As first seen in Wag Magazine, May 2012

Companion animals are well-known for alleviating loneliness and lifting depression in people, but humans aren’t the only species that suffers from these common maladies. Like people, horses and dogs are social creatures that long for the emotional ties and daily interactions of a soul mate. Horses in particular pine when left alone. Despite their size, they are preyed-upon animals and feel much safer in groups.

Throughout our country’s transformation, the horse has served a central role. . Horses have been used in agriculture, transportation and war. Native Americans bred horses and referred to them as “sky dogs,” because they exhibited traits similar to canines, including patience and loyalty.

It’s interesting that the cultural development of dog breeds has long shadowed that of the horse.  Once primarily useful as hunting companions, dog breeds evolved to guard livestock from predators, gather herds and flocks and quell the rodent population attracted to stocks of grain.

Fast forward to today.  The workhorse has been sidelined, replaced by machinery and technology.  Suburban horse people, while devoted and passionate about the needs of their animals, are restricted from owning herds by both space and expense.  Suburban zoning laws also restrict ownership, generally limiting horse lovers to one animal for every two acres.  The result?  Not so good if you’re a horse.  Long hours of isolation, limited human contact and little or no companionship can lead to a host of anxiety-related behaviors, including chewing wood, cribbing (when a horse pulls on loose boards), kicking walls and circling.  Is there a solution?

Fortunately, yes.  It seems that horses are adaptable and accepting. The need to socialize is so strong that a horse will, when paired with an equally sociable and interactive companion, be satisfied with a friend of another species.  It is important to note that both the temperament of the horse and its companion need to be considered. Sociable animals seek company for many reasons, not the least of which is protection and leadership.  A horse with a gentle disposition will seek camaraderie and direction, while a strong, assertive animal will demand an equally authoritative presence to guide him or a yielding disposition to its dominant one.  When choosing a horse’s companion, select one that is freshly weaned and of a passive, yielding nature that will– in the absence of people and others of its type—seek the company of a horse.

Here are three species to consider:

Dogs While dogs can make wonderful companions for horses, the dog’s breed and disposition must be carefully chosen.  Herding breeds, bred for farm life, are often too intent on their purpose to relate. Terriers are more focused on what’s below ground than above. Guarding breeds are intent on surveying the territory.  Sporting breeds, whether pure or mixed, are often best-suited for companionship. Select a young, passive and emotionally reliant puppy that will seek out the horse in the absence of other dogs and people.

Cats – Interestingly, the cats that make the best companions for horses are often not the best mousers.  When choosing a mouser, one looks for a focused, determined nature that even at seven weeks old will intently focus on a feather over human affection.  In selecting a kitten as a social companion, look for more relaxed qualities – joy in human handling, purring when held.  These highlight a follower’s disposition that relies on interaction to thrive.

Goats –Nothing is quite so entertaining as the friendship that often develops between a horse and a goat.  Given the choice, either species would prefer its own, though when raised together they often form a strong bond.  Great escape artists and tremendous eaters, goats need to be sequestered during mealtimes and require a carefully constructed pen to keep them secure.  Goats are also known to eat a horse’s tail down to the nub, so buyer beware!

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Should Family Vacation Include the Dog?

by Sarah Hodgson on July 14, 2012

It’s Summer!

Do your summer plans include travel? Whether you’re prepping for a few days at the beach or a multi-state tour of Civil War battlefields, think about your dog before you finalize your plans.

People love to travel. We love to see new sites, taste new foods and meet interesting people. We pour over travel sites and pick places we know we’ll enjoy. We pull out our calendars and create an itinerary: leave on Friday, home on Tuesday. For the most part, we know what’s coming and where we’re going. Your dog…not so much. Depending on your dog’s level of socialization, breed and temperament, travel can be very stressful. Car rides are fun for many dogs, but a ten-hour marathon drive may test his mettle. And if you think airplane seats are uncomfortable, try flying in the cargo hold.

Consider your destination. Will your hosts welcome your dog? Yes, they said “bring everybody,” but confirm in advance that this means your dog. Not everyone puts dogs in the same category as kids.

Know your dog. Is she an adventurous type or a homebody? Is she easily distracted by a favorite toy or do new scents and sounds send her into a frenzy? Does she walk companionably on a leash or does she need a little work in that department? If you’ve confirmed the dogfriendliness of your destination and your dog is socialized and ready for a trip, pack carefully to ensure a comfortable journey. Bring as many homey things as you can—beds, crates, toys, bowls and leashes. Pack a list of your dog’s familiar words and routines. Dogs are much happier when surrounded by things they recognize. If your hosts have dogs, introduce them to yours in a neutral location, preferably outdoors to avoid territorial disputes. Let both dogs drag long leashes to allow natural interaction while maintaining your ability to intervene if needed. If your dog stays behind, try not to feel guilty. She will be content with a stable routine and delighted when you get home. Keep in mind that the aggravations of travel that frustrate humans may overwhelm your dog and create a situation that makes you wish you had all stayed home!

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Fireworks from a Dog’s Perspective

by Sarah Hodgson on July 2, 2012

Last Saturday my family and I were enjoying an early evening barbeque, when a eager child- of say around age 40, decided that he had waited long enough for the upcoming celebration.  Dragging a small arsenal of fireworks from his garage he called all the neighborhoods’ children over to enjoy the display.  Somewhere in the midst of all the pop and glitter, Dublin, our friends aged and allegedly deaf Pit Bull burst through the hedges and attacked the erupting sparkles like a baited fighting dog.

His owners did not fear displaced aggression, whereby a dog might turn and bite the hand that tried to separate him from his provocation; they had both seen and dealt with it before.  “He doesn’t like fireworks; he never has.”  As I anthropomorphized that Dublin had “Saved the Children from a most formidable foe,” he was locked in an upstairs bedroom with a large bowl of water.  His mouth, fully examined, had suffered no burns.

The questioned raised that night was how did Dublin recognize the fireworks if he could not hear them?  My proposed reasoning will also reveal why fireworks are so offensive and/or intensely frightening to dogs. First it is helpful to understand how a dog’s hearing differs from our own.

Though many people assume that dog’s hear better than we do, this is not the case for all sounds. Noises that are recognized by the brain, enter the ear in waves: The lower the pitch of the sound, the lower the frequency of the sound pressure peaks that hit the ear; the higher the pitch, the greater the frequency of the waves undulations. The actually pitch of a sound (i.e. high versus low notes) is indicated in a measurement know as Hertz, or Hz, which is really nothing more than the number of sound pressure peaks that hit the ear in a second.  Sounds important for understanding human speech range from about 500-4,000 Hz, and consequently human s have ears with their peak sensitivity in that range.

Dog’s hearing isn’t better than humans for these sounds however since dogs evolved from a species that hunted for survival, their hearing is more sensitive to high pitched sounds of animals rustling in the leaves and emitting scrabbling noises in hidden spaced.  For this reason a dog’s frequency range extends higher, to between 47,000 Hz and 60,000 Hz.  Thus when referring to our different perceptions, it is more accurate to say that dog’s respond to a broader range of auditory experiences.

With regards to Dublin, I suspect that two forces took hold: one, he saw the erratic lighting and had instant memory recall, setting his familiar pattern in motion, and two—though his hearing was diminished, he wasn’t stone deaf and thus recognized the unique high frequency waves, tripping his predatory responses in motion.

With regards to the 4th of July walk a mile in your dog’s paw and guard his ears every way you can.  Create a relaxing space with familiar bedding and calming music or take him to a friends house or kennel where quiet reigns and any abrupt noises with not be related to his home space.

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Of Pets and Poisonous Plants

by Sarah Hodgson on June 4, 2012

 

As first seen in WAG:

http://www.wagmag.com/articles/of-pets-and-poisonous-plants

 

May 18, 2012

 

 

Spring has sprung, inspiring the gardener in many of us. It's no surprise that many who love the earth also love and share their lives with dogs, cats and horses. So as you begin to plan your garden, take a minute to cross-reference your selections with the list of toxic plant species http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/).

 

Traditional landscape favorites like lamb’s ears, crocuses and holly can cause digestive upsets and worse. Did you know cherry pits contain cyanide and are toxic to cats, dogs and horses? Or that garlic can cause anemia? And don't get me started on houseplants. Young pets are the most foolhardy, so stay tuned for my June Wagging column on raising gardens and pets, side by side.

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Pet Tip of the Week

May 10, 2012

As published in WagMag Online…
Cross a popsicle with a moist dog treat and what do you get? A low-cal lick-able treat for dogs. The Lickety Stick can be used as a lure for basic training and agility and to condition puppies and rescues. I discovered it works on cats and rabbits, too. [...]

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Chicks and Cats

June 9, 2011

Last week, it was Lindsay’s turn to write her school’s morning message, a short, informative passage that is read over the PA system and broadcast to all the classrooms in her school. The night before, we sat together in my office, both of us writing. I tried to concentrate on my projects, struggled not to [...]

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Mommy-n-Me

May 29, 2011

The day before had been a sunny 69 and as I drove around from appointment to appointment I dreamed of taking my youngest puppy—my two year old son somewhere special the next day. Just me and my boy: Mommy and me time to make up for my absence. The little thumbnails on my [...]

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Life’s Reassurances

May 24, 2011

In less than 3 weeks, we’re moving out of the house I’ve raised myself in. For almost 16 years, I’ve lived in and loved my little village home. The memories that I’ve packed so tightly into it – of my kids, my husband, my dogs…pretty much my whole adult life – will follow me to [...]

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Strauss-Kahn, move over.

May 18, 2011

Okay, slightly off topic, but here’s my son, accosting a mannequin at the local lingerie store. Clearly I should have weaned him a little sooner…

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Your Passion Follows You

May 15, 2011

Over the years, 16-year old Samantha White has had many names in our house: Sam. Sam-I-Am. Sam-Sam. Sammy. As the number of “other” Sams grew (the neighbor’s dog, Lindsay’s classmate), she became simply Our Sam.
I’ve known her since she was in diapers, but for the past five years, Sam has been a fixture in my [...]

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