We have had several e-mails asking us to feature some
information on Pet Loss and how to deal with this painful
subject. We contacted Marty Tousely who is an internationally
known, certified bereavement counsellor, and she has kindly
allowed us to feature one of her excellent articles. Marty has
authored three books addressing various aspects of loss and
grief. Her website offers information, comfort and support to
anyone who is anticipating or mourning the loss of a loved one,
whether human or animal. It is well worth the visit as it will
give you some’ tools’ to use should you or a friend or relative
find themselves in a situation of the loss of a beloved pet.
Finally, a very warm welcome to our new subscribers. We do enjoy
getting your ideas and comments so please keep them coming.
Another sincere ‘thank you’ to all those who give
of their time to write the articles for us, you are so
appreciated!
Scotty Valadao – Editor
CONTENTS
1.
Breed
Personality Information (Canine)
This issue –
The Golden Retriever in South Africa. – By. Di. Phillipson
2.
“I
am pregnant – please put my cat to sleep!” –
By. Dr. S.
Rigby
3.
Why
Should I Socialize My Puppy? –
By. Scotty
Valadao
4.
Coping with Pet Loss “Am I Crazy to Feel So Sad about This?”-
By. Martha Tousely
5.
DVD
Evening-‘Dog Aggression – Biting “ by Dr. Ian Dunbar
6.
What
the Animal Behaviour Consultants of South Africa is all about
7.
About
membership
1. THE GOLDEN
RETRIEVER in South Africa
By. Di.
Phillipson
HISTORY
In 1947 the
Golden Retriever was relatively rare in in South Africa. A
“Scottish Retriever” No. 5656, belonging to a Jock McPhail was
registered in South Africa in February 1904, but whether this
was a Golden Retriever or not is unknown. The first known
Golden retriever to be registered with the Kennel Union of
Southern Africa was a dog called Golden Lad, whelped on 24th
February 1929, sired by Peter of Quest out of Wendy of Quest
(both parents were registered as “retrievers”). Golden Lad was
registered on 3rd October 1929, (KUSA No. 34094).
The owner is given as A Treadea of 93 Du Toitis Pan Road,
Kimberley. The Quest line came from Mkuzi, Zululand and the
sires of Wendy and Peter, as well as the one dam have the
“Dewstraw” affix/prefix. According to records “Dewstraw”
appears to be the affix of a Mr Cufton-Blake of Bloemfontein.
However, whether or not these Dewstraw dogs were registered is
not known. The first Golden to be made up as a breed champion in
South Africa was Edmund’s Pride (No. 85083) on 21st
November 1949.
GOLDEN
RETRIEVERS IN THE FIELD
The Golden
Retriever is surprisingly not the dog for everybody and when
choosing a Golden puppy, you need to take this into
consideration. A Golden Retriever is, above everything, a
working dog and needs to be trained. Don’t rush into buying a
puppy purely because it is pretty, a dog is for life, which is
anything up to 14 or 15 years. Goldens are highly intelligent
and when buying one you need to buy from a reputable breeder and
understand that you must take your puppy to socialising classes
and basic obedience at the very least. You don’t need to
progress to competitive work, but your golden needs to
understand and learn the basics and so do you as the
family/owner.
First and
foremost, reputable breeders look for the right home for their
puppies. You will find that these breeders screen their new
puppy owners thoroughly to ensure that their babies go to the
best homes. Goldens, like all puppies go from being cuddly
babies to lively, and sometimes destructive teenagers, before
they become adults and a pleasure to have around.
WHEN BUYING A
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
Do your
homework. Don’t just rush in and buy “a pretty puppy”. A
puppy is for life and not a ‘toy’. All Goldens should be well
bred, sound, and well constructed, with quality temperaments
whether they are to be a companion dog at home, a show dog or a
working retriever. However, if you are looking for a
field/working gundog then you need to do your homework and maybe
even go and watch a field trial, talk to and contact the top
breeders with working stock. Talk, take your time, digest
everything you hear and above all make up your own mind before
you book a puppy.
Over and above
good construction, type and temperament, in a working golden you
are looking for the extras such as biddability, speed, style,
good nose, hunting and game finding ability.
If you decide
to work competitively with your Golden, there are retriever
field trial clubs in all provinces. All12 field trial clubs
usually hold, Puppy, Junior, Maiden, Novice and Open retriever
stakes.
Some years ago
hunter retriever points were also introduced to field trials and
today you can work towards the following titles behind your dogs
pedigree name if your dog reaches the excepted standard of 70%
in a field trial: Novice Hunter Retriever (NHR); Working Hunter
Retriever (WHR); Master Hunter Retriever (MHR) and Grand Master
Hunter Retriever (GMHR). And of course if your Golden has
competed successfully in the breed ring and has attained a
Reserve Challenge Certificate (RCC) or a Challenge Certificate
(CC) you qualify to enter a “Field Qualifying” stake, which, if
the retriever passes, “toy” for children. The following is a
check list that may be helpful if you decide that a Golden is
for you:
·
Go to a
reputable, well known breeder.
·
Don’t
buy a puppy as a present for anyone – Goldens are not a dog for
everyone.
·
Be
prepared to go on a waiting list for a good puppy.
·
Don’t
buy from a newspaper advertisement or pet shop.
·
Ask to
see the KUSA registered pedigrees of the parents.
·
Ask to
see the Hip, Elbow and Eye certificates of the parents.
·
If
possible try to see both parents before you commit to buy from a
particular litter.
·
Be
prepared to “commit” to your Golden. They are NOT a backyard
dog.
·
Understand that they need to be part of the family.
·
Never
buy 2 puppies together – they will bond with each other and not
you.
·
Don’t
buy a Golden if no one is at home during the day.
·
Be
prepared to do socialisation and obedience classes.
·
Understand that they are a “working” dog and can be very
destructive if left to their own devices.
For further
information on the Golden Retriever and whether this is the dog
for you, contact the Golden Retriever Club in your area for more
information. Or call Di Phillipson on 083 268 3166.
Dog Joke of the Month
A
three-year-old boy went with his dad to see a new litter of
Labrador puppies. On returning home, he breathlessly informed
his mother, "There were three boy Labrador puppies and four girl
Labrador puppies."
"How did you know that?" his mother asked.
"Daddy picked them up and looked underneath," he replied.
“I think it is
printed on their bottoms”
2. “I am
pregnant , Please put my cat to sleep”
By. Dr. S. Rigby
If I had a
penny for every time I heard this!! There seems to be a lot of
misinformation with regard to pregnancy and Toxoplasma.
What is
Toxoplasma? Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasitic protozoa
that has cats, both domestic and wild, as its definitive host
(stage in which adult parasite is present). Cats are thus
important in the spread of Toxoplasma to other animals
(including Humans) which then act as the intermediate host.
Cats acquire
the parasite by eating prey (rodents, birds etc) infected with
cysts. These cysts then multiply in the intestine of the cat and
produce oocysts (eggs) that are then shed in faeces. The oocysts
are excreted in large numbers for 14 – 21days following
infection. Within 5 days of being excreted in faeces the oocysts
sporulate and become infective to other animals and humans.
These cysts can remain infective for months in the environment.
Most healthy cats will not shed after the initial infection.
Clinical signs
in infected adult cats – are usually not apparent; but, clinical
disease is mostly seen in kittens and young adults. Initial
signs are non specific – not eating, lethargic and depression.
Pneumonia is the most common symptom. Toxoplasma also affects
the liver causing –vomiting, diarrhoea; the central nervous
system causing – incoordination, blindness and circling amongst
other signs.
Testing the
cat for antibodies just shows the cat has been exposed to
Toxoplasma, a four or more increase in Antibodies over 21-28
days can be presumptive for clinical disease. Remember that if
your cat tests positive for antibodies and there is no increase
21- 28d later – it means that he / she is not or hardly shedding
cysts. If your cat tests negative he/ she is still susceptible
to infection and thus shedding massive amounts of oocysts is
still possible.
So, what do we
do????
Some
references state that you have more chance of getting Toxoplasma
from your garden and eating undercooked meat especially –pork
and lamb than your cat.
Remember that
it takes 2-5days for the oocyst ( shed in cat’s faeces) to
become infective. Other cats may use your garden and the
farmer’s fields as a giant litter box.
With all of
the above in mind – how to minimize exposure:
1.
Clean
litter boxes out on a daily basis thus before the oocysts
sporulate- ideally get another person to do this for you if you
are pregnant. If there is no one to help wear gloves.
2.
If
gardening – wear gloves.
3.
Especially if you are pregnant – avoid eating raw or undercooked
meat – especially lamb and pork and thoroughly wash the
vegetables. Don’t drink unpasteurised milk.
4.
Wash
hands thoroughly after touching soil, cats, vegetables , dairy
products and meat
5.
Cover
children’s sandboxes – thus stopping cats using them as litter
boxes.
6.
Protect
your cats from exposure to Toxoplasma by stopping them from
hunting, eating raw and undercooked meats and drinking
unpasteurised milk.
7.
Avoid
handling feral cats.
As I write
this article, I await a phone call from my wife to say “I am in
Labour” and my cat is certainly still part of OUR FAMILY.
3.
WHY SHOULD I SOCIALISE MY PUPPY?
By Scotty
Valadao
(Accredited Animal Behaviour Consultant) (ABC of SA ™)
“I have
always had dogs and never taken them to puppy class, and they
turned out fine, why should I start now?”
Why Puppy
Class?
Because ‘Puppy Class’ from 8 to 16 weeks of age has major,
lifelong benefits for both you and your dog, including a happy,
socialised dog, better behaviour, better understanding and
communication. Puppy Class can be likened to early childhood
development in human children and the substantial benefits that
children gain from attending regular playgroup or nursery
school. They learn group dynamics and structure, are mentally
stimulated and gain valuable life and communication skills
during a critical formative phase.
Critical Learning periods
Recent scientific research shows that what a child experiences
in the first four years to a large extent determines their
abilities in later life. The critical learning period for
language, for example, is from birth to 3, and maths and logic
until 4. In the same way,
puppies have a ‘window of opportunity’ between the ages of 4
and16 weeks. During this period a puppy can be introduced to,
and accept, virtually any situation. After the ‘window period
closes’, the puppy moves into a new phase, during which they
become fearful and so find it harder to accept new experiences
and people. This could be compared to the toddler phase in a
human child when the baby who happily accepted being passed
around from person to person now starts clinging to mum and
becomes fearful of people he/she doesn’t know.
Apart from
this, living circumstances have changed dramatically over recent
years – and this means that your puppy or dog’s home environment
is different to what it was in the past. The stimulation and
exposure that characterised your dog’s lifestyle when you were a
child, is no longer available for a number of reasons. Consider
the following:
Home
perimeters – Fencing/ walling
Homes in the
past were usually fenced with a wire, maybe a low wall or often,
no barrier at all. This allowed the dogs to see the comings and
goings in the street and interact with both people and other
dogs. Nowadays, the majority of houses have five to six foot
solid walls surrounding them, so blocking any view for a dog
beyond the property perimeter. Just imagine the frustration
that a dog must feel when he can smell and hear things on the
other side of the wall but cant look at them?
Working Mums
When I was a
child we rode our bicycles to and from school and often had
friends over to play, which meant that there were always people
coming and going. In today’s environment, with many mums
working, this just does not happen as often. How does that
affect our dogs? They get to meet and interact with fewer people
of different ages and as such are not used to them. When we do
have children over to play or visitors, the dog often gets so
excited and uncontrollable that they are shut in a backyard or a
separate section of the garden, which raises their frustration
levels even more.
Time for your
dog
Unfortunately,
in addition to less interaction, this also means the dog gets
less attention from their owner. A working mum has her hands
full not only with work, there are children to be taken to and
from school, shopping, homework to be checked and supper to be
cooked etc. When is there time for the dog? Dogs are often left
alone all day long with little or no amusement by way of
company, toys and chewies, and often resort to their own
devices, with disastrous results. Owners often buy a second dog
to keep the original dog company hoping to remedy the situation,
but all this achieves is that the new dog starts to mimic the
existing dog’s behaviour and double trouble ensues.
Exercise
When I was a
child, we would take our dogs with us to the local park. Today
it is often just not safe to go to your local park, even
accompanied by a dog. When I recommend to clients that they take
their dogs out for a walk they often say ‘why, we have a huge
garden for them to run around in?
What we fail
to realise is that dogs have a sense of smell that is in the
region of forty times more developed than humans. A dog needs
the stimulation of outside walks not just for the physical
stimulation, but also for the mental stimulation it provides.
Believe you me, a dog knows every blade of grass and plant in
your garden. How would you feel if you spent your life inside
four walls and never got to visit the local shops?
What often
happens when owners do take a dog that is seldom walked out is
that the dog pulls on the lead like the proverbial train. Can
you blame him, there is so much to smell and investigate that he
is beside himself. This leads to an unpleasant experience for
the owner and as such the walks become less frequent. A dog that
does not go out often may exhibit behaviours such as digging and
destructive behaviour, a bit like us ‘climbing the walls’ from
boredom and frustration. Dogs also suffer from ‘cabin fever’.
Stress
As wondrous
and beneficial as progress may have been for the human race over
the last 10 to 20 years, it has also had negative effects. We
live a much more stressful existence than we did in the past.
There is more pressure, more fear due mainly to crime and less
time for R & R. As tension from our body travels down the lead
to the dog, so too do the tensions we experience in our everyday
lives affect our dogs. For a dog that is kept confined within 4
walls, receives little or no exercise and lacks socialisation,
the stress levels skyrocket – which in turn results in
behavioural problems.
More
information on Puppies
Not that many
years ago, owners were discouraged from taking their puppies out
until they had received all their inoculations at about 4 months
of age. Today, we know that pups should start puppy class a week
after their first inoculation, at around 8 weeks of age and
attend until they are 16 weeks old.
It has been
proven that puppies that have attended puppy class are less
likely to develop behavioural problems at a later stage. Not
only due to the early experience they have had, but also because
their owners have been educated to understand their dog’s
natural behaviour and have learnt how to cope with the changes
that will take place as the adolescent stage arrives.
Owners often
take their pups to puppy class and then do not take the training
any further, believing that their job is done. Yes, you have
done an excellent job by exposing your dog to puppy class, but
it doesn’t stop there. The average age group for dogs being left
with welfare shelters is between 6 to 18 months - the adolescent
stage when behavioural problems often occur. Adolescent dogs
require frequent positive social interactions to maintain and
develop their self-confidence and social skills – in much the
same way as a human teenager.
We often take
the good social behaviour that a dog exhibits for granted when
they meet other dogs or people. Rather take advantage of this
and praise your dog/puppy for exhibiting good social graces.
Reward from the owner by way of praise or a treat after your dog
exhibits good social behaviour is more likely to reinforce the
good social behaviour.
After having
made the decision to attend puppy school, please do make sure
that the puppy school is of the highest possible standard, even
going the extra mile and inspecting it yourself before
attending. Any puppy school/class, worth their salt, will
welcome you to observe and answer any questions you may have.
4. Coping with Pet
Loss “Am I Crazy to Feel So Sad about This?”
© By
Martha M. Tousley, CNS-BC,FT Reprinted with permission of the
author.
tousleym@aol.com
www.griefhealing.com
You’ve just
learned that your family’s beloved pet is terminally ill. The vet
gives your cherished companion less than a month to live! As the sad
reality of losing this important member of your family sets in, a
million thoughts race through your head.
Whether struggling
with an animal companion’s chronic illness, facing a decision about
euthanasia, or mourning the loss of a cherished pet, most animal
lovers are shocked and overwhelmed by the intensity of their
reactions. They wonder if it is normal to feel the loss of a
companion animal so deeply. Statements such as “I don’t know what’s
wrong with me. I didn’t feel this bad when my grandmother
(acquaintance, friend, relative) died” are common. If this is a
family’s first encounter with death, parents may be uncertain how to
guide their children through the experience of losing a bellowed
pet.
As a bereavement
counsellor specializing in pet loss, over the last ten years I’ve
counselled numerous grieving animal lovers, both individually and in
groups. I find that the questions I’m asked most frequently are
these:
§
Am I crazy
to feel so sad (angry) about this?
§
How do I
cope with my feelings when my pet is lost or missing?
§
Why did’nt
I feel this bad when one of my relatives or friends died?
§
How can I
help my children deal with the loss of a pet?
§
How can I
deal with the insensitive comments of others (“It was just an
animal” or “You can always get another”)
§
Do other
animals in the household grieve? How can I help them?
§
When there
is no hope for recovery from illness or injury, should I choose
euthanasia for my pet and, if so, how will I know it’s time?
§
Should I be
present during my pet’s euthanasia?
§
Do animals
have souls, and do they go to Heaven? Will we be reunited someday?
§
What should
I do with my pet’s remains after death?
§
What can I
do to memorialize my pet?
§
Will I feel
better if I get another pet right away?
§
How long
does grief last, and how long should I expect to feel this way?
§
Should I be
getting help with my grief, and what support is available to me?
§
What should
I do or say when my friend loses a pet?
Statistics
indicate that companion animals are becoming more valued in our
society than they were just 20 or 30 years ago. More people in the
United States today have pets than children, and most animal lovers
regard their pets as members of the family. How you will react to
the death of your own loyal companion depends largely on the part
they’ve played in your daily life, the significance of your
relationships with them, and the strength of your attachments to
them.
Because the normal
life span of most companion animals is so much shorter than your
own, it is predictable that one day you will experience the loss of
a beloved pet. Since the emotional bonds developed between people
and animals can be very deep and strong, it’s important to
understand that the pain experienced when those bonds are broken is
real. The more significant the bond, the greater the feeling of loss
you can expect. The grief experienced is not different from that of
losing a cherished friend or special member of the family. It is a
natural, spontaneous response to the loss of a significant
relationship.
Nevertheless, when
you lose a cherished pet you may find yourself feeling embarrassed
or uneasy about publicly expressing your grief. Since there isn’t
much cultural support offered to grieving animal lovers in our
society, you may end up feeling very isolated and alone. Statements
such as “It was just an animal” illustrate how others fail to
recognize this kind of loss as significant. Your relationship with
the animal may be trivialized by those ‘well meaning’ folks who say,
“You can always get another”. You may be left with the feeling that
you don’t have a legitimate right to grieve. Not all those in your
circle may be as understanding, as available or as capable of
helping you as you need them to be. You may find that friends and
relatives are finished with your grief long before you are done with
the work of it or the need to talk about it.
Is there anything
you can do to help yourself through the grief that accompanies the
loss of a beloved companion animal?
Yes! First, arm
yourself (and those who care about you) with some knowledge and
understanding about the normal grief process. Learn what reactions
you can expect in grief, and find out what can be done to manage
them.
It is also
important to find an understanding, non-judgemental listener with
whom you can openly acknowledge your feelings and experiences,
express and work through your pain, and come to terms with your
loss. That can be a fellow animal lover who respects the
relationship you had with your pet, a spouse, family member, friend,
neighbour, colleague at work, clergy person, pet loss counsellor or
telephone help-line volunteer.
Finding a Safe
Place to Express and Work through Your Feelings of Grief
Offline Resources.
Visit your public
library, local bookstore or pet supply center and ask for
information and literature on pet loss and bereavement. You might
ask your pet crematory or cemetery representative, your local animal
shelter, veterinarian or pet grooming specialist if they know of any
pet loss services in your community – or even if they know of any
recently bereaved clients who may be willing to talk with you. Look
for pet loss services (such as pet loss support groups) advertised
in your Yellow Pages or local newspaper, or posted on bulletin
boards in your grocery store, library, church or school. Contact a
pet loss telephone support help-line (such as that offered by the
Companion Animal Association of Arizona, at 602-995-5885)
Online Resources
§
Using the
keywords ‘pet loss’ you can search the Internet for some wonderful
pet loss sites, many of which offer chat rooms and message boards,
in addition to information and referral to other helpful resources.
I invite you to visit my Web site at
www.griefhealing.com
§
Gain
knowledge by taking an email course on Pet Loss or resend such a
course to that friend or relative who just doesn’t seem to
understand what you are experiencing.
Few of us are
prepared to face the excruciating pain associated with the death of
a beloved pet. Most of us think we cannot bear it, that to feel such
sorrow is abnormal, as if we’re going mad. We think there’s
something wrong with us or something unnatural about our feelings.
Yet pain over the
loss of an animal friend is as natural as the pain we would feel
over the loss of any significant relationship. Our pets offer us a
kind of loyalty, devotion and unconditional love that cannot be
found in the more complicated relationships we have with relatives,
friends and neighbors. Arming ourselves with some knowledge and
understanding of what is normal under such circumstances and finding
a safe place to express and work through our feelings of grief can
help us cope with – and even grow from – the agony of pet loss.
6.
About the Animal Behaviour Consultants of South Africa.
The Animal
Behaviour Consultants™© of Southern Africa aims to promote
well-being and harmony between pet and owner.
The ABC aims to
continue on-going studies and education in human/animal
relationships and to promote and regulate the profession of animal
behaviour consultants™©.
History of the ABC
The ABC was
founded in February 1994 out of the need to give southern African
behaviourists a professional governing body. Membership is open to
the public, as well as animal behaviour consultants™©. Owners of
companion animals can consult ABC accredited practitioners with
confidence, as they adhere to a code of ethics.
Accredited
Consultants
All of our
accredited members undergo a rigorous application procedure prior to
receiving their species specific accreditation. The accreditation
criteria are stringent and extensive, thereby ensuring the highest
levels of knowledge, professionalism and integrity. View a complete
listing of all accredited consultants on our website at
www.animal-behaviour.org.za
Code of Ethics
ABC accredited
animal behaviour consultants™© resolve at all times to:
-
Provide a professional and, confidential service
to the owners of companion animals.
-
Analyse the behaviour problem thoroughly.
-
Treat the animal in liaison with the referring
veterinarian.
-
Offer appropriate advice and therapy for the
animal and owner.
-
Treat the animal and owner with understanding and
compassion.
-
Deal honestly, and fairly, with the public.
-
Avoid any action that would discredit the ABC.
-
Liaise with all aspects of the animal industry
and promote awareness of animal behaviour.
-
Take every opportunity to participate in
continuing education.
-
Keep abreast of all new developments in the
science of Ethology.
7. Membership
Membership of the
ABC is open to all. There are three categories of membership:-
o
Normal
Membership
– R75 per year with a R75 once off joining fee.
o
Accredited Membership
– On application. Please contact our Accreditation Secretary,
o
Group
Membership
– Animal organisations are invited to join the ABC on a group
membership basis.
Why should I
become a member?
If you join as a
normal member, you will have access to the bimonthly newsletters
aimed at professionals, taking your knowledge of your pet even
further, while still, if you wish, receive this newsletter. You will
receive invitations to seminars and workshops and qualify for
reduced rates at all ABC workshops. In addition you will be eligible
to take part in the competitions featuring in the newsletter.
Should you wish to
become a member please contact Belinda Thomas - membership@animal-behaviour.org.za
SHOULD YOU WISH TO
UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS NEWSLETTER, PLEASE INSERT ‘UNSUBSCRIBE’ INTO
THE SUBJECT LINE AND SEND TO editor@animal-behaviour.org.za
The
information and views expressed in this newsletter are not
necessarily the views of the A.B.C. of SA. We are not responsible
or liable for any inaccuracy.”
