Carolina Mountain Dog

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Welcome to Carolina Mountain Dog! This is a "blogazine" for dog lovers who live in or near the Carolina mountains (or wish they did). Please read the About page for more details. Be sure to check the  sections above for additional information. Subscribe to the right to get our regular alerts. Bookmark this blog with our shortcut URL: www.cmdog.com 
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Tips for Small Dog Owners

Dr. Jon of PetPlace.com has some good tips for small dog owners which he says people may not think about. For example:

• Make sure your yard fencing is adequate if your small dog spends time outdoors. "Small dogs are much better at wriggling through small spaces like the ones between fence slats or under support beams," says Dr. Jon.
• The smaller the dog, the more likely he or she will be a target of birds of prey, such as falcons and hawks. These birds are common in the Carolina mountains, so make sure your small dog is not left unattended outside or off-leash on a hike.
• Small dogs tend to need more grooming than larger dogs, particularly if they are breeds that require a special style, such as a bichon, poodle, or shih tzu. They are lower to the ground so they typically need to be washed more often than larger dogs. Small dogs' nails grow faster than larger dogs, and their teeth typically need to be cleaned more than larger dogs. They could also be prone to more diseases, since small dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs.

These are just a few things small dog owners should be aware of... and keep these tips in mind if you're thinking about acquiring a small dog.

Image: olovedog / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Spring Adoptathon, Asheville, May 26, 27

The 13th annual Prestige Subaru Spring Adoptathon will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27, from 11 AM to 5 PM. The event will be held in the Province 620 restuarant parking lot across from Pet Harmony, 803 Fairview Street, off Hendersonville Road in Asheville, as well as inside Pet Harmony, Animal Compassion Network's store for rescued pets.

Participating organizations include Animal Compassion Network, Asheville Humane Society, Blue Ridge Humane Society, Boxer Butts and Other Mutts, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, Chain Free Asheville, Friends of Ashe County, Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love, Holi-Hounds, Hope for Horses, Howlin4Spirit Companion Animal Rescue, PAWS Animal Shelter, Pet Behavior Aid, Rusty's Legacy, Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation, Unchain Buncombe, and Yancey County Humane Society.

Over 200 dogs and cats will be available for adoption. There will be free "pawdicures," a Kids Corner with bounce house and dunk tank, a tour of the newest Subaru models, a meet and greet with mascot Scooby Neuter, pizza from Frank's Roman Pizza, and a live radio remote from 98.1 The River. Prestige Subaru, the Southeast's largest Subaru dealer, is sponsoring the Adoptathon for the thirteenth year. The Adoptathon is hosted by Animal Compassion Network (ACN), WNC's largest safe-for-life animal welfare organization.

Stop by, have some fun, and adopt a pet or two!

Stop the Barking, Free-Asheville, May 26

Pet Behavior Aid will hold a free session to help dog owners deal with barking. If you tried everything you know to do do to stop your dog from barking so much, then this session is for you. Learn the different types of barks, what they mean, and creative ways to stop the barking.

The session will be held on Saturday, May 26 from 10 AM to 11 AM atthe  Asheville Humane Society Adoption Center, 14 Forever Friend lane, Asheville (off Brevard and Pond Roads near the WNC Farmers Market).

For more information, visit www.petbehavioraid.org or call (828) 707-0644. This session is sponsored by Pet Behavior Aid, an organization dedicated to to increasing the retention of companion animals in their homes in Western North Carolina.

Your Dog and Outdoor Restaurants

By Stacy Braslau-Schneck for Exceptional Canine

Most people who picture a pleasant hour or so with their dog at a coffee shop or sidewalk cafe concentrate on what the dog should not be doing. Don’t eat the food off the table. Don’t jump on the waiter. Don’t jump on passersby. Don’t chase the kids on skateboards, the baby strollers, or other dogs or trucks. Don’t fret about strangers who stare at you, lean toward you, reach toward you or even touch you.

This is a set of skills that requires the command of, basically, “Leave it.” Oh sure, a good “Settle” -- or its stricter older cousin, “Down-stay” -- is helpful too. But with “Leave it,” even if your dog spends most of the time standing or sniffing a few feet around your table, you’ll have a nice outing at the cafe.

It’s a Zen Thing
In fact, “Leave it” is one of my favorite things to teach. Some people call it “doggy zen” because the dog learns that “to get what you want, you have to give up what you want.”

To train your dog for this, start with a treat in your closed fist. Allow your dog to sniff it or lick at it -- but pretend you’re holding some forbidden food like chocolate, and don’t let him have it. Instead, wait patiently until he gives up trying to get it. At the moment he backs away, click your clicker or say “Yes!” and reward him with a different treat from your other hand. Repeat this, and once he is doing it predictably, start saying “Leave it” just before he backs away.

You’re looking for the moment when he gives up trying to get it. That’s when your dog has learned to be “zen” -- so you click or say “Yes!” and reward your dog. You can use toys or other distractions instead of food as well, of course.

Practice and Expand
After practicing this a bit, your dog will learn that “Leave it” means backing away from whatever has his interest. You can use this for food on the table, crumbs on the floor, dogs, people and strollers passing by. Teaching a good and generalized “Leave it” will make outdoor dining and almost any public outing more pleasurable -- for both you and your dog.

Stacy Braslau-Schneck is a longtime dog trainer and a professional member of the Association of Dog Pet Trainers. She works closely with the Human Society Silicon Valley and is the owner of Stacy’s Wag’N’Train, which offers small group classes and private lessons in San Jose, Calif. Stacy writes frequently for Exceptional Canine.

Pawsitively Purrfect Evening, Cashiers, June 15

The "Pawsitively Purrfect Evening" is the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society’s annual gala supporting a worthwhile cause — helping abused and neglected pets from the local community to receive the care they need and to find loving homes.

This exciting event will be held at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley on Friday, June 15, 2012, from 6:00PM to 10:30PM. Ticket prices are $350 per couple or $175 per individual and include cocktails, dinner, dancing and a live auction.

For more information, call (828) 743-5752 or email Debbie Bennett at gala@chhumanesociety.org.