Deerfly Diaries

First Aid and CPR for Sporting and Backcountry Dogs

As the owner of a bird dog, one learns very quickly how important it is to have a good dog first aid kit on hand. I've been in my fair share of canine first aid situations: lacerations and abrasions from barbed wire and sticks, cactus barbs and porcupine quills, canine hypoglycemia, heat exhaustion. I'll be the first to admit, however, that more times than not I was just lucky. When it came down to it, I was not properly prepared or didn't know how to use the resources at hand.

Know First Aid- Save Your Hunting Dog's Life

The more time you spend in the backcountry with your dog, the more likely you are to face a canine first aid situation. My upcoming class, First Aid & CPR for Sporting and Backcountry Dogs, will teach owners to provide the best care possible in a first aid situation. You will learn to use a primary assessment to recognize when your dog needs first aid, rescue breathing, and/ or CPR and how to administer it. 

Other skills covered will include restraining and muzzling, choking management, bleeding and shock management, insect bites and stings, heat and cold injury, what to do in the case of seizure and assessing your pet's vitals. Students will also be taught how to conduct a snout-to-tail wellness assessment and how to assemble the best pet first aid kit.

 

Sue Melus is a Certified Pet Tech Instructor. She teaches pet first aid, trains dogs and writes on the Western Slope of Colorado. 

My First Puppy Delivery

 

My friend Gary Metzler is a breeder/trainer/handler of AKC Field Champion GSP's. His five-year-old female Roxie was bred two months ago for her first litter and Gary had asked me in advance if I wanted to be there for the delivery. Without hesitation I told him I'd love to be there if it worked out.

Last Thursday, just as I had sat down to write an article that was due the next day, the phone rang with the news that the puppies were coming.

“Roxie is ready to pop these puppies any minute so you better get over here soon,” he said.

I closed my computer, grabbed some towels and headed for Gary's cabin. "What the heck. I'll write my article in the morning," I thought. Plus, I figured I had never witnessed a puppy birthing and it could make for some good writing material in itself.

When I got to Gary's, just minutes later, Roxie had already dropped one little female. The new mama paced in circles inside the whelping pen while Gary carefully watched the little pup to make sure she didn't get stepped on. Right away Gary asked me to jump in and help.

“Just sit here and make sure Roxy doesn't crush your own pup," said Gary. “She's not quite sure what to do yet. Get a little milk on your finger and put it on the pups nose. Try to get her interested in the nipple. It's important that we get this little puppy nursing as soon as possible.”

This was a first for me. I had never milked a dog. Roxy wasn't producing much yet, so it was a slow process, but in a little time the puppy was attached to a nipple and all was well.

About an hour later Roxy let out a scream and in a split second there was the second puppy. I helped get the puppy free from the placenta to get the puppy safely breathing while Gary carefully snipped the umbilical cord.

Within another two hours we had three more. All five were females. The puppies were as soft as could be- all white with mostly liver colored heads and large liver patches. Their eyes were closed and they appeared to only have one instinct, a cute little non-stop roto rooter action that allowed them to wiggle and squirm their way to nourishment. The last two puppies were much quicker to get on a nipple than were the first two.

The most amazing thing about the whole process was the obvious transformation in Roxie. When I first got to Gary's she was anxious and unsettled. But after four short hours and birthing five little pups she was a mom in full swing. It was as if she had been doing this all her life. I suppose it was part exhaustion, but Roxie was as relaxed as could be with her new babies. She tiptoed around them and made sure not to lie down on top of them. She licked them and nuzzled them to her belly where she knew they should be.

I went home amazed at the little miracle I had just witnessed. In the middle of the night, long after I had gone home, Roxy had one more puppy—a little male. She had six puppies total and all are doing well. She is being a great mother and the future is bright for these little bird dogs to be.

 

Sue Melus is an Certified Dog Trainer living in Carbondale, CO. Her business Good Life Dogs specializes in private in-home dog training.

 

New Class Teaches Dog Clicker Training Basics

Beginning this Saturday at 10:00 am at High Tails Dog & Cat Outfitters in West Glenwood Springs, I will offer a new Level I Dog Obedience class. I will cover basic cues and behavior issues. All ages of friendly, vaccinated dogs are welcome. Students will be provided a free clicker learn how to use it to communicate with their dog and teach it new behaviors. For $110 students can purchase a 6-session punch pass to complete my six week curriculum. Learn more about the class.

How Does Clicker Training Work?

Clicker training simply uses a clicker to mark good behaviors in your dog. It is very similar to when you tell your dog, “Good dog,” when it sits, then you give your dog a treat. Instead of verbally praising the dog we use a clicker to mark the exact instance that your dog performs the good behavior (i.e. click when your dog’s bottom hits the ground). Then we always follow the click with a small, soft food treat. 

The clicker is very effective because it is a unique noise that is new to your dog. The sound of the clicker quickly begins to mean something to your dog. Before long your dog will start thinking, “What did I do to get my owner to click.” The dog will soon learn to repeat the behaviors that earned it a click. 

A Clicker Helps Your Dog to Understand What You Want

Clicker training can be a very fast and effective means of communicating with your dog because it relies on positive reinforcement rather than punishment or coercion. It creates a thinking dog that is eager to work for rewards. Clicker training works well with almost all dogs of all ages. It can also be a very effective means of working with shy, fearful or easily distracted dogs. 

 

Another Amazing Fly Fishing Cover Shot

OK, so maybe I'm biased, but I have to say this is one hot photo. My husband Glenn Melus is on the cover of the latest Cabela's fly fishing catalog! Local action photographer Tyler Stableford was behind the lens. Congrats to both Glenn and Tyler!