October 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE: We need Foster Homes! Please consider opening your heart and home to a rescue dog in need.

November 18, 2006 from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
2857 E Backus Rd, Mesa AZ 85213

Please join us for our first annual Cattle Dog Rescue Round up and Fundraiser. It will be a fun filled opportunity to support local rescue efforts as well as meet fellow cattle dog enthusiasts. 

Many of our volunteers work behind the scenes and they look forward to meeting past (and future) adopters as well as our rescued dogs. 

All friendly and well behaved dogs are welcome as long as they are up-to-date on vaccinations and on a leash.  Remember to bring lawn chairs for yourself and a crate for your dog.  (The crate is not required, but it will give you a break, as well as your dog.)  Some of the things you can look forward to:

Barbeque
Hamburgers, hotdogs, side dishes and soft drinks will be provided

Doggie Contests
Prizes will be given for Best Trick, Best People/Pooch Look-A-Like,
Best Kisser, Longest Sit-Stay (w/lots of distractions)
and Egg & Dog Race

Fundraiser
We are asking for a minimum donation at the door of $10 for adults, $5 for children and all children under 6 are free.  This is a FUNDRAISER, so bring plenty of cash and/or your check book.  We will be selling commemorative t-shirts, assorted doggie goods, holiday pet photo’s and will also be having raffles. 

We have rescued several ‘needy’ dogs the last year and have had a lot of costly veterinarian bills.  Help us and enjoy yourself at the same time.

PLEASE RSVP TODAY!! http://www.newhopecattledogs.com/RSVP.htm

Our holiday fund raiser was a big hit last year. And this year promises some extra special ornaments; again, created exclusively for New Hope Cattle Dogs.

Remember when ordering, that you will be doing more than simply purchasing an ornament. Your contribution will be an important part of helping us rescue, heal and re-home ACDs.

Our suggested donation for an ornament is $37.00, plus $4.20 shipping. You can also order a name written on your ornament for an extra $1.00 donation. You can order two ornaments for $68.00, plus $6.20 shipping, and three ornaments for $95.00, plus $8.00 shipping.

Each sleigh bell is 3 1/4" in diameter, with a perfect spot where you can order a name to be added. Each dog is individually hand sculpted of strong, high quality polymer clay. There may be subtle variations in the coat pattern since each one is hand detailed.

Please order yours today and pick up one or two for gifts. Here is the website: http://www.newhopecattledogs.com/ornament_orderform.htm

Remember, you will be helping to save dogs like this with your purchase:

Touch is the most basic sense for animals. Sight and hearing take time to fully develop; smell and taste require reference points to have meaning, but the perception and benefits of touch are available from the first instant. Studies have shown that infants (human and animal alike) that are touched grow and develop faster than those that are not touched. They are also more active,alert, and responsive to social stimulation.

The benefits of touch are no less available to adults: whether they are the one being touched or the one doing the touching, lowering of blood pressure and stress levels are just two of the desirable results of physical interaction. As important as this is to us humans, it is even more important to the companion animals that share our lives, increasing confidence, trust, and bonding as well as providing physical comfort and well-being.

1) Whose body is it anyway?
Your animal companion is keenly aware of his or her body and its needs. Choose a quiet time and setting, make yourself and your animal comfortable, assume an alert relaxation, and (this is the key) ask permission to touch him or her. You can, of course, just grab Fido or Fluffy and start rubbing, but massage is both more effective and more enjoyable when it is a cooperative effort. Showing respect for your animal’s bodily integrity not only makes the event more pleasurable but also bolsters self-esteem.

2) Lightly, lightly, and with intent
How much pressure should you use? This is a reasonable question and there are some guidelines (initial strokes - weight of a nickel; cats/small dogs - never more than one pound; heavily-muscled dogs - up to five pounds) but the best general answer is “less”. Too much pressure can restrict blood flow and/or cause bruising; an effective massage can be done with a feather. Tightness in an area can be eased by repetitions of gentle strokes, gradually increasing pressure as the tissues relax while watching your animal for signs of enjoyment or discomfort.

3) Go with the flow
The primary goals of massage are relaxation and the encouragement of the innate tendency toward good health of your animal’s body. Many massage strokes follow the path of venous blood flow, aiding in the removal of metabolic waste and toxins and allowing the inflow of oxygen-rich new blood. This, for the most part, follows the hair coat: head-to-tail, back-to-belly. This is also the case for the lateral or outer part of the limbs, but on the medial or inner part of the legs the venous blood flow is from the foot upward, so most strokes used there also take this direction.

4) Let your fingers do the listening
While massage is not a substitute for veterinary care, one of the benefits of regularly massaging your animal is the familiarity you acquire with his/her body. As your hands move along you may notice areas of tightness, sensitivity, tenderness, or swelling; warm, cool, soft, or hard spots; muscle spasms and other conditions and reactions. These provide information about where and how to massage and can also be important factors in the assessment of an injury, early detection of tumors or other abnormalities, or other situations that may require veterinary care.

5) Believe your animal
There is debate among biologists and others as to whether animals are capable of deceit, but you may safely assume that your animal companion’s reactions to massage are true. Snarling, growling, baring teeth, etc. are obvious signs of discontent or discomfort and should be heeded; there will be other opportunities for massage. Flinching or pulling back generally signal tenderness or sensitivity and call for a light, careful touch. Indications of enjoyment to watch for include yawns, sighs, kisses and other displays of affection, ‘soft’ or ‘dreamy’ eyes, leaning in or moving closer, and relaxation of body posture or position. If your animal appears to fall asleep or actually does so - congratulations.

6) Stroke, stroke, stroke
Television’s portrayal of massage is almost always hacking - the karate-chop-like blows. While there are situations where this or other percussion strokes are appropriate, most of the massage that you do with your animal will employ gentler movements. Passive Touch - simply resting your hand on your animal - is calming, and builds confidence and trust. Effleurage, the fundamental stroke, looks much like petting: palms, fingers, of both glide over an area, warming the tissue and encouraging blood flow. This is generally followed by kneading: gently pressing the tissue with fingers and thumb in an up-and-down or rotary motion. Add compression, in which large muscles are pressed between both hands or against an underlying bony surface, and you have a relaxing, effective massage. Finish with soft, smooth stroking that encompasses your animal’s entire body.

7) Pay attention
Some of the effects of massage are obvious: the relaxed stretch, the deep sigh, the appreciative look. Others, such as tiny muscle spasms, minute shifts in alignment, easing of tension or tightness in a muscle or muscle group, or a change in breathing pattern, are more subtle and may go unnoticed unless you are consciously ‘in the moment’. Still others are likely to register first subconsciously: the deepening bond between you and your animal, improvement in technique, and the way your animal begins to direct the massage. Finally, there are the effects that massaging your animal have on you: a lowering of blood pressure and stress levels and a greater appreciation for your animal as an individual.

8) When not to massage
Massage is not appropriate for an animal with a medical issue such as elevated temperature, heatstroke, nausea, etc.; one with a fresh injury such as a break, sprain, or strain; or one that is in shock. It is also not used in the area of an open wound; in this situation touch may be applied to unaffected areas. Other conditions, such as disc problems, cancer, an impaired immune system, or kidney or liver deficiencies, should be discussed with your veterinarian before beginning a massage program. When in doubt - ask. There are also non-physical circumstances to be considered: do not massage when you are not mentally prepared (angry, impatient, distracted, etc.). Most importantly, DO NOT MASSAGE IF THE ANIMAL SAYS NO; it is, after all, his or her body.

9) A learning in practice
There is a wide range of information available on animal massage: books, videos, classes, etc.; all can add variety and confidence to the massage time you spend with your animal and are heartily recommended. At the same time, don’t fail to take advantage of two resources uniquely available to you - yourself and your animal. With all due respect to those who have shared their knowledge and experience, I have learned more from the animals that I have had the privilege and pleasure of massaging. Work out a massage routine that feels right - and use it.

Pack Mentality
Understanding the Nature of the Pack

by Cesar Milan

Pack leaders don’t project nervousness. They don’t project panic. They don’t project tension.

What’s the same about a dog, an elephant and a horse? These animals all organize behind a leader.

People make a mistake when they treat dogs like humans. Every species has its own psychology. If we understand its psychology, we can control the behavior, because we know how to relate to them.

Newborn puppies need to find a place or status within the pack. They don’t get a name like we do, because personality is something humans create and only exists in our world. In the animal world, there are two positions: the leader and the follower. Dogs are simple; we make their lives complicated by misunderstanding what they need as a species.

Dog Speak
Dogs communicate through constant energy. The pack leader always projects a calm-assertive energy. Energy is what I call beingness: who and what you are being at every moment. (If you don’t know what I mean by calm-assertive energy, think about Oprah Winfrey. She is calm and assertive in the human world.) Pack leaders don’t project nervousness. They don’t project panic. They don’t project tension.

Simply put: the pack leader is a calm-assertive presence that provides balance to the pack. It’s also not about gender; a female or a male can become pack leader. Pack leaders control everything; nothing is open to debate.

Two Worlds Collide

When dogs come into our homes, they meet emotional energy for the first time. We shower them with affection, and they see us as excited energy. This is why dogs don’t listen to humans. Their mothers never acted this way. Where did the calm-assertive leadership go? We often develop a different agenda for our dogs. We want to make puppies our babies. When people see a nervous or shy dog, they console her like they would another human. In the animal world, this nurtures instability, something a pack would never do. From day one, the human fulfills himself and forgets about what’s important to the dog. In the absence of a one hundred percent leader, the dog, even a submissive one, will seek to fill what they see as a vacant role. The dog will ignore the owner or act out in other ways. This is the beginning of giving control to the dog. One of the most important things you can remember is that dogs are animals. If we don’t fulfill them as a species, they won’t live a balanced, centered life. Understanding and projecting a pack leader’s calm-assertive energy will create a positive and lasting connection with your dog.

Females Available for Adoption

Males Available for Adoption