#Pets and #Hurricanes - Be #Prepared !!! #2016

#Pets and #Hurricanes - Be #Prepared !!! #2016

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This is an urge to become informed.

Yes it is officially Hurricane Season 2016 here along the Gulf Coast of Florida. 

And YES we already have a candidate coming up for an audition this coming week!

Now while the Tampa Bay area is - in my opinion - the safest place on the entire Gulf Coast, for various reasons, 

And usually these things pass us by and all we get is lots of rain....

DON'T BE STUPID!!!

Especially if you are not from the area and have never experienced a real hurricane! 

Do NOT panic.... But do not be stupid.

What I'm referring to is

YOUR PETS!  ALL OF THEM.

From lizards to gold fish, birds, cows, chickens, and OF COURSE your cats and dogs.

Have a plan.

Have a plan.

Have a plan.

Do NOT assume!

Do not assume.

               Do not assume.........

Educate yourself. 

Learn about services available in your area.

Figure out what to do if you:  "have no money"  "have no car"  "have children"  "have an illness, condition, disability"  "have a pet with special needs"

Figure that shit out NOW!!!!!!!!

Do not wait!!!

Have a plan.

Write it down.

Be prepared. 

NO ONE is responsible for you and your pets BUT YOU!!!

All day, every day. YOU.

No excuses. No whining.

Do it.

Take responsibility. 

Make a plan.

Here's a "Get Started" List:

• Pet Friendly Shelters (NOT ALL ARE!!!)
• Organizations that offer Pet Assistance
• Addresses and Directions
• Phone Numbers (all of them!!! printed out or written down)
• Phone Numbers (actual written/printed numbers - not contacts list, text, or speed dial)
• Phone Numbers (family, friends, neighbors, businesses, shelters, organizations, doctors, banks..........)
• Food
• Bottled Water
• Collar & Leash (REGARDLESS!!!! YOU NEED THESE!!!)
• Medicines
• Refrigeration Options
• Crates
• Wee Wee Pads
• Bedding
• Toys

• Evacuation Routes (more than one)
• Full Tank of Gas
• Bug Out Bag for Pet Supplies
• Batteries
• Old Fashion Radio!!! Do not rely too heavily on your modern electronics! Have a backup.

• Remember, in most cases you won't need to head for the hills.... But what if you do?? Just be prepared. Look at a map - You are in Florida. You are SURROUNDED by water with only one way out. And you are not alone!!! 
• Remember, whether its a big one or a small one, we may lose power. Sometimes power can be out for days! That means no refrigeration, no cooking, no charging electronics, no air conditioning.
• Remember, it is also possible to lose water and sewer!!! That's right! If lines get broken they shut the whole system down. No running water, no washing dishes or clothes, no bathing, and no flushing!
• Remember, whether you have power or not - as in a generator or solar panel - the area may still lose cell phone service if towers go down. 

http://petgroomer911.blogspot.com/2012/08/dont-leave-pets-behind.html

http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/petpreparedness.htm

PFS means Pet Friendly Shelter
http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/pet_shelters
http://www.floridapetfriendly.com/pet-friendly-hurricane-shelters.htm
http://www.spcaflorida.org/community-resources/disaster//

Children's Experiences of Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse

animal abuse children domestic violence pets research

Children's Experiences of Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse

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24% of children whose mothers experience domestic violence also see threats to or abuse of companion animals, research shows.

Every year in the US, 1 in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence, according to a national survey. Research by Shelby McDonald(Virginia Commonwealth University) et al finds many also witness abuse of pets in the home, potentially adding to the impacts on their behaviour and mental health.

The researchers interviewed children age 7 – 12 whose mothers had used domestic violence services in the past year. Of 242 children, a quarter had seen someone threaten to or actually injure/kill a pet. They analyzed the data from this group to find out more about the animal abuse these children saw. 

The results show the patterns of animal abuse that children describe as happening in the home, the different family members involved, and the reasons children give as to why it occurs. For children who witness this, it may be especially traumatic, since pets can be a form of social support during difficult times.

Dr. Shelby McDonald told me, “Children experience close bonds with companion animals and rely on pets as a way of managing stress. In the context of high stress, unpredictable environments such as a households experiencing family violence, pets may serve as security-providing attachment figures, offering comfort, consistency, and support to children who are coping with adverse environments. 

“In addition, positive interactions with pets and caring for pets in the home may provide important opportunities for children to build self-esteem, develop empathy, and increase social interactions with peers and members of their community. 

“Thus, the presence of a pet in the home may function as a protective factor that helps buffer the impact of IPV [intimate partner violence] on the child.  Certainly, the protective impact of having a beloved pet in the home would likely be compromised if the pet were being abused in the context of multidirectional family violence.”

The researchers found three contexts in which animal abuse occurred. Most commonly, the mother’s partner threatened or hurt the pet as a way to frighten and control the mother. For example, one boy said, “When my mom and I do not clean well or get up early, he [dad] gets angry and starts kicking the dog with his boot and starts throwing him against the wall time and time again.” 

Children seemed to recognize this kind of behaviour was aimed at upsetting their mother, and sometimes themselves too, as in the example above (‘my mom and I’). For women in these situations, seeing their child upset at abuse of the family pet may add to negative feelings and self-blame. 

At other times, violence was used by the mother, their partner or siblings as a way of punishing the pet for misbehaviour. For example, one girl said, “My dad kicked the dog when it tried to bite visitors to my house.” There was a wide range, from pulling the leash too hard to inflicting serious damage. The authors say that since physical punishment is common for children in households with domestic violence, it is no surprise to see it applied to pets. Also, physically punished pets may become aggressive, potentially leading to more harsh treatment. 

This shows children drawing a distinction between perceived punishment (that they might consider justified) and abuse (that wasn’t justified). This is interesting because at this age children are developing ideas about fairness, and it is believed children’s understanding of interpersonal violence is important for long-term outcomes.

The third context was siblings abusing the animal, for example, “my little brother just got mad and threw the cat down the stairs.” Some children said they had sometimes hurt their pet too.

78% said they had protected or tried to help a pet. Sometimes they took preventive action to keep animals away from their mother’s partner, such as putting the pet in their room. Some children said they directly intervened, e.g. one boy said, “When my dad was trying to hurt my dog, I grabbed my dog and said ‘No, Dad, no.’”

Children’s interventions show pets are important to them, but many domestic violence shelters do not allow pets. The researchers say children may need help in coming to terms with not having been able to help or save their pet, and that humane education programs to teach them how to properly interact with animals may also be beneficial.

This important study shows more research is needed on the effects these experiences have on children. Further research by the same team investigates the risk factors that affect how well children cope with witnessing animal abuse.

The full paper is available via the link below or on researchgate.

Reference

McDonald SE, Collins EA, Nicotera N, Hageman TO, Ascione FR, Williams JH, & Graham-Bermann SA (2015). Children's experiences of companion animal maltreatment in households characterized by intimate partner violence. Child abuse & neglect, 50, 116-27 PMID: 26520828
Photo: m.sava8 (Shutterstock).

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Homeless Youth With Pets Are Less Depressed Than Those Without

depression homeless youth homelessness housing loneliness mental health pets

Homeless Youth With Pets Are Less Depressed Than Those Without

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A survey of homeless youth finds that pets bring benefits – and difficulties.

23% of homeless youth have pets, according to research by Harmony Rhoades et al (University of Southern California). The team surveyed 398 homeless youth at two drop-in centres in Los Angeles. While previous studies have shown that pets can be very important to homeless youngpeople, this is the first quantitative study to look at pet ownership, mental health, and the use of services amongst this group.

88% of the young people in the study had attended the drop-in for food during the previous month. Other services they had used included clothes (69%), job help (52%), housing (49%) and health services (47%). Of those with pets, dogs were most common (53%) followed by cats (22%). Other pets included a hamster, rat, chinchilla and iguana. 

“Companion animals provide emotional support and represent important, loving relationships in the lives of many homeless youth,” say the authors. 

Pet owners had lower scores for loneliness and depression, and reported many benefits to having a pet. 85% agreed that “my pet keeps me company,” 79% said the pet “makes me feel loved,” and 73% said the pet “makes me feel safe.” 

There was no difference in having been hurt or threatened on the street, but those with pets were more likely to report having carried a weapon. There were also no differences in being hit or seeing someone be hit at home. However, amongst those who were living with family, there was a trend for those with pets to be more likely to experience or witness violence in the home. This suggests some young people may be staying in a violent situation because it’s better for their pet.

The biggest difficulty for those with pets was that half of them (49%) said it was harder for them to stay at a shelter. Most shelters do not allow pets. Although those with and without pets were equally likely to be living on the street, only 4% of those with pets were staying in a shelter or housing program, compared to 17% of those without pets.

Other problems included it being tricky to find housing (16%) and hard to see a doctor (11%). Those with pets were less likely than those without to have accessed some services (housing and job help) but not others (including food, clothes and health services).

While 60% said they made sure their pets ate before them, a few reported difficulties getting enough food for their pet (11%) and almost a quarter (23%) agreed that “strangers give me a hard time for having a pet.” Most of them did not find it easy to see a vet. These findings show that programs that provide pet food and vet care are an important service for homeless youth.

Homelessness includes a range of circumstances. 49% of the participants in this study were living directly on the street and 14% were in a shelter or program for the homeless. Of the other housing situations, some were staying with family, friends, or a romantic partner. 

Many of them had experienced violence; 55% reported being hurt badly in a fight in the past year, and 46% had been hit at home.

Against this backdrop, the fact so many said their pets protected them and helped them feel safe and loved suggests pets are playing an important role. The authors say, “Housing and other services must be sensitive to the needs of homeless youth with pets.”

Reference
Rhoades, H., Winetrobe, H., & Rice, E. (2014). Pet Ownership Among Homeless Youth: Associations with Mental Health, Service Utilization and Housing Status Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 46 (2), 237-244 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-014-0463-5

Photo: Brad Steels / Shutterstock.com

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Illustrating Companion Animal Psychology: Favourite Photos

cats dogs pets photos scicomm

Illustrating Companion Animal Psychology: Favourite Photos

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A selection of favourite photos from the blog.

One of the things I enjoy about writing Companion Animal Psychology is picking out the photo for each week’s post. I wait until I’ve finished the first draft, and choose the photo before I go back to edit. It feels like a treat to browse through the images.

Most of the time I’m looking for a photo in which the animal is happy and relaxed. Although there are some gorgeous studio shots, I tend to prefer more realistic settings. There are some stories for which any puppy or kitten would do, but other posts need something specific. Sometimes it’s not obvious what kind of photo is best to illustrate a story, and then I’m looking for some kind of connection, a metaphorical thread that links the visual to the prose. 

pjmorley (Shutterstock.com)

This photo of the mouse scampering away from the sleeping cat makes me smile. I used it to illustrate a story about the role of animals in everyday life, based on research from the Mass Observation Project (Animals, Pets and Vermin). 

 

Zanna Holstova (Shutterstock.com)

I wrote a post about the problems with the metaphor of the wolf pack as applied to dogs. Following Eva Feder Kittay’s idea that metaphor works by “re-arranging the furniture of the mind”, I said “We need to re-arrange the furniture and consign the pack metaphor to gather dust in the attic.” This photo of the two Basenjis looking uncomfortable on the settee is a perfect match. The one behind looks a little squashed, and both would be more comfortable if they re-arranged themselves. I also like the three different fabrics of the settee, throw and cushions, and the bookshelves behind. (Re-arranging metaphors for dogs). 

taviphoto (Shutterstock.com)

I like this photo of two outdoor cats doing their own thing, the front one looking towards the camera, the other having a wash. The beautiful autumn foliage is a nice bonus. (Can cats and coyotes co-exist?).

Photo: Bhakpong (Shutterstock.com)

I love this photo. The look on the Lab’s face is delightful. And this dog is very relaxed in the water. I love the colours in this one too. (If you lead a Lab to water, should you let them swim?)

OLJStudio (Shutterstock.com)

I love the interaction between the young woman and her little Pomeranian. They are dancing together in matching pink outfits. It’s from a post on research about whether people treat little dogs differently than big dogs. (Positive reinforcement and dog training: Little dogs vs big dogs).  

I use stock photos so I know I have the rights to use the images, and you will always find a credit to the photographer in the blog post. It was incredibly hard picking just 7 photos for this post, because I love all the photos I use.

DragoNika (Shutterstock.com)

I had to include a puppy photo, and this one is adorable. Not just framed by flowers, but interacting with them by biting on the branch. The story is about how clever people think dogs are, and this one is delightfully balmy. (How clever do you think your dog is?).

Linn Currie (shutterstock.com)

This chinchilla golden Persian kitten is cute and playful, and I love the bold colours. Something about the fabric reminds me of the upholstery on seats on English buses and trains in times gone by. I used this photo on social media to say thank you to everyone who reads, likes, shares and retweets my blog. It's the support and encouragement from readers like you that makes it all worthwhile.

Which photos are your favourites? 

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Great photos are important to dog adoption.
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A Conversation with Carri Westgarth

animal behaviour Carri Westgarth conversation dog bite prevention dog walking education interview perception of risk pets puppies research

A Conversation with Carri Westgarth

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Carri Westgarth and Francine Watkins new paper explores the perspectives of victims of dog bites. The results give important new insights into dog bite prevention. Carri kindly agreed to answer questions about her research on dog bites, dog walking, and puppies, and her own companion animals. 

How did you get interested in studying dog bite prevention?

Carri as a child; Top photo: Carri with her dogs Jasmyn and
Ben, and her friend's dogs Alfie and Zephyr

My mum might say it started as a toddler when she dashed upstairs to get a nappy and left me with two Jack Russell’s, one elderly and blind in one eye (sorry mum – she never has forgiven herself!).  I still have the scar on my forehead and a nice little bald patch. I initially wanted to be a vet, didn’t get into vet school, but after a zoology and genetics degree, worked various jobs in rescue and assistance dog training until I came back into academia. 

Through all this I developed a fascination with the relationship people have with their pets. I love animals (well at least my own) but am also perplexed as to what we put up with for the sake of what we get out of them. 

There are two sides to this relationship, a major issue being dog bites. My current research fellowship allowed me to study again, this time for a Masters of Public Health. I needed a topic for my dissertation, and for once I wasn’t bounded by what I could get funded. It seemed like a fantastic opportunity to pursue this topic, and I convinced Francine, a Public Health expert, to collaborate with me.

Your recent study involved detailed analysis of interviews with 8 women who had been bitten by a dog. Why is it so important to understand the victim’s perspective?

Carri at work. Photo: McCoy-Wynne

Once I actually looked around at the research on this, I couldn’t believe how little there was. As canine-minded professionals, we all think we know why people get bitten (because people do stupid things to dogs). So we try to educate them to make them less stupid at reading dog body language. 

However, nobody had ever asked victims why they thought they were bitten, and why they do stupid things to dogs. How can we begin to understand how to change people’s behaviour, unless we find out why they behave in this way?  I am very excited that I now have a new PhD student who will be taking the research further.

One of your findings is that people have a belief that “it won’t happen to me”. What do dog bite prevention campaigns need to do to get people to pay attention to their message?

This project has to be the most mind-blowing research experience I have ever had. Once I began talking to dog bite victims, I discovered that many of them were not necessarily doing stupid things to dogs at the time. If they were, they may well even recognise this. However, one of the key findings is that there was often a belief that ‘it wouldn’t happen to me’. As explained so eloquently by one of my interviewees, even though she knew she shouldn’t do that with that dog, the dog had even bitten her before, she still did it because she had some sort of trust with the dog, and with her own experience. She just didn’t think it would actually happen this time. 

Carri with Jasmyn

Therefore, we can try to educate people all we want, but if they don’t think THEY will get bitten, or THEIR dog will bite, they won’t take in that information or act on it. We need to develop messages that also address this somehow – show that it COULD happen to YOU! 

Some educational campaigns already illustrate that most bites happen in the home with the family pet, which is good. We might also be able to lend ideas from other campaigns which incorporate this approach, such as drink driving advertisements.

You said that "Reducing the damage caused when a dog does bite, through careful pet dog selection and training, is something we should aim for." How do we do this?

We might not always be able to prevent a dog bite from happening, unless people and dogs never interact (which would be terrible!). But I now appreciate more fully that injury prevention is also about damage limitation (think about car seat belts). There are two halves to addressing dog bite risk and maybe we don’t emphasise this side enough with current dog bite prevention initiatives. 

Roxie does agility

As well as educating ourselves about dog body language, we can also make choices about which dogs we own as pets and how we manage them within our particular families. I recognise that this may be a contentious area, but realistically we can be asking ourselves, who would we prefer to be bitten by? I think having a toddler and two dogs in the house has really made me think about this. Putting aside their personalities and capacity to enjoy children, and my ability to supervise and separate as appropriate, our bigger dog could simply do more damage than the small one, were one of them put in a position where they felt the need to bite him. Therefore I need to be mindful of this in how I manage them together. 

There is a role for breeders and shelters here to supply dogs to society that not only are less likely to bite, but will not cause a great amount of damage if they do bite. We can also train our dogs as puppies to control the strength of their bite, known as bite inhibition.

One of your earlier studies found that it’s important for people to see one or both parents before choosing a puppy. Can you tell me a bit more about why this matters?

Roxie's first birthday

That study found that dogs whose owners had met both parents of the dog when they selected the puppy, were much less likely to then be referred to a counsellor for behaviour problems later in life. We cannot rule out whether those owners were simply more experienced with dogs, but it plausibly backs up the notion that you should observe carefully that the parents of your puppy are friendly and sociable when you pick it. The best evidence of risk factors for aggression also points to genetics – aggression is inherited. So how you pick your puppy is also important for dog bite prevention; again we can make choices here that have an impact.

You also research dog walking, including your current project on “understanding dog ownership and walking for better human health.” How does the relationship between a person and their dog affect dog walking?

It’s great to be able to talk about the positive aspects of dog ownership too, because on the whole pets are more beneficial to our health than damaging. Studies have shown us that both adults and children who are more attached to their pet are also more likely to walk with it – great for the health of both people and animals. 

Carri at work. Photo: McCoy Wynne

However we don’t know what comes first; the relationship makes a person walk a dog or the relationship is built through walking the dog. I am exploring this at the moment, and I think it is probably a bit of both.

You’re a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, and sometimes take animal behaviour cases or teach dog training classes. How does this experience influence your research?

Completely, and I feel all the practical experience I gained from working ‘dog jobs’ really feeds into my understanding of the minds of dog owners, and the usefulness of my research in policy and practice. Sadly I don’t have much time to do the practical side anymore, but when I became a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors I obviously talked to many people bitten by their dogs. These conversations were what gave me clues as to the complexity of the issue of dog bite prevention. It also showed me how much people love their animals and would do anything for them, because of the huge benefits they bring to their lives (once we have fixed the training problems!). The dogs and owners that I have worked with are my inspiration.

Tell me about the companion animals in your life.

Currently we are at two dogs, a cat and two axolotls, as well as there being many other dogs and cats in the ‘extended’ family. Jasmyn is a rescue stray spaniel-type crossbreed who has lived in 13 houses with me in her 13(ish) years; we’ve seen it all together. Roxie is our firstborn, a bit of a ‘designer dog’ (yes I will admit it!), a four year old pug crossed with a chihuahua and pomeranian mix (according to DNA testing). At the time she was going to be our third dog and we needed a dog who was small (to fit in the car) and cuddly (I was broody), but also agile and robust (to do agility and cope with two big dogs). Sadly Ben the reject farm collie passed away a few years ago. 

Left-to-right: Roxie, Jasmyn and Ben

Having a small dog after big ones (Jack Russell’s are honorary big dogs) has been a revelation, and I don’t think I will ever go back. The yapping is annoying but she is just as much ‘dog’ in an easier-to-manage package. And she fits in my lap more comfortably.

I would like more pets, but my husband says I don’t have the time! He’s probably right. I spend a lot of time thinking carefully about what our next dog might be though.

Thank you Carri!

You can follow Dr. Carri Westgarth on twitter and her dog walking project is also on facebook. 

Bio:Carri Westgarth studied Zoology and Genetics at the University of Liverpool before working in an animal rescue shelter and then as an Instructor for the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. She then returned to the University of Liverpool to complete a PhD funded by Defra, post-doctoral research funded by WALTHAM, and now holds a personal fellowship from the UK Medical Research Council. Based in the Institute of Infection and Global Health and also the School of Veterinary Science, her main research focus is the relationship between people and their dogs, and how this impacts their physical activity. She also has a Masters degree in Public Health and is interested in all public health issues surrounding companion animal ownership, including risk of dog bites. Carri has also spent time teaching dog training classes and conducting behavioural consultations and is a Full Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors. Recently she became a Board Member of the International Society for Anthrozoology. Her mission is to maximise welfare and wellbeing for pets and their people.

Photos: Carri Westgarth unless otherwise stated.
References
Westgarth, C., & Watkins, F. (2015). A qualitative investigation of the perceptions of female dog-bite victims and implications for the prevention of dog bites Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2015.07.035 

Westgarth, C., Christley, R., & Christian, H. (2014). How might we increase physical activity through dog walking?: A comprehensive review of dog walking correlates International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11 (1) DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-11-83
Westgarth, C., Reevell, K., & Barclay, R. (2012). Association between prospective owner viewing of the parents of a puppy and later referral for behavioural problems Veterinary Record, 170 (20), 517-517 DOI: 10.1136/vr.100138

The Labrador Lifestyle

breed. breed standard cats diet dog owners exercise height Labrador Retrievers pets research sleep walks weight

The Labrador Lifestyle

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A survey of Labrador Retriever owners tells us what they eat, how often they exercise, and where they sleep.

A survey of over 4000 people with Labrador Retrievers provides a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the average Lab. 68% of the dogs were pets, 6% working dogs, and of the remainder the largest group of people did not say (a quarter of overall responses).  Black Labradors were the most common (49%), followed by yellow (27%) and chocolate (21%), with other colours including fox red and hailstone. 

The study, by C.A. Pugh et al (Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies), looks at Labradors across the UK. The researchers say, “Engaging thousands of dog owners in the DogsLife project has generated a wealth of data that begin to address knowledge gaps regarding UK LRs and their lifestyles.”

Most of the dogslived with another pet: 31% with another dog, 22% with a cat, and 15% with another kind of pet. Families with children were more likely to have a cat, and less likely to have another dog, than other households. 

Just over half (55%) slept indoors alone at night and 19% slept indoors with another animal. 21% slept indoors with a person, and for some of these dogs another pet was also present. Only 4% of Labs slept outside.

80% of the Labs were fed dried food and 13% were fed a mix of dried and wet food. Only 1% of owners fed a homemade diet. Younger dogs were fed more often, but by 6-9 months old most dogs were fed twice a day.

As for exercise, the average Lab got 129 minutes per day. Most exercise was off-leash or in the ‘other’ category (not including fetch/retrieve/chase, lead walks, running on lead, or obedience training). It’s possible that some of the ‘other ‘ exercise included work, since working Labs got more exercise than pet Labs once they were over 6 months of age. Before 6 months, dogs got less exercise (especially off-lead and fetch/retrieve/chase), perhaps due to breeder advice to limit the amount of exercise. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, families with children spent less time exercising the dog than other households.

Another interesting nugget of information comes from data collected about height. Some data had to be discarded because it was suspected that people had measured in inches and recorded it in centimetres, or vice versa, which led to some strange numbers. But after that, the average height was greater than the breed standard by 2-3cm. 

This shows that future research cannot rely on the height given in the breed standard; if height is a variable, it needs to actually be measured. Only 21% of females and 14% of males had a height within the range given in the breed standard.

The average female Lab weighed 26.8kg, and the average male weighed 31.6kg. Chocolate Labs tended to be heavier.

It is not known if the Labrador lifestyle is similar to that of other breeds. The sample included people from across the United Kingdom, and covered KC-registered Labradors up to 4 years of age. 

This citizen science project includes data validation; for example researchers visited some homes to measure the dogs for themselves. They said, "Weighing the dogs was not always easy without veterinary scales, but the measurement of dogs’ heights was more challenging as many of the dogs were understandably quite wriggly!"

The project is ongoing. If you are in the UK and have a KC-registered Labrador Retriever born after 1 January 2010, you can take part in DogsLife.

How does your dog’s lifestyle compare to the average Labrador Retriever?

Reference

Pugh, C., Bronsvoort, B., Handel, I., Summers, K., & Clements, D. (2015). Dogslife: A cohort study of Labrador Retrievers in the UK Preventive Veterinary Medicine DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.06.020
Photo: c.byatt-norman (Shutterstock).

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If you lead a Lab to water, should you let them swim?
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