Choosing a Service Dog Organization

July 14, 2015 by Fanna Easter

Service Dogs: Researching Tips & Interview Questions

Yes, I’ll gladly share my research strategy, interview questions and best practices when narrowing down reputable service dog organizations and dog trainers.

With that said, be prepared to ask lots of questions, research, and then ask more questions. Resist the urge to choose an organization within the same day. Look around and become familiar with additional options, depending on your specific needs.

Step One: Locate Reputable Sources

Begin your search and don’t limit research to only online. Ask your local dog trainer, folks with your same needs and veterinarians for recommendations. Now begin by following up by researching online, reading websites and identifying legitimate organizations while weeding out imposers.

Narrow Down Further

For additional information, check out the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Assistance Dogs International (ADI) websites for service dog requirements. ADI lists specific standards expected for service, hearing and guiding dogs. I would certainly print out and use that while interviewing prospective organizations and dog trainers. Plus, their program search option can narrow down ADI-accredited sources in your area.

Don’t forget to check the Better Business Bureau’s website to discover any complaints and resolutions, if any. BBB accreditation is good, but several complaints is not good and unresolved complaints is terrible.

Step Two: Prepare

Before reaching out to several organizations, read their requirements for applicants and familiarize yourself with their application process first. If you don’t meet the requirements, then it’s time to reflect–maybe a service dog is not the best fit.

If you decide to move forward, think through the process and prepare your thoughts and answers for each requirement because lack of preparation not only slows down the process, but it also wastes valuable time.

You’ll probably need references too, so start collecting letters of recommendation from colleagues and doctors. Let them know they’ll probably be contacted.

Gut Check

On average, yearly costs to properly take care of a service dog can range between $1,500-$3,000. Yes, sharing your life with a service dog is expensive. He or she needs regular grooming, annual vet visits, and pest and heartworm preventives. Before completing any paperwork, make sure you’re financially and emotionally capable of taking excellent care of your service dog.

Also, let’s chat about service dog expectations. Dogs are living beings and will make mistakes, so patience and understanding are important virtues. Having a service dog partner means regularly practicing learned behaviors, doing what’s best for the dog every time even in public and treating your dog with unbridled respect.

Step Three: Reach Out

After you’ve thoroughly read and understood applicant expectations, reach out by email or phone. Usually, you’ll receive a thank you email with additional guidelines, questions and processes. Don’t be discouraged. Many introductory emails provide FAQs that further answer your questions.

There will probably be a fair amount of paperwork. Before you become frustrated with additional red tape, understand that reputable organizations receive hundreds of daily requests. They need to be able to filter through applications quickly in order to identify applicants and streamline the process. Be patient and remember imposters offer instant gratification at a terrible price.

Plus, reputable organizations are looking for commitment. If you’re impatient when completing required paperwork, will you have patience to learn and work with a service dog? If not, then maybe a service dog is not for you.

Step Four: Ask Questions

After reading additional paperwork received during step three, ask any unanswered questions. Most reputable service dog organizations will answer the below questions on their website or documents, but still it never hurts to ask specific questions again. You’re still looking for imposters (many look legitimate online, but in person reveal their true intentions). Lastly, during the interview, jot down answers for easy reviewing later.

Important Questions

Q: What certifications and experience do your service dog trainers complete? How many service dogs are trained yearly?

A: Trainers should have extensive knowledge and have trained several service dogs. Now, not all dog trainers are able to train service dogs, so dig deep.

Q: What happens if my dog stops responding to cues? Or starts barking at other dogs?

A: Remember, dogs are not machines. They are living beings and may need issues addressed by a qualified dog trainer. Reputable organizations will send someone to your home to help manage or teach polite manners instead. Plus, it’s your job to continue practicing behaviors at home.

Q: Can I visit your training facility?

A: Yes! You should be able to tour a service dog facility. If not, they are hiding something–usually poor living conditions, lack of training and so forth. Plus, it should be required you travel to the training center or the dog trainers travel to you to learn how to work with a service dog.

Q: Should service dogs be protective?

A: No. Service dogs are trained to help with tasks. They should never growl, bite or attack. If an organization makes this promise or even states it, run.

Q: Will I have an opportunity to train with my service dog too?

A: Yes, it’s vital you learn how to work with your new service dog.

Q: Can I choose my service dog?

A: No. During the application process, reputable organizations will identify your needs stated by your referring doctor and application. Each dog is different. During the puppy raising phase and training process, experienced service dog trainers can identify the right match between you and the dog.

Q: What happens to retired service dogs?

A: Reputable organizations will place retired dogs into homes per applications and screening.

Q: What will my service dog learn?

A: Reputable organizations should quickly list required behaviors, depending on your needs. If they say, “We’ll work together” or “Let’s play it by ear,” they probably don’t have enough service dog experience, as they’re not familiar with service, hearing or guide dog needs.

Q: What is the cost?

A: Most reputable organizations will charge application and transfer fees while others won’t charge a dime. If you’re given a high price tag (ranging between $10,000 and even as high as $75,000), I would not recommend them.

Narrow It Down Further

Ask for references and check them out. Ask how the application, training and at-home work process goes. Is this organization readily available with any questions? Did they attend initial training with their new service dog? What are their thoughts on the organization? What is their experience?

Step Five: Choose

It’s time. By now, you probably have a favorite, so follow your instincts and move forward. Please share your experiences so we can help others. I most certainly hope these tips and questions help narrow down your service dog choices. 🙂

Good luck and stay in touch!

Best Pest Control Products for Swimming Dogs

July 8, 2015 by Fanna Easter

Best Pest Control for Your Dog

It’s summer! If your dog loves to swim, finding effective waterproof pest control products can be challenging. Check out the pros and cons of waterproof options plus tips to maximize their effectiveness below.

Topical Products

Apply waterproof topical products at least 48 hours before swimming or bathing. Better yet, don’t bathe your dog for at least 48 hours before application. This ensures plenty of natural skin oil to help evenly distribute the pest control on your dog’s body, forming a protective barrier. Now, some experts say 12 hours. I’m a bit old school, as I was taught 48 hours from several product vendors while I was working as a vet tech. Plus, waiting until topical solutions dry before swimming in lakes decreases toxic exposure to fish and other wildlife.

After application, take your dog on a short walk. Walking helps topical products migrate your dog’s body and prevents dogs from rubbing applied product off onto carpet or grass. If you must bathe your dog, use a gentle detergent-free shampoo that doesn’t strip your dog’s skin of oils, moisture or topical pest control.

In my experience, Frontline Plus does a great job killing ticks and fleas for 30 days even during constant exposure to baths and swimming pools.

Pills

Oral pest control products are truly waterproof options. They can’t be washed off and are effective for several weeks. My only concern is fleas and ticks must bite a dog before dying. For some dogs, just one flea bite sends them into a scratching frenzy and, worse yet, lead to flea bite dermatitis. Not all oral products kill ticks.

There’s a new product in town and it’s called NexGard, which claims to kill both fleas and ticks by “excreting through your pet’s metabolism.” I haven’t used this product before so I’m not able to provide an honest review, but it seems like a viable option for frequent canine swimmers.

Collars

With pest control collars making a comeback, there are many options to choose from. However, most collars are not waterproof and can easily be pulled off by branches. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate a waterproof option that kills pests effectively. If you have a favorite, by all means, let me know in the comment section below so we can share with others. 🙂

Natural Products

These options do work. However, they must be constantly applied and reapplied, depending on exposure. By far, my favorite is Dr. Ben’s Paw & Claw Cedar Oil. When sprayed, it works quickly. However, some dogs really dislike the intense aroma and may drool excessively. If this happens, discontinue use.

Cedar oil not only kills and repels fleas, it’s also very effective against ticks, gnats and mosquitoes. Apply cedar oil after swimming to kill any pests that may have come into contact with your dog while swimming and protect him once out of the water. Cedar oil is not harmful to the environment, but it’s not recommend for use on cats.

Re-Infestation Depends on Your Climate

Yes, choosing waterproof options and following best practices will certainly keep pests at bay, but product longevity depends on exposure and where you live. Dogs swimming in Canada could probably remain pest-free for 30 days when a topical product is used. Dogs in Louisiana wearing topical pest products may not see the same effectiveness compared to dogs in Canada due to the greater number of pests in the area.

Hopefully, these products and best practices will keep your dog pest-free this summer. Stay cool!

Indestructible Dog Toys For Aggressive Chewers

July 7, 2015 by Fanna Easter

Best Indestructible Dog Toys

Sharing my home with powerful chewers, I’m forced to find durable dog toys that last longer than a few minutes and keep young dogs engaged for hours. Well, after years of doing research and shelling out lots of hard-earned cash, I finally found a brand whose indestructible dog toys passed our stringent testing criteria. Drum roll please.

1st Place: Jolly Ball Tug-N-Toss

This indestructible dog toy was a hit with both dogs! Stella Mae, our Miniature Bull Terrier, loves the handle on her pink Tug-N-Toss ball. She runs and shakes it so hard that it looks like a blur. You can toss and bounce this toy in the yard plus it floats. While the handle is a huge plus factor, I’ll admit, it’s usually the first thing chewed or pulled off. Our dogs still love playing with the ball even if it has a hole in it though. On average, it takes a few weeks before the handle is removed, which we trade for treats to prevent ingestion of plastic pieces.

2^nd Place: Jolly Ball Bounce-N-Play

Rottweiler With Dog Toy — Sobek with his beloved pink Bounce-N-Play ball. Photo: Fanna Easter.

Basically, this is the Tug-N-Toss ball without the handle. Sobek, our humongous Rottweiler, loves running through the yard, chasing and shaking his large Bounce-N-Play ball at breakneck speed. He paws, pounces and bites this indestructible dog toy for hours, and it still hasn’t fallen apart. It has a million punctures, but still holds its shape.

It was hard determining which ball our dogs loved most. When given a Tug-N-Toss and Bounce-N-Play at the same time, hands down, the ball with a handle won until the handle came off. 🙂

3^rd Place: Jolly Ball Romp-N-Roll

Take the Bounce-N-Play ball and insert a rope through both ends. Now you have a durable dog toy that both dogs can play with at once. Romp-N-Roll ensures tug of war will go on for hours under our dining room table or until either one dog tires out or we’ve had enough of them pulling each other around. Now, this dog toy has been known to hit walls, including us, when flung across the room by an overzealous dog shaking and swinging the rope end. So heads up!

Honorable Mention: Jolly Egg

Personally, our dogs become very frustrated when playing with different-sized Jolly Eggs. So much so, those toys were ignored within a day or two and became odd-shaped lawn ornaments. Now, I’m mentioning this indestructible toy because others have had tremendous success with it. It’s pretty indestructible as most dogs are unable to pick it up, and hence wobbling it around like a heavy egg.

Pros, Cons & Myths of Canned Dog Food

June 23, 2015 by Fanna Easter

Canned Dog Food

While browsing through pet supply stores, it’s common to overhear concerned pet parents asking this exact question to store employees. Answers vary depending on employee experience and preference, but check out these unbiased canned food pros, cons and myths before making the best decision for your dog’s needs.

Pros of Feeding Canned Dog Food

There are lots of them!

Dogs Love It

Yes, they do! Canned dog food has an intense aroma due to moisture and low-temperature cooking method. Most dogs will run to the kitchen when you reach for a can opener. Use this stuff to your advantage and spoon a teaspoon or so over kibble, making sure to coat each kibble thoroughly and feed.

Lots of Moisture

Most cans of dog food contain 70 percent moisture, which keeps some urinary tract infections away. When feeding canned dog food, you’ll notice your dog doesn’t drink as much water, especially compared to feeding dry kibble. Plus, this stuff makes great Kong stuffing. Just don’t forget to freeze overnight to prevent canned food from leaking onto your carpet or bedding.

Great Way to Hide Medication

If your dog requires daily medication, canned food does a fabulous job concealing bitter tasting powder medicine with its overpowering aroma. It also makes a great hiding place for pills due to its texture and is the perfect consistency for liquid medication.

Balanced Nutrition

Unlike many palatable food supplements, canned dog food contains balanced nutrition and can be fed alone or mixed in kibble. Regardless, it’s packed with lots of vitamins and minerals. With a higher moisture content, this keeps calories lower, which is perfect for dogs watching their waistlines.

Fewer Additives Than Dry Food

If you’re worried about food additives, then push aside your guilt when feeding your pet canned dog food. Due to the canning process, which seals food in an airtight container, less additives and preservatives are needed. Now, once the airtight seal is broken, canned food has a limited shelf life (three days max). Plus, canned food is cooked at a lower temperature than kibble, meaning it contains higher amounts of naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals from its ingredients than kibble.

Easy to Eat

Canned food is easier to chew, especially for dogs missing teeth and sore gums. If you’ve ever experienced the agony of begging a sick or recovering dog to eat, you know how difficult it truly can be and are thankful when canned food easily entices sick dogs to eat.

Cons of Canned Dog Food

When boiled down, there’s not as many cons as pros. Interesting, huh?

Expensive

With an average price of $4 per 12oz can, your bill can add up quickly. Remember, kibble contains less moisture so you must feed more canned food than kibble. For small dogs, this may not be an issue. For large and giant breeds, feeding canned food can definitely deflate your wallet. As an example, Sobek (my adult Rottweiler) needs six cans of dog food to meet his daily nutritional needs. Yes, six cans! That’s $24 per day and $168 per week–ouch!

May Create Picky Eaters

Well, who wants to eat cake without the frosting, right? This can happen, but it doesn’t happen to all dogs. I recommend mixing small amounts of canned food in kibble so your typical cost averages $8-$10 per week for a giant dog breed.

Once Opened, Short Shelf Life

This is true. Once canned food contents are exposed to air, its shelf life is limited. For best results, cover with plastic zip bag or lid, and store in your refrigerator for a maximum of three days.

Myths

Many pet parents shy away from canned food because they’ve heard canned food doesn’t clean dogs’ teeth, but there’s more to the story.

This was a common belief, but it seems crunchy kibble doesn’t always clean dogs’ teeth. Think about it for a minute: If kibble scrubbed teeth clean, we wouldn’t have so many dogs needing yearly dentals. What about dogs that swallow kibble whole? Yes, there are many of them out there where kibble never touches their teeth. To clean your dog’s teeth, regular brushing with VOHC-approved products work best.

READ MORE: Homemade Diets for Dogs

Hurricane Preparedness for Dogs: Plan Now, Worry Later

June 22, 2015 by Fanna Easter

How to Prepare Your Dogs for a Hurricane

Hurricane Preparedness for Dogs — Harvepino/iStock

Living in Louisiana, hurricanes were unfortunately a hidden worry during the summer and fall. You enjoy the beach, but keep one eye on the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Well, hurricane season is among us so it’s time to prepare or refresh your dog’s evacuation kit.

Never leave your dogs behind. It’s not fair to dump a bag of food on the ground and abandon them. You brought them into your lives, and it’s your responsibility to keep them safe. Bring all of your pets with you–there’s no excuse.

So plan now and worry later.

Evacuation Kit for Dogs

Gather these items, pack in a heavy duty suitcase and store in an easy-to-reach closet. When disaster looms in the ocean, your dog’s kit is ready to go.

Pet first aid kit plus two-week supply of all required dog medication.
Download a pet first aid app for your smartphone. It’s packed with first aid information plus it locates the closest veterinarian when traveling.
Flat buckle collar with current ID tags.
Microchip your dog and register and/or update your information with microchip manufacturer.
Photocopy vaccination records and any other vet information pertaining to chronic illnesses.
Snap updated photos and place in a plastic bag. Store in a folder just in case your dog gets lost.
Purchase a safety kennel lead for each dog. I recommend Mendota British Slip leads, as frightened dogs can not back out of them. The lead has a leather slip to prevent the loop from opening too wide.
Old towels and bedding.
Plastic or wire crate.
Bottled water (two to three day supply).
Dog food (one to two weeks).
- I recommend canned food due to its long shelf life. It’s also very palatable, which encourages eating during times of stress.
- If feeding your dogs raw food, keep a small supply frozen in the back of your freezer and switch out as needed to avoid spoiling.
Poop bags for cleanup.
Waterless shampoo for quick cleanup.

Plan Your Evacuation Route Now

Forced to leave your home within hours is scary. Many times, evacuees are forced to travel further north because pet-friendly hotels fill within minutes so keep a list of pet-friendly hotels within a 60- to 70-mile radius of your home.

Be prepared for traffic jams. It seems everyone decides to evacuate at the same time mostly due to mandatory evacuation per state officials. Your dog must ride inside your vehicle, as it’s unrelentingly hot sitting in traffic jams or just traveling during warmer months. Plan for enough space for your dog to lie down and turn around inside your car or truck.

To Leave or Ride It Out

Oh, this is a frustrating decision. It’s expensive evacuating and then returning home to limited home damage have many people tempted to ride out the next hurricane. As someone who shares her home with dogs, we leave early once we confirm our area is within the path for category 4 and 5 hurricanes! I would rather watch traffic jams from a nice cool hotel room than fight my way through.

Many of us work, and this is usually the last deciding factor on staying or leaving. Speak to your supervisor and ask about hurricane evacuation polices. Many business allow employees several days to prepare and evacuate with their families.

Hanging out and making a last minute decision can be costly. When in doubt, get out and bring your dogs with you.

You may also like: Calming Dogs During Thunderstorms