Take a look at our August newsletter!
AUGUST 2022
Special “Dog Days of Summer” Edition
BE SMART, GET RINEHARDT Rinehardt Law | RinehardtLawFirm.com | 419-LAW-2020
FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS LESSONS FROM LEO — A FRIEND FOR LIFE
When I met Leo for the first time in October of 2016, it was love at first sight. This tiny 2-week-old Labradoodle puppy had completely stolen my heart.
There are countless reasons why we love our dogs. It should come as no surprise that a growing body of research shows that owning a dog makes us happier and healthier people. Studies tell us that dogs help us to feel calmer and more mindful, make us more physically active, and help us to be more social and less isolated. In fact, just petting a dog can reduce our blood pressure and heart rates. Research has also shown that the presence of a beloved pet can help us control our anxieties, regulate emotional triggers, and improve our moods. Many of our clients, who have been injured due to no fault of their own, have expressed to us how grateful they were to have their dogs with them as they recovered from their injuries.
When I took Leo home eight weeks later, I was somewhat unprepared for the responsibilities required of a first-time dog parent. While I had grown up with dogs, this was the first time I would become the sole caretaker of a pet. Being a dog mom, I learned, is a lot of work and certainly introduced a new element of chaos and unpredictability into my life. When Leo was a puppy, I
struggled to potty-train him while studying for law school exams and to manage his teething (countless shoes were sacrificed in this process). As Leo continued to grow, he learned he
was tall enough to reach his front paws onto the kitchen counter and used his height to his advantage to jump up and steal food left out when I wasn’t looking. Later, Leo discovered how to press the pedal of my kitchen trash can to fish out perfectly delicious scraps that had been thrown out. Because I don’t have a fenced in yard, every morning and every night — rain or shine, snow or sleet — I put Leo on the leash and take him for a walk to do his business. Despite all of the challenges of being a dog mom, I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. Leo is now 5 years old, and with lots of work and training, he is much better behaved than he was when he was a puppy. Leo has a happy, goofy disposition. He loves people, his squeaky toys, long hikes, scratches behind his ears, and peanut butter treats. Leo’s silliness always makes me laugh and his companionship helps me to feel less lonely on a bad day.
Many dog owners, myself included, have no doubt that our dogs love us, too. In fact, most dog parents would probably say the best part of having a dog is their unconditional love. The good news is that science has confirmed what we have known all along. According to Dr. Clive Wynne, a psychologist and author of the book “Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You,” what makes dogs special is their unique capacity to bond with other species.
While owning a dog can be a big undertaking, one thing is for certain: Adopting a dog is adopting a friend for life.
–Rachel
1 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
THE DOGS OF RINEHARDT LAW
Stephanie Name: Hershey, adopted from the Richland County Dog Shelter 11 years ago Nicknames: Hershel (if he’s being scolded)
Melanie Name: Pepper, adopted in 2015 from the Richland County Dog Shelter after being found wandering the streets of Mansfield Nickname: Pep
Hillary Name: Olive (miniature poodle)
Nicknames: Snuggle-Buggle, Ollie-Girl, Little Miss, Sweet Child, and Stinker Head, to name a few. It’s amazing she knows her name is Olive!
Jennifer Names: Hazel and Mabel (miniature dachshunds)
Beth Name: Murphy, adopted in 2012 from the Columbus Humane Society Nicknames: Murphies, Murphy-Boy, and Murr
Rachel Name: Leo (Labradoodle)
Aaron Name: Quinn, adopted in 2011 in South Lake Tahoe, California Nickname: The Quinnster, Quinnie, Quinnifer
Denise Name: Champion (200-pound English mastiff) Nickname: Champ
Nicknames: Lee, Lee-Lee, Big Lee, Big Stinky Lee, Leonardo (if he’s being scolded), and Big Mister
2 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
Inspiration Corner — Pam Fox and Bella We are amazed by the positive attitude and fortitude of Pam Fox. Pam and her dog Bella have been soul sisters since Pam adopted Bella in July 2016. At that time, Bella had a cancerous mass on her neck. Pam dedicated much of her time and resources
taking Bella to Med-Vet in Columbus five days a week for four weeks for cancer treatments. Thanks to Pam’s selflessness and dedication, Bella has been cancer-free for five years and three months! But Pam says that it is really Bella who saved her. Last year, Pam and Bella were attacked by another dog and both suffered serious injuries with lasting complications. Pam says that having Bella by her side through her recovery from that incident is what gets her through.
Training Your Dog Using Treats
The Right Way
Although Pam and Bella developed a new-found anxiety around other dogs after the attack, they have leaned on each other to overcome their fears. Pam has always loved all dogs, and before the attack, Bella was a social butterfly in the dog park. Supporting each other, Pam and Bella work together to get outside of their comfort zones and back to saying hello to every dog in their neighborhood.
One of the best things about having a dog is training them to do all sorts of cool tricks. Whether you want them to sit, stay, roll over, or speak, one of the best ways to train your dog is to use treats. Recently, people have begun to wonder if treats are really the best way, though. Some say they undermine the dog’s learning process. The first thing you need to understand is that using treats and food while training your dog is quite effective because they’re innately motivated by these. Yet, one potential drawback is that the treat can be merely a bribe to get your dog to participate in training. This can be true depending on how you utilize the treat. If you show the dog the treat before stating the command, then they know they will get the treat if they do it. This isn’t as effective as using the food or treat as payment for doing the requested action. The best practice is to keep the treats out of sight until the dog has completed the command. Keep it in a pocket or on the counter. When you begin training your dog on a new command, it’s okay to “pay” them a treat or piece of kibble every time. After they get the hang of the trick, start giving them the treats at random intervals. This teaches them to listen to you with or without using treats, but you do have to continue using treats intermittently. If you stop rewarding your dog altogether, they will stop responding to the command. Many different treats are effective in training your dog. You can try using their kibble, but some dogs will grow bored of this quickly. Instead, use soft and healthy treats so they can eat them quickly and continue with their learning. Training your dog is an incredibly rewarding experience. Like people, every dog is different, so you need to find the best way to encourage your dog to complete its training. If they aren’t responding to treats, you can always try enticing them with toys instead.
Bella and Pam are fighters who don’t take anything for granted. They appreciate and live every day to the fullest.
One of Pam’s favorite quotes is by Corrie Ten Boom: “When a train goes though a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”
HOMEMADE PUMPKIN DOG TREATS
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS • 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour • 2 large eggs • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin • 2 tbsp peanut butter • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 tsp water, or more if necessary These treats are not only tasty, but healthy too! You can roll the dough out and cut out shapes with a cookie cutter or save time by cutting them into squares before baking. Pumpkin is a great source of nutrients and fiber for dogs. The staff at the Humane Society adds pumpkin to the dog food for its residents!
1. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). 2. Combine flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Stir with a spatula until combined. 3. Transfer mixture to a work surface and work it with your hands until mixture starts to come together. Add 1 tsp water at a time (only if needed) to help make the dough workable, but don’t add too much as it should be dry and stiff. 4. Roll the dough to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces and transfer to a baking sheet. 5. Bake until dog treats are golden brown and crunchy, about 40 minutes. Let cool before serving to your dog.
3 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2404 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, OH 44906 419-LAW-2020 BeSmartLegal.com
INSIDE THIS EDITION
1 2 3
Why We Love Dogs
The Dogs of Rinehardt Law
How to Properly Train Your Dog Using Treats
Inspiration Corner — Pam Fox and Bella
Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treats
4
A Matching Donation for Paws-A-Thon
The Humane Society of Richland County Depends on Our Community
Our community is lucky to have an amazing Humane Society to care for neglected, abandoned, and abused dogs and cats. The HSRC is a nonprofit organization that fully depends on donations from members of our community for the operational expenses associated with maintaining the building and caring for and feeding the dogs and cats. There is no state or local funding available for the organization. It is a big job to care for one healthy animal, let alone a dozen or more, especially when they are malnourished, unsocialized, and/or injured. It takes a lot of resources to give the animals the love, care, and attention they deserve. Laundry, cleaning, food, water, HVAC, and medical treatment (to name a few) are costly. That is why we matched donations the morning of this year’s Paws-A-Thon, and we were honored to deliver a check for $3,210!
4
Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator