Monterey Bay Forum

At six months, our German Shepard puppy is one big boy. With a big appetite for chewing lots of things.

Including an appetite for my Blackberry phone. That was one good chew. No more Blackberry. He liked the buttons and the screen. That was yesterday. Oh well. And I do not have insurance on the phone.

Today I gave him a piece of kitchen equipment that is a block of wood with metal on the back. It is a magnet for hanging knives. That has engrossed him most of the day. He likes to chew on metal. And he likes to drop it. It makes one big noise.

So what say you….. what does work for you with young dogs that love to chew?

There is a brand by mydogtoy.com which has an Ultimate Ring and an Ultimate boomarang. They do last.

Disclaimer: And no, I have no connection with that company. Other than it is a good toy for my dog, I have no reason to plug these toys.

Someone from work who also has a large dog gave me an Ultimate toy from mydogtoy.com. And my co-worker was right — no more money flung into the air for a 15 minute chew that lasts so brief. For a $12-14 dollar toy , these Ultimate Ring etc toys from mydogtoy.com are great.

What dog toys do you know of that work for a large, growing pup with a huge appetite for chewing? Let me know.

DrCameronJackson@gmail.com

Federal law allows service dogs to go where ever they are needed in public — including to school. Think of what a dog can do for any child: give unconditional love, exemplify loyalty, faithfulness, courage. For autistic children they can offer a special bond and assist the child to become more social.

Check out what is necessary for your dog to be certified as a service dog. For any person with disabilities a service dog could assist in important ways. And it is simply right that the dogs be able to assist in public places including schools.

Autism Vox has thoughts concerning the most helpful statements that have stuck with her regarding her autistic son now almost an adult. One was, it is not the hand you are dealt but what you do with it. So true.

I would add, keep looking for new ways to communicate. Get a dog the child can train and interact with. Find a trainer who knows how to work with autistic children. Try water. Surfing or simply listening to the waves can sooth and open communication. Music and singing are other avenues.

In my view, Applied Behavioral Analysis has serious limitations. Don’t trust the verbage you hear about ABA being the only scientifically based therapy. Any good therapist uses art and science. And serendipity. written by Cameron Jackson cameronjacks@gmail.com

For more, visit Autism Vox