SAR DOG NEWS A National Award Willing Newsletter Published by the National Search Dog Alliance July2019 Vol. 13, No. 7 K-9 Bridger
Article page Kibbles & Bits: Pet Food Part I 18 2019 BOD Meeting Dates 1 Consumer Advisory: Bulk Pig Ears Treats 20 Bucky Says 1 The Last Howl 21 Evaluator’s Corner 2 NSDA Upcoming Tests 22 Synopsis of the July Board Meeting 2 Upcoming Training, Seminars & Conferences 23 NSDA’s Newest Certified SAR K-9 Handlers 3 Bloodhound Saves Man Swept Away By Flood 4 2019 Board Meeting Dates Dog Food & Heart Disease 5 Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5 Dogs Playing Video Games 6 Contact Corporate Secretary, Julie Grinnell, at How to Handle Bites & Stings in Dogs 7 [email protected] for the call-in Dogs Mirror Owner’s Stress 8 number for the meeting Officer & K-9 Track Down Missing Man 10 New Weapon in Canine Bone Cancer 10 HRD Logbook 11 Police SAR Dogs: Animal Rights Debate 12 Bucky Says: Book Review: K-9 Obedience Training 14 My favorite band is Board of Directors 14 We May Have Helped Create Puppy Dog Eyes 15 The Beagles WA State SAR Conference 15 Invasive Tick that can Reproduce w/o Mating 16
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EVALUATORS CORNER Comments, Questions and Answers
If you have a question, chances are others have it also. Ask it here and share the answer. Send your queries to Norma Snelling at SYNOPSIS [email protected] of Q: What’s the process for creating a new K-9 July Board Meeting certification? By Julie Grinnell
A: First a committee of NSDA handlers and Evaluators familiar with handling dogs in that particular field is formed to create the Field The Monthly Board Meeting for July was Test and supporting paperwork. Next the test postponed for one week due to the holiday on goes to the Board of Directors for review and the 4th. eventual approval. The final step in the process is a beta test conducted by Evaluators One motion was made and carried via email: familiar with that SAR K-9 field. For example the Alliance will begin the process of Trailing Evaluators are being sought and trademarking the new icons for each SAR K-9 utilized for the Urban Trailing beta tests. certification.
The current NSDA Membership is comprised of Q. What do I have to do to become an 22 team memberships, accounting for 269 Evaluator in the new discipline? members, and 217 individual memberships for a total of 486 members. A: If you are an Evaluator in a similar discipline for NSDA or another approved There are currently 1,499 subscribers to the agency and have worked a dog in the new NSDA newsletter. discipline, fill out the appropriate paperwork which is available online. Then submit it to the 200 patches have been purchased for the SAR Evaluator Manager. Shop.
The Executive Board has agreed to hold their annual, face-to-face meeting in Chicago the URBAN TRAILING STANDARD weekend of August 23-25.
If you are a Trailing Evaluator for NSDA or The Urban Trailing Standards have been another approved agency and would like to submitted to the Board for approval. take part in our Beta Testing for NSDA Urban Discussion will continue via email. Trailing, please send your contact information and brief explanation to Evaluator Manager, Kathy Adamle at [email protected].
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NSDA’S NEWEST CERTIFIED SAR K-9 HANDLERS
WASHINGTON OREGON Bob Calkins and K-9 Ruger Rosalyn Smarr and K-9 Josie Land HRD Land HRD
WASHINGTON
Josh Gerstman and K-9 Natick WASHINGTON Land HRD Katherine Kay and K-9 Stitch Land HRD
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Bloodhound Saves Man Swept Away By Flood
Bloodhound Zeus led responders to a man who had been missing for two days after being swept away by floodwaters. Fenton, Missouri, native Daniel Conrad was found May 23 by a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office canine unit. Conrad had been trapped beneath the Highway 141 overpass near his home since May 21 when he was carried off by floodwaters near Saline Creek. Deputies say he had walked to the creek during heavy rain.
Conrad’s family filed a missing person report on the 23rd and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office dispatched their bloodhound Zeus and his handler Deputy Derek Richard. Zeus trailed Conrad’s scent to the creek and then along the bank toward the highway. A member of Conrad’s family who was assisting with the search spotted the missing man under the overpass. Conrad was weak and disoriented but otherwise uninjured. He was treated by an ambulance at the scene and returned home safely.
K-9 Zeus has only been with the Jefferson County Missouri Sheriff's Office for a few months and has already been an invaluable resource. He and Deputy Derek Richard have been called to numerous scenes with great success in locating suspects and missing or endangered people and have had multiple lifesaving finds.. The canine also found a missing suicidal teenager alone after a week on the job.
Zeus is a human scent discriminate bloodhound trained to follow a person’s unique scent. Zeus and his handler, Deputy Richards, were both trained at the Scent Evidence K-9 Training Headquarters in Bolivar, Tennessee. The is the second life-saving for Zeus and Richard. Sources: mymoinfo.com, kmov.com
Deputy Derek Richard & K-9 Zeus with admirer JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (picture by KMOV.com)
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Your dog may be at risk for developing heart disease based on their food, FDA says
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that what’s in your dogs’ diets could be a factor in whether they develop heart disease. They are continuing to investigate a potential connection between certain canine diets and cases of dilated cardiomyopathy, known as DCM or canine heart disease, which can result in congestive heart failure. The agency first announced the investigation in July 2018. The announcement named sixteen (16) pet food brands most frequently identified in the more than 500 reported cases. In most of the cases, the dogs ate dry food formulations. The report says large and giant breed dogs are most typically affected, with cases being most prevalent in golden retrievers, mixed breeds and Labrador retrievers. However, there have been cases of smaller breeds, too, suggesting “a lack of a genetic connection,” the report notes. The investigation also looked into the ingredients or characteristics of the dogs’ diets. More than 90% of diets were “grain-free” and 93% had peas and/or lentils. The report notes that the FDA doesn’t yet know how certain diets may be associated with the disease. “However, the FDA is first and foremost a public health agency and takes seriously its responsibility to protect human and animal health,” the agency said in the statement. “In the case of DCM, the agency has an obligation to be transparent with the pet-owning public regarding the frequency with which certain brands have been reported.” Here are the brands and how many cases were reported to the FDA for each: • Acana: 67 • Zignature: 64 • Taste of the Wild: 53 • Earthborn Holistic: 32 • Blue Buffalo: 31 • Nature’s Domain: 29 • Fromm: 24 • Merrick: 16 • California Natural: 15 • Natural Balance: 15 • Orijen: 12 • Nature’s Variety: 11 • NutriSource: 10 • Nutro: 10 • Rachael Ray Nutrish: 10 The FDA is encouraging veterinarians to report cases by using its electronic Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator. Pet owners are advised to contact their veterinarian as soon as possible if “a dog is showing possible signs of DCM or other heart conditions, including decreased energy, cough, difficulty breathing and episodes of collapse,” the report said. Source: msn.com
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Dogs playing video games
Dogs, like children, are spending hours watching virtual animals or playing complicated memory video games. Although your dog may enjoy the games, are they a good idea? Video games offer productive ways for your canine to spend their time. Bored dogs often find inventive, and sometimes destructive, ways to occupy their time. They unroll the toilet paper, destroy couch cushions, or even take a few bites out of the wall. Games can also be helpful if your dog suffers from separation anxiety. If your dog is concentrating on playing a game, he or she won't be thinking, "Oh no, I'm home alone again!"
Interactive games can help keep older pets alert and engaged by challenging them to learn new skills. Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna discovered that touchscreen and tablet games helped dogs avoid the mental decline that can occur as a part of aging.
The researchers trained dogs to use touchscreens during several different studies. In some studies, touching the screen with a paw or nose at the right time in the game triggered the release of treats. The dogs quickly learned how to play the games, which become more complicated with each level.
They found that participation in the study offered several important benefits for older dogs, including:
• Mood Enhancement. Dogs that played the games experienced a boost in their moods, as evidenced by tail wagging and willingness to work on the tasks.
• Increased Motivation. After mastering a game, dogs were more motivated to learn how to play other games and also experienced improvements in learning and memory.
• Improvement in the Dog-Owner Relationship. People whose dogs participated in the experiments reported positive changes in their relationships with their pets.
• Stress Reduction. Dogs that played the games had lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
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Although playing games can be very beneficial for dogs, it may not be the best idea if:
• Your canine spends too much time playing video games. Just like how you want your children to put down the controller and play outside, your pet needs to limit the amount of time spent on video games. If your dog no longer wants to go for long walks, it may be time to reduce the amount of time they play video games. Exercise is just as important as mental stimulation for canines and is necessary for good health.
• Games make your dog feel anxious. In some instances, tapping a lighted circle on a game board or chasing a virtual laser beam can be stressful for some animals. If your dog doesn't seem to enjoy the games after a few tries, don't force them to play.
• You spend less time with your pet.. Interaction is an essential aspect of the human/animal bond and should never be ignored. If your dog is happily playing a video game, you may be less inclined to play or interact with him or her. Decreasing the amount of time you or your dog spend on video games can help you improve your relationship especially if either of you tend to become obsessed with games.
Sources: digitaltrends.com, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, clever.pet, pcworld.com
How to Handle Bites & Stings in Dogs doses of diphenhydramine (brand name Benadryl). First consult your Just like their human counterparts, dogs are veterinarian on appropriate susceptible to insect and animal bites and dosing. stings. These are the ones with cause for concern. In severe cases, anaphylaxis can develop. A canine having Dog stung by a bee or by a wasp an anaphylactic reaction will begin to: These are extremely common in the spring and 1. copiously vomit summer when insects are the most active. 2. have diarrhea Some dogs will suffer 3. may collapse absolutely no ill effects other than mild redness, Take your dog immediately to emergency swelling and discomfort care. Your dog will be treated with at the site of a sting epinephrine, IV fluids and other supportive (much like humans). care measures. The veterinarian may also And, like humans, some recommend carrying an EpiPen for future dogs develop hives, facial swelling and welts. reactions. These can be managed at home with
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Scorpion Stings While it's important to spot the signs of fly bites quickly (and know what to do), it isn't Only one scorpion species in the United States something you should be fearful about. is thought to cause signs of systemic While they look terrible, the bites usually do envenomation: the bark scorpion. Found not bother the dogs, they heal quickly on their almost exclusively in Arizona, it hides under own and do not require any treatment. tree bark. Steps to prevent insect bites... 1. Keep your pet's kennel and nearby areas free from leaves, grass clippings and uneaten food 2. Aim to get rid of any matted fur in which insects can get trapped 3. Try to keep your dog inside during peak fly season If you see a bite... 1. Gently clean the affected area with warm water and a mild soap Symptoms are generally neurologic: 2. Head to the vet if it doesn't clean up on 1. rhythmic jerking its own 2. flicking of the eyes In severe circumstances, dogs can develop an 3. marked pain both at the site and infection from the bite. The flies may lay their referred (pain felt elsewhere). eggs in the open wound they've created, meaning the dog has to visit the vet to get the There is no specific antidote in dogs. Care is wound cleaned of maggots and dead skin. supportive and death is very rare. As with any envenomation i.e. poison by biting or stinging, do not panic if you Source: dogster.com, Country Living suspect your dog has been stung. Seek veterinary evaluation. Dogs mirror owner's stress
Fly Bites The levels of stress in dogs correlate with the stress of their owners, according to a Large red blotches on a new study from Linköping University, dog’s skin are a type of fly Sweden. The scientists believe that dogs bite and dogs generally mirror their owner's stress level, rather than get them from laying in vice versa. The study has been published in the grass. the scientific journal Scientific Reports.
Some symptoms of fly bites on dogs include... Researchers at Linköping University have 1. Itching redness on skin examined how stress levels in dogs are 2. Bumps on the skin influenced by lifestyle factors and by the 3. Bites that may bleed or crust over people with which the dogs live. Previous work 4. Bite wounds has shown that individuals of the same species 5. Presence of flies in the fur can mirror each other’s emotional states. There
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is, for example, a correlation between long- synchronous manner in both the dog and its term stress in children and in their mothers. owner when they compete together.
The recently published study arose from In contrast, the study presented here found scientists speculating whether similar mirroring that physical activity in dogs does not affect of stress levels over long time periods can also the long-term cortisol in their hair. On the arise between species, such as between the other hand, the stress level of competing dogs domesticated dog and humans. The seems to be linked more strongly with that of researchers determined stress levels over the owner. The scientists speculate that this several months by measuring the may be associated with a higher degree of concentration of a stress hormone, cortisol, in active interaction between the owner and the a few centimeters of hair dog when they train and compete together. from the dog and from its owner. The dog owners were also asked to complete two validated questionnaires related to their "We found that the levels own and their dog's personality. The of long-term cortisol in researchers investigated whether stress levels the dog and its owner were synchronized, such are correlated with personality traits. that owners with high cortisol levels have dogs with high cortisol levels, while owners with low "Surprisingly enough, we found no major effect cortisol levels have dogs with low levels," says of the dog's personality on long-term stress. Ann-Sofie Sundman of the Department of The personality of the owner, on the other Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) at LiU, hand, had a strong effect. This has led us to principal author of the study and newly suggest that the dog mirrors its owner's promoted doctor of ethology. stress," says senior lecturer Lina Roth, also at IFM, and principal investigator for the study. The study examined 25 border collies and 33 Shetland The result suggests that the match between sheepdogs, all of them owned an owner and a dog affects the dog's stress by women. The owners and level. Further studies are, however, needed the dogs provided hair before we can draw any conclusions about the samples on two occasions cause of the correlation. The researchers are separated by a few months. now planning to study other breeds. Both the Since physical activity can border collie and the Shetland sheepdog are increase cortisol levels, the herding dogs which have been bred to researcher also wanted to collaborate well with humans and respond compare companion dogs with accurately and quickly to signals. The research dogs that competed in group is planning to investigate whether a obedience or agility. The similar synchronization takes place between physical activity levels of the dogs were dogs and humans in, for example, hunting therefore recorded for a week using an activity dogs which have been trained to be collar. independent. Another line of research will look at whether the sex of the owner plays a role. Previous research has shown that levels of short-term cortisol in saliva rise in a
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"After a search of the immediate area, a "If we learn more about how different types of neighbor reported that he observed the victim dog are influenced by humans, it will be walking toward the marina in the rear of the possible to match dog and owner in a way that property," Lieutenant Douglas Deiso said in a is better for both, from a stress-management statement. "We then requested the assistance point of view. It may be that certain breeds are of the SPD Marine Unit, SPD -K9 Unit and not so deeply affected if their owner has a high Stamford Fire Department." stress level," says Lina Roth. June 6, 2019 Police said Officer Logan Pavia and his K-9, By Linköping University PHYS ORG Pyro, arrived and began tracking the missing man. Using an article of his clothing, the K-9 For More information: Long-term stress team started from his home. levels are synchronized in dogs and their owners, Scientific Reports (2019). DOI: "After approximately five minutes, K-9 Pyro 10.1038/s41598-019-43851-x , directed officers to a wooded area on the https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019- victim's property and he was located sleeping 43851-x on the ground in the bushes," Deiso said. Journal information: Scientific Reports Provided by Linköping University "Medical personnel determined that the victim was in good health and he was reunited with his very happy family." RJ Scofield, Patch Staff Officer, K-9 Track Down Missing Man With Dementia In Stamford
Police in Stamford, CT said a
71-year-old man with dementia New Weapon in Canine Bone was found in good health after Cancer being reported missing. Officers Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs initially responded to the over the age of two. ELIAS Animal Health has Shippan area of the city, where completed a study investigating the use of the man's family reported he personalized vaccines to fight osteosarcoma had walked away from the cancer in dogs. Each vaccine, which is house and they were unable to developed using cells from the dog’s actual locate him, police said in a statement. tumor and combined with surgery, is targeted
The family also informed officers the man had to that animal’s particular cancer. Dogs in the study experienced longer survival times other medical conditions and was on without chemotherapy. The osteosarcoma medication that would make him increasingly tired and disoriented. A description for the clinical trial results were presented at the 2018 VCS Conference. Studies like these performed missing man was quickly sent out, urging in dogs are paving the way for studies anyone with information to contact police investigating similar treatments in humans. immediately.
Sources: dogster.com, Eliasanimalhealth.com
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200 page Spiral HRD Logbook 6 ½ x 8” $9.00 Easy to carry all of your logs in one place
HRD TRAINING/EVENT LOG K9 Handler ______K9 ______Location ______Date ______(Circle all applicable) Time ______A.M./P.M. dawn/day/dusk/night Temp ______hot/warm/cool/cold Winds calm/light/steady/variable/gusty Skies clear/cloudy/overcast/precipitation PROBLEM SETUP Known Unknown Self-Setup Seminar Search Problem # ______Blank/Negative AREA TYPE-- Blocks/Pots Wilderness Building Vehicle Urban Disaster Road/Roadside LAND Elevated _____ Buried _____ Other ______WATER Pond/Lake Stream/River Shoreline Marsh/Swamp Other ______SOURCE Fresh/Dried Blood Teeth Placenta Wet/Dry Bone Adipocere Tissue Fluids Amount ______Grave Dirt Hair Cremains Burned BBIB Trace Residual Human Remains Other______AREA CONDITIONS Open Field Short/Tall Grass Open/Moderate/Dense Woods Marsh/Swamp Rocky Hilly Mountainous Urban Lot Traffic On-lead/Off-lead Accessible/Inaccessible SEARCH DURATION <10min <30min Start Time ______Trained Response? (Nose Time) <1hr >1hr End Time ______Yes No Prompted NUMBER OF HIDES 1 Multiple x ______
Notes:______
Send your order to Norma Snelling P.O. Box 3100 Sequim, WA 98382 Please make your personal check out to NSDA
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Police Search and Rescue Dogs: has the temperament or skills for police work. Dogs that don't make the cut often find The Animal Rights Debate themselves in shelters, thus contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. Every day, domestic pets and livestock face a litany of horrible abuses that range from Another concern with selective breeding is neglect to violence to torture. Since police dogs inbreeding, which can result in inherited health are generally well trained, fed, and housed, conditions such as hip dysplasia (especially they are not often the focus of the animal common in German Shepherds). rights debate. When discussions regarding Dogs can be killed or injured in the police dogs do come up, line of duty, but unlike their human the concerns aren't usually counterparts, they never knowingly over whether or not the consent to the risks. Activists argue dogs should be used for that if a situation is too dangerous police work but rather with for a human police officer, it is too a view toward their safety dangerous for a dog but sometimes in dangerous situations, dogs pay the ultimate sacrifice. their long term health, and eventual retirement. Criminals are more likely to kill or injure a police dog than a police officer attempting to do the same job. Penalties for killing or injuring The Arguments Against Using Police Dogs a police dog are much lower than those for killing or injuring a person. Some animal rights activists take an extreme view that using any animal for a work-related Dogs who fail out of training or age out of purpose violates that animal's basic right to be programs can be left with potentially violent free. While police dogs are generally treated as tendencies and may have to be put down. valuable members of their teams, their work is not without danger and sadly, not without the Search and rescue dogs that come in long-term potential for abuse. Here are some animal contact with dangerous environmental rights activists' major concerns regarding police conditions can develop cancer, respiratory dogs: problems, and other health ailments that can lead to suffering and early death. Brutal methods are not unheard of in K-9 training. In November 2009, a video of a Arguments in Support of Police Dogs training session by the Baltimore Police Department surfaced, showing a dog being While law enforcement has experimented with repeatedly picked up by the collar and other animals (such as vultures or wasps) for slammed onto the ground. An off-screen tracking, search and rescue, and cadaver trainer can be heard giving instructions to the searching, none have been found to be as officer handling the dog. This is the exception, versatile and effective as dogs. Here are some not the rule. of the reasons dogs are often regarded as law enforcement's best friends: Some dogs are bred specifically to be trained as police dogs, however, not every puppy bred SAR DOG NEWS July 2019 Page 13
there any validity? • Search and rescue dogs can save human lives by locating victims of crime and While I was working with a Sheriff’s natural disasters quickly. Department, we had an incident where a violent suspect was surrounded in • Dogs help capture criminals. When mountainous terrain. The SWAT team criminals flee on foot, tracking them with entered the area, working up the hill. The a police dog may be the most effective Sheriff’s K-9 was in the lead. He scented the way of finding them. Typically, dogs are subject and went into the brush after him. faster on their feet than humans and can The subject came up with an Uzi and shot the chase and hold a suspect until police dog before being taken down by SWAT. (The officers arrive. dog recovered to go back to work.)
• Cadaver dogs, those trained to find Question: would it have been better to chance human remains, can locate bodies of the K-9 being hurt or to have possibly lost crime victims as well as persons who several police officers to a felon’s fire? perish due to natural causes. Finding a body leads to crimes being solved, An Area SAR dog caught scent in heavy brush missing person cases being closed, and and charged through to find the subject – and offers closure to families of victims fell over a 50’ cliff. searching for a lost loved one. Question: Should the handler have forced his • Dogs trained to sniff out bombs, drugs, or way unseeingly through the brush without the other dangerous substances can help dog and fallen off himself ? prevent crimes before they occur. In K-9 Disaster training, a handler was shocked • Dogs can be sent into situations that are to find out that their K-9 might be sent into too dangerous for humans or tight spaces hazardous situations where they might lose a that people can't fit into. limb or even their life. This is something that every disaster K-9 handler must face and • Police dogs are trained using mostly—if accept in order to be effective in the field. not exclusively—positive reinforcement. Abusive training methods are rarely an Questions: Do you feel that a human being’s issue. life is more important than a canines? Is that a serious consideration in electing to handle a • Dogs often live with their human Disaster K-9? handlers—even after retirement—and tend to be treated very well. How do you answer the questions the animal Doris Lin, ThoughtCo. 6-11-19 rights folks are putting forth? Send your comments to either Co-Editor: Norma Snelling Editor’s comments at [email protected] or Sue Wolff at [email protected]. We welcome all points These same type of arguments are being of view. forwarded regarding our use of SAR dogs. Is
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BOOK REVIEW By Sue Wolff Susan’s writing style is easy to read and her choice of words easy to comprehend. She K9 Obedience Training: Teaching Pets and writes clearly for those who are at the very Working Dogs to be Reliable and Free Thinking beginning of obedience training a dog yet By Susan Bulanda doesn’t insult those who are experienced. Part of the K9 Professional Training Series This is a book that I would recommend to all www.dogtrainingpress.com dog handlers—newbies and/or old pros. We Flexibound $24.95 can all learn something from. Amazon $21.47 Kindle $13.99
Susan Bulanda has done it again. She has written a concise and informative book about canines, this one about obedience training.
The book covers everything from teaching the handler/owner how to train a free thinking dog to how to trim your dog’s nails. There is a section defining a free thinking dog and a pre- NSDA Board of Directors training one too. OFFICERS But it doesn’t stop there. House and crate Adam Kelly, President & CEO, MI training as well as dog grooming and hygiene [email protected] are covered in Part 2. Roy Pescador, Executive VP, Canada [email protected] Part 3 gets into the meat of obedience training. Julie Grinnell, Corporate Secretary, MI [email protected] The very beginning of training, the selection of Norma Snelling, Chief Financial Officer, WA equipment such as a leash, is thoroughly [email protected] explored as well as what not to use. DIRECTOR A calendar of week to week training is provided Sherry Scruggs, GA as are basic obedience exercises i.e. sit, stay, [email protected] etc. Advanced drills are included also such as look, leave it and more. Founding Members—
Obedience problems are also explored and K-9 Thor, Eileen M. Nobles, Susan Bulanda, K-9 solutions provided. All my GSDs have been Roo, Leslie Godchaux, Brian R. Hendrickson, barkers but my current one’s habit has been Continental Kennel Club, Inc., K-9 River, K-9 impossible to break. I noted a section in Persha; Jan Thompson, K-9 Cali, Peggy Ann Buchman; K-9 Geist Susan’s book regarding this problem, applied her solution and, voilà, my dog is on the way to not barking at every little noise or at nothing.
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Washington statewide search-and-rescue conference
We may have helped give our canines ‘puppy dog eyes’
Dog owners and handlers know the look and you can’t resist giving them a hug or a treat. A new study of dog facial anatomy suggests we may have helped create this expression by favoring canines with “puppy dog eyes” The 51st-annual Washington State Search and (known scientifically as “the AU101 Rescue Conference was held in Ellensburg WA movement”) over the course of thousands of June 21-23 at multiple sites throughout the years of dog evolution. town. Classes were held at both the Armory and on the Central Washington University To conduct the work, researchers dissected the campus with topics ranging from basic first aid remains of four wolves and six dogs, focusing training to remote aircraft rescue. on their faces. They spotted two striking differences: The levator anguli oculi medialis A series of pre-conference events were held muscle, which raises the eyebrows, was highly beginning earlier in the week that took K-9’s developed in all of the dogs but barely there in and their handlers out to areas including Elk wolves. And all dogs except a Siberian husky— Heights and Lake Kachess. At Kachess, dogs an ancient breed—also had a strong retractor were trained to use scent detection skills to anguli oculi lateralis muscle which widens the locate and recover cadavers in both still and eyes by pulling the eyelids towards the ears. moving water. This muscle was mostly absent in the wolves. At the fairgrounds over the course of the Combined, the two muscles allow dogs to weekend, dogs are being schooled through express the big, sad eyes that melt our hearts, exercises to hone skills related to scent the team reports in the Proceedings of the discrimination in tracking humans as well as in National Academy of Sciences. human remains detection.
The team suspects that early in dog evolution Sarah Stenberg, a member of Wenatchee humans were more likely to care for canines Search and Rescue attended the event with with this look, perhaps because it reminded her three-year old bloodhound named Reba, them of the big eyes of human infants. Those who is close to receiving her certification. This dogs had more pups, and so the muscles that is her third time attending the conference with power big eyes spread through dog Reba and they participated in the pre- populations. Even today, shelter dogs that rock conference trailing activity. She said the the look are more likely to find a home. The exercise took them all over urban locations in next question: whether other domestic animals Ellensburg learning to communicate with the like cats have hit on the same strategy. dogs and read their indications. She said Reba Source: www.sciencemag.org
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Once certified, Maggie will join a team of eight receives this kind of training at home in other K-9s on the Union County team. “On our Wenatchee as well. “We train both wilderness team, we’ve seen an average of usually two and urban,” she said.” years to 2 1/2 years to get to a certified dog,” she said. Stenberg said the conference has been extremely beneficial for both her and Reba, as Hardiman said the K9 must be certified before the courses are concentrated in structure. “We going out into the field, and that there are get to really dig deep into the brains of the various certification options available for instructors,” she said. handlers. Her team uses the National Search Dog Alliance. “You select the certification you want and the standard you want to work towards,” she said.
Hardiman has been active in search and rescue for approximately two years and Maggie is the first dog she has embarked on training for SAR. Although the path to certification will have its reward, Hardiman said the true reward is once she is able to get Maggie out in the field.
“Those callouts are what it’s all about in the Oregon state map with Union County indicated by arrow end,” she said. Source: dailyrecordsnews.com
Union County Search and Rescue member Invasive tick that can Callie Hardiman travelled from La Grande, Oregon to attend the event with her year old reproduce without mating bloodhound Maggie. This was their first year at the conference.
Hardiman and Maggie spent the morning working on scent discrimination techniques. Along with the hands-on instruction that includes both K-9 and handler, Hardiman said a large emphasis is placed on classroom learning with handlers and instructors. She said the hands-on component is geared towards Asian longhorned ticks have been found on pets, field demonstrations to help practice livestock, wildlife and people. (Photo: Centers for techniques learned in the classroom. Disease Control and Prevention)
Hardiman has been working with Maggie for The invasive Asian longhorned tick, which can approximately nine months to eventually reproduce without mating, has been found on become certified in trailing techniques. She animals in Union, Roane and Knox counties of said her first impressions of the conference Tennessee. The parasite was first discovered were that it could help in that process. SAR DOG NEWS July 2019 Page 17
species but the about two years ago on sheep in New Jersey. Asian longhorned tick has Dr. Rebecca Trout-Fryxell, a medical and been found on a veterinary entomologist at the University of hawk and 17 Tennessee Institute of Entomology and Plant different species of Pathology, is part of a team of multiple mammals, though agencies studying the tick. These agencies on very few include the University of Tennessee humans. Dogs, Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Wildlife cattle, white-tailed Resources Agency, the state Health deer and small ruminants like sheep and goats Department, and the U.S. Department of may be at risk of being bitten though. Agriculture. So far the University of Tennessee only There are no reports of the tick farther south recovered female ticks in the field, but the than Tennessee. It has also popped up in females collected have both male and female Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, reproductive organs. Most ticks can lay North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, between to 2,000 to 4,000 eggs per year, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, though it takes each egg two to three years to according to the Centers for Disease Control develop into a reproducing adult. But, Trout- and Prevention. Fryxell said that the Asian longhorned tick has been known to develop from egg to adult Outside of the United States, the ticks have much faster in other parts of the world. been shown to carry multiple infections and viruses. To date, no infectious agents have "And because it doesn't have to find a mate to been identified in the Asian longhorned ticks reproduce, the population can expand really found in the United States. quickly," she said, adding that scientists don't know if an explosion of the invasive ticks in the The Centers for Disease Control has started hemisphere could displace native tick colonies of the ticks to test whether or not they populations. are able to carry and transmit pathogens found in the United States, like Lyme Disease or If a tick is found on a human, Trout-Fryxell Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. said, after removing the tick with its mouthparts, it's best to keep the labeled zip- This tick may not prefer to dine on humans. close bag in your freezer to present to a So far, only two people have been bitten in the medical professional if you begin to have United States. Trout-Fryxell said she has found symptoms of tickborne illness. the ticks crawling across her body while collecting them in the field but has never "Again, it's important not to be been bitten. an alarmist on this," she said. "This tick is not very common "They're feeding on other things; it doesn't right now. Ticks like the lone star seem like they're really choosing to feed tick are more common." on humans," she said. She added that Sources: Knoxnews.com, Newport Plain Talk many arthropods feed on specific Lone Star Tick
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KIBBLES & BITS by Susan Bulanda
Pet Food Part I
In this two-part article I will discuss pet food. As a behavior consultant for both dogs and cats, I have witnessed how the quality of food affects their behavior and long-term health. I want to share with you what I have learned.
Although this article is geared toward dogs, it applies to cats and other pets as well. I have learned that people can get very passionate about what they feed their pets. Unfortunately many people do not research enough to fully demystify the truth about pet foods. There are two important aspects to understand; the labels, (what the terms really mean) and understanding the processing methods that pet food companies use to manufacture their food.
For search dogs both are very critical, not only for the health of our pets, but also because our search missions can last days and weeks. For this reason it is necessary to feed our dogs a food that is easily packed with our search gear and will not spoil.
When I had SAR dogs and was active in the field, we had quite a few callouts because there were few units available. My dogs were medium to large; therefore I used a self-feed system so that they were never hungry and never had to work with a full stomach. It was one way I protected my dogs from torsion and bloat. It was equally important to feed a high-quality food because it will not expand in the stomach. Low quality food expands a lot and contributes to torsion and bloat. One way to test your food is to put a few pieces in a bowl of water and see how much it expands. If the food is a poor quality you may see woody vegetation and plastic matter float to the top or sink to the bottom.
Pet owners can become convinced to buy a food based on the marketing strategy of the brand. They can also be misled by uneducated advice from people whom they feel should know about food. An example that I hear all the time is, “This is what the breeder fed the dogs or my veterinarian sells this brand.” Let’s look at both scenarios.
Breeders often feed a brand because someone else recommended it, not because they researched the quality of the food. Often breeders feed a low to medium quality food because it costs less and increases their profit margin. Sometimes breeders have so many dogs that they cannot afford to feed the best food and make any profit.
A good breeder has many expenses before the first litter arrives. They will do genetic tests on the
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bitch and stud to determine if they are worth breeding. Different breeds have different health issues and an ethical, quality breeder will test for these health issues. For example Collies have eye problems and should be examined by a canine ophthalmologist and registered with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, (CERF). German Shepherd Dogs and many other large breeds have hip and elbow problems and need to be certified clear of issues such as hip dysplasia and registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). A good breeder will also compete with their dogs, either in a sport or for conformation in order to show that their dogs are worthy of breeding.
All of this costs quite a bit of money and lots of time. The only two places a breeder can cut costs are with food and veterinary care. Feeding cheaper food and giving their dogs routine shots and worming the dogs themselves can save money. As a result, the food a breeder feeds their dogs may not be the quality you want for your dog.
Veterinarians do not take many courses in nutrition and often sell a brand of food in their practice because it is a way to bring in extra revenue, not because it is the best brand for pets. They often rely on the sales pitch of the company’s representative to decide which food to sell. Therefore the food your veterinarian sells may not be top quality. Also brands change. I know of one brand that was one of the top pet foods you could buy. They lowered the quality (presumably to raise the profit) and then sold the business to a large manufacturer. Now it is one of the cheapest supermarket/discount store brands. It takes work to stay on top of the latest changes in pet food brands. Veterinarians typically do not have the time to do this and stay on top of the latest medical issues.
Dog food companies are quick to jump on fads or try to create fads to sell their food. For example, when I was young, puppy food did not exist. All dogs ate the same food. However, the quality of early foods was not that good, so to give young dogs a boost, the dog food companies invented puppy food. It was also a marketing gimmick since people were already used to using human baby food.
However, my feeling is this, if you feed your dog a high-quality adult food, you do not need to feed a young dog, puppy food. If you look at human baby food, you will see that the food is nothing more than pureed adult food (peas are peas regardless if they are whole or pureed). Often the difference between dog food and human food is the fact that the adult dog food is most often not a quality food. More often than not, pet food is made from ingredients that are not fit for human consumption.
Dog food companies also imply that your dogs are really tame wolves and want to eat the same food a wolf eats or what they would eat “naturally.” This plays on the whole wolf mystique that many people believe. In reality any animal that lives in the wild can only eat what is available to him, and
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all that is available is raw. Most wild canidae live about 3 - 5 years, so how healthy is their natural diet? If a wolf could grill a steak, I am sure he would. If a wolf had access to cucumbers and other vegetables, they would eat those too. Also, dogs are not wolves. Dogs can digest grain and need grain in their diets to help prevent heart issues. (http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/shedding- light-heart-disease-grain-free-pet-food-conundrum)
Wolves cannot digest grain. So the whole marketing scheme of grain free is false. Dogs are really omnivores, not carnivores. (https://v-dog.com/blogs/v-dog-blog/what-does-science-say-about- grains-for-dogs) It seems that dog food companies played on the wolf mystique to sell grain free food instead of looking into allergies as a possible cause for health issues in the dogs that reacted to grains in dog food.
Watch for Pet Food Part 2 in the next issue of SAR Dog News.
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THE LAST HOWL By Sue Wolff
Opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of the National Search Dog Alliance.
Kenny Chesney sings Can’t we all get along? Get along, on down the road We've got a long, long way to go
Train a dog, learn to track Call your mom, buy a pack Drink a water, sing a song Make a friend, can't we all get along?
SAR teams come and go because we can’t all get along. Egos get in the way. Conflicts occur over team management. Team members have prohibited relationships. Clashes happen regarding training methods.
By nature, SAR K-9 handlers are Alpha personalities. They have to be in order to get their dog to obey their commands. However this personality trait does not need to spill over into human relations.
There are ways to express displeasure that won’t start a fight. Perhaps the most important one is not to use the word you as it makes comments sound like accusations. For example, you didn’t tie that knot right so the rope came loose. Or even worse, your dog missed the trail completely. Both of those statements would raise my hackles immediately.
How about: The rope came loose because the knot wasn’t tied tight enough. Or: The trail wasn’t properly identified. Nothing accusatory in either of those statements.
This non-use of the word you does not come easily. It’s a skill that must be learned. Stopping and thinking first about not using the word you will also create time to cool down.
Unfortunately spats like these can lead to teams splitting up and new teams being formed. That’s why it’s so important to have a national K-9 standard and national K-9 certifications such as those provided by NSDA. That way, even if handlers take their dogs to join or form another team, their nationally proven operational status obtained from NSDA can go with them and be confirmed.
But you don’t have to have a quarrel or breakup in order to obtain any of NSDA’s SAR K-9 certifications. All of them are available whether you’re with a SAR team or working as an individual handler. Check them out at www.n-sda.org and see the one(s) for which you qualify.
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WANT A TEST IN YOUR AREA?
3–9 HANDLERS TESTING? Less than 10 tests? You may be eligible for up to $300 in grant money from NSDA to bring in an Evaluator(s).
6 OR MORE HANDLERS TESTING? 10 or more tests? We may pay up to $500 in travel expenses for each Evaluator giving three or more tests. Invite your team or anyone in your area.
If you need a test, contact Karen Nesbit at [email protected].
List your Tests, Training Seminars, and Conferences in the SAR Dog News at no cost to you REACH OVER 1,490 SAR K-9 HANDLERS Contact Norma Snelling at: [email protected]
TESTS 2019 Topic Location Contact July Trailing Titusville, Heather Proper- 19-20 [email protected] testing PA VanValkenberg September 29 Land HRD Verona, WI Rachel Kravitz [email protected] October Land HRD, Idaho Fall, 3-5 large source Rena Ferguson [email protected] ID HRD, Area
6 Montour Area II Sherry Scruggs [email protected] FILLED Falls, NY 5-6 Land HRD, MI Adam Kelly large source, HRD, Area
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The seminars listed below are not sponsored by NSDA. These seminars have not been reviewed by NSDA and their listing should not be construed as an endorsement or sanction. NSDA retains the right to not post seminars where we have heard complaints of animal abuse or excessive foul language.
TRAINING SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES
2019 Topic Location Contact July Tracking 15-19 component Albion, MI Ed Presnall [email protected] camp Basic inland 18-19 Dolores, CO Coordinator https://four-corners-sar-workshop.weebly.com/ SAR course Area, trailing, 19-21 HRD Dolores, CO Coordinator https://four-corners-sar-workshop.weebly.com/ workshop AMPWDA K9 Cloverdale, 20 Coordinator http://ampwda.com/freetraining-2019.pdf training IN Water search Kettle Falls, 20-21 Coordinator [email protected] dog training WA Mock SAR 22 Dolores, CO Coordinator https://four-corners-sar-workshop.weebly.com/ mission 26-28 K9 Sensus Luca, Iowa Coordinator [email protected] K9410 Atterbury, 27-28 Advan. Land Lillian Hardy [email protected] IN HRD August K9210 Basic Atterbury, 10 air scenting Lillian Hardy [email protected] IN for K9s K9 challenge Edinburgh, 16-18 SDONA [email protected] event IN K9200 Basic Atterbury, 19 land HRD Lillian Hardy [email protected] IN techniques SAR 200 ground Atterbury, 24-25 Lillian Hardy [email protected] search IN awareness AMPWDA K9 Cloverdale, 31 Coordinator http://ampwda.com/freetraining-2019.pdf training IN
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September AMPWDA K9 Cloverdale, 14 Coordinator http://ampwda.com/freetraining-2019.pdf training IN Canine Canon City, 17-28 Training Coordinator http://www.caninetrainingacademy.com/dickstaalseminar CO Academy Dog training Craig 20-21 Georgia [email protected] seminar Schultz SDONA 20-22 Stillwater, IA Coordinator www.SDONA.org seminar Dog training Craig 22-23 Georgia [email protected] seminar Schultz Old Dominion K9 Appomattox, Tim & Suzy 22-27 www.olddominionsar.com SAR VA Perry workshop AMPWDA Cloverdale, 22-28 National Coordinator www.ampwda.com/fees.html IN Conf. Clandestine and historical 26-30 Rupert, ID Coordinator www.hrdspecializedk9.com grave detection October NSI K9 seminar, land 2-6 Seymour, IN Coordinator www.nsk9ta.com/seminar & water HRD, trailing K9530 Basic 5-6 disaster TBA Lillian Hardy [email protected] search CSAR Annual Townsend, 6-11 Coordinator www.facebook.com/groups/caninesearchandrecovery/ Conference TN Advanced Abingdon, 11-13 Coordinator [email protected] www.mdsdogs.org/events HRD Seminar MD AMPWDA K9 Cloverdale, 12 Coordinator http://ampwda.com/freetraining-2019.pdf training IN K9330 Interm. 24-25 TBA Lillian Hardy [email protected] Disaster search Forensic Anthropology San Marcos, 25-27 Coordinator Facts.k9@gmailcom Center TX seminar
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October continued K9430 Advan. 26-27 TBA Lillian Hardy [email protected] Disaster search November Southern Cal 1-3 Idyllwild, CA Coordinator Www.southerncak9seminar.com K9 seminar CFTE HRD 4-6 Xenia, OH Coordinator https://thecfte.com/courses/ foundations HRD Specialty Wildersville, Marshia 6-10 [email protected] Seminar MS Morton AWDA Tracking 7-10 Seminar, LE Sarasota, FL Coordinator www.sarasotak9sar.net and SAR CFTE HRD 8-10 Xenia, OH Coordinator https://thecfte.com/courses/ burials AMPWDA K9 Indianapolis, 9 Coordinator http://ampwda.com/freetraining-2019.pdf training IN December Clandestine and historical Mays 5-9 Coordinator www.hrdspecializedk9.com grave Landing, NJ detection AMPWDA K9 Indianapolis, 7 Coordinator http://ampwda.com/freetraining-2019.pdf training IN