Animal communicator Terri Steuben, a long-time participant in Petsguide, shares her successful communication techniques with pet owners through her new book, “Secrets of a Pet Whisperer: Stop Telling Your Animals to Misbehave.” By learning her “Talking Pictures” method to communicate with your pet, you will start sending clear messages your pets will understand. She reveals which words and thoughts correct bad behaviors like barking, jumping, chewing, kicking and scratching.

Terri’s book is something every pet owner can use, whether you own a dog, cat, horse, bird, hamster, snake or pig. She gives advice about everyday situations, such as leaving for work or going for a walk, and special circumstances, like moving or taking your pets on vacation. She also provides specific instructions on how to help your pets survive a disaster, and addresses communication concerns at the various stages of an animal’s life.

By practicing Terri’s simple communication techniques, you will discover how effective the right words and thoughts can be. You will see your pet behave in a new light and deepen the bond between you and your pets.

Each book costs $19.95 plus shipping and handling (tax applies for California residents). To purchase a copy, click here.

Blondie has come a long way from the terrified girl that she was. Once she gets to know someone and gains trust, she showers nothing but love. She has learned that people are really ok and has many friends.

Blondie loves walks and has had some training. She is not for the beginner shepherd person. She is for the patient experienced shepherd owner who will continue to work with her and discover what a jewel she is. Blondie does not need to travel in a crate; she will settle right in a spot in your car and will lay right down. She enjoys a nice car ride!

It’s time for Blondie to find her forever home. She doesn’t look back at her rocky start, she looks for someone to lead and guide her. It may take a couple of meetings before she falls in love, but once she does, she makes a friend for life.

GSROC recommends a home with no other dogs, cats or children. Too much stimulation makes Blondie nervous. She will thrive in a home looking for just one wonderful female shepherd. She also thinks she’s a lap dog. When she’s feeling super comfortable she’ll plop right down on a lap.

The German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County (GSROC) is a non-profit 501c(3) charity organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing purebred German Shepherd Dogs. They are an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff, funded entirely by private donations. Dogs for adoption are housed in foster home situations and in private boarding facilities.

Approximately 50% of the dogs rescued come directly from owners who are no longer able to care for them. The other 50% of the dogs are plucked from public animal shelters throughout Southern California. GSROC annually rescues and adopts between 300 and 400 dogs.

For more information, to see available dogs or to view their wish list, please go to the website at www.gsroc.org. Your tax deductible donations save lives, EIN#20-3455479.

Ready to foster? Here are tips to get started:

1. Figure out what type of animal you want. Dog or cat?

2. Decide whether you are interested in a specific breed or if you want to help all breeds.

3. Find a rescue group of that type in your area. PetFinder.com has a great directory, so does Petsguide.

4. Tell the rescue group in what capacity you can help. Can your home only accommodate small animals, or can you foster big dogs? Can you handle puppies and kittens, or only mature animals? Can you take more than one animal at once? Keep in mind that small dogs and puppies/kittens are the most in demand, and get adopted the quickest—sometimes even in just days. Large dogs and older dogs and cats are less in demand, and it can take weeks or months.

5. Your rescue group will notify you when it finds an animal that fits your criteria and hand it over to you. They usually provide a crate and medicine, if needed.

6. Treat the animal like your own, and train them if possible. Meanwhile, the rescue group will be doing outreach to find a forever home and screening applicants. Some rescues have a trainer to help with behavior problems.

Keep in mind that many foster parents end up adopting at least one of their foster babies, so if that’s out of the question for you, be sure to stick to it (and have someone hold you accountable if needed!).

Before you foster animals:

You should know two things:

1. It’s emotionally grueling.

If you’re fostering dogs or cats, you are likely an animal lover with a big heart. It’s so easy to get attached to a dog or cat, even after just a few days or weeks. Be aware that it is going to be hard letting them go, even though you know they are going to a good place. Prepare to feel very sad every time you ‘lose’ a foster baby.

You may also find yourself upset when your friends or family members insist on buying dogs from breeders. You just have to keep reminding yourself that your foster baby is in a happy forever home where they will be loved until the day they die, and that you’re doing your part to save lives.

2. It’s time-consuming.

Sometimes the dogs and cats need to be taken to the vet for shots or treatments (paid for by the rescue group). Some puppies need to be let out every few hours. Some dogs need potty or manners training. Sometimes you have to take the pet to three different potential forever homes before you find the right match. Some animals are scared and need some good TLC.

Please make sure that you have free time to care for a pet before you plan on fostering. Also, if you already have your own pet, it is highly recommended to take time off between foster pets in order to give your pet a little one-on-one love.

Fostering animals offers benefits for everyone involved:

Though fostering is difficult and emotional, you’ll be serving a higher cause with a broader picture:

1. It saves adoptable animals from probable death at an overcrowded shelter.

2. It removes animals from a traumatic shelter environment and gives them a happy home to live in (and be trained) while they await their forever home.

3. It gives the foster parent the benefits of having a pet without the long-term commitment (or gives their pet a playmate).

4. It allows the foster family to learn the animal’s personality so they can help the forever family determine whether it’s a good fit for them (animals don’t behave like themselves in shelters—how would you act in jail?). Also, if you plan on keeping your foster pet, fostering gives you an opportunity to really get to know an animal before you make a long-term commitment.

5. Fostering allows you to have no out-of-pocket expenses except food and litter because many rescue groups pay for all the foster animal’s medical needs. All you add is love.

In many communities, volunteer foster networks and no-kill rescue groups remove most of the adoptable animals from shelters that euthanize, put them in foster homes, or place them in forever homes through adopt-a-pet events. PetSmart, PETCO and many independent pet stores provide a place for the public to meet the available animals and for the rescuers to screen potential adopters.

Watch dogs take turn bobbing for “howl’oweenies.” Be amazed at the dog-treat stacking challenge where human contestants of all ages stack the tallest treat tower in 30 seconds. Shop for fun dog attire and accessories at the vendor fair (12:30-4:30 p.m.). Come dressed in costume to participate or spectate.

If you would like to enter your dog in the costume contest, the fee is $20 per dog. There is also a V.I.P. (Very Important Pooch) entry for $35 which allows you and your dog to walk near the front of the line. Check out the entry form here. Insider tip: They are offering a $10 off to those who need it.  Just write “$10 discount” in the bottom right of the entry form when you mail/turn it in!

Kids can get in the mix too! It’s free for kids to walk in the parade. Costumed kids meet at 2:20 p.m. at the Tot Lot in Livingston Park and will lead the canine procession.

Prizes for the parade will be awarded to the top 10 judge’s favorites and also for best dog in costume, best human in costume (with dog), best group (any combo with at least two dogs/people), and best float (limited to 4-feet wide).

Parade route starts and finishes at the corner of Livingston Drive and Park Ave. It begins at 2:30 p.m. and last about an hour. Onlookers can bring their own chairs to line up on the parade route or can rent one of 500 seats on Park Avenue for $5.

Want to see the competition from last year? Click here.

The Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade and Fair raises funds for spay/neuter programs, rescue groups, Operation Santa Paws and other Long Beach service projects.

WOOF!

He needs an active owner to keep up with his high amount of energy, and would make a fun exercise companion.

Melanie Wagner, director of humane education at Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals­-Los Angeles, said Popeye has an “intimidating” look due to his dark, brindle color, but is a loveable dog that would be a great addition in any home.

Friends for Life summer camp, previously known as Camp PeeDee, is held at P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village in Long Beach and has brought children and dogs together every summer since 2004. According to their website, the camp teaches basic care and responsibility for pets, respect for animals and the beginnings of dog training to children ages 6-13, while returning campers and children ages 14-17 learn counselor training. The camp gives children exposure to over 100 dogs from the Long Beach animal shelter that are up for adoption.

Wagner said every dog used in the camp must pass assessments that test how a dog will react with a young child, such as bear hugging and tugging on a dog’s ears.

UPDATE 10-05-2011: Popeye is still looking for a home. If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting Popeye, you can contact SPCA-LA by calling (310) 676-1149 or emailing HumaneEducation@spcaLA.com

Our first Pet of the Month is Izzy.

Izzy’s owner, Katie, rescued the almost six-year-old Pitt Bull mix and says,  “She is  the best dog in the whole world!” And obviously the coolest too.  Izzy loves to run around and play with her jolly ball, as well as play at the beach and dress up to go swimming. She loves kids, horses and chickens (a real ranch dog) and is pretty much always friendly. Lookin’ good Izzy!

We would love to highlight your pet as our next Pet of the Month. Send us an email at  with a short bio and a photo of their finest moment.  Then let them tell all the other pets on the block that they’re a celebrity. ( We take no responsibility if it goes to their head.)

]]> http://petsguidemagazine.com/features/featured-story/pet-of-the-month/feed/ 0 http://petsguidemagazine.com/features/featured-story/kind-to-canines-obedience-training-2/ http://petsguidemagazine.com/features/featured-story/kind-to-canines-obedience-training-2/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:59:10 +0000 Pam http://petsguidemagazine.com/?p=11023 Kind to Canines – Obedience Training

Kind to Canines Dog Training offers a range of obedience training options to best suit you and your pet. From puppy socialization to problem solving, they do it all. Their in-home training program allows you to be hands-on with your dog’s training right from the start. They also have training at their kennel located in Newport Beach, for 100% obedience in all commands. Whatever the problem, Kind to Canines has a positive solution.

Programs offered include:

Puppy Socialization for young pups, 7-16 weeks of age. Trainer/Owner, Dan Atkinson, says that training your dog to fit in with his or her new pack (Your Family) and learning to behave properly in your den (Your Home) should be conducted the first week you bring the new pup home. Studies on canine development and learning have proven that the most critical learning periods occur before sixteen weeks of age.

Puppy Training includes basic problem solving such as house-soiling, jumping, chewing, and nipping. Plus, proper socialization techniques and basic commands.

Basic Training for puppies 16 weeks and older. Atkinson states that basic obedience gives structure to a dog’s life and can solve many problems. Dogs learn sit, sit-stay, no, down, down-stay, and come.

In-Home Training Program is designed for owners who want to be hands-on with their dogs training. In-Home Training consists of six one hour sessions at your home once a week. In between these visits you, as the owner, must do your homework, spending at least one and half hours working with your dog each day.

Training at the Kennel consists of three solid weeks of training while your dog stays at the Kind to Canines kennel. Following the in-kennel training, Dan trains you, the owner, on how to work with your dog in your home once a week for three weeks to ensure that you and your dog are happy. Includes, training leashes, collars and instructional videos.

Problem Solving programs for chewing, jumping, excessive barking, jumping fences, house soiling, separation anxiety, destructive behavior and more.

Read case studies and testimonials and see pictures of alumni on the website.

Call (714) 545-2404 or e-mail to set up an appointment today! Download coupon for a free consultation, here.

63 Dogs in 63 Days

Adopt a German Shepherd or German Shepherd mix between July 9 and September 10, and give the gift of live to a homeless pet! Due to the number of homeless animals that has grown exponentially over the past year, Coastal German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County has set a goal to adopt out 63 dogs in the next 63 days.

Adoption donations have been reduced to just $100, which includes spay/neuter, vaccines, and microchip. Adoption application and a home visit is required. Puppies under four months are excluded from this promotion.

63 dogs in 63 days is kicking off the Saturday in conjunction with the 1st Annual Scott Sellman Pet Vendor and Adoption Fair, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Milo’s Café, 26771 Rancho Parkway in Foothill Ranch. The event will also include dog rescue groups, agility training, obedience trainers, food vendors and pet products.

See the available dogs here.

Fill out an application here.

Can’t wait till the next issue of Petsguide? Sign up for The Scoop, the magazine’s monthly e-letter reaching pet owners and advocates in Long Beach Metro and Orange County!

The Scoop features health, recreation and activities for you and your pet. The popular Clickable Calendar highlights the month’s pet-friendly events. Dig-able Web finds gives you the lead on fun and informative resources that’s just a click away!

(Take a peek at past issues of The Scoop here!)

Petsguide also wants to lend a helping paw by putting the spotlight on area animal shelters and organizations in the Adoptable Pet column. Looking to expand your furry family, or know someone looking for a pet? The Scoop provides leads on reputable organizations that care deeply for the homeless animals they rescue and foster.

The best part? It’s all free, and you can sign up on the front page!

A happy, active boy, loves other dogs and people, this sweet boy likes walks, frolicking at the dog park and riding in the car. He would like a home with another dog to play with and is ready to give you love and sloppy kisses. Carmichael is also housebroken.

If he sounds like the hound for you, contact Basset Rescue at www.bhrsc.info