“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, and filling the emptiness we didn’t ever know we had.” - Thom Jones

Happy Wednesday! Here's the scoop:

• Did we just discover the new fountain of youth?

• The ins and outs of clicker training

• Congrats, you’re about to get even smarter

• The benefits of dog acupuncture

Did you know?
__% of dogs sleep in their owner’s bed at night.

(scroll to the bottom to find the answers!)

Owning a pet over age 65 may help keep you mentally fit as you age, study finds
It’s no surprise that owning a dog has many benefits to our overall well being. Dogs keep us active and can help relieve stress and depression. Looking for another reason to adopt? A new study finds that owning a dog may actually help prevent cognitive decline as you age.

Researchers at the University of Michigan observed dog owners who are over the age of 65 during a six year period. Through a series of cognitive tests, researchers found that pet owners scored 1.2 points higher than non-pet owners.

Tiffany Braley, a clinical professor of neurology and the lead researcher on the study said, "As stress can negatively affect cognitive function, the potential stress-buffering effects of pet ownership could provide a plausible reason for our findings.”

Senior citizens who aren’t able to adopt a dog are encouraged to look into fostering or volunteering at a rescue organization, if it’s an option for their lifestyle. We’re so thankful for the countless benefits our pets provide!

Do(g)-It-Yourself
Having trouble training your dog? Clicker training is an effective way to use positive reinforcement since it pin-points the exact behavior you’re rewarding. By making noise when your dog responds to your command, the clicker “marks” the “good job” moment, which helps them remember how to follow your instructions.
Clicker training your dog is actually really easy to do! Here’s what you need to know.
How to clicker train your dog:

• What you’ll need: a clicker, some treats, and patience.

• Pick a new command for your dog to learn.

• Teach your dog what the clicker means by clicking and then immediately offering a treat.

• After about 20 repetitions, your dog will understand how the clicker works.

• As you practice the command, click at exactly the moment your pup succeeds. Remember to be patient and show your dog some love along with the treats!

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Dog acupuncture 101
If your dog suffers from a chronic condition like arthritis, acupuncture can help. It may sound surprising, but it’s true: there is acupuncture for dogs and it can offer quite a bit of relief.

How does it work? Acupuncture stimulates the nerves, sending information to the dog’s brain. It also stimulates the release of dopamine and other catecholamines hormones, which helps to control any pain they’re experiencing.

Christine Horne, a dog acupuncture practitioner at the BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital's Georgia Veterinary Rehabilitation, will have canine clients lie down using positive reinforcement – a.k.a. treats. She’ll then scratch the spot where she’s going to place the needle, so it won’t come as a surprise. According to Horne, most dogs don’t mind it, and some even nap during the 15-20 minute session.

To skeptical owners, Horne says, “Give me a month." If you’ve tried other methods and nothing has worked, it might be worth checking out a vet who’s certified in acupuncture!

Did you know?
Answer: 45%! Do you share the bed with a bed-hog dog or are they comfier in their own space?
Source: AKC

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