#he's utilizing healthy coping mechanisms 100%
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scorpiolight-madd · 2 years ago
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I know you have multiple Sonic Paracosms and they seem to connect (like an expanded universe for Sonic Lore), did you struggle at all with creating your paracosm/lore/character interactions or was it relatively easy?
Are there any paras that you feel are underdeveloped in your paracosm?
Also do you have any paras that could be considered the 'star' (like most of the action happens to them or because of them) or does the role bounce around a lot?
Sorry for all the questions, but I am curious!!
YES YES YES YES YES
Ok I’m gonna answer these one at a time so strap in
Also don't apologize for asking questions, answering them is like my favorite thing in the world
Ok so for the first question there actually isn’t a lot of crossover save for one story arc in Rebellion (the sonic boom/underground crossover one, also sometimes referred to as SB:U or Trouble Keeps you Running Faster (or TKYRF for short) bc I struggled to name it for a while). In that arc, the Phantom Ruby ends up traveling through dimensions after Infinite’s defeat in the Reloaded dimension (which is the paracosm that’s just a rewritten version of the games with some OCs added).
Sage and the Infinite from Rebellion end up tracking it down, and Rebellion!Infinite feels a strange pull towards the Ruby, while Sage has analyzed it and believes that it will help her to more efficiently protect her family and allies. The two end up fighting over it, but Sage gets it, only for Reloaded!Infinite’s influence to corrupt her almost immediately, as he’s trapped inside the Phantom Ruby. (He was also the one drawing his alternate dimension self to take the Ruby)
Also it may be subject to change but here's what she looks like when she's under the Phantom Ruby's control
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ANYWAYS a lot of stuff happens in that arc that im not gonna get into bc what's important to this question is that when she goes into the Phantom Ruby to confront Reloaded!Infinite, she ends up going into his memories and encountering facsimiles of the people he encountered in his dimension. They're not identical to how they actually appear in that paracosm, as their characterizations and even appearances are filtered through Infinite's perception of them.
So, while there is a crossover, the only actual crossover character interaction is between Sage and Infinite, and replicas of the cast from Reloaded.
As for underdeveloped characters, I'm not exactly sure. I feel that I have their characters all fleshed out pretty well, even down to the side characters. However, I do run into the problem of under-utilizing them pretty frequently, and that characters tend to not do much for the plot unless its an arc solely dedicated to them, like Amy's arc about losing her hammer, and how Knuckles seems kinda locked into his storyline about finding the Master Emerald shards, and neither of them do much outside of that.
Only a few characters straight up don't have their own arcs, like Silver.
The focus 100% bounces around depending on the story arc, sometimes even straight up focusing on complete side characters. Like I said before, Knuckles and Amy get their own story arcs, Knuckles recovering pieces of the Master Emerald and with it, his memories, and Amy losing her hammer and learning to not base her entire worth and identity on one singular skill. There's also Sonic re-bonding with his siblings, Sonia learning to let herself relax and not forcing herself to take on the burden of the entire rebellion, and Manic's character arc about trying to hide his PTSD from being held captive bc he doesn't want his siblings to split apart again, and how he eventually discovers healthy coping mechanisms to help him recover.
There's ALSO the birth of Team Chaotix, with Espio being introduced as an antagonist with a bunch of other mercenary side characters, until Vector finds out that he's just a struggling teenager trying to take care of his little brother.
WOAG THATS A LOT OF TEXT anyways thank youuuuuuuu for the questions
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dr11ft · 2 years ago
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choose who's behind the bar for infinite awful scenarios
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princesofchina · 8 years ago
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Seventeen: Reaction to You Having Depression (Woozi, Dino, Hoshi, Wonwoo)
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WARNINGS: Depression, Self-Harm, Swearing
Just a reminder that mental disorders are extremely serious and concerning and not romantic by any means. I will be fulfilling this request because victims may feel placated by the thought of having someone by their side, and also because I’m sure that all the SVT boys would love and support you no matter what. Whatever you’re going through is valid, and it’s alright to feel sad and want support! If things are getting really bad, here’s a list of hotlines, as well as 100 reasons not to kill yourself.
And as a side note: hello, I’m the new regular member/editor B! I’ll be doing a lot of the editing for the blog, and will also be taking requests whenever they’re open! This is my first reaction, so I hope I was able to convey it all properly ^^  – Member B
Hoshi: Keeps you moving. Whenever you have an episode or get into one of your moods, he helps you through music and dance and whatever he can think of getting his hands on quickly enough. He’s so spontaneous you might just combust, but at the same time he makes it so utterly clear that he loves you with all of his heart, that you’ll still combust, but you’ll combust happily.
“Fuck,” your hands tremble as you knock your head back against the headstand of your bed hard, the loud noise resonating throughout the empty bedroom. Your shoulders shake as you hug your knees to your chest, burying your face into them. “fuck, Fuck, FUCK.” Your voice gets louder with each swear, and you knock your head back against the headboard each time. At one point you might’ve drawn blood, but you don’t slow yourself down to check.
It’s a coping mechanism. The hard thing about your depression is that it comes in waves, dropping on you suddenly and with the impact of a meteor. After your last episode, coming home from a particularly loaded afternoon lecture, you had to find some way to calm yourself down. Soonyoung wasn’t around, having notified you earlier that it would be a long day at the studio. You contemplate calling him but you don’t want him to see you like this, all torn down and vulnerable.
So of course, just because life likes to play against you, he ends up seeing you all torn down and vulnerable. 
“Y/N, I’m home early~ I see your shoes at the doorway~” Soonyoung’s in a cheery mood, entering the bedroom with a bounce in his step. The bounce immediately disappears and his expression hardens as he takes in your closed and crumpled form, utterly defeated. Though you can’t see his expression with your head buried into your knees, you can hear his sharp intake of breath. He says nothing else and you wonder if he’s left, lifting your head slightly only to find Soonyoung startlingly close, focus directed towards scrolling through his phone’s music library. When he plays the song, you recognize it as a calming favourite of yours. Soonyoung places his phone aside and reaches for your hand. He tugs it gently and you follow easily, melting into his arms. 
There you sway together to the gentle sound of the music, an awkward position by any means. However, you feel perfectly in place, calming down to the point of realizing your own exhaustion. He rocks you until he knows you’ve fallen asleep, and tucks you tightly in to bed. 
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Wonwoo: A calming presence. Whenever things in your life starts to go wayward, Wonwoo is always there to whisper reassuring compliments into your ear, or provide you with closeness and intimacy if you so desire. He’s your rock, your complete stability. 
“I’m really sorry about this sir, I just can’t come in to work today. . . Family emergency,” your voice is clipped as you speak through the phone, moments away from breaking down. Your hand clutches the back of your kitchen chair in an attempt to hold yourself up. You just know that you would collapse otherwise. As your boss bids you well, you’re quick to hang up your phone and place it down on the kitchen table, trying to take deep breaths to calm yourself down. And you had tried so freaking hard.
You had so far managed to get up, get yourself dressed, and even have your teeth brushed, although the uncooperative toothpaste tube had caused some frustration. You even had gotten so far as to pour yourself a bowl of cereal, but then you spilt the milk and it had gotten just absolutely fucking everywhere, and your clumsy actions weren’t enough to clean up the mess fast enough. You had thrown the bowl in frustration only for it to shatter, a particularly sharp piece cutting your hand. And now you were standing there, too scared to move, too strung up to function, and you weren’t coming in for work again. The whole time a thought pounded at the back of your head. Wonwoo, where is Wonwoo?
With shaky hands and an even shakier predisposition, your hands pick up your phone to shakily enter the memorized digits, a number you’ve called too many times before in similar situations.
He answers on the second ring.
“Y/N? What’s wrong, babe?” His voice is calm, even with the underlying urgency, and it soothes you. He’s always had that soothing effect, and it’s one of the things that’s kept you drawn to him. It’s more addicting than alcohol, yet he kept you healthy. “Are you having another attack?” Your sniffles seem to be more than enough of an answer. “I’m coming over, hold still. You’re at your apartment, right? Stay on the line with me, babe.” It’s not as if you’re up to moving, other hand still clutched tightly on the back of that chair. You breathe out your agreement and he murmurs pacifying words all the way to your apartment, right until you feel lanky arms embrace you, and the phone is replaced with his rhythmic breath and live whispers. “I’m here now, it’s all alright. It’ll be alright.” He holds you until your breathing matches his, until your hands unclench themselves and you allow your body to relax. 
“Now let’s get you cleaned up.”
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Woozi: You don’t tell him, he figures it out. Jihoon’s observational skills detect your hidden signs of depression almost immediately after the two of you start dating. He immediately tries to convince you to seek professional help, unconfident that he’ll be able to help you on his own. 
“Your leg’s jiggling again.”
Jihoon’s working diligently on his laptop, eyes trained on the composition program at hand. You wonder how he continues to notice your every move, but without fail he’ll point out your fidgeting before squeezing your leg lightly with his hand, effectively bringing it to a halt. He usually pulls back but this time his hand lingers, and he surprises you by looking up from his work to give you a concerned glance. “Are you that nervous?”
You try to look away but his eyes are piercing, and looking around at the rest of the waiting room only places you at a greater discomfort. You instead find yourself nodding evenly at him, trying to focus your eyes on a spot right above his eyes. “I’ve never been to a therapist before,” your voice comes out smaller and weaker than you intended, somewhat ashamed of your confession. Ashamed that it had taken you so long to take responsibility for your own health, and ashamed that you were in this situation in the first place. You know it’s not your fault... Really.... You hope it’s not your fault... yes, you’re.... Confident....
Jihoon picks up on your inner struggles as easily as he picks up on your jiggling leg. He closes his laptop, placing it aside and then shuffling closer to you. Before you know it he’s humming a song quietly in your ear, a volume low enough that you can no longer quite place the tune but you’re settled by the fact that it’s solely intended for you. “For your ears only,” he whispers, hand squeezing your leg once again. 
When the time of your appointment finally arrives, you’re sent off by your boyfriend with a tight smile and a kiss on the cheek. It’s at that moment you realize that he’s nervous too, and you walk into your appointment knowing that at the very least you’ll always have someone by your side. 
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Dino: Master of distraction and misdirection. When Chan finds out about your depression, he very easily learns to utilize his innocent charms to subtly distract you from your problems. 
“Up again?” Chan’s voice is tired on the other end of the line, and you immediately regret calling him so late in the night once again. You had done the same thing just two nights previously, and only now do you think of how insensitive it might be. Your depression has been getting the better of you lately though, and you needed some way to ground yourself. 
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up, you sound so tired. I just wanted someone to talk... Never mind, never mind,” you immediately go to hang up but Chan is quicker than you, brushing it aside easily.
“Hey, it’s alright. I’m still at practice actually, it’s been a long night, preparing for our comeback.” And now that he’s started, you know he won’t stop, recounting tales of an overzealous BooSeokSoon and the excitement they brought to the practice room for that day. You contentedly listen, happy just to hear his voice. His youth and excitement keeps your mind focused with purpose, and you start to forget the drowning feelings that had caused you to call in the first place. 
You fall asleep and Chan smiles into his phone. “Good night,” he whispers to the silent line, hanging up his phone and settling back into bed to return to sleep (hey, what’s a small white lie if it’s for your wellbeing? Anything for you.).
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kathydsalters31 · 4 years ago
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Dog Social Distancing and Utilizing a Crate to Help with Separation Anxiety
As I sit here and ponder where I am going to go with this article, my mind wanders. I’ve already sat down a couple of times to write it.
I’d literally just sat down on Monday, computer open, and then the governor of Maryland called a press conference and essentially announced more lock down. So, you’ll understand why I flew out of the house to get more food and supplies.
It is now a law in our state, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to a five thousand dollar fine, to go out for any non-essential reason (other than medical, getting food, or emergencies).
I don’t even know how to conceive of, or talk about, all that is going on in the world, but I find it is affecting everything, even our relationships with our canine companions.
Interestingly, I have always seen myself as well spoken and have always had the ability to describe, through the written word, how to understand certain concepts, especially when it comes to dog training.
But I have, admittedly, been a little overwhelmed this week, and have struggled with all the ways to make this modern day article more pertinent to you as you sit at home looking for information to help get through this crisis.
Gratitude…
First off, to those I know, who know me, and those who have been following Chet and I for the past 10 years, THANK YOU!
We take your loyalty very seriously and it is important to us to provide you with accurate and relevant information.
With things being the way they are in the world, I want to make sure that you and your pets are safe. Safety is far and above the most important thing we have to deal with each day.
To those of you on the front lines, driving trucks, growing food, working in warehouses and to those in both human and veterinary medicine; THANK YOU!
Having a pandemic afoot and being socially locked down has certainly never been seen by the world on this scale. We are still waiting on more affirmative information as I sit here.
My immune system has never been the strongest, and I worry about the implications this holds for me, my friends, and, of course, my pets.
So, since I have your attention for at least a short time, let’s talk about how all of this is going to affect those of us on lock down.
I am worried about some pets dogs especially, concerned that we are creating separation anxiety for them to struggle with when life goes back to ‘semi normal’.
Having been in the dog training industry for the past twenty five years, I will admit that true and severe separation anxiety in dogs is not nearly as rampant as many people think.
Severe separation anxiety is marked by a dog that:
**  often urinates and defecates
**  howls or barks almost constantly
**  will literally become self-injurious while attempting to break out of a weak crate, or even break through windows
In my career alone, I have had 2 dogs that have jumped out or through windows. Thankfully they did not die or eviscerate themselves.
My first experience was when I was just 18 with the first dog (a Rottweiler) I had ever owned. He jumped out of the front window, fell probably 20 feet down and was loose for an hour or two until we returned.
Twenty five years ago in Wyoming it was impossible to find a dog crate. We purchased dog food from feed stores! I ordered my very first dog crate from a JCPenney catalog. I couldn’t afford new windows every time we left the house and I certainly didn’t want my dog to hurt himself.
Shoving a 100 pound, anxious, Rottweiler into a giant metal dog crate was my first foray into crate training. I honestly think it saved his life. And, although he struggled to get out in the beginning, the crate was strong enough that he wasn’t able to hurt himself.
That is really an important key to this article.
Don’t Panic
I recently got back from a trip to visit clients who swore that their dog was having severe separation anxiety. He’s young, and he is not really getting enough exercise, and they monitor video of the dogs constantly.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that in no way was it severe! He sings a little bit when he is crated, and he lightly puts his mouth on the crate, but by no means was he in danger of hurting himself.
He would bark but he was also laying down in his crate. That may be slight anxiety but really is no need for concern.
In the beginning, I suppose most dogs are not huge fans of the crate, but don’t panic if he is barking a bit or trying to assess if he can make an old school break out.
If you panic every time you leave him, he is going to panic (remember how intuitive dogs are; they pick up on our anxieties!) This dog is quite literally never left alone. Either the husband or wife has been home with him for a year.
Not only is this creating his problem, their shear terror and overreacting has made the dog worse.
I remember being scared to sleep in my “big girl bed” and room when I was a kid.
But in order for me to be a functional adult, I had to do some things I didn’t want to do, and I had to learn to be confident and independent as I aged.
Just as we can’t coddle our children forever, we can’t coddle our dogs; it is not healthy.
If you are truly, truly worried that your dog has severe separation anxiety, talk to your veterinarian or find a boarded veterinary behaviorist in your area.
I kind of hate to admit this, outwardly anyway, but we are talking about some personal subjects here.
In the last year, I have suffered from some anxiety. Ironically, when I am awake I am a fairly rational person and I pride myself on that.
But I was waking up in the middle of the night with a heart rate over 200, covered in sweat, and feeling like I was going to die.
If you’ve ever had the displeasure of feeling like that (and I hope you don’t) you will realize that drug therapy, along with behavior modification, is essential.
I made some changes in my life and hadn’t really had that problem until, ironically, last night.
But, with times the way they are right now, I feel that it was acceptable to spill over a little from the unknown.
If your dog would do better on some meds while you work on crate training, do him the service of getting him some.
Trust me, you would want the help, he will thank you, and your training will be more successful.
Needing something that helps balance serotonin, or other necessary chemicals, is nothing to be ashamed of!
Just don’t cover a problem with drugs and expect them to do wonders without behavior modification.
Some drooling, panting, shaking, barking or whining can be fairly normal for this process.
Avoid Weak & Dangerous Crates
The flimsy metal crates with plastic bottoms that look cozy to most people are the WORST. The metal is easily bent and the plastic bottom can be shredded with little effort. Many dogs have broken teeth and gotten stuck in the bent sharp metal doors and sides as they are trying to escape, which can cause deep lacerations. Some of the videos you find online of dogs escaping these kinds of crates are funny, but the implications of injury are not worth it.
The other problem, that as humans we don’t really understand… is that dogs are den animals. They like closed, dark places, not a big open cage where they can still see everything going on in the environment. This stimulation often makes them even more reactive. Most dog owners park those big crates next to a large window and the dog can’t escape if he is having anxiety with his crate training.
Plastic crates are usually chewed less and more escape-proof. There are also less sharp edges with dark plastic crates. Yes, I have seen dogs pop the front doors, but all-in-all they are safer. I even have a picture of my very own dog (Belgian Malinois) who chewed straight through a crate when he was just a puppy and heard me training his sister.
So being the dog owner that I am, I stuffed him in the crate to snap a picture and then I immediately purchased another crate that I had to have shipped (apparently I have had some naughty dogs in my career). There are heavy duty, thick metal crates that are used in the world of police dog training that are self locking and very nearly impossible to chew through. Also, their edges are not sharp (like the metal crates in the first example), and most have doors and openings that keep things dark but are also less likely to be chewed or have a tooth broken.
They can be pricey, but one or two crates that are impossible to ruin or escape from is cheaper in the long run and safer for your dog. I use and recommend Impact Dog Crates.
And remember: a broken window or a loose, anxious dog is not nearly as safe as an anxious dog in a heavy duty crate.
Why is Crate Training Better and Why Will it Help Your Dog Feel Better?
I understand that I am conversing with humans and it is hard to convince people that crate training actually helps with separation anxiety.
As a human you aren’t likely to hurl yourself through a window. You aren’t likely to chew electrical cords, the carpet, or chew through a door when you have anxiety. You have different coping mechanisms.
And, truthfully if you have anxiety to that degree; you are likely to look into some drug therapy.
Your dog doesn’t have those options.
So, by leaving him out loose in the home, it often causes more anxiety and reactivity as he runs from window to window, or door to door, in a panic.
I was trying to explain this to a client at the beginning of the month. Both their dogs were chasing around the house (you could watch with their in-home camera) and acting panicked. Putting them in a smaller and darker place where they couldn’t see every action in the neighborhood was actually better for their mental health. It helped them to relax and not worry about every sight and sound (feeding the anxiety).
I used to have billionaire clients in Colorado. They had a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever and I used to pet sit for them. It was an amazing experience, but living in a huge house like that 20 years ago was kind of intimidating for me. I remember bringing a knife to bed with me in the early days! Every noise had me paranoid. There were too many doors and windows and levels. If someone broke in would I even hear it?
Currently I live in a small house (less than 1,000 square feet) and I have never really been afraid here. I basically have one door and a couple windows. If someone comes into my house, I am going to hear it. My dogs are going to hear it. A smaller space is easier to contain.
If I had 3 million dollars cash in a mansion and I knew someone was coming to take it; it would be much more intimidating. It would be a lot safer to keep here in a small space.
Smaller spaces often are less intimidating and more easily defended.
Not all dogs are guard dogs. Some dogs have general anxiety, but being in a large space isn’t always better. Dogs with anxiety (not even severe separation anxiety) feel better in a small dark place, with familiar sounds like the radio or television left on so that they don’t hear all the goings on. You are taking options and worry away from them.
Even the dogs that I have successfully treated with thunderstorm or other phobias have often been treated more successfully by utilizing a crate or a safe spot. My current Malinois is not a fan of thunderstorms but by giving him his own safe place, he is able to deal with his anxiety.
Create Your Dog’s Safe Haven
First off, it is critical to know your dog, and what is and what is not safe.
Some dogs will eat dog beds and blankets.
A former puppy client of mine underwent surgery last week to have parts of a blanket removed from his intestines.
If in doubt, your dog doesn’t need a bed or blanket. Chances are he likes laying on the cold floor anyway.
The bane of my existence, my current Malinois, will never be able to be unattended with a bed or a blanket. I have ordered ballistic style dog beds that were guaranteed chew proof that he can still shred. Thankfully he has never swallowed anything, but he has killed quite a few of my friends’ sweatshirts at dock diving events! I know this about him, and I keep those items away from his crate.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t have some other things.
Play crate games with your dog or your puppy! Puppies, especially, need crate games to understand that the crate is a safe place where happy things occur.
If you only stuff him inside when you leave, he will learn to hate the crate because it equals your leaving.
If my dogs willingly go into their crates, they get a treat or a reward.
Feed your dog in his crate so that he learns it is not always a space where he will be closed in for long periods of time. Be sure and close the door occasionally, but not all of the time. It can and should be his choice to go inside during the day when you are with him.
A dog crate doesn’t have to be sterile or not fun – quite the opposite! Zippy’s crate has elk antlers and other indestructible types of chews for him to enjoy.
Occasionally, I will slather a bone, a Kong toy, or an antler with peanut butter or Kong paste when he goes in his crate. But he only gets that special item when he is inside with the door closed behind him. Think of it as a break, with a great treat that he only gets when he is inside.
I may only leave him in there for 5 or 10 minutes, but the reward for going in is high enough for him to just enjoy the act of going in his crate.
After I let my dogs outside, I always bring them in and have them go into their crates for an early morning treat. I do the same at night.
Have you ever heard of the dog that the owners can’t catch in the morning to put in the crate because the dog recognizes his owner is going to work?
If your dog is used to going in the crate every morning and every evening no matter what, this alleviates this problem.
The other important piece to remember is to continue to crate your dog throughout his life, not just when he is a puppy.
As humans we get lazy. We crate our puppies so they won’t eat our stuff, or so that early in the relationship we can take a shower or make food while the pup is learning to show better behavior, and have less destructive behavior more of the time.
As his behavior gets better, we stop putting him in his crate. OR, we only crate him for long periods, like going to work or overnight.
This teaches the puppy or the older dog that time in his crate is going to be extended. We need to remind them that crate time can be long or short, but can also be fun.
If he gets a treat and some peanut butter he is much less likely to become an anxious dog during the time he is left in his crate. It just becomes another place where he can go to relax.
I always laugh because my Fury (my Dutch Shepherd) crate trained very easily and was given access to the house early on in her life. And, when I moved into a smaller house I figured I wouldn’t have to bring her crate inside. WRONG! She was horrified. She would dramatically throw herself into my Belgian Malinois’ crate when he wasn’t in there. Having her crate is essentially having her bed in the house.
Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Exercise and mental stimulation are crucial to help a dog with even mild separation anxiety.
Most dogs don’t want to be crated overnight for sleeping, just to be let out and then immediately crated while their owners attend to work and business.
I know that we live in busy times, but waking up an hour earlier or staying up an hour later so that you can tend to your dog’s exercise and mental stimulation needs can be critical in helping him to adjust.
Think about it. If you slept all night you wouldn’t want to be crated again first thing in the morning.
But if you had a healthy run of 5 miles, you might not mind taking a nap.
Our bodies need physical exercise and there are all kinds of ways you can provide that for your dog.
You can walk him, you can run him next to a bicycle, or you can get him to pull weights. Even small dogs like Jack Russell terriers and the like can benefit from pulling weights!
He also needs mental stimulation.
Teach your dog a new trick in the morning or work on his obedience before you leave.
You can also get treat-stuffed and interactive toys for when you are gone. Again, be sure they are safe for your dog or puppy before leaving them. But interactive toys can be a great way to burn a little energy.
Consider getting a dog walker that takes your dog for a walk, or take him to training, or doggy day care a couple of times a week. He gets to play and make friends, and you get to bring a tired dog home after a long day.
Remember he has needs! I was talking to an owner earlier today who was furious because her 7 month old puppy’s behavior is seeming to get worse. I always want to ask (and sometimes I do ask) if these people are parents to human children.
We expect that our toddlers need to go to the park. We know that they need to go to school, or have learning opportunities in the house. We better understand their physical, mental and emotional needs. But young puppies need all of these things too and if we are not providing them….. puppies often provide their own stimulation.
Puppies and young dogs also go through learning phases and stubborn phases just like you and your children did when you were young and exploring the world. Heck, I still sometimes have these stages in my “old age”!
If he is driving you crazy or if he is showing anxiety, chances are you are not giving him what he needs and you must reassess your training and exercise plans.
My very first Belgian Malinois I got when I was in my early 20’s. He was probably one of the most brilliant dogs I had then or have since ever trained.
I vowed to him that when I wanted to throttle him, or when he was being naughty I would assess if I had provided him with the kind of physical exercise and mental stimulation he needed.
Most of the time the honest answer was no, I had not.
So eventually, he learned about all of the 101 dog tricks in the book and could perform a gamut of service dog skills.
His mind and his body needed that kind of interaction.
He was also one of the few dogs I could trust at a dog park, or to play politely with other dogs.
So I would use that option if time was limited or I’d had a bad day
Prevention of Separation Anxiety
I started this article talking about what’s been going on in the world today. At the time of this writing, I have been locked down for a little over a week.
My pets are likely getting tired of me shuffling the house and watching TV at 1 am. I am tired of it. I am excited for life to get back to some normalcy, whatever that looks like.
But the last thing I want is to create dependency while I am at home.
As I am typing I hear my Dutch Shepherd snoring on my bed in the other room. My Malinois is asleep by the front door.
In times of anxiety for me (like not knowing about my ability to pay my bills), I don’t want to create a NEED for my company with my dogs. Would I love Fury to be asleep in my lap right now? YES, but it isn’t going to be healthy for them when I go back to full time work. That doesn’t mean they don’t all get lap time, I am just trying to avoid creating over-bonding.
I still occasionally crate my dogs and go outside alone so they continue to be used to the crate. I still crate them at night. Sometimes it is for short periods of time and sometimes it is for longer periods of time.
I put them outside for 30 minutes or more so that they can lay in the sun.
I let one dog out and keep one inside. I even walk them separately and train them separately occasionally.
I can imagine with significant others spending too much time together, and mothers and fathers needing breaks during this time, that my dogs need a break from each other too.
Relying on each other constantly isn’t good for their mental or emotional growth either.
I feel sorry for any pet that is overly bonded to another pet or to their human. I want a confident and independent pet.
And, I try and walk them and play with them safely each day.
Foster Independence
I giggle a little bit seeing the memes on Facebook with the dog hiding on top of the counter because his owner has walked him over 20 times that day.
And, whereas I want you all to get your physical and mental exercise, it is crucial that you still foster some independence with your dogs.
The worst cases of true and severe separation anxiety I have seen were in working dogs and the working dog world.
Police dogs, guide dogs, or service dogs that develop a sense of never having their own space or being left alone are sometimes incapable of doing it in later years. This is why I think retirement can be so difficult for these working dogs. Thankfully, at least most police officers leave their dogs occasionally.
But one of the saddest cases of over bonding and severe separation anxiety I have ever seen came early in my career. It breaks my heart to say it was a dog I helped to train and place as a service dog. His owner never left home without him. They had an amazing bond and friendship; but then his elderly owner needed a surgery. Not knowing what to do and not being able to really leave him in the house because he would be destructive, they left him outside. He strangled himself trying to figure out how to find his owner.
Separation, even for working dogs, is critical to good mental health. I do feel sorry for those who literally are having a hard time finding any alone time right now (I also worry about those of us who are alone and secluded for days on end).  Neither is really mentally healthy.
So, I will say it: make some time for a little social distancing for your dogs and pets too, so you are not creating unhealthy habits that will make him suffer when his life changes again in a few weeks.
It’s not a bad thing, it is a healthy and important thing!
Be safe mentally, emotionally and physically during these times because we all need it.
Sending my love to all of my readers!
Sincerely,
Minette
source http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/dog-social-distancing-and-utilizing-a-crate-to-help-with-separation-anxiety/ from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.blogspot.com/2020/07/dog-social-distancing-and-utilizing.html
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barryswamsleyaz · 4 years ago
Text
Dog Social Distancing and Utilizing a Crate to Help with Separation Anxiety
As I sit here and ponder where I am going to go with this article, my mind wanders. I’ve already sat down a couple of times to write it.
I’d literally just sat down on Monday, computer open, and then the governor of Maryland called a press conference and essentially announced more lock down. So, you’ll understand why I flew out of the house to get more food and supplies.
It is now a law in our state, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to a five thousand dollar fine, to go out for any non-essential reason (other than medical, getting food, or emergencies).
I don’t even know how to conceive of, or talk about, all that is going on in the world, but I find it is affecting everything, even our relationships with our canine companions.
Interestingly, I have always seen myself as well spoken and have always had the ability to describe, through the written word, how to understand certain concepts, especially when it comes to dog training.
But I have, admittedly, been a little overwhelmed this week, and have struggled with all the ways to make this modern day article more pertinent to you as you sit at home looking for information to help get through this crisis.
Gratitude…
First off, to those I know, who know me, and those who have been following Chet and I for the past 10 years, THANK YOU!
We take your loyalty very seriously and it is important to us to provide you with accurate and relevant information.
With things being the way they are in the world, I want to make sure that you and your pets are safe. Safety is far and above the most important thing we have to deal with each day.
To those of you on the front lines, driving trucks, growing food, working in warehouses and to those in both human and veterinary medicine; THANK YOU!
Having a pandemic afoot and being socially locked down has certainly never been seen by the world on this scale. We are still waiting on more affirmative information as I sit here.
My immune system has never been the strongest, and I worry about the implications this holds for me, my friends, and, of course, my pets.
So, since I have your attention for at least a short time, let’s talk about how all of this is going to affect those of us on lock down.
I am worried about some pets dogs especially, concerned that we are creating separation anxiety for them to struggle with when life goes back to ‘semi normal’.
Having been in the dog training industry for the past twenty five years, I will admit that true and severe separation anxiety in dogs is not nearly as rampant as many people think.
Severe separation anxiety is marked by a dog that:
**  often urinates and defecates
**  howls or barks almost constantly
**  will literally become self-injurious while attempting to break out of a weak crate, or even break through windows
In my career alone, I have had 2 dogs that have jumped out or through windows. Thankfully they did not die or eviscerate themselves.
My first experience was when I was just 18 with the first dog (a Rottweiler) I had ever owned. He jumped out of the front window, fell probably 20 feet down and was loose for an hour or two until we returned.
Twenty five years ago in Wyoming it was impossible to find a dog crate. We purchased dog food from feed stores! I ordered my very first dog crate from a JCPenney catalog. I couldn’t afford new windows every time we left the house and I certainly didn’t want my dog to hurt himself.
Shoving a 100 pound, anxious, Rottweiler into a giant metal dog crate was my first foray into crate training. I honestly think it saved his life. And, although he struggled to get out in the beginning, the crate was strong enough that he wasn’t able to hurt himself.
That is really an important key to this article.
Don’t Panic
I recently got back from a trip to visit clients who swore that their dog was having severe separation anxiety. He’s young, and he is not really getting enough exercise, and they monitor video of the dogs constantly.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that in no way was it severe! He sings a little bit when he is crated, and he lightly puts his mouth on the crate, but by no means was he in danger of hurting himself.
He would bark but he was also laying down in his crate. That may be slight anxiety but really is no need for concern.
In the beginning, I suppose most dogs are not huge fans of the crate, but don’t panic if he is barking a bit or trying to assess if he can make an old school break out.
If you panic every time you leave him, he is going to panic (remember how intuitive dogs are; they pick up on our anxieties!) This dog is quite literally never left alone. Either the husband or wife has been home with him for a year.
Not only is this creating his problem, their shear terror and overreacting has made the dog worse.
I remember being scared to sleep in my “big girl bed” and room when I was a kid.
But in order for me to be a functional adult, I had to do some things I didn’t want to do, and I had to learn to be confident and independent as I aged.
Just as we can’t coddle our children forever, we can’t coddle our dogs; it is not healthy.
If you are truly, truly worried that your dog has severe separation anxiety, talk to your veterinarian or find a boarded veterinary behaviorist in your area.
I kind of hate to admit this, outwardly anyway, but we are talking about some personal subjects here.
In the last year, I have suffered from some anxiety. Ironically, when I am awake I am a fairly rational person and I pride myself on that.
But I was waking up in the middle of the night with a heart rate over 200, covered in sweat, and feeling like I was going to die.
If you’ve ever had the displeasure of feeling like that (and I hope you don’t) you will realize that drug therapy, along with behavior modification, is essential.
I made some changes in my life and hadn’t really had that problem until, ironically, last night.
But, with times the way they are right now, I feel that it was acceptable to spill over a little from the unknown.
If your dog would do better on some meds while you work on crate training, do him the service of getting him some.
Trust me, you would want the help, he will thank you, and your training will be more successful.
Needing something that helps balance serotonin, or other necessary chemicals, is nothing to be ashamed of!
Just don’t cover a problem with drugs and expect them to do wonders without behavior modification.
Some drooling, panting, shaking, barking or whining can be fairly normal for this process.
Avoid Weak & Dangerous Crates
The flimsy metal crates with plastic bottoms that look cozy to most people are the WORST. The metal is easily bent and the plastic bottom can be shredded with little effort. Many dogs have broken teeth and gotten stuck in the bent sharp metal doors and sides as they are trying to escape, which can cause deep lacerations. Some of the videos you find online of dogs escaping these kinds of crates are funny, but the implications of injury are not worth it.
The other problem, that as humans we don’t really understand… is that dogs are den animals. They like closed, dark places, not a big open cage where they can still see everything going on in the environment. This stimulation often makes them even more reactive. Most dog owners park those big crates next to a large window and the dog can’t escape if he is having anxiety with his crate training.
Plastic crates are usually chewed less and more escape-proof. There are also less sharp edges with dark plastic crates. Yes, I have seen dogs pop the front doors, but all-in-all they are safer. I even have a picture of my very own dog (Belgian Malinois) who chewed straight through a crate when he was just a puppy and heard me training his sister.
So being the dog owner that I am, I stuffed him in the crate to snap a picture and then I immediately purchased another crate that I had to have shipped (apparently I have had some naughty dogs in my career). There are heavy duty, thick metal crates that are used in the world of police dog training that are self locking and very nearly impossible to chew through. Also, their edges are not sharp (like the metal crates in the first example), and most have doors and openings that keep things dark but are also less likely to be chewed or have a tooth broken.
They can be pricey, but one or two crates that are impossible to ruin or escape from is cheaper in the long run and safer for your dog. I use and recommend Impact Dog Crates.
And remember: a broken window or a loose, anxious dog is not nearly as safe as an anxious dog in a heavy duty crate.
Why is Crate Training Better and Why Will it Help Your Dog Feel Better?
I understand that I am conversing with humans and it is hard to convince people that crate training actually helps with separation anxiety.
As a human you aren’t likely to hurl yourself through a window. You aren’t likely to chew electrical cords, the carpet, or chew through a door when you have anxiety. You have different coping mechanisms.
And, truthfully if you have anxiety to that degree; you are likely to look into some drug therapy.
Your dog doesn’t have those options.
So, by leaving him out loose in the home, it often causes more anxiety and reactivity as he runs from window to window, or door to door, in a panic.
I was trying to explain this to a client at the beginning of the month. Both their dogs were chasing around the house (you could watch with their in-home camera) and acting panicked. Putting them in a smaller and darker place where they couldn’t see every action in the neighborhood was actually better for their mental health. It helped them to relax and not worry about every sight and sound (feeding the anxiety).
I used to have billionaire clients in Colorado. They had a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever and I used to pet sit for them. It was an amazing experience, but living in a huge house like that 20 years ago was kind of intimidating for me. I remember bringing a knife to bed with me in the early days! Every noise had me paranoid. There were too many doors and windows and levels. If someone broke in would I even hear it?
Currently I live in a small house (less than 1,000 square feet) and I have never really been afraid here. I basically have one door and a couple windows. If someone comes into my house, I am going to hear it. My dogs are going to hear it. A smaller space is easier to contain.
If I had 3 million dollars cash in a mansion and I knew someone was coming to take it; it would be much more intimidating. It would be a lot safer to keep here in a small space.
Smaller spaces often are less intimidating and more easily defended.
Not all dogs are guard dogs. Some dogs have general anxiety, but being in a large space isn’t always better. Dogs with anxiety (not even severe separation anxiety) feel better in a small dark place, with familiar sounds like the radio or television left on so that they don’t hear all the goings on. You are taking options and worry away from them.
Even the dogs that I have successfully treated with thunderstorm or other phobias have often been treated more successfully by utilizing a crate or a safe spot. My current Malinois is not a fan of thunderstorms but by giving him his own safe place, he is able to deal with his anxiety.
Create Your Dog’s Safe Haven
First off, it is critical to know your dog, and what is and what is not safe.
Some dogs will eat dog beds and blankets.
A former puppy client of mine underwent surgery last week to have parts of a blanket removed from his intestines.
If in doubt, your dog doesn’t need a bed or blanket. Chances are he likes laying on the cold floor anyway.
The bane of my existence, my current Malinois, will never be able to be unattended with a bed or a blanket. I have ordered ballistic style dog beds that were guaranteed chew proof that he can still shred. Thankfully he has never swallowed anything, but he has killed quite a few of my friends’ sweatshirts at dock diving events! I know this about him, and I keep those items away from his crate.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t have some other things.
Play crate games with your dog or your puppy! Puppies, especially, need crate games to understand that the crate is a safe place where happy things occur.
If you only stuff him inside when you leave, he will learn to hate the crate because it equals your leaving.
If my dogs willingly go into their crates, they get a treat or a reward.
Feed your dog in his crate so that he learns it is not always a space where he will be closed in for long periods of time. Be sure and close the door occasionally, but not all of the time. It can and should be his choice to go inside during the day when you are with him.
A dog crate doesn’t have to be sterile or not fun – quite the opposite! Zippy’s crate has elk antlers and other indestructible types of chews for him to enjoy.
Occasionally, I will slather a bone, a Kong toy, or an antler with peanut butter or Kong paste when he goes in his crate. But he only gets that special item when he is inside with the door closed behind him. Think of it as a break, with a great treat that he only gets when he is inside.
I may only leave him in there for 5 or 10 minutes, but the reward for going in is high enough for him to just enjoy the act of going in his crate.
After I let my dogs outside, I always bring them in and have them go into their crates for an early morning treat. I do the same at night.
Have you ever heard of the dog that the owners can’t catch in the morning to put in the crate because the dog recognizes his owner is going to work?
If your dog is used to going in the crate every morning and every evening no matter what, this alleviates this problem.
The other important piece to remember is to continue to crate your dog throughout his life, not just when he is a puppy.
As humans we get lazy. We crate our puppies so they won’t eat our stuff, or so that early in the relationship we can take a shower or make food while the pup is learning to show better behavior, and have less destructive behavior more of the time.
As his behavior gets better, we stop putting him in his crate. OR, we only crate him for long periods, like going to work or overnight.
This teaches the puppy or the older dog that time in his crate is going to be extended. We need to remind them that crate time can be long or short, but can also be fun.
If he gets a treat and some peanut butter he is much less likely to become an anxious dog during the time he is left in his crate. It just becomes another place where he can go to relax.
I always laugh because my Fury (my Dutch Shepherd) crate trained very easily and was given access to the house early on in her life. And, when I moved into a smaller house I figured I wouldn’t have to bring her crate inside. WRONG! She was horrified. She would dramatically throw herself into my Belgian Malinois’ crate when he wasn’t in there. Having her crate is essentially having her bed in the house.
Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Exercise and mental stimulation are crucial to help a dog with even mild separation anxiety.
Most dogs don’t want to be crated overnight for sleeping, just to be let out and then immediately crated while their owners attend to work and business.
I know that we live in busy times, but waking up an hour earlier or staying up an hour later so that you can tend to your dog’s exercise and mental stimulation needs can be critical in helping him to adjust.
Think about it. If you slept all night you wouldn’t want to be crated again first thing in the morning.
But if you had a healthy run of 5 miles, you might not mind taking a nap.
Our bodies need physical exercise and there are all kinds of ways you can provide that for your dog.
You can walk him, you can run him next to a bicycle, or you can get him to pull weights. Even small dogs like Jack Russell terriers and the like can benefit from pulling weights!
He also needs mental stimulation.
Teach your dog a new trick in the morning or work on his obedience before you leave.
You can also get treat-stuffed and interactive toys for when you are gone. Again, be sure they are safe for your dog or puppy before leaving them. But interactive toys can be a great way to burn a little energy.
Consider getting a dog walker that takes your dog for a walk, or take him to training, or doggy day care a couple of times a week. He gets to play and make friends, and you get to bring a tired dog home after a long day.
Remember he has needs! I was talking to an owner earlier today who was furious because her 7 month old puppy’s behavior is seeming to get worse. I always want to ask (and sometimes I do ask) if these people are parents to human children.
We expect that our toddlers need to go to the park. We know that they need to go to school, or have learning opportunities in the house. We better understand their physical, mental and emotional needs. But young puppies need all of these things too and if we are not providing them….. puppies often provide their own stimulation.
Puppies and young dogs also go through learning phases and stubborn phases just like you and your children did when you were young and exploring the world. Heck, I still sometimes have these stages in my “old age”!
If he is driving you crazy or if he is showing anxiety, chances are you are not giving him what he needs and you must reassess your training and exercise plans.
My very first Belgian Malinois I got when I was in my early 20’s. He was probably one of the most brilliant dogs I had then or have since ever trained.
I vowed to him that when I wanted to throttle him, or when he was being naughty I would assess if I had provided him with the kind of physical exercise and mental stimulation he needed.
Most of the time the honest answer was no, I had not.
So eventually, he learned about all of the 101 dog tricks in the book and could perform a gamut of service dog skills.
His mind and his body needed that kind of interaction.
He was also one of the few dogs I could trust at a dog park, or to play politely with other dogs.
So I would use that option if time was limited or I’d had a bad day
Prevention of Separation Anxiety
I started this article talking about what’s been going on in the world today. At the time of this writing, I have been locked down for a little over a week.
My pets are likely getting tired of me shuffling the house and watching TV at 1 am. I am tired of it. I am excited for life to get back to some normalcy, whatever that looks like.
But the last thing I want is to create dependency while I am at home.
As I am typing I hear my Dutch Shepherd snoring on my bed in the other room. My Malinois is asleep by the front door.
In times of anxiety for me (like not knowing about my ability to pay my bills), I don’t want to create a NEED for my company with my dogs. Would I love Fury to be asleep in my lap right now? YES, but it isn’t going to be healthy for them when I go back to full time work. That doesn’t mean they don’t all get lap time, I am just trying to avoid creating over-bonding.
I still occasionally crate my dogs and go outside alone so they continue to be used to the crate. I still crate them at night. Sometimes it is for short periods of time and sometimes it is for longer periods of time.
I put them outside for 30 minutes or more so that they can lay in the sun.
I let one dog out and keep one inside. I even walk them separately and train them separately occasionally.
I can imagine with significant others spending too much time together, and mothers and fathers needing breaks during this time, that my dogs need a break from each other too.
Relying on each other constantly isn’t good for their mental or emotional growth either.
I feel sorry for any pet that is overly bonded to another pet or to their human. I want a confident and independent pet.
And, I try and walk them and play with them safely each day.
Foster Independence
I giggle a little bit seeing the memes on Facebook with the dog hiding on top of the counter because his owner has walked him over 20 times that day.
And, whereas I want you all to get your physical and mental exercise, it is crucial that you still foster some independence with your dogs.
The worst cases of true and severe separation anxiety I have seen were in working dogs and the working dog world.
Police dogs, guide dogs, or service dogs that develop a sense of never having their own space or being left alone are sometimes incapable of doing it in later years. This is why I think retirement can be so difficult for these working dogs. Thankfully, at least most police officers leave their dogs occasionally.
But one of the saddest cases of over bonding and severe separation anxiety I have ever seen came early in my career. It breaks my heart to say it was a dog I helped to train and place as a service dog. His owner never left home without him. They had an amazing bond and friendship; but then his elderly owner needed a surgery. Not knowing what to do and not being able to really leave him in the house because he would be destructive, they left him outside. He strangled himself trying to figure out how to find his owner.
Separation, even for working dogs, is critical to good mental health. I do feel sorry for those who literally are having a hard time finding any alone time right now (I also worry about those of us who are alone and secluded for days on end).  Neither is really mentally healthy.
So, I will say it: make some time for a little social distancing for your dogs and pets too, so you are not creating unhealthy habits that will make him suffer when his life changes again in a few weeks.
It’s not a bad thing, it is a healthy and important thing!
Be safe mentally, emotionally and physically during these times because we all need it.
Sending my love to all of my readers!
Sincerely,
Minette
from Lucky Dog Solutions http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/dog-social-distancing-and-utilizing-a-crate-to-help-with-separation-anxiety/ from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.tumblr.com/post/622589135913418753
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azworkingdogs · 5 years ago
Text
Dog Social Distancing and Utilizing a Crate to Help with Separation Anxiety
As I sit here and ponder where I am going to go with this article, my mind wanders. I’ve already sat down a couple of times to write it.
I’d literally just sat down on Monday, computer open, and then the governor of Maryland called a press conference and essentially announced more lock down. So, you’ll understand why I flew out of the house to get more food and supplies.
It is now a law in our state, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to a five thousand dollar fine, to go out for any non-essential reason (other than medical, getting food, or emergencies).
I don’t even know how to conceive of, or talk about, all that is going on in the world, but I find it is affecting everything, even our relationships with our canine companions.
Interestingly, I have always seen myself as well spoken and have always had the ability to describe, through the written word, how to understand certain concepts, especially when it comes to dog training.
But I have, admittedly, been a little overwhelmed this week, and have struggled with all the ways to make this modern day article more pertinent to you as you sit at home looking for information to help get through this crisis.
Gratitude…
  First off, to those I know, who know me, and those who have been following Chet and I for the past 10 years, THANK YOU!
We take your loyalty very seriously and it is important to us to provide you with accurate and relevant information.
With things being the way they are in the world, I want to make sure that you and your pets are safe. Safety is far and above the most important thing we have to deal with each day.
To those of you on the front lines, driving trucks, growing food, working in warehouses and to those in both human and veterinary medicine; THANK YOU!
Having a pandemic afoot and being socially locked down has certainly never been seen by the world on this scale. We are still waiting on more affirmative information as I sit here.
My immune system has never been the strongest, and I worry about the implications this holds for me, my friends, and, of course, my pets.
So, since I have your attention for at least a short time, let’s talk about how all of this is going to affect those of us on lock down.
I am worried about some pets dogs especially, concerned that we are creating separation anxiety for them to struggle with when life goes back to ‘semi normal’.
Having been in the dog training industry for the past twenty five years, I will admit that true and severe separation anxiety in dogs is not nearly as rampant as many people think.
Severe separation anxiety is marked by a dog that:
**  often urinates and defecates
  **  howls or barks almost constantly
**  will literally become self-injurious while attempting to break out of a weak crate, or even break through windows
In my career alone, I have had 2 dogs that have jumped out or through windows. Thankfully they did not die or eviscerate themselves.
My first experience was when I was just 18 with the first dog (a Rottweiler) I had ever owned. He jumped out of the front window, fell probably 20 feet down and was loose for an hour or two until we returned.
Twenty five years ago in Wyoming it was impossible to find a dog crate. We purchased dog food from feed stores! I ordered my very first dog crate from a JCPenney catalog. I couldn’t afford new windows every time we left the house and I certainly didn’t want my dog to hurt himself.
Shoving a 100 pound, anxious, Rottweiler into a giant metal dog crate was my first foray into crate training. I honestly think it saved his life. And, although he struggled to get out in the beginning, the crate was strong enough that he wasn’t able to hurt himself.
That is really an important key to this article.
Don’t Panic
  I recently got back from a trip to visit clients who swore that their dog was having severe separation anxiety. He’s young, and he is not really getting enough exercise, and they monitor video of the dogs constantly.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that in no way was it severe! He sings a little bit when he is crated, and he lightly puts his mouth on the crate, but by no means was he in danger of hurting himself.
  He would bark but he was also laying down in his crate. That may be slight anxiety but really is no need for concern.
In the beginning, I suppose most dogs are not huge fans of the crate, but don’t panic if he is barking a bit or trying to assess if he can make an old school break out.
If you panic every time you leave him, he is going to panic (remember how intuitive dogs are; they pick up on our anxieties!) This dog is quite literally never left alone. Either the husband or wife has been home with him for a year.
Not only is this creating his problem, their shear terror and overreacting has made the dog worse.
I remember being scared to sleep in my “big girl bed” and room when I was a kid.
But in order for me to be a functional adult, I had to do some things I didn’t want to do, and I had to learn to be confident and independent as I aged.
Just as we can’t coddle our children forever, we can’t coddle our dogs; it is not healthy.
If you are truly, truly worried that your dog has severe separation anxiety, talk to your veterinarian or find a boarded veterinary behaviorist in your area.
I kind of hate to admit this, outwardly anyway, but we are talking about some personal subjects here.
In the last year, I have suffered from some anxiety. Ironically, when I am awake I am a fairly rational person and I pride myself on that.
But I was waking up in the middle of the night with a heart rate over 200, covered in sweat, and feeling like I was going to die.
If you’ve ever had the displeasure of feeling like that (and I hope you don’t) you will realize that drug therapy, along with behavior modification, is essential.
I made some changes in my life and hadn’t really had that problem until, ironically, last night.
But, with times the way they are right now, I feel that it was acceptable to spill over a little from the unknown.
If your dog would do better on some meds while you work on crate training, do him the service of getting him some.
Trust me, you would want the help, he will thank you, and your training will be more successful.
Needing something that helps balance serotonin, or other necessary chemicals, is nothing to be ashamed of!
  Just don’t cover a problem with drugs and expect them to do wonders without behavior modification.
Some drooling, panting, shaking, barking or whining can be fairly normal for this process.
Avoid Weak & Dangerous Crates
  The flimsy metal crates with plastic bottoms that look cozy to most people are the WORST. The metal is easily bent and the plastic bottom can be shredded with little effort. Many dogs have broken teeth and gotten stuck in the bent sharp metal doors and sides as they are trying to escape, which can cause deep lacerations. Some of the videos you find online of dogs escaping these kinds of crates are funny, but the implications of injury are not worth it.
The other problem, that as humans we don’t really understand… is that dogs are den animals. They like closed, dark places, not a big open cage where they can still see everything going on in the environment. This stimulation often makes them even more reactive. Most dog owners park those big crates next to a large window and the dog can’t escape if he is having anxiety with his crate training.
Plastic crates are usually chewed less and more escape-proof. There are also less sharp edges with dark plastic crates. Yes, I have seen dogs pop the front doors, but all-in-all they are safer. I even have a picture of my very own dog (Belgian Malinois) who chewed straight through a crate when he was just a puppy and heard me training his sister.
So being the dog owner that I am, I stuffed him in the crate to snap a picture and then I immediately purchased another crate that I had to have shipped (apparently I have had some naughty dogs in my career). There are heavy duty, thick metal crates that are used in the world of police dog training that are self locking and very nearly impossible to chew through. Also, their edges are not sharp (like the metal crates in the first example), and most have doors and openings that keep things dark but are also less likely to be chewed or have a tooth broken.
They can be pricey, but one or two crates that are impossible to ruin or escape from is cheaper in the long run and safer for your dog. I use and recommend Impact Dog Crates.
And remember: a broken window or a loose, anxious dog is not nearly as safe as an anxious dog in a heavy duty crate.
  Why is Crate Training Better and Why Will it Help Your Dog Feel Better?
  I understand that I am conversing with humans and it is hard to convince people that crate training actually helps with separation anxiety.
As a human you aren’t likely to hurl yourself through a window. You aren’t likely to chew electrical cords, the carpet, or chew through a door when you have anxiety. You have different coping mechanisms.
And, truthfully if you have anxiety to that degree; you are likely to look into some drug therapy.
Your dog doesn’t have those options.
So, by leaving him out loose in the home, it often causes more anxiety and reactivity as he runs from window to window, or door to door, in a panic.
I was trying to explain this to a client at the beginning of the month. Both their dogs were chasing around the house (you could watch with their in-home camera) and acting panicked. Putting them in a smaller and darker place where they couldn’t see every action in the neighborhood was actually better for their mental health. It helped them to relax and not worry about every sight and sound (feeding the anxiety).
I used to have billionaire clients in Colorado. They had a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever and I used to pet sit for them. It was an amazing experience, but living in a huge house like that 20 years ago was kind of intimidating for me. I remember bringing a knife to bed with me in the early days! Every noise had me paranoid. There were too many doors and windows and levels. If someone broke in would I even hear it?
Currently I live in a small house (less than 1,000 square feet) and I have never really been afraid here. I basically have one door and a couple windows. If someone comes into my house, I am going to hear it. My dogs are going to hear it. A smaller space is easier to contain.
If I had 3 million dollars cash in a mansion and I knew someone was coming to take it; it would be much more intimidating. It would be a lot safer to keep here in a small space.
Smaller spaces often are less intimidating and more easily defended.
Not all dogs are guard dogs. Some dogs have general anxiety, but being in a large space isn’t always better. Dogs with anxiety (not even severe separation anxiety) feel better in a small dark place, with familiar sounds like the radio or television left on so that they don’t hear all the goings on. You are taking options and worry away from them.
Even the dogs that I have successfully treated with thunderstorm or other phobias have often been treated more successfully by utilizing a crate or a safe spot. My current Malinois is not a fan of thunderstorms but by giving him his own safe place, he is able to deal with his anxiety.
Create Your Dog’s Safe Haven
  First off, it is critical to know your dog, and what is and what is not safe.
Some dogs will eat dog beds and blankets.
A former puppy client of mine underwent surgery last week to have parts of a blanket removed from his intestines.
If in doubt, your dog doesn’t need a bed or blanket. Chances are he likes laying on the cold floor anyway.
The bane of my existence, my current Malinois, will never be able to be unattended with a bed or a blanket. I have ordered ballistic style dog beds that were guaranteed chew proof that he can still shred. Thankfully he has never swallowed anything, but he has killed quite a few of my friends’ sweatshirts at dock diving events! I know this about him, and I keep those items away from his crate.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t have some other things.
Play crate games with your dog or your puppy! Puppies, especially, need crate games to understand that the crate is a safe place where happy things occur.
If you only stuff him inside when you leave, he will learn to hate the crate because it equals your leaving.
If my dogs willingly go into their crates, they get a treat or a reward.
Feed your dog in his crate so that he learns it is not always a space where he will be closed in for long periods of time. Be sure and close the door occasionally, but not all of the time. It can and should be his choice to go inside during the day when you are with him.
A dog crate doesn’t have to be sterile or not fun – quite the opposite! Zippy’s crate has elk antlers and other indestructible types of chews for him to enjoy.
Occasionally, I will slather a bone, a Kong toy, or an antler with peanut butter or Kong paste when he goes in his crate. But he only gets that special item when he is inside with the door closed behind him. Think of it as a break, with a great treat that he only gets when he is inside.
I may only leave him in there for 5 or 10 minutes, but the reward for going in is high enough for him to just enjoy the act of going in his crate.
After I let my dogs outside, I always bring them in and have them go into their crates for an early morning treat. I do the same at night.
Have you ever heard of the dog that the owners can’t catch in the morning to put in the crate because the dog recognizes his owner is going to work?
If your dog is used to going in the crate every morning and every evening no matter what, this alleviates this problem.
The other important piece to remember is to continue to crate your dog throughout his life, not just when he is a puppy.
As humans we get lazy. We crate our puppies so they won’t eat our stuff, or so that early in the relationship we can take a shower or make food while the pup is learning to show better behavior, and have less destructive behavior more of the time.
As his behavior gets better, we stop putting him in his crate. OR, we only crate him for long periods, like going to work or overnight.
This teaches the puppy or the older dog that time in his crate is going to be extended. We need to remind them that crate time can be long or short, but can also be fun.
If he gets a treat and some peanut butter he is much less likely to become an anxious dog during the time he is left in his crate. It just becomes another place where he can go to relax.
I always laugh because my Fury (my Dutch Shepherd) crate trained very easily and was given access to the house early on in her life. And, when I moved into a smaller house I figured I wouldn’t have to bring her crate inside. WRONG! She was horrified. She would dramatically throw herself into my Belgian Malinois’ crate when he wasn’t in there. Having her crate is essentially having her bed in the house.
Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Exercise and mental stimulation are crucial to help a dog with even mild separation anxiety.
Most dogs don’t want to be crated overnight for sleeping, just to be let out and then immediately crated while their owners attend to work and business.
I know that we live in busy times, but waking up an hour earlier or staying up an hour later so that you can tend to your dog’s exercise and mental stimulation needs can be critical in helping him to adjust.
Think about it. If you slept all night you wouldn’t want to be crated again first thing in the morning.
But if you had a healthy run of 5 miles, you might not mind taking a nap.
Our bodies need physical exercise and there are all kinds of ways you can provide that for your dog.
You can walk him, you can run him next to a bicycle, or you can get him to pull weights. Even small dogs like Jack Russell terriers and the like can benefit from pulling weights!
He also needs mental stimulation.
Teach your dog a new trick in the morning or work on his obedience before you leave.
You can also get treat-stuffed and interactive toys for when you are gone. Again, be sure they are safe for your dog or puppy before leaving them. But interactive toys can be a great way to burn a little energy.
Consider getting a dog walker that takes your dog for a walk, or take him to training, or doggy day care a couple of times a week. He gets to play and make friends, and you get to bring a tired dog home after a long day.
Remember he has needs! I was talking to an owner earlier today who was furious because her 7 month old puppy’s behavior is seeming to get worse. I always want to ask (and sometimes I do ask) if these people are parents to human children.
We expect that our toddlers need to go to the park. We know that they need to go to school, or have learning opportunities in the house. We better understand their physical, mental and emotional needs. But young puppies need all of these things too and if we are not providing them….. puppies often provide their own stimulation.
Puppies and young dogs also go through learning phases and stubborn phases just like you and your children did when you were young and exploring the world. Heck, I still sometimes have these stages in my “old age”!
If he is driving you crazy or if he is showing anxiety, chances are you are not giving him what he needs and you must reassess your training and exercise plans.
My very first Belgian Malinois I got when I was in my early 20’s. He was probably one of the most brilliant dogs I had then or have since ever trained.
I vowed to him that when I wanted to throttle him, or when he was being naughty I would assess if I had provided him with the kind of physical exercise and mental stimulation he needed.
Most of the time the honest answer was no, I had not.
So eventually, he learned about all of the 101 dog tricks in the book and could perform a gamut of service dog skills.
His mind and his body needed that kind of interaction.
He was also one of the few dogs I could trust at a dog park, or to play politely with other dogs.
So I would use that option if time was limited or I’d had a bad day
Prevention of Separation Anxiety
  I started this article talking about what’s been going on in the world today. At the time of this writing, I have been locked down for a little over a week.
My pets are likely getting tired of me shuffling the house and watching TV at 1 am. I am tired of it. I am excited for life to get back to some normalcy, whatever that looks like.
But the last thing I want is to create dependency while I am at home.
As I am typing I hear my Dutch Shepherd snoring on my bed in the other room. My Malinois is asleep by the front door.
In times of anxiety for me (like not knowing about my ability to pay my bills), I don’t want to create a NEED for my company with my dogs. Would I love Fury to be asleep in my lap right now? YES, but it isn’t going to be healthy for them when I go back to full time work. That doesn’t mean they don’t all get lap time, I am just trying to avoid creating over-bonding.
I still occasionally crate my dogs and go outside alone so they continue to be used to the crate. I still crate them at night. Sometimes it is for short periods of time and sometimes it is for longer periods of time.
I put them outside for 30 minutes or more so that they can lay in the sun.
I let one dog out and keep one inside. I even walk them separately and train them separately occasionally.
I can imagine with significant others spending too much time together, and mothers and fathers needing breaks during this time, that my dogs need a break from each other too.
Relying on each other constantly isn’t good for their mental or emotional growth either.
I feel sorry for any pet that is overly bonded to another pet or to their human. I want a confident and independent pet.
And, I try and walk them and play with them safely each day.
  Foster Independence
  I giggle a little bit seeing the memes on Facebook with the dog hiding on top of the counter because his owner has walked him over 20 times that day.
And, whereas I want you all to get your physical and mental exercise, it is crucial that you still foster some independence with your dogs.
The worst cases of true and severe separation anxiety I have seen were in working dogs and the working dog world.
Police dogs, guide dogs, or service dogs that develop a sense of never having their own space or being left alone are sometimes incapable of doing it in later years. This is why I think retirement can be so difficult for these working dogs. Thankfully, at least most police officers leave their dogs occasionally.
But one of the saddest cases of over bonding and severe separation anxiety I have ever seen came early in my career. It breaks my heart to say it was a dog I helped to train and place as a service dog. His owner never left home without him. They had an amazing bond and friendship; but then his elderly owner needed a surgery. Not knowing what to do and not being able to really leave him in the house because he would be destructive, they left him outside. He strangled himself trying to figure out how to find his owner.
Separation, even for working dogs, is critical to good mental health. I do feel sorry for those who literally are having a hard time finding any alone time right now (I also worry about those of us who are alone and secluded for days on end).  Neither is really mentally healthy.
So, I will say it: make some time for a little social distancing for your dogs and pets too, so you are not creating unhealthy habits that will make him suffer when his life changes again in a few weeks.
It’s not a bad thing, it is a healthy and important thing!
Be safe mentally, emotionally and physically during these times because we all need it.
Sending my love to all of my readers!
Sincerely,
Minette
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williamroy1 · 5 years ago
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Google my business list suspended?
So… your google my business listing got suspended. Now what? It changed into a median tuesday morning for the owner of a local hvac employer. He had his morning espresso, scrolled through the news on his iphone, and logged onto his google my business account to replace  Digital Marketing Company in Miami his business hours for an upcoming vacation. Proper there, next to his commercial enterprise name in shiny pink letters, changed into the phrase suspended. Understandably, the enterprise owner freaked out. In case you’ve ever been within the equal state of affairs, you’d do the same. Your google my enterprise listing is essential to the achievement of your business—64% of customers have used google my enterprise to locate contact info or reviews for local organizations, and not having you possibly can dispose of you from neighborhood search results. It’s a horrific day for the enterprise owner whose gmb list receives suspended. Alas, that’s been going on an increasing number of frequently recently. If you’re one of the enterprise proprietors who’s currently had your google my commercial enterprise list suspended, i've good news and awful information:
Read Also:-  Tactics of Link Building for 2020
 the awful information: we've seen and showed with the nearby search engine optimization community that there was a large growth in gmb suspensions across all verticals and markets. The good news: it’s fixable if you understand why your list was suspended. Greater bad information: google won’t let you know why your listing turned into suspended. More true information: we’ve identified the top motives google suspends businesses, and on this put up, i’m going to tell you the way to prevent and/or fix a suspension. Keep in mind that hvac organization owner i referred to above? No longer simplest did we solve his trouble and get his list reinstated, however we’ve additionally done it for a lot of our different customers as properly—and we’ve found out a issue or 
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 approximately gmb suspensions inside the manner. Beneath you’ll locate the entirety you want to recognize approximately google my enterprise suspensions, together with the differing types, commonplace reasons of suspensions, and what to do in case your list were given hit. What's a google my commercial enterprise suspension? A gmb suspension approach that your google my enterprise listing will no longer be allowed to show up with your competition when someone searches for a relevant look for your business, which includes your commercial enterprise call. This will suggest a loss of leads, internet site clicks, and probably having your opinions removed for all time. Google does no longer proactively alert you whilst your enterprise has been suspended. You need to actively and often reveal your google my business profile to discover when it has been suspended. Google also reserves the right to and does alternate their standards for his or her products on a regular foundation. Varieties of gmb suspensions
no longer all gmb suspensions are created same, and there are some phrases you need to get to know:
 gentle suspensions vs. Tough suspensions
list suspensions vs. Account suspensions
smooth suspension vs. Tough suspension
tender suspension: in a gentle suspension your commercial enterprise has virtually just end up unverified. You’re capable of log in for your gmb list and also you see a “suspended” label however your listing still shows up on google and google maps. What’s passed off is that they’ve removed your capability to control the list, however the list itself remains intact. Tough suspension: you’ve virtually gotten yourself into hassle here. In a difficult suspension, your whole list has been eliminated from google. Whilst you pull up the file for it, it'll say “removed.” your handiest choice is to ask google to reinstate it. List suspension vs. Account suspension
google has separate suspensions based on the problem—list suspension and account suspensions. List suspension: the public can’t get entry to the listing anymore. The owner and managers can’t take moves on its behalf, although they can nevertheless make edits and appeal to be reinstated. If the listing is reinstated, google may even reinstate the proprietor and managers. Account suspension: if they cast off the owner’s google account: they’ll additionally dispose of all of the listings owned by way of that user. If they reinstate the proprietor’s google account, they’ll additionally reinstate the listings. In the event that they get rid of a manager’s google account: they’ll suspend the supervisor at the listings they control, but the listings themselves will be unaffected. If they reinstate the supervisor’s google account, the supervisor will mechanically regain managerial access to the listings. We currently had a case wherein certainly one of our consumer’s debts become suspended, and it turned out the cause changed into that one of the listing managers—an employee in their previous advertising and marketing corporation—had violated the guidelines. Once we eliminated that man or woman’s get admission to to the listing, the listing became reinstated. Why google suspends google my enterprise listings
i’ll get into common reasons of a suspension a bit in addition down, however there’s surely one cause google suspends listings: google wishes searchers to get the absolute exceptional search outcomes. Believe performs a large function in that, so google needs searchers to have the maximum up-to-date, accurate information. Common causes of a suspended gmb listing
neighborhood seo is all about ensuring you show up for local searches that encompass map listings. So as for that to manifest, your gmb listing desires to be 100% correct and trustworthy. Maximum of the reasons of suspended listings must do with this neighborhood consistency. Underneath are the most commonplace reasons a list gets suspended:
 every other business shares your address or has the identical cope with
the cope with for your internet site is exceptional than the only to your enterprise listings
the cope with, name, or phone quantity to your listing listings, like yelp, do now not healthy the address to your gmb web page
any a part of your cope with, number one classes, business name, website, or cellphone wide variety has these days modified
you’ve brought greater key phrases into your enterprise name
your business name isn’t correct across the web
you’re a service-region enterprise that didn’t disable your bodily deal with
your deal with is digital or a p. O. Box
your business doesn’t make in-character contact with clients (like an internet shop)
your primary class is a high-chance industry that has a better level of scrutiny:
locksmiths
hvac/heating and cooling
plumbing
different domestic offerings businesses
your website listed has a forwarding url
there are multiple listings for the equal business or place
there are multiple businesses claiming to be at your deal with
these aren't the handiest reasons google suspends commercial enterprise listings, but are the maximum common causes. Discover ways to optimize your gmb list here »
 what to do if your google my commercial enterprise list receives suspended
if you’ve examine all of the above and nevertheless can’t parent out why your listing/account was suspended, your next step is to attain out to google’s gmb guide. Due to the increase in suspensions, reaction instances from google had been delayed, so be conscious that resolution times are plenty longer than predicted. They will require you to send them evidence which you personal your business, and that it’s valid. This proof includes:
 if your commercial enterprise as installation with a physical address, you may be required to provide an photograph of your storefront displaying each your cope with and signage on the equal time. If this is in an office building, it should consist of your suite variety. In case your commercial enterprise is installation with a physical address, you will be required to publish your enterprise license. It should have the identical address this is proven for your google my commercial enterprise profile. If your enterprise is installation with a physical address, you will be required to put up a utility bill. It should have the identical cope with that is shown on your google my business profile. In case your commercial enterprise is set up with a bodily address, you will be required to post evidence that you aren't sharing workplace area with other organizations via photographs or video. If your business is installation with a service area only, you'll be required to provide a prison file along with a enterprise license or tax file with your commercial enterprise’ data. You will be required to do away with any owners or managers out of your profile who have engaged in practices google has deemed spammy. You will be required to exchange your name on google my enterprise to reflect the call for your signage. Your opinions may be eliminated from google my commercial enterprise. A follow-up escalation to google can also get them re-instated, however it also won't. Your enterprise will also be suspended for different violations of its massive content and behavior tips. Google will no longer let you know why it is postponing your profile; you need to both name in and ask (they frequently will not let you know without delay), or attraction to be reinstated thru an online shape. You may receive an e mail lower back denying your enchantment, but clarifying which specific coverage you are in violation of. The reinstatement shape revolves around verifying that your commercial enterprise is at an address that meets google my enterprise hints. Of late, our analysts have observed a higher amount of requests for a storefront photograph whilst getting listings reinstated. It’s a great concept to have this accessible in case it’s wished for reinstatement. In case you’ve performed all the above and that doesn’t paintings (and you don’t have the budget for an corporation like ours that has a most beneficial partnership with google), you could strive your good fortune with posting your trouble on an search engine optimization discussion board like nearby search forum. If you can’t get help there and your suspension is impacting your revenue, you need to rent an corporation to address it. Gmb often asked questions
can a domestic workplace be used as a google my enterprise place? Yes, but in case your business displays a physical place there have to be outstanding signage out of doors the house demonstrating that a business is placed on the deal with and your commercial enterprise license ought to reference the deal with used for the google my commercial enterprise profile. What constitutes signage? It ought to be relatively seen and everlasting – not something that can without difficulty be removed. The signage should consist of your commercial enterprise call/emblem. Prevent a gmb suspension
first, ensure the best humans that have get right of entry to to manipulate the enterprise listing are personnel that currently paintings at the account. Cast off get admission to to any previous companies or personnel in any other case it is able to chunk you inside the rear. 2d, ensure your nap (name, deal with, phone quantity) is constant throughout the internet and your google my enterprise page is absolutely stuffed out and optimized. As for the listing itself, the nice way to repair a suspension is to avoid one within the first region with the aid of following google’s suggestions for representing your commercial enterprise:
 “listings on google my enterprise can only be created for companies that either have a bodily region that customers can go to, or that journey to visit customers where they are. Creating a successful list that received’t be suspended requires warding off prohibited content, accurately reflecting your business, and complying with the rest of the guidelines beneath. We’ve provide you with a list of recommendations for local businesses to preserve excessive pleasant facts on google. Following these recommendations helps avoid commonplace problems, along with modifications in your information, or, in some cases, removal of your commercial enterprise records from google. For fine outcomes the usage of google my business:
 represent your business because it’s continuously represented and identified in the real world throughout signage, stationery, and other branding. Make sure your cope with and/or service location is correct and specific. Pick the fewest variety of classes it takes to explain your average middle commercial enterprise. Brands, agencies, artists, and other on line-simplest organizations aren’t eligible for google my commercial enterprise listings. Name
your call must reflect your enterprise’ real-global name, as used constantly for your storefront, website, stationery, and as recognised to customers. As it should be representing your enterprise name facilitates customers locate your enterprise on-line. Upload additional information like address and/or provider place, commercial enterprise hours, and category inside the different sections of your business records. Your call have to directly replicate your commercial enterprise’ real-international name as used to your signage, website, stationary, and as regarded to customers. The name in your google my commercial enterprise profile have to fit the name to your signage. Such as unnecessary statistics like your target provider area, offerings, merchandise, or key phrases isn't approved. As an instance, if you have been developing a listing for a 24-hour espresso keep in downtown san francisco called shelly’s coffee, you'll enter that commercial enterprise records as:
 commercial enterprise call: shelly’s espresso
deal with: 3247 poppy street, san francisco, ca 94102
hours: open 24 hours
category: espresso shop
which includes pointless information for your commercial enterprise call isn't accredited, and will result in your listing being suspended. Refer to the precise examples underneath to decide what you could and can’t include in your business call. Custom names
to pick a completely unique short name, attempt to use phrases that represent your business name, logo, location, or other description. As an instance, you can use your commercial enterprise call with your vicinity, like your town or community. Preserve your quick call simple so that you can effortlessly promote it, and customers can don't forget it. Deal with — groups that serve clients at their office
use a particular, accurate address and/or carrier vicinity to describe your enterprise region. P. O. Boxes or mailboxes placed at faraway locations are not appropriate. You should show everlasting signage out of doors of your office. Your commercial enterprise license need to have the identical cope with as your workplace location. You can't percentage office area with different businesses unless you've got individual suites inside the office which might be staffed via separate employees. Address — businesses that do not serve customers at their office
if your commercial enterprise serves clients within a particular service vicinity, you could listing simplest your carrier area to your google my commercial enterprise list. Service-area companies that only serve customers at their locations must have one page for that encompasses both the relevant workplace or vicinity and a designated carrier place. In case your commercial enterprise rents a transient, “digital” workplace at a distinctive address from your primary enterprise, do no longer create a web page for that location until it is staffed in the course of your everyday enterprise hours by using your commercial enterprise group of workers. One receptionist that handles all requires all companies indexed at that deal with does no longer rely; it have to be staffed by means of your very own team of workers. Google has now not explicitly released or showed the requirements for a service location business’ cope with. An address continues to be frequently required to confirm your google my enterprise profile. Placing your enterprise up as a provider area enterprise is a exceedingly new google my enterprise feature. Google recommends which you installation your google my commercial enterprise profile this way in case you don’t serve customers at your workplace. We don’t but realize how neighborhood p. C. Rankings may be affected by switching from showing your bodily area to showing your provider place best. Internet site and phone
provide a smartphone number that connects in your character business area as directly as feasible, or provide one website that represents your individual commercial enterprise area. Use a local cellphone quantity as opposed to relevant, name center helpline wide variety every time possible. Do now not provide telephone numbers or urls that redirect or “refer” customers to touchdown pages or phone numbers apart from those of the actual commercial enterprise, inclusive of pages created on social media web sites. Your call need to at once reflect your business’ real-global call as used in your signage, internet site, stationary, and as regarded to customers. The call on your google my enterprise profile have to suit the call in your signage. Which includes useless facts like your goal service place, offerings, merchandise, or keywords isn't always accepted. The cellphone range need to be beneath the direct control of the commercial enterprise. Extra telephone numbers can be used on google my commercial enterprise websites and different neighborhood surfaces. Enterprise hours
provide your everyday purchaser-going through hours of operation. If relevant, you can use your contemporary seasonal hours as your regular hours. You could also specify unique hours for unique days, like vacations or unique events. You ought to no longer offer hours if your region is open through appointment only. Enterprise description
your commercial enterprise description should be sincere, applicable, and useful. Your business description need to now not: be deceptive; encompass low-first-class content; encompass links; include non-public or confidential statistics or request any. Categories
classes help your customers find accurate, precise consequences for services they’re inquisitive about. A good way to maintain your enterprise data correct and stay, ensure that you:
 use as few classes as viable to explain your overall core business from the provided listing. The primary class is the only that indicates up most frequently, so that you can pick the highest precedence/most correct class as the principle category
pick classes which might be as unique as possible, however representative of your major business. Do no longer use classes completely as key phrases or to describe attributes of your commercial enterprise. Do no longer use categories that pertain to different companies which can be nearby or associated, together with a enterprise physically contained within your commercial enterprise or an entity that contains your business. Looking for a local seo employer? You’re in the proper region. We’ve solved hundreds of listing problems for our clients and include gmb management as part of our seo packages, so we understand a thing or two about google’s recommendations. In short, in case you’re looking for a neighborhood search engine optimization  Digital Marketing Company in Philadelphia enterprise to handle your neighborhood search engine optimization, we’re a smartphone name away.
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pydnona4033343-blog · 7 years ago
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Knighttron.
An instructor should not wait to see if points boost for a kid prior to making a report to kid services. Findings from this research recommend that options to the problem of poor access to more healthful foods need to be complex and come close to making use of a system-level structure, particularly due to the fact that the financial as well as the geographical constraints have the tendency to be inextricably connected. As an example, it assists manage the activity of food with the intestine as well as the temperature level, blood pressure and focus of the blood. This recommendation is intended to enhance the USPSTF's 2012 referral on behavioral therapy treatments to advertise a healthy diet and also exercise for CVD avoidance face to faces without cardio risk elements (C referral). Coffee shop Adriatico Express is starting a business at Food Circuit, with favorites as well as standards from their full-fledged restaurants. 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The Block's Food Circuit could be discovered on the ground floor, occupying a location that made use of to be component of Hypermarket. But gradually they slipped right into my food vernacular, if that does not sound too hideously pretentious. This study made use of a comfort example as well as consisted of only grownups residing in low-income communities with restricted access to healthful foods. Below, I will certainly detail the really basic scientific research behind food selections and how you can incorporate them by selecting from easy charts of the food alternative instances for the different nutrients our bodies need.
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01281989 · 7 years ago
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Preface: Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Oh My!
I will not let my depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia define who I am anymore.  I am enough.  I am so enough.
Over the last month I’ve been learning that my life is more valuable than how I had perceived it.  In wanting to end my own life, I’ve learned the beauty in it.  While suicidal idealizations came at me in full force this summer, I fought and I won.  I am focused on my recovery wholeheartedly.  Each day brings new challenges, but I am determined to live.
I’ve suffered with anxiety since my teen years, often triggering major panic attacks and my agoraphobia.  My depression usually comes in sporadic, short-term bouts, but this time it was different.
On June 19th of this year, after expressing to my brother, his girlfriend, and her sister that I wanted to end my life, I was immediately hospitalized.  My brother drove me to the nearest emergency room, from which I was transferred to the psychiatric unit at Northern Westchester Hospital.
I spent 30 LONG days at NWH, but it was the best thing that happened to me this Summer.  The staff was extremely helpful, and always attentive to the needs of each patient.  The unit was small, maybe 6-10 patients at most, at any given time period.  Upon my arrival, I was told that the usual time frame for discharge was between 1 and 2 weeks.  My stay was a bit longer, but it was absolutely needed.  By the end of the second week, I was still having suicidal thoughts with some intentions, and an extreme feeling of hopelessness.  This was my first time being hospitalized, as well as my first experience with any form of anti-depressants, or anti-anxiety medication.  Since this was all new to me, my doctor felt it was imperative to allow the proper amount of time for the medications to take affect.  Also considering the seriousness of my depression upon intake, she wanted to be 100% sure that I was prepared for discharge.
The hospital offered various groups throughout the day, which at first were very hard for me to attend and/or participate.  As time went on, I did begin to open up a bit about my situation, once I was comfortable with the staff and some of the other patients.  The groups were pretty consistent throughout the day, and they offered almost everything you could want: art therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, chair yoga, mindfulness group, gratitude group, medication education and management, as well as individual sessions with your psychiatrist.  I found these groups to be very helpful; the more I opened up the better I felt.
The patients that I connected with while I was there were people I will never forget.  They helped me through the hardest time of my life...so far.  I also had a bunch of support from family and friends while I was hospitalized.  Not everyone knew the severity of my situation, but I often had visitors.  My brothers being my biggest support system (Nico and Tyler).  No one at work knew of my hospitalization besides my boss, but that was they way I wanted it for a while.  When I felt comfortable enough to tell some friends, I did.  I reached out on my own, and a few even came to visit me.
Overall my experience at NWH was extremely positive.  When I was discharged on July 10th, I was SO happy to be going home.  I couldn’t wait for my brother to get there at 2:00 p.m., and the day dragged on for what seemed to be forever.  When he got there, I had never been so happy to see him!
Upon discharge, my psychiatrist and social worker referred me to a partial program, since they felt it was necessary in my case.  I felt it was necessary as well, because this was my first hospitalization, and I was uneasy about the transition to going home.
I’m currently working part-time, and attending the Continuing Day Program at Phelps in Briarcliff Manor.  I just began on Monday of this week, and so far I have enjoyed it, I mean...as best you can enjoy something like this.  The transition, as expected, has been seriously hard.  I struggle each day, and I am still suffering from my depression in the morning, and my anxiety all throughout the day.  It is no where near as bad as it was before entering the hospital, but I do sometimes still question if I am getting better, and how long it will take before I feel somewhat normal?  I am questioning myself a bit, which is not healthy, but I am learning.  I am learning new coping mechanisms with each day, and am utilizing the tools that I already learned while being at NWH.  I have taken a liking to chalk pastels, and will draw whenever I begin to feel anxious or upset.  This is all new to me, but I am taking it a day at a time.  I also learned that journaling is extremely important, so that is why I am beginning this blog; to track my journey, through the struggles and the achievements, through the good times and the bad.
This is a major step for me, and I can proudly say that I am excited.  For once, I am excited to begin something new.  So, here goes.  This is me, and I am enough...I am so enough.
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ralphmorgan-blog1 · 7 years ago
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‘Spiritual care board’ is answer to patients’ prayers
New York (CNN)Gene LoCastro was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in August 2013. The painful disease causes scar tissue to grow inside the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
"As the lung tissue thickens, your lungs can't properly move oxygen into your bloodstream," according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. "As a result, your brain and other organs don't get the oxygen they need."
Still, 48-year-old LoCastro says, he felt "more or less OK" until August of last year, at which time he was assured by his pulmonologist that his disease was progressing "normally" and there was no cause for concern.
"I was always in good shape," he said. "I always took care of myself and went to the gym ... worked out three to four days a week, haven't had a drink or drug in over nine years."
But LoCastro says he instinctively knew that something more was going on inside his body and decided to seek a second opinion. He was ultimately diagnosed with dangerous blood clots in his lungs and was admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in October.
"It was downhill from there," he said. In November, LoCastro's heart began to fail. Doctors said he needed a double lung transplant to survive.
"It was pretty nutty, the way it happened so quickly," he said. "But I also ... knew in the back of my head that I was going to be OK no matter what. I kept on saying, 'I've just got to be there for my family, be there for my daughter, my wife; stay strong.' "
A modern-day chaplain
LoCastro says his struggle to regain his strength was, on the whole, more mental than physical. "Physically, I knew I'd be able to get back at it," he said. Mentally, he tried to keep a positive attitude and did a lot of meditation to stay centered.
Shortly after arriving at NewYork-Presbyterian, LoCastro remembers, his social worker asked whether he wanted to see a priest or a chaplain. Because he considers himself more spiritual than religious, LoCastro opted for the latter and was introduced to nondenominational chaplain Joel Nightingale Berning.
"We just connected right away," LoCastro said of Berning. "We had a lot of the same interests. We just talked about life in general. Didn't have to be religion or anything else. ... Could've been baseball; could've been family."
By the time LoCastro was scheduled for a double lung transplant in December, Berning had become an invaluable member of his care team, right alongside the hospital's medical doctors and nursing staff.
"Nobody comes to the hospital wanting to be in for spiritual care -- at least not consciously," Berning said. Once they arrive, however, some patients have straightforward requests, such as physical items they need in order to pray. "The less straightforward requests are the existential questions -- emotions, feelings, spiritual pain -- that come out when people get new diagnoses or are trying to cope with some nightmare they never wanted to be in, or their batteries are low after a really long course (of treatment)," he said. "We try to be what they need us to be."
One of the challenges faced by LoCastro, and many other patients in an intensive care setting, is an inability to effectively communicate wants and needs. ICU patients are often awake and alert but intubated, meaning they have tubes down their throat and can't talk.
"My training was mostly about how to have conversations with people about their soul, whether literally or metaphorically," Berning said. "When I started out (in the ICU), I felt very useless and frustrated. I felt like I had something to offer if we could talk ... but if they don't have a physical voice, it was a real stumper."
That frustration sparked an idea that transformed LoCastro's hospital stay. Berning had long observed doctors and nurses using communication boards so patients could clearly express their physical needs. He remembers thinking: Why hasn't anyone developed a board to help patients express their spiritual desires?
Modern-day spiritual care
Berning got to work, along with his fellow chaplain, a Buddhist monk and professional artist named Seigan Ed Glassing. Together they drew up -- quite literally -- the first spiritual care board.
"Chaplains, we often talk about four basic 'flavors' of feelings: mad, sad, glad and 'afrad' -- or afraid," Berning said. "We laid it out in those columns and tried to make it very ... inclusive, colorful and easy to interact with.
"Instead of 'I'm nauseous, and I'm in pain,' it's 'I'm lonely,' 'I'm scared,' 'I'm frustrated,' 'I'm worried,' " he said. "Instead of 'turn me,' 'suction me,' 'toilet me''; it's 'hold my hand,' 'play music,' 'pray,' 'get a priest' -- stuff like that."
LoCastro began utilizing the board after his operation, when he was rendered unable to speak for weeks on end, while his body recuperated from the double lung transplant. More than using it to make requests for specific things, LoCastro sought to express how he was feeling, which didn't at all surprise Berning.
"What are (most patients) feeling and experiencing?" Berning asked rhetorically. "Most of it -- or a lot of it -- was really as you'd guess: a lot of frustration, a lot of sadness, a lot of fear. The second most commonly identified emotion was loved, which really surprised us. And I don't have an answer for exactly why that is, but it's my favorite finding, because I like to think that when people are critically ill, they do have a lot of scary, horrible, awful feelings, but we are also trying to give them as much love as possible."
Modern medical technology
"One of the biggest changes in critical care medicine over the last decade is that we try, whenever possible, not to sedate patients and not put them in medically induced comas when they're on life support -- especially (a breathing machine)," said Dr. Matthew Baldwin, a pulmonary and critical care physician at NewYork-Presbyterian who was not involved in LoCastro's care. "Studies over the past decade have shown that ... patients who receive less sedation tend to have better physical function and even better mental function."
That said, this new paradigm of care has also presented a new problem, says Baldwin. Patients are awake and alert but unable to effectively communicate.
"Oftentimes, I walk around the ICU, and I'll see a patient on a ventilator, wide awake, sitting up in bed," he said. "They'll be tapping on the side of the bed. Clearly they're anxious. You can just see it on their face."
Baldwin remembers the first time he saw Berning in the ICU, sitting at a patient's bedside, holding the spiritual care board and a dry-erase marker.
"I stood there for a moment, and I thought it was the most wonderful thing, because ... what you see is a calm patient sitting there and pointing to these things, smiling at times and nodding, despite all the numbers up on the screen, despite the mechanical ventilator at their side, giving them the breaths that they themselves alone cannot breathe. We realized immediately that this was transformative. We used to call chaplains for our consult for death, and now we call them for a consult for life."
Together, Baldwin and Berning conducted a study on how effective the board was at addressing the spiritual needs of their ICU patients. Before using the board, the 50 patients who participated rated their level of anxiety as an average of 64 on a scale of 0-100. After using the board, their average self-reported anxiety level dropped to 44, a reduction of 31%.
"It helps the patient better contextualize their illness and think about what they need to do, psychologically, to pull themselves through it and to get back on their feet," Baldwin said. "It's these coping mechanisms that we've never provided the patients before while in the ICU, is what makes this so exciting."
Like many survivors of a critical illness, LoCastro says he's battled some depression. And, Baldwin says, this is the area in which his study saw its most promising results.
"Patients said that they ... were better prepared to cope with their continued recovery after hospitalization," he said. "And they felt more at peace with who they were and what they had gone through."
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For his part, LoCastro believes so highly in the power of the spiritual care he received that he regularly returns to NewYork-Presbyterian to offer words of encouragement to patients in the ICU. Like Baldwin and Berning, he hopes more hospitals across the country will integrate the spiritual care board (now licensed and sold by Vidatak) into their standard of care.
"Look, I just want to get healthy," LoCastro said. "I have two new lungs. I'm doing better than ever. I'm at 100% oxygen. I want to live a long time, and there's no reason why I can't."
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stephaniefchase · 7 years ago
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Bajan Newscap 6/25/2017
Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Sunday June 25th 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).
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NEW LOW – The only way is up for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) as it enters the home stretch for next year’s general election. The ruling party has suffered a decline in popularity, as has Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, while the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and its leader Mia Mottley have enjoyed enhanced support with a maximum of about ten months left in the life of the current Parliament. When respondents were asked “Which party will you support?”, the DLP garnered 11%, the lowest ever for a government in a public opinion poll, compared to 51% for the BLP, the highest recorded. Support for the BLP comes from people who believe it is more suited to respond to the economic problems facing Barbados with as many as 81% regarding it as “better equipped”, while the DLP’s support is based on enduring loyalty to that party. THE full CADRES report and analysis by Peter Wickham, director, is carried on Pages 19A to 22A in today's edition. (SS)
WORRY OVER FOREIGN RESERVES CONTINUES – Concern still exists about Barbados’ level of foreign reserves. It is coming from Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) group economist Marla Dukharan, who said in her latest analysis of Caribbean economies that the foreign reserves level was the key economic statistic to monitor in the coming months. “We have been seeing the lowest level of foreign reserves since January 2000. This also represents the 21st consecutive month of declining reserves, suggesting that the underlying problem is not temporary in nature,” she pointed out. According to Dukharan: “The level of reserves has been below the internationally accepted precautionary benchmark of three months since April 2016. In 2016, when reserves were higher, the International Monetary Fund reported that reserves are significantly lower than the estimated threshold using metrics that take into account capital flight-related risks when capital controls are ineffective – given the level required to cover broad money; and also below comfortable levels for small open economies with high debt and fixed-exchange rate regimes.” (SS)
MIA LET CHANCE SLIP IN BUDGET, SAYS GILL – A former Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate is still waiting to hear what’s the alternative for Barbados in the wake of the Financial Statements And Budgetary Proposals tabled by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler last month. David Gill, who was MP for St Michael South Central from 1999 to 2003, and who will be contesting the next general election as a member of the recently formed Citizens Action Partnership, believes Opposition Leader Mia Mottley lost a perfect opportunity to tell the country what her party would be offering Barbadians as a Government. “Where the Opposition failed in the Budget was in not offering the alternative, like what Tom Adams did to [Errol] Barrow before. Miss Mottley should have come with a budget well costed, stating where she would get money if or when she assumes the Government,” he told the SUNDAY SUN. (SS)
UNIONS RENEW STRIKE THREAT AS BUDGET TALKS END IN STALEMATE – After over five hours of talks, no resolution has been reached between Government and this country’s trade unions on contentious matters arising out of last month’s Budget presentation by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler. In fact, top officials of the union emerged tonight from a meeting at Government Headquarters, chaired by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and including Sinckler and other key officials, telling reporters that industrial action could still be on the cards, if Government proceeds with implementation of its “harsh” $542 million austerity package – ��which is aimed at erasing its $537.6 million deficit. The unions have been pressing for either some form of coping mechanism for public workers or a full repeal of the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which is to raised from two per cent to a whopping ten per cent come July 1. (BT)
GOVERNMENT HOPES TO SAVE MILLIONS IN ELECTRICITY COSTS - Government is hoping to shave $2 – 3 million off the country’s electricity bill annually with the implementation of its US$24.6 million Public Sector Smart Energy Programme (PSPP). On Friday the Ministry of Energy and the Barbados Light & Power Company (BL&P) paved the way for the programme to go ahead, which will include the changing out of close to 30,000 street lights across the country. The project, which is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union, is designed to reduce electricity consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while driving down government’s fuel import bill. Officials of the BL&P are expected to embark on a procurement process “very soon” to source the Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures. The overall project will also provide for the retrofitting of about 13 Government buildings and use of more electric vehicles. So far Government has two electric vehicles as part of a pilot project and is expected to procure about six more by the end of this year. Boyce urged the officials involved in the programme to “keep the momentum going”, adding that it’s his intention for the country to reach a 100 per cent reliance on renewable energy by 2045 as outlined in the BL&P 100/100 Vision. Boyce also noted that Government would be expanding the efforts to the transportation system. Head of Green Economy and Resilience Section of the EU Peter Sturesson urged officials to take even further steps to focus on energy efficiency, pointing out that this is a critical aspect if the country is to save foreign exchange. Managing Director of the BL&P Roger Blackman said the country has the opportunity to become the leader in the area of renewable energy usage in the region. He pledged continued support of the utility company in finding the requisite solutions to ensure the sector was expanded. (BT)
ANOTHER OPTION FOR HIV PATIENTS – The Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA) has become the first community-based organisation to offer treatment to those who test positive for HIV. The initiative means that HIV+ patients have another option, other than Government’s Ladymeade Reference Unit, where they can receive life-saving medication. This was revealed by the executive director Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland at the BFPA’s 63rd annual awards ceremony at the Radisson Aquatica on Friday night. She said the BFPA had received a $750 000 grant from USAID and the Family Health International 360 (FHI 360) to assist with its programming. (SS)
LIVING WITH HIV – The campaign is on once again to get Caribbean nationals to know their HIV status. And with Regional Testing Day to be held next Friday, one individual who has been living with the virus for over two decades has been sharing his story. Addressing the recent media launch of Regional Testing Day, Ainsley Reid admitted that he struggled to come to terms with his newly-discovered positive status. Today, the Jamaican national is the coordinator of the organization, Greater Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS (GIPA), and an advocate for testing. Reid’s advice comes on the heels of a report from the UN Special Envoy on HIV and AIDS to the Caribbean Dr Edward Greene, that two out of five people in the Caribbean do not know their HIV status, and less than half of the people living with the virus in the Caribbean are receiving treatment. Reid credited a proper treatment regime, coupled with a strong support system, for helping him maintain good health over the past 25 years. Since HIV/AIDS was discovered 34 years ago, the public has become more educated about the illness. However, this education has done little to reduce the level of stigma and discrimination against infected individuals. Reid said this was one of the main obstacles he has had to overcome since becoming HIV positive. Reid stressed that proper medication is just one aspect of life with HIV. According to him, permanent access to care is another major factor in maintaining a healthy outlook on life after a positive diagnosis. Regional Testing Day will be hosted by the Caribbean Media Alliance and the Pan Caribbean partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP). (BT)
SEAWEED PROMPTS TURTLE WATCH – The Barbados sea turtle project is keeping an eye on the Sargassum seaweed that is covering some of the island’s prime turtle nesting spots. In June 2015, the massive influx of the pelagic seaweed was blamed not only for trapping a number of turtles, but was responsible for the death of 42 Hawksbills at Long Beach, Christ Church. This year, that beach is once again hidden under washed up seaweed, while rafts of it float in the near shore water. But the sea turtle project’s director of public awareness and education, Carla Daniel, said she has checked the beach and, while it is covered, it was nowhere near what it was like in 2015. In addition, she said she had not seen any signs of turtle deaths. (SS)
STADIUM TO HOST SUMMER CAMP - Interim Chief executive officer of the National Sports Council Jerry Blenman has given the assurance that all is well at the National Stadium ahead of the NSC’s summer sports camp.  “The Council has taken some very important steps over the last year, to ensure that activities that take place at the National Stadium are done in as safe an arrangement as possible,” he said during a press conference at the NSC’s Blenheim headquarters on Friday.  “We continue to maintain that all of the stands are restricted, so there is no use of the stands. The track is an excellent track and that will be in use for the summer camp, but we will have the necessary restrictions in terms of the facility.” While noting that staff at the Stadium was in the process of being transferred to the neighbouring Netball Stadium as a precaution to ensure safety, he said logistics have been put in place for those who will utilise the Stadium during the summer. (SS)
OBEROI TAKES CREOLE CLASSIC – Oberoi, ridden by Rasheed Hughes, gave an awesome rebound performance to capture the 42nd running of the Pinnacle Feeds Midsummer Creole Classic over 1 800 metres on a firm track at the Garrison Savannah yesterday. Oberoi’s victory in the Triple Crown’s second Jewel made an emphatic statement ahead of the upcoming Barbados Derby.  The Peter Odle-owned colt added to her family success in this event following in the footsteps of her mother Leave It To Me, who took top honours in 2010. Oberoi held a healthy position early behind warm favourite Fleurette and Legion. (SS)
GRAVE’S WORDS ‘BURY’ TALKS – Lawyers for estranged Test batsman Darren Bravo believe a resolution between the player and Cricket West Indies (CWI) could have been reached already were it not for ill-advised statements made by new CWI chief executive Johnny Grave. Donna Symmonds and Leslie Haynes QC said “significant progress” had been made in negotiations with CWI over the impasse and they believed an agreement was close to being hammered out. However, instead of responding to a proposal on the one sticking point remaining, Englishman Grave gave an interview to noted cricket website, Cricinfo, which both lawyers argued scuppered any chance of a resolution. “We had embarked on a process and as far as we were concerned, we thought that the process was working and going very well,” Symmonds told Massy Insurance’s Line And Length Network. (SS)
RAIN DAMPENS LATE SEGMENT OF OPENING GALA – While rain didn’t stop the jam, it did speed up the last segment of the First Citizens Crop Over Opening Gala and Ceremonial Delivery Of the Last Canes. It also didn't permit the full Floodlit Tattoo to be experienced at the King George V Memorial Park in St Philip and also cut short of some of the performances Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley didn’t make his prepared speech as he reasoned the people wanted to see the concert and not hear him talk. Titled Legends to Legacy it paired some of the veteran calypsonians with the juniors. Gabby was matched up with De Overcomer; Biggie Irie with Yahandje and RPB with RJ, but a sudden downpour had people scampering for shelter which was minimal in the open air area. When it did stop it only allowed for Edwin and RPB to perform and then came down again as Peter Ram. It continued as Lil Rick, in true Hypa Dawg fashion closed the show, his waist pelting as many wukups, jooks as the rain. (SS)
THUMBS UP FOR CROP OVER OPENING GALA – The 2017 First Citizens Crop Opening Gala and Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes has been given a thumbs up by its producer. The event, which was normally held in the island’s capital, was moved to the east of the island and held at King George V Memorial Park in St Philip this year. Producer Karen Pestaina said she was really happy with what she had seen so far and she only expects it to get better. She told Barbados TODAY the crowd was not what she expected but anticipated that more people would turn up. Pestaina said in making her rounds, she was getting mixed reactions but most were good. She said following a meeting with the Festival Committee, they would then decide if they would return to the east or go elsewhere. (BT)
BASHMENT WARNING - Watch your lyrics. That is the message from Minister of Culture to bashment soca artistes. He spoke exclusively to SUNDAY SUN last night on the sidelines of the First Citizen’s Crop Over Opening Gala and Ceremonial Delivery Of The Last Canes at King George V Memorial Park, St Philip. “I am happy to see the youth embracing the genre,” he said. “We are witnessing an evolution in the festival as many wouldn’t have imagined that sweet soca would have been so popular. We were comfortable with social commentary and some soca and then we introduced the sweet soca competition and it was embraced. “Now bashment is being generated and we see a variety of music impacting Crop Over but while we support bashment we have to be mindful and careful that we hold the artistes to high standards as we do the others. . .” (SS)
That’s all for today folks there are 191 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase
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