GGRR Newsletter. October 2012 Newsletter. Inside this issue: Meeting Minutes 1. Events 2. Pictures from the Greentree Festival. Old & New Business

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1 V o l u m e 10, I s s u e 10 O c t o b e r October 2012 Newsletter Gateway Golden Retriever Rescue P.O. Box St. Louis, MO Phone: (314) Inside this issue: Meeting Minutes 1 Events 2 Pictures from the Greentree Festival Old & New Business 2 3 Stupid Dog Laws 4 What Your Dog Really Wants 5-6 September Meeting Minutes The meeting was called to order at 7:27 p.m. by President, Tim M. Julie G. moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the previous meeting. The motion was seconded by Jim D. and passed. There were no corrections to the minutes. President s Report Tim M. thanked everyone for working at the Nationals. Rich T. made a lot of donations for GGRR by transporting people to and from their cars in the parking lots. Treasurer s Report Kathy D. gave the following report on our accounts: Beginning Balance: $1, Income: $1, (26.56 Escript) Expenses: $1, Ending Balance: $1, Flash Fund: $32, Membership Report There were no inquiries for the past month and no visitors at our meeting. Intake Report Michelle F. reported that we had three dogs come in in the previous month: Lucky a 3-1/2 year old Sadie a 13 month old female Sadie a 18 month old female Adoption Report Mike S. reported that we adopted out one dog in the previous month: Summer Website Report Paul S. reported on our website activity for the past month: Page views: 14,890 Visitors: 5,534 Hits: 92,882 Unique Visitors: 3,916 Paul reported that most of our visitors are from Missouri and Illinois. He also created a scan code for mobile phones that will take them directly to our website.

2 Page 2 GGRR Events Event Coordinator Report Julie G. reported that we made around $4,000 at the Nationals over the 5 days we were there. It was asked if we want to attend the Samoyed Club Carnival on October 14th. Due to a lack of volunteers it was decided that we would not attend. Julie then handed out parking passes for the Greentree Festival in Kirkwood on the weekend of 9/14. Upcoming Events Racing for Rescues This event will be held Sunday, October 7th. There s a 5K run or walk and it s $25 to enter before 10/3 and $30 the day of. All proceeds will be split between our group and stray rescue. We will have a table set up with information on our organization. It s a 9:00 a.m. start. The walk will be held at Quail Ridge Park. Please arrive between 8-8:30 a.m. if you plan to participate. Next GGRR Meeting Thursday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m. at the Dog Museum in Queeny Park. APA Carnival The APA Carnival is on Oct. 7th from 11am to 3pm at Tillis Park in Rock Hill. Chris R. and Julie G. have signed up to work this event. It always looks good to have the ex-pen full of happy healthy Goldens! Come out and share information on our group and enjoy a beautiful fall day in Tillis Park! Pictures from the Greentree Festival in Kirkwood Park. Everyone enjoyed seeing all of the Goldens in our pen!

3 Page 3 The Golden Nationals at Purina Farms Pictures above are from the Rescue Parade at the National Specialty. The picture to the right is the Memorial Wall that will reside at the Dog Museum in Queeny Park. Old & New Business Old Business Jane M. announced that there will be a Blessing of the Animals at Christ Church Cathedral on 1210 Locust St. on Sunday, October 7th at 5:00 p.m. New Business There was no new business to be discussed. A motion was made by Julie G. and seconded by Jim D. to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

4 Page 4 Stupid Dog Laws!! You ve probably heard about the Governor of New Jersey recently refusing to sign what he called a stupid law requiring dogs and cats to be restrained by a safety harness while riding in a car. Some no doubt think it s a great idea, and others will agree with the Governor. Whatever the case may be, we ve all heard of some really stupid dog laws in our lifetimes, so I looked up a few, and here they are, in no particular order: In Barber, NC, it is illegal for dogs and cats to fight! (It s OK for dogs to fight dogs or cats to fight cats, apparently.) In Minnesota, it is illegal for cats to chase dogs up a telephone pole (must have some vicious cats there!). In Illinois it s against the law to give a lighted cigar to a dog. (I wonder if it s okay to light one for the dog if he asks?) Also in Illinois: you can t make faces at dogs!! (Dang it! I wonder what the punishment would be cause I ve been known to do that?) That same law exists in Oklahoma. Plus they have this beauty: if dogs wish to gather in groups of 3 or more on private property, they have to get a permit first. Here s a really crazy one, as reported on LawProfessors.Typepad.com: In Connecticut, any dogs with tattoos must be reported to the police. Okay! Makes perfect sense to me any dog that gets a tattoo is probably a disreputable character, and should be watched. As expected, California also has a few: You can t give away puppies. (I guess if the person gives you a penny, then it s a legal purchase.) Dogs and cats can t engage in sexual activities, UN- LESS THEY HAVE A PERMIT!! In San Francisco, if you and your pet decide to engage in mass destruction, the fine for detonating a nuclear bomb is $ (No comment!) In Ohio: your dog can t pee on a parking meter. (Seems that s suppressing free speech?) This one is not about dogs, but I can t pass this up: in Alaska, you can t push a live moose out of a moving airplane. (I guess dead ones can be pushed out.) There are more, but hopefully these stupid dog laws will give you a few chuckles. By: Ron Miller

5 Page 5 What Your Dog Really Wants Dogs are problem-solving team players who need more than cookies and affection to prosper. Follow these eight steps to make sure your dog is happy, secure, and fulfilled. By Steve Duno We love our dogs. To show it, we write magazines and books about them, buy them designer collars and clothes, and feed them diets more nutritious than what we ourselves ate in college. Our dogs go on vacation with us, visit doggie daycares, get massages, go on dates. They get birthday presents, and haircuts more expensive than our own. Some even get their own trust funds. Yes, we definitely love them. But what do they really want? Besides steak and bottomless cookie jars and slow cats and bellies full of grass, they probably have a much more doggish list of things that truly make them happy, secure, and fulfilled. But what exactly would those be? They can t actually make a list, so we ll need to do it for them as best we can. It s a wish list based not upon what makes us happy, but upon what they need as canines living in a human world. Let s take them one at a time: Good Health This one s a no-brainer; every dog deserves to be kept in top physical condition. You can start by feeding her the best quality food you can, in the right amounts, with special focus on her age, energy levels, and potential allergic reactions. Deciding on the right food can be made easier by the second key factor in maintaining your dog s health namely, your veterinarian. In addition to giving vaccinations, your veterinarian will keep tabs on your pet s overall health, recommend food options, and diagnose potential issues such as allergies, joint problems, disease, and even behavioral problems. Accordingly, be sure to take your dog into the vet at least once a year. The other key ingredient in maintaining your dog s good health is exercise. Sedentary dogs gain weight, which in turn affects joint health, and can incite early-onset diabetes. A lack of exercise also creates boredom and pent-up stress, leading to a host of behavior issues. Avoid this by walking your dog, playing fetch with her, taking her to the dog park whatever the two of you enjoy doing together. Guidance With the minds of two-year-old humans and the physical prowess of Olympic athletes, dogs need direction from us, their elders, to learn focus, control, and etiquette. Without it, they can become insecure holy terrors, without muse or cause. Whether you call it leadership, mentoring, management, or guidance, it s essential to Fido s happiness. A dog who knows the rules will be more at ease than one forced to run the show for lack of human guidance. Truth is, though they aren t capable of running things in our world, we often put dogs in that position by forgetting that, like kids, they crave boundaries. To that end, be sure to train Fido from day one. Teach rules, manners, and consequences; be consistent, build routine, and praise to the hilt when he minds. The reward will be a sentient, well-behaved, cheerful pet with calm focus, instead of an unreliable and reactive pain in the neck. The Right Kind of Socialization Dogs need to interact to feel fulfilled, and to learn basic social mores. But their sociability is not unlimited; in fact, most dogs are somewhat tribal in nature, preferring to mingle with those they know, or with those who pose no discernible threat. It s why so many reasonably social dogs don t fare well in big doggie daycares, or at busy dog parks. Dropped into a seemingly chaotic situation filled with strange dogs and people, many dogs can short circuit, stress out, or even act aggressively. Isolating a dog is just as detrimental. Keeping Molly at home 24/7, without exposure to other persons or pets, can create an antisocial misfit who, when confronted by a visitor to the home or a strange dog on the street, might erupt in fearful fury. This scenario occurs often; we lead busy lives, and sometimes fall into routines that don t allow for getting the dog out often enough. And when a dog begins to become antisocial, her owner often tends to cloister her away even more, in an attempt to avoid the conflict. This compounds the problem. Try to get your dog out on a regular basis. Take her for a daily walk, and a weekly trip in the car. Visit the dog park on days that aren t too chaotic. Trade dogs with a good friend once a week. Don t force your dog to socialize, but allow her a significant amount of contact with friendly, focused dogs, and with people who understand how to interact calmly and confidently. (Continued on the next page )

6 Page 6 What Your Dog Really Wants (Continued) Always praise and reward for civil interaction. Avoid subjecting your dog to frenetic children, or to unpredictable, chaotic environments. Take into consideration your dog s personality, too; if she is a gregarious, happy girl capable of mixing it up, then have at it. But if she is a worry wart, consider limiting social time to those few friends she feels comfortable with. Enrichment Dogs need to problem solve, investigate and evaluate, and apply their senses, brains, and muscles to some end, to feel that they have purpose. Without these things, they overflow with energy and desire, and eventually burst like a bubble, in the form of misbehavior. To avoid this, enrich Fido s life by providing him with stimulating toys, environments, events, and conditions. When he s left alone, supply him with safe chew toys, and perhaps a treat-stuffed rubber ball. Hide small treats about the home for him to find. Leave the radio on a talk radio station. To test your dog s problem solving skills, place an uncooked chicken egg in his dish and watch what happens (limit this to a cleanable area). Leave a scent trail for him to follow by sprinkling a tiny line of allspice or bouillon powder, leading to a hidden treat or toy. Or, simply leave a few pigeon feathers about. Whatever might get your dog While with your dog, enrich his day by trick training or vocabulary building. Teach him to retrieve specific objects, or play flyball. Attend an agility class. Any experience that inspires him to think, act, and focus will enrich his life, and make for a smarter, better-behaved pet. Solidarity Dogs need to feel part of a cohesive, functional team, one with a territory, a mission, a character. Whatever you call it pack, family, team, or gang it s a part of their mindset, and you need to honor it. As team manager, you should evoke a sense of solidarity, or team spirit. Do so the way a dog would: protect and care for her, participate in group activities with her and other dogs, exude confidence and control, and be a good muse. Dogs who see their owners happily interacting with others will model that behavior and attitude. If you have multiple dogs, take them all (and other humans, too) out for a group walk of the neighborhood, to induce that sense of tribal pride. Or, just get down on the floor with them and have a frolicking romp of it. Earned Praise If you praise a dog for a behavior, he will logically repeat the behavior. But if you randomly give gratis praise, the dog ends up training you instead. For instance, if your dog shoves his head into your lap and you pet him, he s basically training you to pet him. This role reversal can become problematic, and contribute to increasingly pushy behavior. Instead, give your dog what his pragmatic mind prefers: the opportunity to earn praise. Make him sit for a treat instead of just giving it to him. Have him come to you for a pet on the head. This quid pro quo attitude will condition him to respond faster and with more zeal. Also, avoid consoling your dog during times of fear, as consolation is interpreted by the dog as praise. If he gets scared of thunder and you comfort him, he will interpret this as reward for the behavior, reinforcing the fearful conduct. That s how dogs think. Calmness and Consistency Your dog doesn t want you to be an emotional roller coaster. If you are enervated and joyous one day and morose and grumpy the next, you ll confuse and worry her. She would rather you be a master of calm, as this projects normalcy and safety. So, avoid both ends of the emotional spectrum; no over-the-top, frenetic, schmaltzy outbursts, or gloomy, oppressive, threatening attitudes. Be what your dog needs, a calm, cool inspiration. Also, try to be consistent regarding not only attitude, but consequence; if one day you yell at her for jumping up, but the next praise her for it, you ll drive her batty. Sticking to the rules and being consistent is what she wants. By all means, give your dogs gobs of love and attention. But remember that they are problem-solving team players who need more than affection and cookies to prosper. By mentoring them and attending to their doggish wants, you ll get a happier, better behaved dog in return. And you ll learn a thing or two in the process.

7 Gateway Golden Retriever Rescue P.O. Box St. Louis, MO Phone: (314) Next Meeting Thursday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m. At the Dog Museum in Queeny Park We love having happy healthy Goldens at our meetings! Please make sure your dog is up to date on shots and vaccinations. please! To Adopt or Surrender a Dog Call the GGRR Phone Lines: (314) Officers President Tim Miget tnsemiget@charter.net Vice-President Kathy Dierkes kathy_dierkes@yahoo.com Secretary Tracie Grimm tbayer80@gmail.com Treasurer Pat Moran p4021m@sbcglobal.net Membership Representative Chris Rogers chrissyrogers@sbcglobal.net Coordinators Intake Coordinator Michelle Frasca mickyf1@charter.net Adoption Coordinator Mike Stemmler mstemmler1012@yahoo.com Membership Coordinator Amy Gerber amyjane83@msn.com Events Coordinator Julie Goldman stargazr@charter.net Webmaster Paul Swarthout paul@paulswarthout.com. Mentors Intake Phone Lines Mike Stemmler mstemmler1012@yahoo.com Adoption Phone Lines Pat Moran p4021m@sbcglobal.net Home Visits & Dog Visits Shane Stark golddog05@mac.com Foster Homes Kathy Dierkes Kathy_dierkes@yahoo.com