A Publication of St. Louis Critter Sitters
December 2008 / January 2009


Breed of the Month –The Irish Setter

Along with its appearance, the Irish Setter's personality is fun loving, playful and affectionate. It is mischievous and independent, intelligent and stubborn, anxious to please and yet determined to have its way if it decides to go hunting or steal a treasure from closet or drawer. Hunting instinct is strong and the breed enjoys a fine reputation as a reliable companion in the field.

The Irish Setter is a slow maturing dog, both mentally and physically. It stays a puppy for a long time, and retains some of its merry Irish character forever. Some believe that the setter is difficult to train, but this is not so. The Irish Setter is very smart, sometimes smarter than its owner, so one must use care and patience in training this dog. Once learned, a lesson is never forgotten, so it behooves the owner to train a puppy with love and firmness, never harshness or cruelty.

The breed is naturally clean and fastidious and will housetrain quickly, if given the opportunity to go out at regular intervals when it is young. It loves to be with its people and will adapt to riding in a car, preferably in a crate where it can stretch out comfortably and be secure. This breed is not aggressive but it will energetically announce the arrival of all comers, and if put to the test has been known to protect its owners from harm.

One of the primary requisites for owning an Irish Setter is the time and the facilities to exercise it often. This is a high-energy-level breed, needing an area to run and play big enough for it to stretch its legs. This is the single most important factor in raising a happy and healthy dog. Exercise, however, does not mean opening the door and allowing the dog to run free. Irish Setters will follow their noses and cannot be guaranteed to remain within one's property until they are well along in years. Sometimes this happy state never occurs. Either an ample fenced yard or the means to walk or run the dog daily are a must if you wish to have a happy and adjusted Irish Setter.

Source: www.irishsetterclub.org

We at Critter Sitters are asking you to please remember shelter animals if you are considering a new pet. Rescued animals often make the best pets. In return for a little affection and attention, they reward their new owners with a love and loyalty unmatched anywhere.  Click here to see a listing of Irish Setters  in the St. Louis area who need homes.

Article from December 2008/
January 2009 edition of St. Louie Tails:

Sassy's Sixth Sense

By Andrew Clayman

A Closer Look at the Scientific Explanations for "Animal Intuition"



Four years ago, on the day after Christmas, Thailand and Indonesia were devastated by one of the worst tsunami events in recorded history. In the wake of the tragedy, which claimed more than 150,000 human lives, rescue crews marveled at the relative lack of animal casualties. Somehow, almost all of the region’s native elephants, buffalo, and deer had sensed the wave and retreated to the safety of higher ground. This news would serve as one of the strongest arguments yet for the existence of animal intuition, a topic that has fascinated researchers—and pet lovers—for centuries.

When it comes to understanding the complexities of animal intuition, we humans are generally left with two choices—accept the somewhat tedious explanations of science or dive into the far more appealing possibilities of science fiction. Not surprisingly, even the most rational minds among us seem to favor the latter from time to time. It’s just hard to observe certain examples of animal behavior and not wonder, "Do they know something I don’t know?"

Of course, even a skeptical scientist would answer "yes" to that question. The difficult part is determining the direct cause-and-effect relationship that results in what we describe as animal intuition. Fortunately, Tails found a man who has spent years doing just that.

"Animals have very different sensory systems than we do," explains Dr. James Ha, a research associate professor in psychology and animal behavior at the University of Washington. "Sometimes that is very difficult for us to understand and incorporate into our worldview. So in science, we use something called Occam’s razor—always use the simplest explanation that explains the phenomenon. Don’t add to the complexity of an explanation if it is not required."

For Dr. Ha and most of his contemporaries in the field of animal behavior, this means that almost any case of animal intuition can be explained by observable components of an animal’s anatomy and sensory systems. In other words, it’s not ESP (extra sensory perception), just regular old "SP."

"We know that many species have a different range of sensation than we do," says Dr. Ha, referring to the case of the tsunami survivors. "Many species of animals are far more sensitive to very low frequency sounds, for instance, and would be able to hear a very loud sound, relatively speaking, coming from the direction of the ocean—such as those caused by tectonic movements. This would be very concerning, upsetting, and would cause them to become anxious, to seek shelter, or to move away from the sound. Just because we couldn’t detect it doesn’t mean that they can't!"

OK, so maybe those animals were using their sensitivity to sound rather than intuition. But what about the animals we know best—our pets? Anyone who has ever lived with a cat or a dog has probably observed something akin to animal intuition on a smaller scale. Our four-legged friends seem to be able to sense our moods, and in many cases, respond accordingly to them. There are even more extreme cases of this, such as reports of dogs anticipating seizures in humans or the one about the nursing-home cat who sensed when patients were about to die.

According to Dr. Ha, the same explanation applies. "You have to consider the simple answer first. Are there mechanisms by which dogs could sense an oncoming seizure, such as changes in pheromone chemicals given off by the patient or even changes in the electrical field about the person? Yes. We also know that dogs and cats are more sensitive to body language than are primates or humans, and therefore are better able to read someone’s intentions before their intentions are obvious to a fellow human."

This can also explain why your not-quite-domesticated cat always seems to bite you at the moment you’re thinking about her trying to bite you. She’s not reading your mind, but she is picking up on your increased muscle tension and reacting accordingly. The question is, Is there any room in science for a scenario that does accept true animal intuition?

"Sure," says Dr. Ha. "But many studies have been done, and to date, there is absolutely no positive evidence for such a phenomenon."

St. Louis Critter Sitters
Recipe Corner

Banana Biscotti

  • 5 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1-1/2 cups banana, pureed
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • water

Dog Food Recipe Directions:

Preheat oven to 325F. Place dry ingredients in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Blend egg, oil and banana together. Add into the dry ingredients in well. Start combining together. Add water, one teaspoon at a time as needed. Knead by hand on table until mixed thoroughly. Form into logs approximately 2" - 2 1/2" high. Flatten so that log is 6" - 7" wide by 1" high. Place on non-stick baking sheets or lightly greased ones. Bake 30 - 40 minutes. Remove and cool for 10 minutes. Slice into 1/2" - 3/4" slices. Place on baking sheets and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool. Store in airtight container.

Source:  www.i-love-dogs.com

Furry Forum from December 2008/ January 2009
edition of St. Louie Tails:

Q. I have a 4-year-old male black Lab named Buddy, who has been on the hyper side all his life (he is neutered). He still does not sleep through the night, and gets up and barks or wants to play games. He knocks items over and drags them around during the night for attention. I give him plenty of exercise at the dog park daily. He is picky about eating, and does not want to eat unless he’s starving. I told the doctor I wanted him on medication and was told no way, that the dog has to have a job to do. He guards the house day and night, has been through training and socialization, and still nothing has changed. I have not had a decent night of sleep for four years! Do you think medication would help this dog? If so, what type of medication would be appropriate?

—Stephanie Macey, Aurora, IL

A. Your veterinarian was right in refusing medication for this problem. There are a variety of reasons why dogs might not sleep through the night. Given his age and breed, your dog is most likely understimulated. Most working breed dogs (including Retrievers) require far more exercise than guardians realize. If your dog is overly excited about interacting with dogs at the park, then these outings may actually be contributing to his hyper behavior at home. He needs other sources of exercise besides the dog park. [Try] some type of dog sport (e.g. agility, rally obedience, tracking). These "jobs" have rules that require the dog to think. Thinking dogs are calm dogs! [Crate training] might be a helpful temporary solution at night to keep your dog from knocking things over. If you respond to the dog’s barking and attempts to play at night, you are essentially training your dog to disturb you. Give him some energetic exercise about one hour before bedtime. Establish a sleeping area for him. Reward him for lying in this area. If he barks or tries to get your attention, ignore him—even if this means sleeping with earplugs for a few nights.

Medication sometimes is appropriate as an adjunct to training for certain problems; however, it does not sound appropriate for your dog. An animal should be evaluated by a qualified behavior professional before considering medication for any problem.

—Dr. Lore I. Haug is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in Houston, TX.

Q. For the past three years, my husband and I have attempted to send out a holiday card with a family portrait. Unsurprisingly, our 10-year-old curmudgeonly cat, Eleanore, has no interest in this project whatsoever. The snapshots always end up looking rather silly as the camera catches Ellie in the mid jump-off-the-lap or mid I-am-going-to-bite-your-arm pose. This year we’d like something a little more put together. Do you have any pointers for getting a good photo?

—Paige Phillips, Hoboken, NJ

A. Including your pet in the family portrait can be a fun experience. Below are a few tips to get the pictures you want:

1. Patience. You may have to take dozens of pictures to get just one that is perfect.

2. Treats and toys! Have the photographer tempt your cat with her favorite treat or toy, or get a new toy that will intrigue your pet. Keep in mind that treats work well to tempt some pets, but for others they can be a distraction. Try a variety of treats and toys before the photo shoot to see what works best for your pet.

3. Plan the session around your cat’s schedule. One day she may be compliant and the other a rebel. Be willing to postpone the session until your pet is in a responsive mood.

4. Have fun! Taking photographs should always be an enjoyable experience for you and your pet. Just think of this as extra playtime.

—Shaina Fishman is a freelance photographer in New York City specializing in photographing animals in studio and on location.

"The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That is the essence of humanity."
                                              ...George Bernard Shaw