Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (December 17, 2018)(CNBNewsnet)--Everyone in America knows the story of Christmas eve—how Santa shows up on the roof with his sled and reindeer and jumps down the chimney with toys for good little boys and girls. We get that. But what about those of us whose kids are grown and we have not been blessed with grandkids? What happens to us on Christmas eve? Do we get skipped even if we were really good? If we paid our taxes, brushed our teeth twice a day, and ate a healthy diet? Doesn’t seem fair. I... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (December 15, 2018)Here is the easiest way in which to housebreak your dog: 1. Take the dog outside. Say, “Go potty” in a calm, firm voice. 2. If the dog is successful, praise him and reward him. 3. If the dog is unsuccessful bring him back into the house and crate or otherwise separate him for about ten minutes. 4. If the dog urinates in the house during this period of time, say “No” and quickly take him outside. Repeat Step #1. 5. If the dog does not urinate in the house take... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/CNBnewsnet Dogs grieve. Their grief may be perceived as something different than the grief experienced by humans but when someone with whom Fido has become attached is no longer there, he will let you know his feelings. When a close member of Fido’s pack passes away he may act lethargic, whine and seem to be looking for the beloved person or animal, or stop eating. Be comforted in knowing that this behavior will recede in time. Give the dog extra attention. Allow Fido to sleep on the belongings of the deceased so he is surrounded by familiar smells. Be... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/Cnbnewsnet You're all ready to move into a new apartment or house. Boxes fill every nook and cranny and excitement is high. But, what about Fido? Dogs pick up on their family's emotions and sometimes react negatively to them. When you anticipate moving you may witness changes in your dog's habits and personality. That's because dogs have a heightened sense of instinct. Reassure Fido by spending as much time as you can with him during this stressful time. Plan a trip to the new house so that he becomes accustomed to it. Keep a few of his favorite toys... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/Cnbnewsnet For the first time in my life I have a female room-mate. Although I’ve had one or two (ahem) gentlemen as room-mates my current one is a young friend of the family whom I solicited because I need help. There’s definitely a Yin and Yang to this and we are still working on it. It goes something like this: Roomie: Good morning! I made fresh coffee! How did you sleep? It’s cold outside… Me: blub flof foo… (things I say when half-asleep). On the other hand when she comes home from a long day at work and a... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/CNBNewsnet GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (November 24, 2018)(CNBNewsnet)--One of the major complaints I hear from dog owners concerns attention-seeking behavior. Dogs will do anything for attention. Even negative behaviors that they understand are unacceptable will be utilized if the dog has something to ‘say’. Most long-term owners recognize their dog’s individual verbalizations and respond to them. However, a newly adopted or unfamiliar dog may not be able to get his meaning across. My room-mate’s dog, Molly has a unique, clear language. She lets her owner know when she wants to go outside, when it’s time to eat, and when she... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/CNBNewsnet The Urban Dictionary describes free spirits as those who see things differently and can adapt to whatever comes their way. They create their own happiness and survive despite the odds without worrying what others may think. Since that pretty much sums up my philosophy I guess I’m a free spirit. That being said, sometimes this lifestyle is not of my own choosing. Rather, it is forced upon me and it’s sink-or-swim-time. For example, training dogs came naturally because I love dogs and people kept giving me their bad dogs, saying, “Here. Take him or I’ll drive out to... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet I am often told about dogs that are “jealous”, “ashamed”, “guilty” or “spiteful”. These descriptive terms come under the example of anthropomorphisms. The simple explanation of anthropomorphism is the false idea that animals can manifest human emotions when in fact, they do not possess that capability. A scenario in which Fido appears “jealous” would be when he seeks his owner’s attention while the owner is playing with another dog. This is a case of survival and hierarchy—Fido does not wish to lose his position of favor with his owner and therefore, seeks his owner’s approval. A... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (November 5,2018)(CNBNewsnet)-- Anyone that knows me can gauge what I’m watching on television by the way I look and act—I follow the lead of the season premieres of my favorite shows. As an avid fan of Survivor, you’re likely to find me buying coconuts at the ShopRite dressed in a sarong or a blouse that hides a bathing suit top. Family sitcoms have me dressed casually and being sarcastic but when viewing Dancing with the Stars you’re liable to see me walking my dogs with sparkles on my face and a pair of... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/Cnbnewsnet I have often witnessed puppies that, due to unfortunate circumstances, are abandoned immediately or shortly after birth.These puppies need special care if they are to survive. Not only do very young puppies need to be fed every two or three hours but they also need to understand social cues and proper behavior. From the moment of birth, a puppy's mother teaches her baby how to get along with litter-mates, how to be assertive, and the importance of hierarchy. A dog that is removed from the litter may suffer life-long emotional and social damage. He may be unable to... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | Cnbnewsnet I’ve come to the realization that everything is temporary. Discounting anything spiritual, there isn’t anything that lasts forever. Sure, long-term marriages lasting fifty-plus years show longevity and loyalty but forever? I think not. I once purchased a battery-operated candle that poetically promised everlasting light—it conked out after four days of continuous glow. Ninety-some hours is hardly forever. And let’s talk about permanent markers. They aren’t. If they were people wouldn’t bother getting tattoos, they’d simply draw on their skin like an etch-a-sketch and save the pain of the needle Even tattoos aren’t permanent; they fade until... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (October 27, 2018)(CNBNewsnet)--A friend of mine was walking her dog the other day and suddenly, her dog began barking and lunging at a stranger who was coming from the other direction. They were new to the area and previously, the dog had not shown any such tendencies. My friend was puzzled at her usually-calm dog’s behavior so I explained my opinion on the topic. Molly (the dog) lived in a suburban setting with few neighbors before moving to the city. She was accustomed to the relative quiet of her former neighborhood. Due to... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet GLOUCESTER CITY NJ(October 22,2018)(CNBNewsnet)--When I was a child I dreamed of becoming someone special. The criteria for success changed weekly depending on the resources surrounding me. For example I often dreamed of becoming a figure skater but even at a young age I didn’t have the figure for it. I thought of teaching but did not possess the confidence or temperament. Besides, I was afraid I’d favor the dorky kids and start punishing the bullies. In my teens I dreamed of becoming a dog trainer. Although I eventually achieved the title I never quite enjoyed the... Continue reading

by Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (October 20,2018)(CNBNewsnet)--Recently, media sources have criticized the validity of some pets labeled “service animals”. There are two types of service dogs. An Emotional Service Dog is one that has been trained to recognize when its owner is stressed or otherwise emotionally troubled. These dogs are especially useful in calming those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Autism, and other mental and emotional disorders. The other type of service dog helps its owner cope with conditions such as diabetes, blindness, paraplegia, and a multitude of other issues that may interfere with his quality of life.... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet When my kids were little I lied to them frequently, until The Teen Years when they no longer cared to address me. That period ended early in the year 2000, thankfully. Here are ten lies I told them and the reasons behind those lies: 1. The truck that plays music in summer takes children away and they never return. (I couldn’t afford to buy them ice cream so I got them to hide when they heard Mr. Softee.) 2. The car’s engine won’t start unless you have your seatbelt on. (Seatbelt Reluctance Disorder.) 3. The shot... Continue reading

by Dawn Watson |CNBNewsnet Little dogs often have large personalities. Puppies will instinctively snarl and growl. If the dog is a small breed we tend to laugh and cuddle him which shows him that he has done something good. The behavior escalates with age until finally, your little adult dog nips at anything or anyone that moves. Dogs thrive under benevolent leadership no matter what their age. Under normal circumstances they can read facial expressions and body language. Give your dog the structure he needs by telling him, “No!” when he behaves inappropriately and a “Good…” (the good behavior, like... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet Well, it’s finally happened: I’ve lost my mind. I’ve decided to sell my house and most of my belongings, buy a van, take my dogs and hit the road. Gloucester City will always be my home; when my driving years are over I hope to return and seek shelter at the building facing the water, made specifically for folks of a certain age. Either that or take a walk in the woods so that my decrepit body can feed the woodland creatures. (I’ve been feeding animals my entire life; might as well feed them when I’m... Continue reading

((CNBNewsnet)(GLOUCESTER CITY NJ)(October 6,2018)--I’ve often heard or read people complaining about the “outrageous” costs of adopting a dog through a rescue organization. I’m sure these folks don’t have a full understanding of the rescue process. A rescue group is not a “sticks and bricks” building manned by people paid a salary—it is a group of people that offer their homes and lives to dogs that have been abandoned, abused, or otherwise left to fend for themselves. They pay the veterinary bills, training, food, toys, and comfort of the dogs they care for, surviving on donations to get the job done.... Continue reading

Dawn Watson | CNBNewsnet I was at a park today and I was able to participate in one of my favorite pass-times: people-watching. ‘People-watching’ is an art form and one must be careful to avoid eye contact lest it be labeled ‘staring’. Learning the proper form can save you from a scolding or a punch in the nose and every attempt must be made to avoid confrontation. Rules include no staring, no laughing, no pointing, and most importantly, no nudging the person beside you and combining the aforementioned. In addition, an avid people-watcher knows that obviously special people are off-limits... Continue reading

CNBNewsnet Where have all the mean kids gone? You know the ones; they all sat together in the cafeteria and bullied you in the hallways. They whispered about you at school events and tortured you in the bathrooms and on the bus. You were a nerd, you were a dork, you were too fat or too thin, wore glasses or weren’t fashionable. I’ll tell you where the mean kids are now: the mean boys are fat and living in the past as they sit at the bar drinking shots, their youthful escapades growing larger at the bottom of the glass.... Continue reading

CNBNewsnet I’ve often heard from people complaining about the “outrageous” costs of adopting a dog through a rescue organization. I’m sure these folks don’t have a full understanding of the rescue process. A rescue group is not a “sticks and bricks” building manned by people paid a salary—it is a group of people that offer their homes and lives to dogs that have been abandoned, abused, or otherwise left to fend for themselves. The organization pays the veterinary bills, medicine, training, food, toys, and comfort of the dogs they care for, surviving on donations to get the job done. Often,... Continue reading

CNBNewsnet I’m old. Let me tell you how I know this to be true. The sound of most millennial pop-stars makes my eardrums hurt. The words to rap music embarrass me. I refer to anyone under forty as a “kid”. I can tell when it’s going to rain because my knees hurt. When I pass a mirror I think it’s my mother, coming back to haunt me. My toenails are hideous. When I apply polish they become hideous painted toenails. Prilosec is my friend. Beano is my other friend. I’ve considered having a port-a-potty in every room of the house.... Continue reading

CNBNewsnet Let’s talk about a delicate subject. I must often correct clients when they talk about their dogs clinging to them or other objects and making a movement that can be somewhat embarrassing. This movement has nothing to do with the urge to procreate. Dogs are sensitive about the ranking in their pack. When they are attempting to dominate a member of the pack they will sometimes attempt a mounting movement. If there is no other dog or person around they may substitute an inanimate object. Males as well as females show this instinctual fight for hierarchy. Although people joke... Continue reading

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (September 10, 2018)(CNBNewsnet)I get depressed. Everyone does, to a certain extent but mine comes and goes like a runaway bus. When a dark cloud arrives it hovers over me, sucking up joy until nothing is left but feelings of uselessness and despair. Ten minutes later, I’m baking a cake, humming a tune, or dancing with my dogs. If there was a therapy group for my particular type of mood swing affliction there would be two circles of chairs—one for the happy moments and one for the sad feelings. The people could rotate depending on their status, like... Continue reading