Old Dogs and New Tricks

"You can't teach an old dog a new trick." 

We all know the saying, but is it true? Can someone, in fact, teach an old dog, new tricks. Here are two proofs that you can.

First proof is Penny. She was seven when adopted into her forever home, didn't know her name, acted like she’s never seen a leash, and shamelessly ignored commands to sit and down. Her perplexed head tilt in response to training attempts said more than words ever could. She was an old dog with no tricks.

A little bit of time, patience, and effort fixed that right up. Today, Penny sits, downs, shakes, turns, rolls over, and has added quite a few words to her vocabulary. Although she did learn ‘walk’ and ‘treat’ much faster than ‘no’ and ‘leave it.’ Go figure.

Second proof is Cassie who was three when she joined her new family with not a single trick up her sleeve. It only took seven tries to teach her to sit and a few more to down. Now, she even turns simultaneously on command with her older sister.

So can an old dog learn new tricks? The answer to that depends on the human trainer and whether he or she is willing to teach.

Do you have old dog/new trick stories? We’d love to hear them! 

Nap! Good dog.

The Maggie Story: A Mixed Bag

The story of Maggie, Matthew, and Cindy

C.A.R.E.: So tell us, when did you first meet Maggie?
Matthew: My girlfriend, Cindy, and I first met Maggie last February. Then, she was called Poppy and was living with one of C.A.R.E's foster Moms, Kathy.

C.A.R.E.: Maybe a silly question, but did you guys know she was the one for you?
Matthew: Not silly at all, and yes we did. Maggie was shy at first. IT definitely took her some time to warm up to us. And treats. Lots and lots of treats.

C.A.R.E.: Treats are always good. And so then....
Matthew: Then, I ran out to grab my checkbook from the car. I was gone barely a minute, maybe two. And when I came back, there Maggie was, all curled up on my girlfriend's lap, comfortable as can be. Cindy and I both knew it was meant to be after that.

C.A.R.E.: Sounds like it!
Matthew: It was kind of hard to deny it, not that we tried. We were very much in love.

C.A.R.E.: That is so sweet, Matthew. So what was Maggie's back story?
Matthew: Unfortunately, or fortunately, we don't know too much. She was a stray, rescued from a high-kill shelter. Just a miracle that she made it until you guys rescued her, especially because of her health.

C.A.R.E.: That's right, she did have a few health problems, didn't she.
Matthew: Yes, she did. Maggie had some sort of a skin infection, we're not quite sure what exactly, but it caused much of her hair to fall out. It was a pretty sad sight.

C.A.R.E.: Poor Maggie. Is she doing better now?
Matthew: Is she ever! She's a real cutie, so full of life. It's as if all those bad things never happened to her. She's really embracing her second chance, really making the best of it. One of the great things about animals I suppose. We, humans, can learn much from them.

C.A.R.E.: We sure can, totally agreed.
Matthew: But yes, she's much better. Most of her hair is grown back, she still loves curling up on laps, and adores playing with her two best friends, a Border Collie, and a cat.

C.A.R.E.: Play with the cat? Really?
Matthew: Yep. It's great! They chase each other around the house, taking turns. It's pretty adorable.

C.A.R.E.: And the Border Collie?
Matthew: Maggie loves, loves, loves to climb all over him. And nimble at his ears. Good thing he doesn't mind.

C.A.R.E.: Good thing! Sounds like quite a family. So what has been the biggest surprise for you guys?
Matthew: Well, I mentioned Maggie's resilience. She's embraced her new life so quickly, so fully. And another fun surprise was her mix. We did a DNA test, which came back with, and you'd never guess from her looks, a Pug, Yorkie, Shiba Inu, and a few other mixes.

C.A.R.E.: A Shiba Inu? A Pug? Really?
Matthew: I know, exactly what we thought. And apparently of all the mixes, she's only 15% Chihuahua. Cindy and I always joke that those must be some strong Chi genes.

C.A.R.E.: They sure are! We would have never guessed.
Matthew: Most people don't. She still passes for a Chihuahua at our local meet up groups. Whatever she is, she is ours and we love her.

C.A.R.E.: She's lucky to have you guys.
Matthew: You could say that. I think a better way to think about it, is that we're lucky to have each other.

Thanks Matthew, we couldn't have said it better ourselves!

Trick or Treat: Only one of them is for dogs

Fall is here! And that means it's time for cozy sweaters, changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course Halloween. A holiday, that unfortunately for pets, can be filled with looming dangers.

Here are three reminders that can help keep your pet safe on Halloween.

1. Blow Out the Candles
Glowing pumpkins look great and make your house extra spooky, just make sure to keep them safely out of reach. Pets, and little kids for that matter, can easily knock over burning candles, creating a truly scary Halloween.


2. Watch those Doors
As you hand out candy and other treats to gremlins, princesses, and pirates remember to keep an eye on your curious pets who would love nothing more than to sneak out that front door.

If you have a room where you can lock up your furry ones for a few hours, even better! This will keep them from running out the door and away from the sometimes frighting and always strange sights and sounds of trick-or-treaters.


3. Hide the Candy
We all know chocolate is bad for dogs. But so are candy corns, sweets containing xylitol (a common sugar substitute), and many other treats just calling your pooch's name. And don't forget the wrappers! The more inquisitive and less picky pets will eat those too. 

And now, have a fun and safe Halloween!

Meet Lexi

You will have a hard time recognizing, Lexi (formerly known as Paris), found wondering the streets a few months ago. And it's not just because of her name change. 

Then, her long tail was tucked, her coat wasn't gleaming and smooth, and one of her ears did not perk mischievously up.

Now, safe, loved, and settled into her new home, she's keeping her new mom, Michelle, very entertained. And active.

Lexi may look relaxed in her mama's lap, but don't let those serene eyes and adorable ears fool you. Underneath the calm demeanor hides a twenty-pound ball of happy energy whose favorite pastime ranges from running to dashing to sprinting. All of which Lexi practices non-stop. Inside the house and out. After all, practice does make perfect.

And we can't wait to see her moves when that silly neck brace comes off!

Lexi, adopted from C.A.R.E by Michelle, May 2013

Did you know that...

56% of pet owners drive with their pets, but only 16% strap them in.

According to an AAA survey, as many as 17% admitted to letting their pooches sit on their lap, 18% confessed to reaching into backseat to interact with their dogs, and an astonishing 65% revealed that they have engaged in at least one potentially distracting activity while driving with their dog.  

Why restrain your pooch?

Safety, of course - theirs and yours! In U.S. alone, an estimated 30,000 car accidents are caused annually by unrestrained pets. The numbers get even scarier - an unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of force, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert approximately 2400 pounds of force.

Some states are even starting to implement laws and fines punishing drivers who let their four-legged passengers roam free.

So next time you get behind the wheel, make sure that your pet is as buckled in as you are!