AMERICAN BRITTANY NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 2019
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If you ask a person who has never had a pet whether dogs experience human emotions, understand humor, communicate with their owners, or have a sense of morality, they’ll likely say no. If you ask a dog owner the same, you’ll likely hear an emphatic “Yes!”, followed by anecdotes to prove their case. But what if you ask a scientist?
Scholarship about dog psychology has become increasingly popular, and with good reason. Our sense of kinship with our pups is nothing new; though theories on dog domestication differ,
evidence seems to suggest
that pet dogs have been around at least as long as agriculture. Similarly,
recent findings
indicate that human and dog genomes evolved together, with the result that canines can readily interpret our communication strategies— in some cases, even better than other primates.
When it comes to understanding the pups on our couches and in front of the treat jar, researchers tend to err toward the conclusions of dog owners: that pooches’ brains work in ways surprisingly similar to our own. The average dog can learn and recognize around 165 words and gestures and possess a cognitive ability about equal to that of a
human toddler
. Observing play patterns shows elements of moral understanding and a theory of mind among dogs; scanning brain activity indicates that behaviors such as active inhibition occur in the same part of the brain and in a similar way to humans’.
Dogs dream
in the same way as humans (and they usually have happy dreams— aww!), they
experience jealousy
just like we do, and they’ll
throw shade
at people who wrong their owners (cats, the same study found, couldn’t care less).
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So what does all this mean when it comes to our Britts? Well, aside from making us question whether our puppy doesn’t obey the conventions of fair play because she’s a sociopath (just me? okay.), knowing what our dogs’ minds have in common with ours— and especially what they don’t— is an important step in understanding their expectations of us, and how we can communicate our expectations to them. Most dog training techniques are based in
operant conditioning
; becoming familiar with the principles can help you become more successful in eliciting behaviors from your pup once you understand what works and
why
. It’s also important to understand what your dog is likely to struggle with (for example, focus or generalization) so as not to get frustrated.
The important thing to remember, however, is that our similarities with dogs have their limits. It’s important to be aware of these differences and understand the part of our Britts’ minds that is exclusively canine. Being able to
understand their body language
, cultivate reasonable expectations, and provide
mental stimulation
as a part of maintaining their overall health will ensure that you and your Britt have the happiest, healthiest relationship possible. That, and an occasional dip into the treat jar.
Information Source: National Geographic
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MEET DAN
ABR SUCCESS STORY
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Dan from Paradise was ‘rescued’ in the truest sense of the word. Dan bolted as his owners were evacuating from the worst massive wildfire in California history last November. A Good Samaritan saved Dan from the Camp Fire flames and brought him to the San Francisco ASPCA, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and severe burns on his paws. They listed him on Facebook as “Maddison” along with hundreds of other displaced pets. A young woman claimed that Dan was her family’s dog, but then dropped out of contact, which left real ownership unclear. That’s when ABR volunteer and ‘super detective’ Joanne (JoJo) Madlung entered Dan’s story.
Jojo tracked the young woman down at a skating rink, to discover she was the granddaughter of Dan’s original owner. The family was happy to learn Dan had survived, but because their house had burned down, they asked Jojo to foster him until they rebuilt.
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Jojo soon realized Dan lacked training and had never lived inside. She taught him how to come, sit for treats, most importantly, and how to socialize. Eventually, Dan’s owners realized they were unable to provide him with the life he deserved. Dan found his forever home just a few weeks ago. These days Dan enjoys walks and loves to snooze on the sofa and curl up in the bed as a beloved family member. His vet says he is closer to seven years old, rather than 12 as originally believed, so he has even more years with his loving new family.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019
17th ANNUAL BRITTANY PICNIC
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WHO:
American Brittany Rescue, California
WHAT:
17th Annual American Brittany Rescue Picnic
WHEN:
Saturday, April 27, 2019
WHERE:
El Chorro Regional Park
2990 Dairy Creek Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Hello fellow Brittany volunteers, friends, and adopters!
Please join us for the 17th Annual American Brittany Rescue Picnic! Bring your family and dogs on Saturday, April 27, 2019 for a day of great food and Brittany fun in San Luis Obispo, on California's beautiful Central Coast.
Our Picnic will again be held at El Chorro Regional Park in San Luis Obispo, with our own private fenced DOG PARK! Complete with barbecue facilities, picnic tables, restrooms, shade trees and lots of room for the dogs to romp and play. El Chorro Regional Park is located off of Highway 1, at 2990 Dairy Creek Road.
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The classic Santa Maria-style barbecue which includes tri tip or chicken, beans, salad and garlic bread with a drink will be $20 per person, paid at the gate.
Pet-friendly lodging in the San Luis Obispo/Central Coast area will be sent in a separate email. El Chorro also has a wonderful camp ground, should some of you want to camp in the area.
We will also be having our great Raffle and Brittany items for sale! If you are willing to bring a raffle item, or volunteer the day of the picnic, please let us know. It takes a village to put this event on, and every extra hand is very much appreciated.
Please RSVP to the invitation and indicate the number of PEOPLE that will be attending and their names. Please also note in your reply how many DOGS you are bringing and their names, so we can get an accurate head and paw count!
QUESTIONS:
Diana Doiron
E:
DLDoiron@aol.com
P:
(562) 690-3139)
Terrie Johnson
E:
terrie_johnson@comcast.net
P:
707-477-2718
We look forward to seeing everyone on April 27th!
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Sweet
Hoss
is a charming boy who just wants to be with you. He loves walks, belly rubs, and supervising your daily activity. He seeks and thrives on human contact and approval. Best of all you won’t ever be alone as he follows you around the house. Hoss is also a champion foot warmer. Did we mention that he is an adorable and affectionate dog? Hoss was put into rescue when his family lost an older Britt and no longer wanted him. He was bonded to the other dog and became anxious after her death - putting him out of his familiar environment didn’t help and as a result he has some separation anxiety when left home alone. It is likely that his anxiety would subside if he had the benefit another companion dog in his life. He is a great announcer of visitors, but only barks long enough to alert us and quiets down when asked. He is friendly, but not pushy with both people and other dogs, He is also crate trained but only needs it when he left home alone.
Hoss will do best with a family who is around a good portion of the time, a companion dog, a yard for him to explore, and patient humans as he acclimates to a new environment. He is 8 years old and in good health, being well taken care of until he wasn’t.
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River
is an affectionate, handsome 2.5 year old who came to foster care as a really shy guy. According to his fosters, River is the most affectionate dog they’ve ever met! He is handsome, smart and very well behaved. He is currently working on social skills with his foster family and adores their teenager. A permanent home with no children or a gentle older kid would be best, but absolutely no young children. River loves playing with his foster Brit and could be placed as a second dog with proper socialization. He’s very smart and doing well with his training. River gets nervous when meeting strangers. His previous home had a lot of kids and adults coming in and out all the time because it was a home childcare business. It was really unsettling for such a shy dog like him. He likes people, but needs to get to know them first and build a little trust. Once he makes friends, he’ll love to snuggle and play on the floor with you.
He’s eager to please and needs a family that will use a calm voice (given his sensitivity) to train him further. River loves going on walks. He’s fully housebroken and crate trained. He wants a family that likes to snuggle on the couch in the evening. Ideally, his new family would have one adult working from home (or home part-time) and a fenced (privacy) yard to exercise in. A quieter household to minimize his nervousness with strangers is a must, if you have patience and want to be showered with lots of love, River is the dog for you!
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Kalli
is an exceedingly active puppy who needs a lot of human companionship. She is a strikingly pretty Britt girl with light orange markings and very distinctive pale amber eyes. Before being turned in to ABR, her early life was spent mostly caged while owned by an elderly couple who finally came to realize they couldn’t handle this WHIRLWIND puppy. She was unhappy spending so many hours in a crate and loves being around people.
She needs regular walks and a fenced in yard where she can run around and explore. Everything is play, fetch and run around with Kalli. She could do well as the only dog in an active home or with the companionship of another dog.
She knows some basic commands and is making good progress because she loves treats, even healthy cucumber slices. She’d make an excellent agility dog - she’s got both the energy and the smarts for it. Plus she learns quickly, wants to please and is visibly happy when she gets praised. Kalli is a very attentive, affectionate, not too sensitive Brittany girl. As a young dog, she is still nipping, which she should outgrow as she matures and with the proper training. She has a very strong prey drive and would not do well with cats or any small creatures. She is crate trained and doesn’t mind being crated for bed. To sum it all up, she is simply a very attentive, affectionate, drop-dead gorgeous Brittany girl.
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SUPERBOWL FUN-RAISER RESULTS
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842 TICKETS SOLD = $2,395 PROFIT
$47,563 RAISED SINCE EVENT STARTED 10 YEARS AGO
$1000 IN PRIZE MONEY
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Our 10th annual Charity Mania Superbowl fundraiser was a success. We are very happy to report that this year we sold
842 tickets and made a profit of $2,395!
This money will go directly to helping a lot of our beloved Brittanys in foster care and rescuing more here are abroad.
In the 10 years we have been doing this fundraiser we have raised $47,563!!
We are excited to report that we had winners too. In total there were 84 tickets that were winners totaling $1000 in prize money distributed among the winners! The most since starting Charity Mania. 2019 is getting off to a great start!
NONE OF THIS couldn't have happened without YOU! Thank you to everyone who bought and sold tickets for American Brittany Rescue.
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Happy Tails would not be possible without your support!
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Congratulations to these Brittanys who recently joined their forever families!
Blue, CA
Charlie, NV
Chico n.k.a. Samwise a.k.a. Sammy, IA
Cici, CA
Comet, FL
Harley, OH
Lucy a.k.a. Lily
Margie n.k.a. Annie, CA
Mazie, KS
Red, CO
Sadie, CA
Scout n.k.a Henry, MN
Sue, WA
Tina, FL
Wrigley, IL
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ABOUT THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE
American Brittany Rescue, Inc. is an organization that was formed in 1991 as a cooperative effort of Brittany owners, breeders, trainers, and fanciers who ABR believes have a responsibility not only for their own dogs and the dogs they produce, but for the breed as a whole.
THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE MISSION
ABR's mission is to provide the leadership and expertise via a network of trained volunteers to take in stray, abandoned, surrendered and/or impounded purebred Brittanys, provide them with foster care, health and temperament screening, an opportunity for any necessary rehabilitation and to assure their health and placement into new homes. In order to fulfill this mission, ABR's volunteers remain flexible and adaptable to current and future business environments and they remain dedicated to the organization.
ABR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Terry Mixdorf, President
Terrie Johnson, Vice President
Tina Leone, Vice-President/Co-Treasurer
Cheri Wilson - Chair
Michelle Falkinburg, Secretary
Diana Doiron, Co-Treasurer
Tiffany Dexter
Nancy Hensley
Sandra Oelschlegel
Monica Rutt
Maria Smith
Ryan Waterbury
AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM
Lisa Bagwell
Brittany Boler
Jeannine Connors
Judie Cutting
Autumn Fenton
Lori Gartenhaus
Patricia Gillogly
Melissa Tapply
Rachel Schollaert
Maria Smith
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