offer dogs tasty nibbles but also satisfy their natural chewing and foraging instincts—and are fun, too.

Kong has been helping dogs better enjoy the holidays—and the rest of the year—for more than 4 decades. The Kong Classic is available in a variety of sizes and rubber formulas to meet the needs of dogs of all sizes and ages, from teething, zooming puppies to grey muzzled seniors.

Favorite Holiday Flavors for Everyone

Giving a dog a frozen, stuffed Kong before sitting down for a holiday meal—or while preparing one, lets him celebrate the season safely. There are a myriad delicious (and safe) ingredients that can go into the toy, including many holiday favorites. This enables clients to share holiday flavors—and leftovers—with their canine companions. The Kong website has a variety of recipes you can share with your clients. For example:

Pup-Permint
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup chopped mint
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup diced apples
KONG Classic
KONG Peanut Butter Spread
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Split mixture between Kong toys and freeze for a greater challenge.

Whichever the combination of foods chosen, make sure your clients know to stuff a Kong according to their dog’s ability level. Presenting a dog who is unfamiliar with a toy tightly packed with frozen food can be frustrating, not fun. For Kong rookies, owners should loosely stuff the toy with high-value food in pieces small enough to easily fall out as the dog plays with it. You can refer clients to Kong’s stuffing guide for a visual explanation.

Dog owners can make the task more challenging—and time consuming—by stuffing the toy with a mixture of wet and dry food. The variety of textures keeps things interesting, and ite helps to alternate wet and dry in layers. As suggested above, freezing a stuffed Kong for a few hours creates a more challenging—and longer-lasting—food puzzle.

While there are plenty of holiday foods that can be safely stuffed into a toy, other seasonal favorites can be tempting but toxic to dogs. Chocolate, turkey bones, onions, eggnog (and any alcohol), nutmeg and raisin-stuffed fruit cake are all dangerous to dogs. Remind clients to keep these foods far away from curious snouts and to tell guests not to share their food with dogs. Make sure children especially understand how important this is. Clients could invite visiting children to make a big deal about presenting a special stuffed Kong to the dog instead, making this a fun—and safe—holiday tradition for everyone.

By Petco Marketing Staff

Everyone at Petco is committed to improving the health and wellbeing, both physical and mental, of every pet that comes into our stores. To help achieve this, we have an outstanding Pet Services Department that includes grooming, dog training and veterinary services. This enables us to help pet owners meet the complete needs of each of their furred. feathered, scaled and finned family members. We pride ourselves on protecting the safety of every pet we encounter. All Petco partners stand behind our vision of Putting Pets First and strive to always be the trusted partner of choice for all pet owners.

As you well know, grooming is an important part of a dog’s health care. Our grooming services range from simple walk-in nail trims to full-service baths with complete haircuts. Pet owners can add luxury shampoos, extra brushing, shed-less packages, seasonal scents and other fun offerings with our customized packages.

Petco’s grooming salons are open 7 days a week with evening appointments available. This gives our salon partners flexible work schedules, whether they work full-time or part-time. We supply our salon partners with all the equipment they need, including brushes, combs, clippers, blades, shears, and nail clippers, just to name a few. We also give our clients the ability to schedule grooming appointments online. This allows our salon team to focus on what they love—grooming—and spend less time on the phone booking appointments.

Keeping pets safe in and out of our salon is our top priority. Our professional stylists receive detailed training in Petco’s well-researched and proven policies to guarantee everyone’s safety and comfort. Our salon partners earn competitive wages plus incentive, along with great benefits for those opting for full-time employment.

At Petco, we believe that the most important thing we can do is to foster a safe, healthy, and positive relationship between the pet owner and their dog. And our Positive Dog Training program is a great way to do just that. All dog-training offerings are taught using only positive-reinforcement methods from evolving curricula that is carefully developed and researched with the help and input of our trainers. Petco Positive Dog Training services are based on the most current research findings in canine cognition and development, as well as learning and behavioral sciences. Class offerings include everything from basic Puppy Manners to AKC Canine Good Citizen classes (and testing) to Clicker. We offer 6-week group classes, 1-hour private lessons, 1-hour workshops, and free seminars. All Petco Positive Dog Trainers also become AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluators through a unique partnership with the American Kennel Club as part of their training process.

Classes are offered weekdays, weeknights and weekends, allowing for great scheduling flexibility for our pet owners and trainers. Our trainers earn an hourly wage plus incentive from every class sale, and full-time trainers receive excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and paid time off.

We work in an exciting, fast-paced environment truly focused upon doing what is best for the animal before us. Because of this, Petco not only encourages but requires dog trainers to evaluate each dog and offer other alternatives if our setting isn’t appropriate for that dog due to fear, anxiety, or stress (potentially leading to aggressive behaviors). Training areas are disinfected between every class, and class sizes are kept small to keep the experience intimate and fun.

As a health and wellness company, we’re on a mission to improve the lives of people and their pets. At the heart of this approach is a world-class veterinary network of full-service hospitals and vaccination clinics providing pet families with quality, affordable care they can count on, seven days a week.

In the past year alone, vaccination clinics, full-service hospitals, and telehealth have served more than 1 million pets, a number that will double to more than 2 million in 2020. And over the next few years, we will aggressively expand our vet-services footprint to make them accessible for more pets and pet owners nationwide.

Our Vetco vaccination clinics offer affordable, low-cost vaccination services and preventative veterinary care during convenient evening and weekend hours. Our state-licensed veterinarians administer high-quality vaccines with no appointments and no exam fees. Our vet hospitals have four exam rooms that offer comprehensive nose-to-tail exams, vaccinations, microchipping, heartworm, flea-and-tick prevention, X-rays, blood work, dermatology and more. We also have anesthetic dental cleanings and procedures, along with spay/neuter surgeries, mass removals and other minor outpatient surgical procedures. Our treatment rooms have microscopes and a blood-analysis machine, so guests can get bloodwork results the same day.

As we continue down this path, veterinary support is vital to our success. By educating and encouraging our customers to take advantage of our services, our veterinary staff help foster a community of pet owners that seek a healthy, longer and richer life for their pets.

As an ABC graduate, you are considered one of our preferred candidates to help us continue our vision of improving the lives of people and their pets. You can apply for any of these exciting career opportunities at www.careers.petco.com.

• What’s Waggin’: The Latest News at Animal Behavior College

• APDT Continuing-Education Offerings

• Deciphering Cats’ Dietary Finickiness

• Helping Clients Keep Their Dogs Fit for an Active Lifestyle

• Fall Grooming Tips from the Experts at Andis

• Finding Clients Through Local Fish Store Outreach

• Indoor Activities for Owners and their Dogs

• Grooming Shelter Dogs

• Canine Behavior Tips: Alleviating Boredom

• ABC’s Newest CTP, DOP, GIP and VAP Graduates

By Tiki Cat Staff

“How can I get my finicky cat to eat?” Pet-care professionals routinely hear this question and it usually comes after a client has tried countless different foods and flavors, only to have their cat turn up her whiskers, or at best, nibble at the new offering, then refuse to eat it outright the next time.   

This has given rise to the popular belief that felines need endless variety in their diet. But if the flavor is the only variable a cat owner is looking at, chances are she’s meowing up the wrong tree. Feline dietary experts agree that the way a food tastes, by itself, is significantly less important to cats than it is to people and dogs. This isn’t surprising, considering that cats have a mere 500 taste buds when compared to a human’s 9,000. Even dogs, with 1,700 taste buds, have more than triple that amount.   

Since taste isn’t the only driving factor, what other criteria do cats use in determining whether a particular food appeals to them? The way a food smells, its mouth-feel or texture and—perhaps most surprisingly—its nutritional content have all been shown to be important contributors to feline food choices. Pet professionals should advise clients to look at all of these factors, in addition to flavor, to get to the root of their cat’s finickiness.

Smell and Mouth-Feel

That cats rely heavily on their sense of smell in picking food makes perfect sense. When it comes to scenting skills, felines and humans occupy the exact reverse positions than they do with tasting ability. With 65 million olfactory receptors, cats have a super sniffing capacity that far exceeds our own, given our paltry 15 million receptors. Different food brands may offer a “chicken” variety, but various versions of the same flavor may present totally different aromas because of cats’ highly honed sense of smell. Therefore, owners should not assume that just because their cat has rejected one manufacturer’s chicken, he doesn’t like any chicken.    

This reliance on the sense of smell might also explain why temperature sometimes seems to play a role in cats’ mealtime fussiness, since food just out of the refrigerator may have a very different scent than it does when served at room temperature. Another factor that influences felines’ meal choices is mouth-feel, which is how the food’s texture feels in their mouth and the ease with which they can pick it up, chew and swallow it.      

Here again, different cats have different preferences, not only in crunchy dry food versus softer wet food. But even within the wet food category, a cat might have a clear favorite, whether it’s shredded meat or firmer morsels in gravy. Some similar textures can have different mouth-feels, affecting the food’s palatability; for example, some cats prefer a soft paté to a smoother mousse or vice versa.

Flavor and Texture Variety

At Tiki Cat®, we are committed to offering wet food in an extensive assortment of textures—mousse, paté, shreds, flakes, chunks and whole foods—in addition to our Born Carnivore™ high-protein, low-carb dry kibble. That’s why we recently introduced a paté format to our After Dark™ line, which is available in several varieties. All of which are sourced in New Zealand and loaded with nutrient-rich organ meat in a smooth texture. The line is also available in a whole-cut format that features shredded chicken and other meats such as lamb and beef, blended with organ meat, in broth.   

Another of our popular wet food textures is our Velvet™ line. These super silky mousses are made with tender chicken or fish and is available in adult, kitten and senior formulas. Our wide variety of textures and recipes is reflected in our other Tiki Cat offerings, including: Aloha Friends™, flaked chicken or fish with small chunks of pumpkin in broth; Grill, real fish recipes garnished with whole shellfish in a consommé; Raw, complete, balanced meals with raw, uncooked ground poultry or red meat and bone broth; and Luau™, shredded chicken mixed with flaked fish, like wild salmon or ahi tuna.

Cats Require Carnivorous Diet

With all of its recipes, our overriding mission is to replicate the high-protein meat-based diet that cats would eat in nature. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely on animal protein for all of their nutrients, including essentials like taurine and arachidonic acid and cannot efficiently digest and process plants. They lack the enzyme necessary to convert carotene from plants to vitamin A, so they must obtain it from animal meat. Having evolved in a desert climate, cats also have a low thirst drive and consume some of their required moisture through the food they eat.    

Tiki Cat’s meat-based meals are inspired by cats’ natural prey diets, extremely high in animal protein with natural ingredients, no grains and low or no carbohydrates. This is true even of our dry kibble, which has an average 44 percent protein content. Our wet foods are high in moisture to give cats the supplemental water they need.

Felines Might “Sense” Foods’ Nutritional Content

This brings up the third—and most surprising—criterion that influences cats’ dietary choices: nutritional content. A study published in the Royal Society Open Science journal found that cats appear to have the ability to identify foods that meet their nutritional requirements. In this study, the selected foods based on their protein content relative to fat content, even over ones that had a more desirable taste.     

First, the study cats were given foods with the same protein and fat content in three different flavors (rabbit, fish and orange) to see which they preferred. Based on taste alone, the clear favorite was fish, followed by rabbit and then orange. Next, the food’s protein and fat contents were modified so that each flavor was offered in three different ratios: very low protein-to-fat (10:90); slightly lower protein than fat (40:60); and higher protein than fat (70:30). At first, the cats continued to choose food based on flavor; however, over time they came to overwhelmingly prefer the food with the higher protein content, regardless of its flavor, leading researchers to conclude, “Our results suggest that macronutrient balancing rather than hedonistic rewards…is a primary driver of longer-term food selection and intake in domestic cats.”

By Steve Appelbaum, ABC President & CEO 

Hello everyone. I hope you are all healthy and safe. Here is what is happening at ABC. First, I am delighted to report that our entire ABC team remains healthy and safe. I am not aware of a single one of our team members who has contracted COVID-19, which is excellent news. We will continue to operate remotely except for a few people who come to our physical location in Santa Clarita for a variety of reasons. Our lease on this building is up at the end of 2021, so this time next year, we will be looking to rent a much smaller space. How much smaller? Currently, we have a 22,000-sq.-ft building. I suspect we will look for something around 4,000 to 5,000 sq. ft.

It’s strange to consider a smaller space when business is growing, but this coronavirus pandemic has changed how we work and our needs changed with that. I am very thankful that we were in the kind of business that could withstand something this, and my heart goes out to all who have been affected either physically or financially by this. The only other thing I can say about this pandemic is a simple belief: It will eventually diminish. Our lives have been changed by it, but things will go back to normal—even if that is a new normal.

Zookeeper Assistant Program Launch

After an amazing amount of work, our Zookeeper Assistant Program (ZAP) launched on October 1st. Special thanks to our writers, editors, graphic designers, marketers, and admissions personnel who worked hard to make this happen. As of the third week in October, ZAP had the most successful launch of our programs.

New Things on the Horizon

• International program offerings: ABC is international, as we offer our programs in Canada and the United States. In 2021, we will be building the foundation for a launch in Europe and perhaps Japan in 2022. I love this kind of project and am very eager to see where our research leads us.
• A service dog program: We are looking to create a program for service dog trainers in North America in 2021.
• New short-Term programs: Research regarding new short-term programs will also be conducted next year.
• On our radar: New advanced grooming programs, a treating aggression in dogs course, and much more.

I will keep everyone posted as this year and the next unfolds. Until next time, be safe.

By Whitebridge Pet Brands Staff

People are spending more time outdoors and for many pet owners, this means taking their dogs on long runs and hikes, swimming at the beach, or cycling on a bike leash. Some people are even exploring new canine sports that they and their dog can enjoy together, such as agility or dock diving, even if it’s just for fun and not formal competition.

However, just like humans, dogs need to be in good physical shape before they step up their game. Many veterinarians and canine health experts advise that before taking on a new, strenuous activity, dogs should be given conditioning exercises to build their stamina gradually. Like two-legged athletes, they need to maintain their energy and resilience for the duration of the activity. Plus, conditioning can improve dogs’ coordination and flexibility, making them less likely to suffer injuries than “canine couch potatoes” when running alongside a bicycle or hitting the Flyball track.

Trainers’ Role in Fitness

Professional dog trainers are in an excellent position to help clients prepare their dogs for a more active lifestyle. As a first step, trainers should always advise their clients to visit the veterinarian before engaging in a new sport to ensure the activity doesn’t pose a health or injury risk, given their dog’s age, breed and medical history. For example, puppies’ growing bones and joints are fragile, so very young dogs shouldn’t participate in high-impact sports such as agility.

Once the vet has given the green light, trainers can help their clients develop a safe and effective canine-conditioning routine. Specific drills may vary depending on the sport a dog is being primed for. Still, the American Kennel Club advises that specific basic warm-up exercises will improve the average canine’s ability to take on any increased physical activity. These include stretching exercises, which are great for keeping dogs limber and “puppy push-ups,” which are excellent warm-ups and muscle builders for canines of all ages.

Teaching Warm-Up Moves

Getting dogs involved in conditioning exercises has the added benefit of honing their obedience skills. Training a dog to perform an exercise like stretching on cue is no different than teaching any other command: capturing or shaping the desired behavior and positively reinforcing it.

As with any training, it’s essential to use reward treats that a dog finds so enticing he’ll immediately become motivated to learn the exercise. We strongly suggest our Crazy Dog® Train-Me! Mini Training Rewards, which are recommended and relied on by professional dog trainers nationwide because their aroma and taste are so irresistible to canines. The treats are made with real meat as their #1 ingredient and come in delicious bacon, beef and chicken flavors. Plus, at just 1.5 calories per treat, they can be given repeatedly for reinforcement without weighing down canine athletes.

Along with conditioning exercises like stretching and push-ups, pet owners should prep their dog for a new physical activity by introducing it to them gradually. Experts advise jogging with a dog no more than 10–15 minutes a day for a couple of weeks before working up to 30-minute or longer daily runs to build stamina. If a client plans to take adventurous hikes, they should start on flat terrain and progress to steeper paths with more challenging obstacles (image right). By steadily pushing the envelope, dogs, like humans, will naturally increase their athletic ability, energy and stamina.

Boost Energy and Vitality

Like people, dogs can also benefit from taking a break for some energy-boosting refreshment during a vigorous sport or activity. After all, humans have their sports drinks and power bars, which is why we introduced Dogswell® ENERGY Extended Activity Fuel, a new USA-sourced canine performance treat formulated to energize and hydrate dogs during long periods of activity. Made with chicken as its main ingredient and blended with healthy fats from MCT-rich coconut oil, the treat is high in protein and calories to provide long-lasting energy. It comes in a velvety mousse format and is rich in moisture, offering a quick and easy way to hydrate dogs during physical activities. Dogs lick the delectable mousse treat right out of its convenient tube packaging—and they’re refreshed and ready to get back on the trail or agility course.

Of course, maintaining dogs’ overall health and vigor is another step that can make them more energetic and better equipped to take on challenging physical activities. That’s the idea behind another new functional treat: Dogswell VITALITY Jerky, which is formulated specifically to support canine health and vitality. This innovative jerky treat combines 100 percent USA-sourced meat protein—chicken or beef—with antioxidant-rich fruit, coconut oil, ginger and honey. The jerky is available in two varieties, Chicken & Mango and Beef & Banana and contains no grain, by-products, or artificial colors or flavors. When given regularly, this protein packed jerky will help keep canine athletes in glowing health and at the top of their game.

By Nicole Kallish, Andis Global Education Manager 

As winter coats start to grow out, groomers are reminded that cooler weather is on its way and so is the need to prepare pet owners for proper coat and skincare.

Help Owners Help Their Pets

Groomers depend upon the right tools and techniques to properly care for dogs. Likewise, owners often depend on groomers to understand how they can maintain their dog’s health at home. An easy way to do this is by educating pet owners on simple grooming techniques they can implement to create healthy habits at home. If you offer retail items in your shop, keep the brushes and combs near the counter. When instructing the client on the techniques and tools they should be using, you can ensure they buy the proper tools.

Coat Care is Skincare

Owners can see if a coat is tangled or losing its luster, but they are not always aware of the implications a coat may have on their dog’s skin. The care (or neglect) of a dog’s coat will directly affect the health of its skin. Matted fur, for example, prevents naturally occurring oils from distributing and conditioning the skin and coat. This can lead to painfully dry skin, a dull coat, and even infections. If a dog’s coat is tangled, matted or even hiding pests, it may be a sign that am owner is not caring for it between appointments. If you notice a pattern, take the opportunity to share a few simple daily or weekly maintenance tips.

Emphasize Brushing and Combing

Prevention is the key and a few simple tools are perfect for this purpose. Always start with a brush, it will stimulate hair and skin follicles while detangling and removing any loose dirt from the hair. For light-coated dogs, an Andis Large or Medium Pin Brush is a good tool for owners. A tool like the Andis Firm Slicker Brush is great for owners with heavier or double-coated dogs. Since it might take a little more effort, this sturdy type of brush can power through to get out unwanted undercoat. If an unruly matt has already formed, a dematting tool is perfect for tackling even the trickiest tangles. Do not forget the comb. Combing is the most important step of maintaining the coat. After brushing, it is imperative to comb through and catch any hair the brush might have missed. Do your clients need some encouragement? Remind them that in addition to its preventative benefits, daily at-home grooming is a great way for them to bond with their dogs.

Key Maintenance Areas: Paw and Sanitary Trims

As the seasons transition, the skin on paw pads becomes especially vulnerable to the elements. Overgrown fur can tangle and create matts between paw pads and, since matted fur does not dry effectively, this leaves dogs cold and wet. Matted paw pads can also cause discomfort, decreased mobility and even pose risk of infection. In snowy climates, ice, snow and any ice-melt products on the ground can accumulate in the hair between pads. This will not only make a dog uncomfortable; it can be a health hazard. Encourage your clients to come in between full grooming appointments for a mini groom: a good bath, blowout, sanitary trim and paw-pad trim might be all they need. I encourage you to include trimming of the eye corners and over the eyes in a mini groom package. Using an adjustable blade clipper like the Andis Pulse Li5  makes for easy work clipping the sanitary area, paw pads and eye corners. One clipper does it all.

How Often?

Scheduling shorter, more frequent maintenance appointments during the cool weather seasons will help pet owners who are less savvy with at-home grooming. By encouraging these healthy practices with clients, you’ll help improve each dog’s quality of life—and happy dogs mean happy owners.