Posts Tagged ‘socialization’

by Dr. Lori Fruit

Raising a puppy is not an easy job, just ask this veterinarian. I’m rediscovering the “joys” of puppyhood. Can anyone relate?

Number 1: Parasites happen! In our case, Giardia was the culprit—a lot of giardia. Even though I recommend treatment for this parasite all the time, and I know it’s a lot of work, I was still surprised. Giardia is a parasite that can cause diarrhea in some affected dogs, and Tilly seems to be one of those lucky dogs. Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes we get so caught up in our day-to-day that we forget to value everything that we might take for granted. This week, a very special gift came to our practice in the way of a request from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Our Director of Pet Behavior Services, Brad Phifer was approached at Bark Tutor by the Make-A-Wish Foundation on behalf of Peyton Medlin and her family. Peyton is a four-year-old little girl with Mitochondrial Disease- Complex 1 and III, with 22q 11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Her wish is to have a dog.

Peyton’s condition has prevented her from a childhood of playing with girlfriends, trips to the park, and everything we take for granted in our lives. To Peyton, having a dog means having a best friend—a companion to keep her company when she’s not feeling well, or someone to play with when she’s having a really good day.

Brad met with Peyton and her family and the first thing he did was determine what kind of dog would be best for Peyton. He used the Canine Colorsmodel to determine the personality types of Peyton’s parents, and then to determine the personality of their family’s ideal dog. After much discussion about Peyton’s needs, as well as the timeliness that was needed for selection, socialization, and training, the Medlin family decided that Peyton’s puppy should be a standard poodle.

As soon as Brad told us Peyton’s story, we knew we could “rally the troops” to make a difference for this little girl. Brad had already approached the owner of Pet Supplies Plus Indy, who agreed to feed Peyton’s new dog for a year. Between Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center and Bark Tutor School for Dogs, we knew we would be able to provide veterinary care for a year, as well as provide the training and socialization. Brad’s plan is to work with Peyton’s family to train the dog to be a Delta certified therapy dog. That way, with Peyton’s doctor’s permission, her dog will be able to accompany Peyton to the hospital for extended stays as her condition worsens. Down the road, Peyton’s parents plan to continue to volunteer at Children’s Hospitals with therapy dog programs, in Peyton’s memory.

Wednesday at our weekly staff meeting, we told the team at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center and Bark Tutor School for Dogs about Peyton and the cost of purchasing a young standard poodle, with time being of the essence. In less than an hour the employees had pledged and raised more than $1200!!  Additionally, we were able to reach out to Embrace Pet Insurance and the company has generously donated a pet insurance policy for the puppy’s first year with Peyton, to cover accidents and illnesses.

Yesterday, Brad took Peyton and her family to meet potential puppies. They have found her ideal companion—a little 3-month-old male standard poodle! Peyton has named him Manning and he will spend the next two months being socialized and trained by living with Brad and attending Bark Tutor. At Christmas, Manning will go to his furr-ever home with little Peyton! We are looking forward to sharing Peyton and Manning’s story in the coming months.

In the meantime, if you found Peyton’s story as touching as we have, please consider making a donation to Peyton’s medical costs, as her family lives on one income and we’re sure the medical expenses can be overwhelming. To help, please send your donations to: 5/3 Bank of Westfield, Mike Cadenhead , Branch Manager; 3443 E St Rd 32, MD868111, Westfield, IN 46074. You can make the donation payable to: Peyton A. Medlin Account Number: 9653255092

Does your barking dog drive you crazy? Does it seem like the more you try to get him to stop, the worse it becomes? Don’t worry…you’re not alone! This is one of the most common behavior complaints made by dog owners.

Why does your dog bark?

*Dogs bark to warn other dogs of their territory.

*Dogs may bark when separated from their family.

*Dogs sometimes bark when anxious, afraid or frustrated.

*Medical problems, especially as your dog ages could also contribute to barking.

In many cases, we inadvertently make our barking dog problem worse, by yelling or constantly telling them to be quiet when this happens. There are several ways to prevent a barking problem, as well as methods to correct unwanted barking. Read the rest of this entry »