Am I Boring My Dog? (30 page)

And the dog-friendly workplace is not just a bark in the dark; it’s likely to be around for a long time. Nearly one in five businesses—most of them smaller or nontraditional (like Google)—allow dogs on the premises, a policy that has little to do with benevolence. Studies show that welcoming pets
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increases productivity and reduces absenteeism. Some 66 percent of respondents to a
Dogster.com
survey said they would work longer hours if they had their dogs with them; 49 percent said they would switch jobs if they could take their dog to work; 32 percent said they’d take a pay cut to work with their dogs; and 70 percent considered a dog-friendly workplace an important employee benefit.

Thus, in lieu of cash bonuses, paid health care, and other more conventional perks that workers became accustomed to in the pretanked economy, welcoming dogs is an inexpensive way for employers to show their love. If you run a business and want to attract canine-keen talent, get hold of
Dogs at Work
by Liz Palika and Jennifer Fearing. Published by the Humane Society of the United States, this book not only lays out convincing arguments for the advantages of enacting dog-friendly policies but also provides step-by-step advice on how to do so effectively.

For employees, the benefits of a dog-friendly workplace are greater than just being able to hang out with your pup; you’ll also have an in with upper management. Companies usually put out the animal welcome mat because the CEOs want their own dogs around. Legally, employers can’t avoid hiring people with dog allergies, phobias, and plain old dislikes (go figure), and their canine concerns have to be addressed. Such people might even have useful skills. But employees who can praise the boss’s pooch with genuine enthusiasm,
¹¹³
or recommend the latest healthy kibble, have a definite advantage.

Jobs for those who don’t want to suffer dog separation anxiety continue to be listed on
DogFriendly.com
(find the “workplace” area) as well as on such standard sites as
simplyhired.com
and
monster.com
. No bites? Commercial real estate is going for a song. This might be the perfect time for you to start your own pooch-friendly enterprise with other top talent that’s been let off a company’s leash.

As with the previous question, the economic downturn gave this a different slant than I had originally intended. I meant to address only canine volunteer work such as visiting old age homes or helping kids read.
¹¹⁴
But a November 2008 segment of Animal Planet’s
Dogs 101
has turned out to be very timely. It featured a Beagle named Tracer who is gain-fully employed sniffing out bedbug infestations. Tracer and his pal Ace, a Beagle-Husky mix, help Mike Tache, the owner of American K-9 Investigators Pest Control, earn up to $200 an hour.

Perhaps your dog also does something marketable. And, no, being cute doesn’t count—except for dog actors and models, but their ability to take direction is far more important.

If your dog specializes in restrained friendliness, however, she might very well be suited for a nonprofit position. When it comes to visiting hospitals and other public service jobs, temperament is far more important than good looks or even talent. Although Frankie is cute as all get out, for example, and extremely bright, he doesn’t cozy up to strangers—or friends, for that matter. Several have mentioned feeling rejected by Frankie’s failure to welcome them, no matter how many times they’ve been to my house. Imagine the effect on a sick person of a small-dog shunning.

To find out if your dog is suited for a healing profession, click on the “Activities” and then “Therapy” section of DogPlay. com. The website not only lists many local and national organizations that can help evaluate your dog and find him a job if he passes muster, but also clears up the confusion surrounding the use of such terms as “visiting dog,” “therapy dog,” and “animal-assisted activity” (these generally refer to volunteer programs geared toward groups) and “animal assisted therapy” (most often used for professional programs tailored to individuals).

That question makes
me
grumpy, and I’m not even that old. It’s not age that makes geriatric dogs—and people—irritable but, rather, untreated pain and undiagnosed ailments. Your pup might have arthritis, for example, or hearing problems that you’re not aware of. And now that modern veterinary science is helping dogs live longer, a version of Alzheimer’s called canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD, or sometimes CDS for cognitive dysfunction syndrome) has become more common. CCD causes disorientation in dogs, just as Alzheimer’s does in humans.

So if your dog isn’t her usual cheerful, goofy self, get her to the vet to see what’s wrong. Whether or not there’s a cure, you can make her life easier after you know what you’re dealing with. If your dog has hearing loss, for example, you can move into her line of vision when you need to get her attention; if she has CCD, you can refrain from rearranging the furniture and thus further confusing her. And veterinary pain management has also advanced in recent years—including the recognition that alternative treatments like acupuncture may be better for older dogs on a long-term basis than harsh medicines.

See also the following question about dietary and exercise changes.

It depends; you’re as likely to want to cut back on your dog’s diet and change her exercise as vice versa. And “older” is as much of a relative term for dogs as it is for humans (ask any baby boomer). Whereas large breeds start being offered seats on public transportation at age 6 or so, smaller ones don’t begin reminiscing about the good old days until they’re around 10 or 11. And some dogs don’t conform to ageist stereotypes: they continue to eat and exercise with much the same gusto as they did when they were pups. The following, then, are just general guidelines.

When your dog’s metabolism begins to slow, he’ll need to cut calories or eat less to stay trim. Extra weight puts a strain on the joints—especially painful if arthritis is involved—and often interferes with proper organ function.

Older pooches need a good balance of protein and fat in their diet, but don’t require as much of either as they did when they were burning up the dog run. The key to fooling your dog into thinking she’s full is fiber—also a useful antidote for that common geriatric ailment, constipation. Many older dogs can continue to eat their regular food, just less of it—perhaps with pumpkin added for low fat/high fiber bulk.

Some canine seniors have the opposite problem: they lose interest in food. It’s not always easy to figure out why. Your dog may be avoiding his kibble because the pieces are too large for her to chew comfortably any more, or because, with her sense of smell diminished, she’s begun finding the cuisine incredibly bland. You’ll need to experiment. Try a smaller size kibble, for example, or soak the one you’ve been using in low-salt meat broth. Or switch from kibble to an entirely different type of food, such as canned, freeze-dried, or home-cooked; this last may be especially beneficial if your dog is having gastrointestinal problems and needs easy-to-digest fare such as chicken and rice. See Chapter 4 for suggestions about getting the nutritional balance right.

Let your dog set the pace when it comes to cutting back (or not) on workouts, although not to the point of allowing him to over- or under-do it. Dogs can sometimes push themselves too hard, especially in extreme weather, or take retirement a bit too seriously. Neither approach benefits their physical or mental health.

A change, rather than reduction, in exercise might be a good idea. You could try easier-on-the-joint activities such as swimming, for example (only an option if your dog doesn’t dislike full-body immersion as much as Frankie does). And if you need to cut back on a standard play routine, consider allowing your dog to think she’s as agile as ever by not throwing the ball as far as you used to.
¹¹⁵

Mental exercise is also essential to maintaining a puppyish demeanor. A much-cited Beagle study—well, much cited in neurobiology circles, and not to be confused with the studies Charles Darwin conducted while aboard the
H.M.S. Beagle
—demonstrated that aging dogs who received mental stimulation, along with antioxidant-enriched diets, appeared friskier and smarter than the nonstimulated, nonsupplemented control group after two years. So keep up the training, play dates, educational toys,
New York Times
crossword puzzles … whatever challenges your dog.

In some ways, this situation is harder to deal with than the usual order of things, i.e., your dog departing the world before you do. For one thing, you’re forced to consider the future of your poor bereft pup whom no one will ever love as much as you do. For another, you have to contemplate your own incapacitation and demise. Perhaps worst of all, you’ll need to complete a great deal of legal paperwork. So have a beer or three, wallow for a bit—and then get off your butt. Your dog will be far more bereft if she ends up at the pound because you didn’t arrange for her care.

Among the contingencies to consider: being downed for a few days or weeks; being laid up for an indefinite period of time; and being put out of commission permanently. With children, the urgency of ensuring a smooth handover to a designated guardian is always recognized. That’s not the case with dogs, considered property in the eyes of the law. But your dog can’t wait in a safety deposit box for a will to be probated—and you can’t assume that, because your good pal Dave has always liked your pup, he’ll be pleased to take permanent custody. The first order of business, then, is to remove the elements of delay and surprise from any arrangements you make.

In the following sections, I’ve outlined some possible scenarios and solutions. The comprehensive “Providing for Your Pet’s Future Without You” section of the Humane Society’s website (
hsus.org/petsinwills
) goes into greater detail. But it’s essential that you find an attorney—preferably one with a dog—who knows the laws regarding pet dispensation in your state (see also the following question).

One way to streamline the process of reaching your emergency contacts is PetLifeline, a service offered by PetsMobility (
petsmobility.com
) for about $40 a year. You give the company detailed information about how to locate your dog’s designated guardian, and in turn receive cards and key tags with the company’s number. PetLifeline’s services include not only locating a guardian and ensuring that he or she actually retrieves your dog but also following up in a week or so to see how your dog (and you) are doing. Thus anyone who is busy rescuing you or grieving over you only has to make a single phone call—and has no excuse for ignoring your dog because a caretaker couldn’t easily be found.

Making an arrangement for a temporary guardian for your dog shouldn’t be too difficult. It can be done informally, although not without forethought. A key concern is making your wishes known if you’re unable to talk. If you don’t want to use a formal service like PetLifeline, keep a typed—or at least legible—card in your wallet and car noting the existence of your dog and providing contact information for your designated emergency caretaker(s).

Of course, it’s essential to find friends or relatives—plural, because you need a contingency caretaker in case the primary is unavailable—who like dogs in general and yours in particular.
¹¹⁶
Make sure the people you choose agree to take on the responsibility, and then give them keys to your house, instructions about the care and feeding of your dog, and contact information for your vet.

You can also specify a professional arrangement, such as having your dog brought over to the place where you board him when you go on vacation. Frankie’s diabetes and his dislike of leaving his domain rule out a caretaker who doesn’t know how to give injections—as well as a stay away from home. Therefore, along with my keys, I gave two trusted friends a list of the reliable, insulin-savvy dogsitters I’ve used in the past.

Two rules to ensure that your dog will be cared for in case of your long-time distraction or demise: put it in writing and put your money where your mouth is. The best of intentions can’t prevent informal arrangements, even those promising remuneration, from falling apart. In contrast, a will or trust that clarifies a caretaker’s responsibilities and specifies compensation is harder to wiggle out of.

Of course, there are no guarantees of compliance if circumstances change, so keep in close touch with your designated guardian. My best friend, Clare, agreed long ago to take Frankie in if anything should happen to me, but after he was diagnosed with diabetes I asked her again. She assured me that nothing had changed, and I believe her. It doesn’t hurt that Clare is the executor of my estate and therefore will be in charge of my money, and that, although she is the most lapsed Catholic I know, she’s aware that she will go to hell if Frankie should be made unhappy.
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