Melanie Monteiro is a dog safety expert and certified pet first aid instructor — yep, those actually exist — as well as the author of “The Safe Dog Handbook.” In this video, she demonstrates four techniques dog owners can use if their dog is choking.

He doesn’t shake when he’s scared; he convulses. He retreats under the couch when he sees us take out his harness and leash. And he’s too busy looking left and right, keeping his ears and eyes peeled for attackers, to even pee outside — unless he’s petrified to the point that his bladder gives out.

Nothing has ever alleviated his anxiety, including anti-anxiety medication. But then we got the ThunderShirt.

I spotted the ThunderShirt in SkyMall magazine last year and snapped a photo of the page with my iPhone thinking, “Might as well try it. We’ve tried everything else.” The ThunderShirt looks like a little jacket for dogs and is essentially the canine version of swaddling for babies — the fabric wraps around them snugly, relaxing them. (They also have one for cats.)

According to the website, experts believe that the ThunderShirt’s pressure has a calming effect on the nervous system, possibly by releasing a calming hormone like endorphins. The homepage boasts, “Over 80% of dogs show improvement.” And the company, ThunderWorks, is so confident in its product that it will refund you the full purchase price if you’re unhappy with it and return it within 45 days.

Testing it out

My parents bought a ThunderShirt for Franklin for Christmas after I mentioned the product to them, and we tested it out on Christmas Eve when grandparents, aunts and uncles visited for a big meal.

Franklin usually freaks out when strangers — meaning people he hasn’t seen 10 times or more — enter his general vicinity. So we were curious to see how he would react to not-so-familiar family members with the ThunderShirt on. He was a little confused when we wrapped the various flaps under his torso and neck and secured them with the fabric fasteners, but he just walked around like usual after it was all situated.

Was he uncomfortable and scared when people arrived? Yes. But there was an obvious difference in his reaction. The defensive barking we usually witnessed in such situations was almost completely eliminated. He didn’t hide under furniture, and instead just stayed close to me, watching “the intruders” carefully.

We noticed the most dramatic difference at the groomer’s. On top of having a complete stranger handle him and clip his nails, he is also faced with the scary nail-grinding monster — and the sound drives him insane. Despite being securely fastened to part of the table with a collar, he literally thrashes around, desperate to escape, and it absolutely breaks my heart to see him so terrified.

But when we brought him in to have his nails clipped with the ThunderShirt on, he didn’t move. Though it was still clear to me that he was frightened, he stood there calmly, letting the woman do her job. The groomer was so shocked by the difference in his behavior that she asked for details about the product so she could recommend it to others with anxious dogs.

Ordering your ThunderShirt

You can order the ThunderShirt through the company’s website at ThunderShirt.com for $39.95. Consult the size chart on the site to determine what size is best for your dog’s weight.

When I ordered mine, I was concerned because of Franklin’s odd hot-dog shape, but a customer service representative assured me that the jacket works by mainly wrapping around the chest area, so it didn’t need to cover his entire torso.

I was also worried because Franklin’s chest protrudes more than other breeds, and his weight fell almost in between ThunderShirt sizes. If you have this concern too, the site also has a helpful sizing chart based on both chest size and weight.

Humans often make the mistake of treating dogs like people — and we’re not talking about that totally unnecessary raincoat you insist on putting on your dachshund. Our behavior is perceived differently by dogs than it is by other humans. Something we might consider a loving gesture to another person might actually be aggressive to a dog. Berryman believes this confusion is a frequent cause of dog bites and “attacks.”

“Dog owners are set up for failure because our default is to blame the dog. Owners get fined or sued for repeated human mistakes. Dogs often pay with their lives for mistakes made by people,” Berryman says.

A Massachusetts animal control officer from 1993 to 1999, Berryman is a national dog bite consultant who founded the Dog Owner Education and Community Safety Council and works with communities, rescue groups, dog owners and bite victims. She also designed and teaches a safety and liability class for dog owners.
 
In an effort to promote awareness of the common misperceptions that can lead to tragedy, Berryman shares five myths:

Myth: When greeting a new dog, you should extend your hand for it to sniff.

Fact: Dogs don’t sniff each other’s paws when greeting each other and like us prefer to be asked before being touched by a stranger. Instead, ask the owner and then also ask the dog by tapping your hand on your thigh simulating a wagging tail and acting friendly. The dog will relax and nuzzle you, need to sniff more to get to know you or will stay away.

Myth: Breed dictates temperament.

Fact: Dogs, first and foremost, are predatory canines that live in groups. Breeds are generalizations that enable breeders to better market the product they sell. What dictates temperament is their pack position, the role you, the human, play in the group and the rank of group members. Dogs have superior/inferior interrelationships and command and defer accordingly. And just as siblings in a family have the same parents yet are very different, one cannot purchase behavior by buying a dog of a certain breed.

Myth: When a dog charges, there is nothing you can do.

Fact: When a dog charges you, it’s trying to decide if you are friend, foe or prey. Their eyesight is poor, so hats, sunglasses and other objects you may push or carry can scare them. Act like a friend and pretend you are not afraid. Stand facing the dog with relaxed body language, tap your thigh with your hand and use a high-pitched voice for a friendly greeting like “good girl.” Fake it if you are afraid.

Myth: Posting a “Beware of Dog” sign will protect you from liability if your dog injures someone on your property.

Fact: Dogs can only read body language. These signs make people react to your dog in a fearful manner, which is more likely to cause a dog to consider visitors prey and bite them. Use “No Trespassing” and “Dog At Play” signs instead.

Myth: Only bad dogs owned by bad people bite.

Fact: Even responsible dog owners operate under the same false beliefs about human and canine behavior. They are also encouraged to take a passive role concerning their dog. Any dog can bite especially when it feels personally threatened, is exposed to prey behavior or thinks that someone lower in rank threatens its resources, such as food, toys, bedding and the attention of its owner.

The little research available today on the this subject suggests that dog saliva may have antimicrobial properties, but your pooch’s tongue also carries plenty of bad bacteria. (I mean, really, there’s a reason Fido’s breath smells like that.)

Dog saliva contains three things that scientists have theorized are linked to its ability to heal:

1. Lysozyme — an enzyme that kills certain bacteria and prevents overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth;
2. Histatins — simple proteins present in human saliva that ward off infections and also help skin cells close over a wound; and
3. Nerve growth factor — a protein that one study found to cut a wound’s healing time in half. However, another study by biochemist Menno Oudhoff of the University of Amsterdam found that the amount of growth factors in human saliva, at least, wasn’t high enough to actually have a therapeutic effect on scratched skin.

The movement of a dog lick could also play a role in healing wounds. According to Psychology Today, “the saliva of a dog’s tongue acts to loosen any debris that may be on the surface of the wound. Any dirt or other debris will also become attached to the moisture of the saliva, thus at the very least, the area of the wound will be cleansed.”

Why it’s not a good idea

Just because your dog’s saliva may have some potential benefits doesn’t mean it comes without risks. For example, cats’ and dogs’ mouths contain a bacteria called Pasteurella that could cause a skin infection called cellulitis in humans if transmitted onto a wound.

Dr. Scott Weese of the Veterinary College’s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses explains on the Worms and Germs blog: “The oral cavity of the dog contains billions of bacteria from hundreds of different bacterial species. Many of these are able to cause infection given the right circumstances.”

Such circumstances tragically arose for a 32-year-old woman in Decatur, Ga., and a 48-year-old woman from Texas within the past year. Both women were infected with capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacteria found in the mouths of cats and dogs, after one was bitten by a dog and the other was believed to have contracted it in some way from her 1-year-old pup. Both had their legs amputated after the infection spread, and at least one lost her battle against it. While this bacteria is usually harmless to healthy humans, it can be dangerous and even deadly in those with certain pre-existing conditions.

If dogs’ saliva was a safe and effective way to treat a cut, it probably would have been bottled up by some big pharmaceutical company by now. Stick with good old-fashioned soap and water to disinfect your wounds, and keep them clear of Fido’s mouth. Healing properties or not, it’s not worth the risk of contamination by all the other stuff that’s hanging out on his tongue.

1. Foie gras
This pricey delicacy is the king of culinary contention, dividing consumers and restaurant industry professionals alike over whether the animal welfare issues surrounding it can be justified. Foie gras, a fancy term for cooked duck or goose liver, is produced by force-feeding the animals until their livers enlarge to about 600% their natural size.

Animal rights groups like the Humane Society of the United States and the Animal Legal Defense Fund condemn the practice because they believe it qualifies as cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. And not many would argue that shoving a gavage, or metal tube, down an animal’s mouth and stuffing it with food three times a day for 25 days sounds humane. However, a Serious Eats piece investigated the issue by exploring La Bella Farms, the second largest of the three largest foie gras farms in the United States, and found that the issue is often shrouded in misconceptions.

Before you start harassing me with comments, take a few minutes to read the article, which we found to be admirably objective. The ducks are actually provided with an expansive amount of space within a barn — though, the author noted, it could have used more natural light. They’re completely unconscious when slaughtered, and mishandling of the animals damages the liver, thus reducing the price they can sell for, so the farm has a good incentive to take care of the birds.

While we can’t imagine being force-fed through a metal tube stuck down our throats, you have to remember that these animals also are not humans; they’re built differently. Moulards, the ducks used at La Bella Farms, don’t have gag reflexes, and their bodies are built for storing excessive amounts of food — though not this much — to prepare for migration. While it still can’t be comfortable, it may not be quite as horrific as some make it out to be. And the article also pointed out that the farm isn’t wasteful; they use and sell all parts of the duck, except the head and feet.

However, not everyone believes these reasons justify the treatment ducks and geese receive. On July 1, a piece of legislation known as SB 1520 will go into effect, and foie gras will be banned in the state of California.

2. Veal
Baby cows may be cute, but plenty of carnivorous people would also agree that they taste delicious. Most of the debate surrounding veal has nothing to do with the cow’s age at the time of slaughter, though. Instead, the problem for many people lies in the way the animals are raised.

According to an eye-opening story by the New York Times, veal sales dropped drastically in the 1980s after photos were released showing veal calves tied to crates so small they they could barely move. The impact of society’s reaction to these photos was so extreme that the average American’s yearly veal consumption plummeted from 4 pounds in the 1950s and 1960s to about half a pound in 2007.

Today, the American Veal Association has set a plan to eliminate the use of crates by 2017. They’re already banned in Arizona, Colorado, California, Maine and Michigan; and the European Union put an end to the use of crates back in 2007.

If you enjoy veal but don’t want to support inhumane treatment of livestock, you can find veal that’s “certified humane” by Humane Farm Animal Care, a nonprofit organization that certifies the humane treatment of animals raised by meat, poultry, egg and dairy producers. For certification, producers must adhere to strict guidelines, such as raising calves without confinement, in small groups, tether-free and on a wholesome diet that satisfies basic nutritional needs, including iron and fiber, which are often excluded in the feed used by other producers.

Popular veal packer Strauss Brands is one company that adheres to more humane animal welfare standards; on Dec. 31, 2008, it became the first U.S. veal packer to raise all veal calves in groups and without tethers.

3. Unsustainable seafood
Sometimes it’s not the treatment of animals that causes controversy but the environmental effects prompted by hunting or fishing them. This is the case with unsustainable seafood, which Monterey Bay Aquarium describes as seafood that is “caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment.”

On its list of seafood to avoid — to name just a few — are Chilean sea bass, Atlantic cod, king crab, octopus, Atlantic salmon, sharks and skates, and yellowfin and Bluefin tuna (among other kinds). According to Monterey Bay, Chilean sea bass populations have been depleted in some areas because of unreported and unregulated fishing. Plus, the way in which they’re caught often accidentally kills thousands of seabirds each year, including the endangered albatross. Spicy octopus might be your favorite sushi roll, but Monterey bay says it should be avoided because of heavy fishing pressure, habitat damage caused by the fishing gear and a lack of fishery management.

Sometimes these animals are only marked as unsustainable in certain areas where they’re being over-fished, so it’s important to be aware of what to avoid and where to avoid it. For more information, check out this easy-to-read pocket guide of what to avoid in your area or nationally. Monterey Bay also has an incredible app for your smartphone. Check out our review here.

4. Placenta
Yup, you read that right. Placentophagy is the practice of saving your own afterbirth and consuming it. It’s often eaten dried like jerky or in the form of supplements. See what we meant about some of these being “hard to stomach?”

A placenta usually weighs about 1 to 1.5 pounds, and while American hospitals usually dispose of it, traditional Chinese medicine has encouraged eating it for centuries. And now it’s catching on in the United States as well.

So why would anyone ever do this? Because some people — by “people” we do not mean scientists — swear that it does everything from improve lactation problems to alleviate postpartum depression. Fanatics of the trend point to the fact that most mammals chow down on their own afterbirth to explain that there must be some good reason to do so.

Mark Kristal, a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of Buffalo, is the country’s leading authority on placentophagia. Here’s what he had to say in a New York Magazine piece: “Every ten or twenty years people say, ‘We should do this because it’s natural and animals do it.’ But it’s not based on science. It’s a fad.” Kristal also stated in a USA Today article that withholding the placenta from an animal mother after birth hasn’t led her to withdraw from her offspring or become depressed; he said this would suggest that animals don’t consume it to alleviate or prevent postpartum depression.

It is possible that there’s some sort of placebo effect happening, so some proponents of the practice say it’s worth it even if the effects are only psychological. But is it, really? We’re fighting a gag just thinking about it.

Photo: Wikipedia — originally posted to Flickr by Marshall Astor

5. Balut
If we had to choose, we’re not sure if we’d rather eat our own placentas or balut, a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. (Sounds like a “Fear Factor” challenge.) The egg is a staple in Filipino street food, is considered a high-protein snack in China and is commonly served with beer in some Southeast Asia countries, including Cambodia and Vietnam.

The egg is developed for about 17 to 21 days — to the point where it definitely looks like a baby bird but it doesn’t have any beak, bones or feathers yet. In the Philippines, they’re seasoned with salt and/or chili, garlic and vinegar; in Cambodia, they’re eaten plain while still warm in the shell; and in Vietnam, they’re eaten with salt, lemon juice, pepper and Vietnamese mint leaves. How do they eat this, you ask? They sip the broth surrounding the embryo before peeling the shell, and then eat the yolk and the young chick inside. Yum!

6. Dog meat
It’s true: Max and Rover serve more purposes in some countries than just being man’s best friend; they’re also eaten. Humans consuming dog meat dates back to ancient China, ancient Mexico and ancient Rome and still continues today in Switzerland, China, Vietnam and Korea. The Chinese believe the meat promotes bodily warmth in the winter, but the country is in the midst of a campaign to end the sale of it. Legislation was drafted just two years ago to ban consumption of cats and dogs due to animal cruelty issues, but it’s still currently legal.

The South Korean dog meat industry involves about 1 million dogs, 6,000 restaurants and 10% of the population, according to Slate. And the country is not pleased with other nations, like the United States, that try to tell them this is wrong.

But is it? Wrong, we mean? Look — we’re huge fans of dogs, and we can’t imagine our furry best friends being killed for food. But is the fact that we consider the animals pets enough of a reason for them to not be consumed — anywhere? Dogs actually weren’t even raised as pets in Korea until recently, so the animals didn’t play the same role in their society that they do in ours.

Korean food writer Hwang Go-lk argued that other societies’ attempts to tell them what’s morally right and morally wrong to eat is rooted in ethnocentricity or almost a type of racism. “I believe that the dog meat controversy is a part of the new strategy — to highlight their superiority by looking down upon what others eat. … They seek to categorize moral humans and immoral ones on the basis of whether one eats or does not eat dog meat. This is how they reconfirm to themselves that they are on a morally superior position.”

This is one of those tough ethical dilemmas that makes it difficult to eschew our own personal feelings toward the issue and instead focus on what’s fair. Let’s not forget: We kill and eat animals too. Who has the right to decide — and how do they decide — which animals can be eaten and which can’t?

7. Horse meat
This one’s been in the news recently since the 2012 spending bill passed on Nov. 18 lifted a five-year-old ban on funding horse meat inspections — which means technically U.S. slaughterhouses could produce horse meat. If you haven’t heard about this yet, check out our coverage of it here. Surprisingly, PETA actually supports the decision to lift the ban because they would prefer horses be killed humanely in the United States than be shipped to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.

While eating Black Beauty is taboo in English-speaking countries — including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, English Canada and Australia, as well as in Brazil and among the Romani people — it’s enjoyed in Central Asia and Europe. In 2005, the five biggest horse meat-consuming countries were China, Mexico, Russia, Italy and Kazakhstan, according to the “Alberta Horse Welfare Report.”

Horse meat, like dog meat, tends to get people riled up because of their place in our society as pets. Again, it’s a tough call when trying to determine what’s right and what’s wrong here.

8. Whale
If you ever visit Japan and don’t recognize a dark red meat on your sashimi plate, ask. It just might be Baby Beluga — or Free Willy, take your pick. Whale is eaten in Japan, Norway, Iceland and the Arctic in a variety of ways: cured or marinated, eaten raw as sashimi or dried and made into jerky.

The controversy here mainly involves sustainability issues with commercial whaling. The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling worldwide in 1986, but a plethora of loopholes allows the practice to continue. For example, according to The Atlantic writer David Nakamura, Japan has continued whaling for “scientific research” purposes, though “anti-whaling groups have called the program a thinly guised method of restocking grocery and restaurant supplies of edible whale sashimi and cured whale ham.”

TheWorld.org — a “global perspective” news source from the BBC, PRI and WGBH — quoted marine scientist Stephen Palumbi, who explained that yes, the moratorium on commercial whaling has done a lot to increase whale populations around the world. However, “it’s difficult to know … whether that increase is going to continue with global climate change cutting into the food supply of a lot of whales.”

9. Dolphin
Americans love dolphins. We watch movies about them, pay money to see them do flips, pay even more money to splash around in the water with them and, if you’re a teenage girl, get tattoos of them — which is why it was so upsetting when the Academy Award-winning documentary “The Cove” revealed in 2009 that the beautiful creatures were being hunted and slaughtered in Japan.

In the Japanese town of Taiji, where the filming took place, shoppers can buy cans of dolphin meat on store shelves. According to the documentary, 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are slaughtered in Japan each year through commercial whaling.

An Associated Press article quoted Taiji’s mayor saying: “We will pass down the history of our ancestors to the next generation, preserve it. We have a strong sense of pride about this. So we are not going to change our plans for the town based on the criticism of foreigners.” The only problem with this argument, Time magazine pointed out, is that hunting whales for their meat on a mass scale didn’t really start until after World War II.

Dolphins aren’t endangered, so it seems like the main argument fueling the controversy is that, like dogs and horses, dolphins are cute and awesome and we love them. Is this enough of a reason? It’s doubtful that many people would ever promote the way the animals were slaughtered in “The Cove,” but if it was done in a humane way, would it be wrong?

Even if it’s not unethical, there’s another reason dolphin meat shouldn’t be consumed: High mercury levels often make it toxic to humans, and according to “The Cove’s” website, the levels of toxicity even exceed Japan’s own health recommendations. “Much of the dolphin meat sold around Japan is actually mislabeled or sold as counterfeit whale meat, which sells for far more money than dolphin meat,” the website stated. “Hundreds of samples of dolphin meat tested from around Japan has all been shown to be toxic.”

10. Shark fin
Another creature of the sea is the target of much consternation among animal activists: the shark. In China, shark fin soup is a delicacy and is served for special occasions like weddings. It has almost zero flavor but is valued for its chewy texture. Traditional Chinese medicine believes shark fin boosts libido, improves skin, increases energy levels, prevents heart disease and lowers cholesterol.

Animal activists want the specialty food banned because of a practice known as “live finning” or “shark finning” in which fishermen chop off a shark’s fin and throw the shark back in the water, bloody and injured. The prevalence of this cruel practice is highly debated. In the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Giam Choo Hoo, a member of a United Nations body on endangered species, cited research stating that 80% of the 73 million sharks killed each year are actually caught accidentally — and mostly in developing countries, where “mostly poor” fishermen will eat all of the shark.

Other researchers disagree with these findings. Fisheries expert Shelley Clarke conducted a 2006 study that found that around 73 million sharks are killed each year for their fins. And the International Union for the Conservation of Nature stated in the Washington Post that nearly one-third of open-ocean sharks face extinction.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium placed shark on that “Avoid” list that we mentioned earlier when discussing sustainable seafood. “Although shark finning is banned in some countries, including the United States, it still occurs in many fisheries worldwide and is a major factor in the decline of shark populations,” the website stated.

The American Humane Association prepared a number of emergency tips:

Before the storm

• Tie down outside objects that could get caught in the wind.
• Bring all pets indoors, including your outdoor animals. Put them in a carrier large enough to turn around and lie down comfortably.
• Review your evacuation plan and check emergency supplies, bowls, water and food.
• Have a carrier ready in case you need to evacuate.

During the storm (if you cannot evacuate)

• Choose a safe room — an interior room without windows — to stay in, and keep your emergency kit in that room.
• Stay with your pets.
• Know your pet’s hiding places. That’s where they may run; keep them with you.
• Secure exits and cat doors so pets can’t escape.
• Do not tranquilize your pets, so their survival instincts are in tact.

After the storm

• Don’t go outside until you are sure the storm has passed.
• Assess outdoor damage before allowing your children and pets out.
• Keep dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier.
• Give pets time to become re-oriented. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered.
• Be sensitive to changes in your pets’ behavior after the hurricane. After a crisis, they may become aggressive or self-protective. Comfort them with kind words and lots of pats or hugs.

In addition, the American Humane Association has its Red Star Animal Emergency Services team ready with the support of Mars Petcare US to help animals that may need rescue or shelter from the hurricane.

The Red Star Rescue teams will be at its staging area in eastern Pennsylvania, in preparation for emergency rescue work throughout the region. The 82-ft. truck and its convoy of chase vehicles carry rescue boats, a hoist, food and medical supplies, snap-together kennels for extending or creating animal shelters, food bowls and other items to keep animals safe and cared for. Mars Petcare US has provided a grant to help the emergency deployment and is providing emergency food and supplies.

• We all have that one female friend (if you don’t, it’s you), who always seems so darn cheerful all the time. It could be her positive attitude, or it could be in her genes. [Fox News]

• Do you use the same dishtowel to wipe the kitchen counter and your hands? Probably not a good idea. Check out these 10 common food mistakes to avoid. [Shine]

• Think that if you haven’t been active most of your life it will be too late for you once you turn 50? Think again. A new study finds that those who step up their fitness regimen around midlife have less of a chance of suffering from chronic disease after 65 and can add more healthy years to their lives. [Los Angeles Times]

• If you do it right, eating out could actually help you lose weight. If only it could help us save money too. [Fit Sugar]

• Attention, space enthusiasts: How would you like to have your own private satellite? Well, now you can thanks to PhoneSat, a new project from NASA that uses your smartphone and Google Android. [Wired]

• Bad memory? These tips on how to remember everything will fix that! [Greatist]

• Congratulations, University of California–Davis! You just claimed the No. 1 spot on Sierra Club’s 2012 Cool Schools list. The school earned the top spot for diverting nearly 70% of its trash from landfills and offering green transportation alternatives. [TreeHugger]

• Have no clue how to fix a leaky or running toilet? Learn how to speak toilet with this handy illustrated guide. [This Old House]

• The New York Times has done it again with its interactive online graphics. Check out this one, which illustrates the varying effects of this summer’s heat and drought on crops critical to the U.S. economy. [New York Times]

• Want people to greet you at the door the way your loving dogs do, minus the shedding and peeing on the floor? Learn the secret to pleasing people — from none other than, well, dogs. [Men’s Health]

• The New York state attorney general wants beverage companies to be more transparent when it comes to energy drinks. [AM New York]

• Attention, teenagers: A study has shown that heavy and prolonged cannabis smoking as a teenager resulted in a permanently lower IQ. [BBC News]

Photo credit: KeepTheLoveAliveTour.com

Here’s what the Behavior Express wants you to know:

• You can save pets’ lives by solving their solving behavior problems.
• There are medical options to modify and treat behavior problems.
• It’s important to visit a vet to help choose the best behavior treatment plan.

The Behavior Express will make stops in six cities to host Pet Fairs where you’ll find local veterinarians with educational booths; an appearance by “America’s Veterinarian” Dr. Marty Becker; nationally recognized veterinary behaviorists, including Dr. Debra Horwitz; and a mini-science fair about animal pheromones and how they can help improve behavioral problems. Also on tap: music, local celebrities and free giveaways.

In addition, you’ll be able to buy “Paws for a Cause” at $1 each. The tour will display the “paws” in each city to demonstrate pet owner generosity. Tour T-shirts will also be sold. All money will be put back into local communities to support shelter efforts.

Here are the tour stops:

New York City — Hudson River Park
Aug. 17
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Kansas City — Swope Park
Aug. 25
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dallas — Main Street Garden
Sept. 8
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Atlanta — Centennial Park
Sept. 15
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Los Angeles — Griffith Park
Sept. 30
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you can’t make any of the tour appearances — or if it’s not stopping in a city near you — check out the Pet Behavior Insights page on the Behavior Express Tour website.

Chews for dogs with creative ingredients have been popping up in pet stores everywhere, and they’re a great option for all kinds of picky pups, whether your dog needs a chew that’s allergy-free, nutrient-rich or just extra-fun to gnaw on. Whichever option you choose, make sure they’re the right size for your dog — picking a chew that’s too large or too small can be a choking hazard.

Photo: BestBullySticks.com

Bull penises
Generally called bully sticks — a smart marketing move — these dried chews are also known as beef pizzle, beef stick and steer stick. (Commence the giggling.) Despite the somewhat strange source, these chews claim to be full of protein, low in fat and an all-natural alternative to more heavily processed rawhide. Popular brands include Best Bully Sticks and Merrick Bully Sticks.

Photo: Petco.com

Antlers
Made from naturally fallen deer antlers, these allergy-safe chews are a great alternative to chewing on bones, which can splinter and damage a dog’s digestive tract. Instead of splintering, antlers dissolve into a powder that contains calcium. Try Scout & Zoe’s brand or Antlerz.

Photo: VitalChoice.com

Salmon skin
Vital Choice offers chews made of 100% wild-caught salmon skin. The omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon can help improve your dog’s coat and boost his immune system.

Photo: FrontPorchPets.com

Sweet potatoes
Dogs need to eat their veggies, too, and these chews help get that job done while providing vitamin A, vitamin B6, potassium and more. Plus, they don’t get smelly like some animal-based chews do. Try Sam’s Yams from Front Porch Pets.