Dogs at GWW

Hound Coursing Steward

Lord Sigbjorn Sigmundson, houndscaid-gww.org

Pets at War!

Bringing your pet to war can be a big decision. Not only do they miss the familiarities of home, they are required to deal with all sorts of strange noises, large crowds, temperature changes, and more. Some deal with it better than others, so you have to decide whether they'd be more comfortable with you or at home. If you choose to bring them to war, here are a few tips guaranteed to make everyone's war better, safer, and less stressful.

Tag 'em

Despite your best efforts, your pet may somehow escape or become lost, which can be complicated by the unfamiliar surroundings, sounds, and smells. All dogs should be wearing tags with their humans' modern contact information as well as a city or county license. In addition, consider adding a tag with specific SCA/camping information that will help reunite you with your pup on site more quickly. It's easy to laminate a small piece of paper with your SCA name, household, camping space, and mobile number, then just punch a hole and slip it in with the other tags. This will help the war staff to reunite you with your pet on-site rather than sending your pet on a stressful trip to the pound.

In the event that your dog loses his collar (and all identifying tags), a microchip is an excellent way to protect your pet and make reuniting a much better possibility. It's a quick, inexpensive, painless procedure that provides incredible peace of mind. Talk to your vet about micro chipping.

In the event of a loose or stray dog, the war staff will attempt to catch and return your pet if properly marked. However, the staff has been instructed to be extremely cautious when handling stray animals. If your pet demonstrates aggression or other dangerous behavior, county animal control officers will handle it.

Hit me with your best shot

Protecting your pet with the proper vaccinations is not only smart, it's the law. And not only modern law, but kingdom law too! All dogs in Caid must be able to show proof of a rabies vaccination. A great way to make sure you always have this handy is to store a copy of your vaccination records in the vehicle your dog travels in.

Since your hound will potentially rub noses with many new friends at war, it's also smart to protect them with the other recommended vaccines such as: Parvo, Corona, DHLPP (Parainfluenza, Adenovirus, and canine distemper) and Bordetella (Kennel Cough). An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Pests

Camping out, even in civilized Caid, can expose your pet to all sorts of pests such as ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas—all of which carry all sorts of nasty stuff such as Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, and tapeworms, among others. Protect your dog with a good prophylactic like K9 Advantix. It's way easier to take the precautions and prevent infestation rather than deal with the aftermath. Your pet will thank you for it.

Bad human, no biscuit!

The opportunity to bring your pet to war is a privilege; please protect it with responsible, thoughtful behavior. By following a few common sense rules you'll ensure our 4-legged friends are always welcome at war.

• Scoop the poop
  This sounds obvious but apparently isn't to everyone. Please, watch your dog carefully and always carry 3 bags with you at all times. And in the name of chivalry, if you see some that has been missed, pick it up. You'll be a hero to all and the person you save from stepping in it may be yourself. Be sure to securely tie waste bags before disposing in the trash and never throw them in the porta-potties.
• Keep a leash on it
  No matter how well behaved your dog is or how small or inconsequential your dog might seem: Keep your dog on a leash. Not only is it good canine manners, it's the law. Not everyone is comfortable with dogs approaching them—be respectful and keep your pet under control at all times. Remind children to always ask the owner's permission before approaching and petting a strange dog. And be a cautious owner—hounds that are normally friendly and kid-safe at home may react differently in an unfamiliar situation. Be sure your dog is comfortable and relaxed before allowing people to come up and love them. And if you allow your children to walk the family pet, please consider the dog's strength and excitement level at war: Excited dogs can lunge or run unexpectedly, potentially injuring small children.
• Home Alone
  Most dogs want to be with their pack. Be courteous to your neighbors and please don't leave your dog alone in camp. A normally well-adjusted hound may react to being left in a strange place in a variety of different ways including non-stop barking, crying, or frantic attempts to escape and find you. Take your pup with you while you're out and about, or designate a human to keep him company. And never, ever leave a dog unattended in a tent, pavilion, or vehicle. The temperature can rise quickly and become dangerous or deadly faster than you think.
• Respect the wildlife
  Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area is home to a host of creatures that could potentially be dangerous to your pet. Be on the look out for snakes, coyotes, buzzards, owls, skunks, opossums, gophers, squirrels, geese, ducks, and even cats. If you should have a chance encounter, try to keep your pet calm and put as much distance as you can between you and the wildlife. Report dangerous predators to the war staff, and for goodness sake don't try to handle any local creatures yourself.
• Special procedures for a mountain lion encounter
  Stay calm and do not run, turn your back, or walk away. Keep your pet as close to you as you can. Give the cat plenty of room and a way to escape, as most will avoid a confrontation if possible. Try to appear larger than you are by raising your arms overhead and opening your jacket or cloak. Yell aggressively, make lots of noise and throw rocks, branches, or other objects if necessary. Avoid bending or crouching. Should you be attacked, fight back, try to stay standing, and face the animal as they usually go for the head and neck area.
• Off-Roading
  If you adventure into the wilds of Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area with your pet, be aware of dangerous plants and foliage. You could find stinging nettles, thistles, foxtail, poison oak, and more. Poison oak can be transferred easily from your pet to you. Be aware and careful.

Be Prepared

Be sure to pack and bring all the gear, food and water your pet will need over the weekend. Make a list you can double-check before departing. Here are some suggestions, but make sure to personalize with items important to your pet.

• Food
  Dry or wet, pack enough for every day you plan to be at war plus an extra day or two just in case. Store dry food in a waterproof, bug-proof container.
• Water
  Plan for several gallons per pet in case it is hotter or dryer than anticipated. Pets appreciate water from home that smells familiar, and you want to do everything you can to encourage regular hydration. For dogs that won't drink away from home, bring a couple cans of low-sodium chicken broth. This usually entices even the most finicky or stressed-out pet to drink.
• Bedding
  Southern California is considered a high-desert climate and it can be quite cold at night in October even if it's hot during the day. Be prepared with bedding that keeps your pet off the ground as well as blankets and jackets for dogs that are susceptible to cold.
• Shelter
  Be sure to bring a kennel or cage where your pet can retire and relax away from noise, people, heat/sun, and predators with some sense of privacy/security for when the war becomes overwhelming. This is very important for animals that stress in unfamiliar places.
• The Essentials
  Medication, poop-bags, bowls, extra collar and leash, sunscreen, chew toys/bones, treats, brush, etc.
• First Aid Kit
  This doesn't have to be elaborate, but why not be prepared with a waterproof kit containing the basics for minor problems. Some examples: Hydrogen Peroxide, Betadine solution/scrub, Antibiotic ointment, Antibacterial pads/wipes, Tweezers and/or sterile needle (for ticks and splinters), Scissors, Syringe (to flush a wound), Sterile gauze pads/bandaging material, Ace bandage/vet wrap (for bandaging, stabilizing joints/bones or a make-shift muzzle), Vaseline/Bag Balm, Instant ice pack/heat pack, Towels, Bandana or cloth strips, Cotton and q-tips, Milk of Magnesia (for stomach upset and some types of poison ingestion), Pepto Bismol (for stomach upset and some types of poison ingestion; do not give to cats), Kaopectate (OK for cats and dogs), Benadryl (for allergic reactions, bug bites, and stings), Aspirin (for dogs only, NOT ibuprofen or acetaminophen, 1 tablet/60lbs), Gentle pet sedative such as Rescue Remedy (available at health food and some pet supply stores), Can of wet food (can help reduce effect of poisoning), Flashlight, Thermometer (know your pet's baseline temperature in advance. Average temperature for cats and dogs is between 100.5-102.5 degrees F), Compact thermal blanket (for shock/cold), Emergency number for local vet along with directions (also good to include your personal vet's contact info as well as copies of vaccination records, medications and medical history if applicable).

Ready your canine athlete

If you plan to participate in the lure coursing activities be sure to come prepared with a hound that is in relatively good physical condition. Just like human weekend-warriors that over do it, dogs can become sore or injured when asked to do activities at levels they are not accustomed to. Spend the time at home working up to a good fitness level and you'll be more likely to come home from war with a healthy, happy dog. Simply walking your dog for 20 minutes at a good pace every day plus a full out run once or twice a week will prepare your canine athlete for a war full of great coursing.

See the Hound Coursing Schedule for everything scheduled at Great Western War. For more information on coursing or getting your dog keen on the lure contact Lord Sigbjorn Sigmundson, houndscaid-gww.org and/or join the Caid Hound Coursing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hounds_of_Caid.