The Ultimate “Axeperience”
The Ultimate “Axeperience”
By J. Tyge O’Donnell
Feeling a little stressed out due to the holidays? Things at work have you on edge? Does the upcoming New Year and what it may hold find you pulling out your hair or gnashing your teeth? Listen to me…unclench those fists, take a deep breath and just relax. All you need is a good hour or two of throwing sharp objects and/or bashing household items to release some of that pent up aggression. Having Gael or Viking ancestry need not matter (but it may help!), as what’s important right now is to get it out, because stress, after all, is a killer. Luckily, there are a few places in town with remedies sure to leave you with a clear conscience while feeling liberated!
Axehole Vegas
Centrally located downtown in the heart of the Fremont Street Experience, Axehole Vegas has six “lanes” (i.e. aisles lined with chain link fencing) where first-timers can learn to throw axes followed by more exotic specialty items such as spears and ninja stars. The minimum package costs $30 for one hour, but trust me, you’ll want to opt for a longer duration (and at a better rate) because you’ll be wanting to hone your skills with newly found trick shots such as the “Sucker Punch” (a side-arm throw that starts with your back to the target) and the “Pac Man” (throwing two axes over and underhanded at the same time).
Whether it’s manager Sarah or one of her proficient staff members on duty, you’ll be supervised and, if needed, coached on how to properly stick the target. How you hold the axe, along with your first steps and subsequent follow-through all play a role in the axe’s rotation speed and is key to a successful throwing session. After only a few chucks and some helpful suggestions (I had to take a few steps back and work on my follow-through), I literally had a firm grip on things and started hitting the target somewhat consistently.
Once you’ve accomplished throwing the hatchets feel free to upgrade your experience to spears, ninja stars, or even metal playing cards (this IS Las Vegas!), as some of these are a bit more difficult than the axes and require a certain “flick of the wrist” to master. For the ultimate challenge, book a knife throwing session ahead of time, where a private instructor will help you practice the archaic skilled art that just might land you on America’s Got Talent!
Axehole Vegas opened in August of 2017 and can get quite busy on the weekends due to its downtown tourist foot traffic. Consider visiting midday and/or mid-week to avoid the crowds. Check-out AxeholeVegas.com for more information,
including group and corporate rates, private party information and discounts.
Axe Monkeys
Opened in early 2017 and located in the ‘burbs of Henderson near Sunset and Pecos, Axe Monkeys is a growing franchise (with two locations in Canada) that offer a large, 14,000 square foot warehouse of 23 lanes along with a “Rage Room” and a newly added virtual reality/green screen gaming room.
Ideal for large groups, the facility offers shuttle service to and from Strip locations for groups of 4 or more (prearranged) and have a caged mobile unit on a trailer available to rent for private functions and festivals.
Remember the scene from Office Space when Peter, Michael Bolton and Samir go bat-crap crazy on the copier machine? You can do just that and more in Axe Monkey’s Rage Room where you can either bring your own item(s) or select from a variety of provided hardware and appliances. While wearing full coverage overalls, closed-toe shoes and face protection, one can vent all their inner frustrations by using such implements as bats, hammers and golf clubs while listening to your favorite (mash-up!) soundtrack as the chaos unfolds.
Axe Monkey’s package deals are similar but priced slightly cheaper than their downtown counterpart (an off-Strip bonus!), and they also offer an impressive array of retail ax-throwing paraphernalia, including souvenir hatchet wedges (well-worn but with plenty of character) for a mere buck each! Go to AxeMonkeys.com for all the details, including discounts for charitable events.
After spending an afternoon at both Axehole Vegas and Axe Monkeys, I can tell you that both locations are all about safety first and foremost, with fun being a close second. Read and sign the waivers, listen to the staff, then be prepared to have an awesome, stress-relieving good time! Also, be prepared to use some muscles that you may not usually exercise; I felt a slight burn in my arms in the days following my experiences. It was all good though, and well worth the mental anguish that I left behind. Bring on the new year! I’m ready for it!
Getting Serious About Being Funny
Getting Serious About Being Funny
by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Do you think you’re funny? Were you voted “Most Witty” in high school but never pursued it as a calling? Is doing a one-time stand-up routine on your bucket list but your arm still needs a little twisting to get around to it? Fortunately for us fun-seekers, Las Vegas has an abundance of comedy clubs, open mic forums and even workshops that can help inspire, coach and empower you to get your witticism on like a true top banana.
Open Mic Nights
One of the best places to get your feet wet is at any of the numerous open mic nights in the valley. A quick Internet search yielded ReBar on Main Street, Urban Lounge on East Charleston and Noreen’s on East Tropicana as some of the venues that have weekly stand-up comedy events. In my neighborhood I discovered that the enduring Sand Dollar Blues Lounge has a “Monday Funday” comedy night hosted by local funnymen Ryan Bourassa and Ian Rineer. Located off Spring Mountain Road just east of Chinatown, every Monday night starting at 7 p.m. one can “Show Up, Sign Up, Go Up” for four minutes of stage time. While this may not seem like a long time, it can be an eternity if you’re a fledgling amateur. I saw some acts come up short and have to scroll through their cell phones to remind them of material. Rest easy though, you’re among friends here (a typical night has upwards of 30 participants) and many in attendance know each other and rely on word of mouth and social networking for support while also promoting the local comedy scene. As host Ryan told me, “Most of us are friends who have been working together for months or years. It’s quite the community, which is why I stress that the underground scene is where it’s at.”
If you’re not shy and think you’re a natural at tickling people’s funny bones, seek out Ryan Bourassa and his comedy gang on social media (or just show up one night!), and you’re good to go. If you ARE a bit timid, but you know there’s a comedian inside of you that’s just dying laughing to get out, read on because being funny can be serious business!
Las Vegas Comedy Institute
Professional comedian Don Barnhart has been teaching comedy workshops at his Las Vegas Comedy Institute on Valley View and Desert Inn for the past seven years, but before going legit, Don taught his comical expertise to the masses out of his garage. What are his qualifications? Well, for the past two years he’s been headlining regularly at Jokester’s Comedy Club downtown (at The D Hotel & Casino) and he averages about 250 days per year travelling the comedy circuit, including going overseas with either Armed Forces Entertainment or with his own Battlecomics.org to entertain our troops abroad. Don cut his teeth during the mid-1980s L.A. comedy scene and calls people like George Wallace, Jay Leno and George Lopez his personal friends. But, more importantly, he’s a funny guy and is willing to share his knowledge.
The author of the Amazon.com bestseller “Finding Your Funny,” Don offers a popular six-week Standup Comedy Workshop in addition to classes on comedy writing and improvisation. “If you want to learn to play tennis you get a coach. Comedy is the same,” Don states. “I’m not sure you can teach someone to be funny but you can work on an individual’s technique and help develop his or her style.”
What are some common mistakes that aspiring comedians often make? According to Barnhart it’s being too raunchy, dirty or vile before being funny. There’s a time and place for “dirty” but being funny and getting laughs should precede it. Also, streamlining your jokes is important, as you don’t want to waste too much time setting up a joke when the punchline is short and quick, because it will only underwhelm the crowd.
Want to learn the comic ropes from a funny and kind-hearted professional? For a price that’s cheaper than professional tennis lessons, you can do just that by booking your workshop at LasVegasComedyInstitute.com.
Checking Out the Clubs
If you’re more of a voyeur than an exhibitionist, there’s plenty of ways to get your laugh on. Sure, there are prominent comedy outlets in town (L.A. Comedy Club at the Stratosphere, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at the MGM, Laugh Factory at the Tropicana) but I decided to stay close to home (while avoiding Strip traffic) and visit the Rio’s Comedy Cellar–the new and faithful sister venue to New York City’s legendary club that’s been producing comedic geniuses for nearly four decades. The 250-seat venue is intimate and simple and, although not in a basement, has a low ceiling just like the original back east.
On the night I attended, the 80-minute show was hosted by actor and comedian Mark Cohen who provided quick-witted laughs between the four acts that consisted of Leo Flowers, Mia Jackson, Ricky Velez and Don McMillan. My hands-down favorites of the quartet were Ricky Velez, thanks to his monologue about ugly babies (Comedy is subjective. Don’t judge me!), followed by Leo Flowers with his discourse on healthy eating. Even though Ricky and Leo were my faves, all of them were funny and managed to bust my gut more than I expected. Were any of the comedians raunchy or vile? Hardly. Sure, there was some profanity (the club is 18 and over) but it was timed right and, dare I say, even appropriate? Tickets run from $25 for general admission to $55 for VIP seating which, compared to other shows in town, is an awesome deal and would make for a great date night. You can buy tickets and see who’s scheduled to appear at the Comedy Cellar by visiting www.ComedyCellar.com and be sure to click on the Las Vegas link.
Whether you’re a natural or need a little coaching, being funny is an art that one has to hone in their own style. It’s a challenge, and as any veteran comedian will tell you, they’re always learning, even after years and years in the business. Luckily, here in Vegas there’s plenty of fodder and humor-help around if you know where to look. As Artie Lange says, “Vegas means comedy, tragedy, happiness and sadness all at the same time.” It’s not the funniest thing I’ve heard from Artie, but it’s true!
Take Me Out to the BallPark!
Take Me Out to the Ballpark!
By J. Tyge O’Donnell
It’s hard to believe that just over a year ago the location of the new Las Vegas Ballpark was a barren expanse of dirt and gravel. All that changed with a groundbreaking ceremony on February 13th, 2018, when construction began with upwards of 500 workers laboring over two daily shifts to finish the venue in time for the 2019 season. Building a Minor League ballpark in a year is a huge undertaking and, up until now, was unheard of until general contractor Hunt/PENTA pulled it off– and in typical Las Vegas “over the top” fashion. The new Las Vegas Ballpark is simply gorgeous; the club house looks like a modern airport terminal and the facility has everything a ball club needs and wants, which the outdated Cashman Field lacked. As one Aviator player said during a pre-opening media event, “It’s the Taj Mahal of Minor League ballparks.”
A Ballpark for the Fans
Located on eight acres adjacent to Downtown Summerlin and City National Arena (the Vegas Golden Knights practice facility), Las Vegas Ballpark is a $150 million dollar, brand-spanking new 10,000 seat stadium that replaces Cashman Field as our home venue for our Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate team, The Las Vegas Aviators. Note that Las Vegas now has two Oakland team connections with this ball club and next year’s arrival of Raiders football!
The ballpark bests the rest of the Minor League parks and even rivals some Major League stadiums with all its amenities and offerings. The huge (31’ x 126’) LED scoreboard is the largest of its kind in the minor leagues and 21st in size of all the ballparks in the country. Seating throughout the venue (no benches here!) utilize mesh “air-flow” technology that’s typically 30-50 degrees cooler than traditional stadium seating…a welcomed and comfortable perk considering our extreme summer heat. There are also 130 closed circuit TVs scattered around the venue so you can catch the action wherever you are…and that’s a luxury found primarily in big league stadiums!
The concourse is 360 degrees, as one can walk a complete lap of the field perimeter with bars, bathrooms, food stations and gift shops always close by. There’s a centerfield beyond-the-wall swimming pool with cabanas that can be rented for a mere $2,000 and can host up to 50 of your friends. Also, beyond the wall is a grassy picnic area and a “Kids’ Zone” for the little ones to frolic and play while you’re waiting to catch a flyball from a home-run hit!
Ticket prices tend to vary per game, but a quick online search yielded seats starting as low as $15 and increasing exponentially depending on the section and club/suite level. Group rates are available, as are season ticket packages, but this season sold out and there’s now a waiting list for the 2020 season.
Bring Your Appetite!
The new stadium knocks it out of the park when it comes to food, snacks and libations. Headed up by Minor League Stadium culinary gurus Professional Sports Catering (a subsidiary of Levy Restaurants) PSC has networked with local Vegas restaurants to bring fans some of their best dishes to the park. Chef Brian Howard (Sparrow & Wolf) has three “Flydog” locations around the main concourse that offer gourmet hotdogs and sausages (try the traditional-with-a-twist Chicago Smokehouse dog), while Josh Clark’s The Goodwich has a build-your-own Mac & Cheese station with a variety of exotic toppings offered.
On the suite and club levels, Food Network personality and local Italian restaurateur Giada De Laurentiis has salads, orzo meatballs and specialty pizzettes that pair nicely with her fruity Frosé, the official cocktail of the ballpark. If you’re more of a beer drinker, try the Aviators Ale supplied by local brewery Tenaya Creek. Also, all Thursday games are $2 beer nights! Other Las Vegas food favorites such as Capriotti’s, Ferraro’s and Me Gusta Taco offer their specialty fare throughout the concourse. And get this, most everything mentioned above is priced between $5-$12–a very reasonable price when compared to other venues.
Let’s Play Ball!
The grand opening first home game against the Sacramento River Cats was April 9th, after the Aviators returned from El Paso, Texas with an impressive 5-1 winning opening season series against The Chihuahuas.
The home opener was sold out nearly beyond capacity with a reported attendance of 11,036 fans. Vegas showgirls walked the concourse offering photo ops with fans while nostalgic “Cold Beer! Peanuts! Popcorn!” chants could be heard from roaming vendors. An Aviators ball cap was given to every ticket holder and the gift shops were packed to the gills with fans buying additional Aviator swag.
Down on the field, Governor Steve Sisolak and LVCVA execs welcomed fans with a pregame ceremony that also introduced the two new mascots: a happy-go-lucky “Spruce the Goose” and “The Aviator”– a mysterious jet-pack clad, futuristic airman who made an impressive entrance by literally flying onto the field with a hi-tech (and loud!) personal jet propulsion system strapped to his back.
Local Hero Hailey Dawson, the young girl who has thrown the ceremonial first pitch at all the MLB Stadiums using her 3D-printed prosthetic hand, christened home plate with her inaugural throw to Hitting Coach Eric Martins. The weather, unfortunately, wasn’t cooperative. High winds had debris blowing around left field and the fans were seeking cover by the third inning. The Aviators and die-hard fans persevered however, and finished the game with a 10-2 win over Sacramento. In the days after, the LV Aviators swept the series against the River Cats and are off to a great start to the season.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know how Las Vegas has been exploding with new sports teams. Over the past two years we’ve had the Vegas Golden Knights, the WNBA Las Vegas Aces and the LV Lights FC (who have re-purposed Cashman Field as their own soccer venue) all arrive in town and with welcoming open arms from our community. The Raiders are on their way, too! And now, with the Las Vegas Aviators and our new ballpark, Las Vegas has proven yet again that we continuously raise the bar, go over the top and are “in it to win it!” Here’s wishing the LV Aviators a successful first season. Go out to a game and show your support. Fly high guys!
The Softer Side of Yoga Finding Balance with Yin
The Softer Side of Yoga
Finding Balance with Yin
By Lisha Ross Newhall
In the super connected, always on the go world we live in today, one of the many challenges we all face is finding balance, whether it’s work/life, activity/leisure or exercise/rest. Most of us tend to gravitate to the extreme–working long hours, hitting the gym hard, overscheduling, etc.–leaving little or no time to rest and recover our expended energy. Now, perhaps more than ever, is when the ancient Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang can really come in handy.
As the popular black and white symbol illustrates, Yin and Yang posits that all things exist as inseparable opposites. Yin is soft and passive; Yang is hard and active. To achieve harmony and balance, we need to incorporate both aspects into our lives in somewhat equal ratios. For most of us, though, that ratio is largely in yang’s favor. Over time this imbalance puts major stress on both the body and mind, resulting in a grab bag of unsavory side effects like exhaustion, anxiety, depression and lowered immune function, to name a few. One immersive way to balance out the scales, while learning to calm the mind and enjoy the present, is through the practice of Yin yoga.
Love the Yin You’re In
You probably won’t find a studio that offers “Yang Yoga” by name, but the majority of classes offered fall into this category. The sweat generating, pulse pounding styles of Vinyasa Flow, Bikram, Power and Ashtanga are all yang practices. While nearly all yoga practices offer a pathway to relaxation, Yin yoga is unlike other styles in that it seamlessly blends mild to moderate physical challenge through long holds with mindful meditation techniques and elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to achieve a unique set of benefits that include:
- Deeper Flexibility and Range of Motion: Short stretch times only affect superficial muscle fibers; it takes 30-90 seconds for the stretch to reach the connective tissue that weaves throughout the muscles, longer to get into the tendons and ligaments. These deep tissues are denser and less elastic, so they require a period of sustained moderate pressure in order to release.
- Improved Joint Health: Muscles are designed to engage to protect our relatively delicate joints. In Yin yoga, the idea is to disengage as many muscles as possible while simultaneously putting gentle stress on one or more joints in a safe and supported manner. Much like in acupressure, the body responds by sending blood, oxygen and energy to that area in an effort to “heal” it.
- Optimal Organ Function: From a Western perspective, the actions we perform in Yin–twisting, folding, compressing and decompressing–massage and stimulate the internal organs, encouraging detox and the elimination of waste. According to TCM, these actions stimulate the flow of vital energy or “qi” (pronounced CHEE) through the organs and limbs by way of invisible channels called meridians. If qi cannot adequately flow through the meridians, physical and emotional ailments will occur. On the flip side, when qi freely flows, the organs work in harmony and radiant health is achieved.
- Stress Reduction: Pranayama, or breath work, is a key element of Yin yoga. It helps the practitioner take in more oxygen, tolerate potentially unpleasant physical sensations, and slow down a racing mind. Studies have also shown that deep breathing techniques turn off the body’s fight or flight response and put it in rest and digest mode, during which the heart rate slows down and the organs of digestion filter out waste.
To achieve these benefits, Yin poses largely target the body from naval to toes, and with few exceptions, they are passive, seated forward folds and gentle backbends. Fully equipped studios will offer folded blankets, blocks and bolsters for added support and to help students release into the postures.
Putting it All Into Practice
While Yin is a softer, gentler form of yoga, it would be a mistake to equate “relaxing” with “easy”. First-time students are often taken aback to learn they are expected to hold their poses for three to five minutes. Most of us aren’t wired to sit still for very long, and the busier, more chaotic our lives are the harder it is to do so. That alone comes with inherent mental challenges, and can be frustrating for beginner students.
To help guide students through these hard spots, a good teacher will layer the practice with mindful meditation techniques, most of which are fairly attainable for even the most distracted student. A few common methods are focusing on the breath, noticing how the ground feels beneath you, and observing, without fixating on, your physical sensations and thoughts. The latter bit requires time to master, but practicing it regularly can have profound positive results both on and off the mat. Even if all of this seems a bit out of reach, you can still get a great deal out of your practice by simply adhering to the three basic principles, also known as Tattvas, of Yin.
Find Your Soft Edge
Yang classes challenge students to take their postures to a place that requires strength and maximum effort. Yin asks only that you get to where you feel a significant stretch that’s just outside of your comfort zone, then listen carefully to your body’s messaging. Here, you can focus more fully on your breath and either move deeper as the muscles release and open, stay where you are, or back out if it becomes painful. Exerting effort to stay in an extreme version of a pose will actually counter any positive gains.
Come to Stillness
Once you’ve found your soft edge, the next step is committing to be still in body, breath and mind. Resisting the urge to fidget can be a big ask, but over time you’ll learn to tolerate discomfort, whether it’s an intense pull in your outer thigh, a hair on your forehead, or a nagging desire to see what everyone else is doing. Moving the body engages muscles and requires energy, which can disrupt the quality of the breath. Stillness of breath comes when you engage in slow, steady, unlabored breathing. Lastly comes stillness of mind. The body and breath are under our conscientious control; it’s much harder to avoid analytical thinking and rumination, but in stilling the body and breath, we then create the conditions necessary for the mind to become quiet.
Stay for a Time
In a group class, most postures are held for three to five minutes, though advanced practitioners may hold poses for as long as ten minutes. A lot can happen during this time. On a physical level, the muscles are opening, the deep tissues are releasing, joints are being nourished, the heart rate slows down, and energy, blood and oxygen are being distributed to the places that most need them. On a mental level, this time affords practitioners the space to breath, meditate, marinate in the body’s sensations and forget about the world outside.
As you foray into Yin and apply the Tattvas, it’s important to remember that relaxation is a skill that needs to be practiced. It doesn’t come naturally to most of us; yet, it’s a vital component to a balanced lifestyle. If you don’t get it right the first time, don’t give up. Yin, like most other forms of yoga, can teach us a great many things about ourselves and how we interact with the world around us. Above all else, it teaches us to live in the moment and to accept things as they come, for without sour there is no sweet, without dark there is no light, and without challenge there is no growth. Namaste.
Sidebar
Relative to other forms of yoga, Yin is fairly new to the scene, and thankfully growing in popularity in Las Vegas. The following studios offer a variety of classes, each putting their own unique spin on the practice by incorporating elements like candlelight, aromatherapy and yang flows to complement the yin. Happy yinning!
Henderson/Green Valley
Modo Yoga Las Vegas
3638 E. Sunset Rd., Ste. 110 | (702) 331-2030
TruFusion Eastern
8575 S. Eastern Ave. | (702) 982-2930
Evolution Yoga
1225 Warm Springs Rd., Ste. 120 | (702) 383-3001
Lifetime Fitness Green Valley
121 Carnegie St. | (702) 802-7300
www.lifetime.life
Summerlin Area/West Side
TruFusion Summerlin
1870 Festival Plaza Dr. Ste. 200 | (702) 906-2777
RYK Yoga and Meditation
8450 W. Sahara Ave., Ste. 109 | (702) 478-9600
Yoga Sanctuary
7915 W. Sahara Ave., Ste. 101 | (702) 240-7666
Lifetime Fitness Summerlin
10721 W. Charleston Blvd. | (702) 228-2611
www.lifetime.life
Downtown
Blue Sky Yoga (Inside the Arts Factory)
107 E. Charleston | (702) 592-1396
Sin City Yoga
1231 S. Main St. | (702) 900-8244
Finding Fitness on the Wild Side
Finding Fitness on the Wild Side
By Rob Kachelriess
Looking to mix up your fitness routine? It may be time to add a little animal intrigue to your workouts. A few businesses around Las Vegas know how to tap into your wild side and keep your body in top condition.
Stretching out with Goats
Goat yoga comes with a few warnings. If you have anything you don’t want to get chewed on or used as a bathroom, keep it outside of the fenced-in area where the session is taking place. If you see something that looks like a raisin, don’t eat it, although, it’s definitely organic. And—this isn’t ultra-serious. The classes are as much a photo op as a yoga session. Think of it as an interactive petting zoo.
“It got so popular so fast,” says Nicki Taylor, a performer for X Burlesque at the Flamingo who teaches classes for Goat Yoga Las Vegas on the side. “The first year, we were sold out months in advance, no matter the weather. I think since last year, it’s taken off in many other states, but we are the only goat yoga here in Las Vegas.”
The idea originated at a farm in Oregon and spread quickly around the country, thanks to the power of social media. Brandon Nobles and David Lee Brown, who also work at the Flamingo as dancers for Donny & Marie, happened to own about 15 goats at their farm near Lake Las Vegas and fell in love with the concept. They founded Goat Yoga Las Vegas and generally offer three classes a week at parks and other locations throughout the valley.
Participants bring their own mats and follow basic yoga routines while the goats mingle around them. Expect the animals to come around for pets, crawl around you and even hop on your back. “That’s why we keep everyone close together,” says Taylor. “We’re human playgrounds for them.”
Classes, often held in parks around the valley, are limited to 30 participants who must sign up in advance online. No walk-ins allowed, but all ages and experience levels are welcome. “Goat yoga is a little more goats than yoga,” adds Taylor. “If people want to ramp it up, they can. But if you just want to sit and pet goats, it’s more about the experience of being outside with movement, nature and the animals.”
The classes are also a great gateway for those getting familiar with yoga for the first time. Regardless of the intensity level, a goat yoga session is a great way to start the day and boost the endorphin levels in your body. “People really laugh and smile the whole time,” says Taylor. “It’s a mood lifter. And people are always surprised at how good they feel. They don’t realize they’ve been stretching or working so long, because they’ve been distracted by the goats.”
And the animals seem to have nearly as much fun as the humans, especially during feeding time. “These goats are very spoiled,” says Taylor. “We love them very much.”
For information on Goat Yoga Las Vegas, visit www.goatyogalv.com or call 239-265-7459.
Swimming with Mermaids
Marielle Chartier Hénault has made a fascinating career choice by merging her passion for “swimming, Disney princesses and fitness” into a mermaid swimming school. Although the idea was inspired by an online video of a similar concept in Germany, Chartier Hénault saw an opening in the North American market and founded AquaMermaid in Montreal in 2015. Business spread quickly with affiliates now established throughout Canada and the United States, including Las Vegas where weekly classes are held all year long at the indoor Municipal Pool at 431 East Bonanza Road.
“We mix synchronized swimming, monofin swimming and the dolphin kick of the butterfly stroke,” says Chartier Hénault of the program, in which swimmers wear mermaid tails while in the water. “We target the core muscle, mainly the abs. Most people say the class is harder than it looks. Yes, you will be a beautiful and magical creature, but it’s a workout.”
Once the classes took off, AquaMermaid began manufacturing and selling mermaid tails, since regular participants wanted to own their own equipment. “There are two types of customers,” Chartier Hénault points out. “There are ones who want a fitness class and come every week to see progression and learn a lot of techniques. Then we have people who want to come as a one-time activity and check ‘I was a mermaid’ off their list.”
The class is popular for children’s birthday parties, bachelorette parties and team-building sessions. Classes are divided between kids 7-12 and teens-adult. “In Vegas, there are a lot of things to do at night,” says Chartier Hénault . “There are all the clubs, the casinos and eating a lot, but this is a really good afternoon activity to do with your friends.”
Las Vegas has proven to be a great location for recruiting exceptional instructors, including performers with experience in Strip shows like Le Reve and O by Cirque du Soleil. If you’d like to experience AquaMermaid for yourself but don’t want to travel downtown, private sessions can even be booked in backyard pools.
For more information on AquaMermaid, visit www.aquamermaid.com or call 866-279-2767.
Fly through the Air on a Trapeze
If you want to fly like a bird or swing like a monkey, Trapeze Las Vegas has you covered. Founded by Lisa and Stéphan Cote, two former aerial performers at Circus Circus, the school offers classes in both traditional and modern forms of physical circus art.
Almost anything you can imagine in a classic big top or contemporary Cirque du Soleil show is here, including aerial silk, hoops, static trapeze, trampoline walls and vertical Chinese pole climbing, which grew in popularity after it was featured in Oceans 11.
“We’ve also got tumbling, juggling, unicycles, contortions—honestly, you name it,” says Wendy Wallington, who handles marketing and promotions. “We really have a vast range of classes.”
Trapeze Las Vegas started in a backyard about six years ago and quickly expanded. It now has a large indoor facility near Sunset and Valley View that offers more than a hundred classes a week. About a mile away, the school operates a large outdoor flying trapeze rig at the Las Vegas Sports Park. That’s where you’ll see a mix of local regulars and visitors “swinging through town.”
“One of our best trapeze students is in his 70s,” says Wallington. “He’s amazing—and not from a circus family. He’s a chiropractor in town and found this as a great fitness outlet.”
Many of the instructors are current performers on the Strip, and their work with Trapeze Las Vegas serves two purposes: It’s for fun and fitness, but it also trains the entertainers of tomorrow. Prospective students of all ages can sample a lit bit of everything with discounted trial classes and camps on holidays and throughout the summer.
Wallington puts it best: “There’s a place for everyone at the circus.”
For more information on Trapeze Las Vegas, visit www.trapezelasvegas.com or call 702-551-4858.
Farm Fit
FARM FIT
by
Amanda M. Quinn
You’re half way through 2019 and sticking to your resolution to get in shape. Perhaps you’ve bought a gym membership, hired a personal trainer or embarked on a new diet. But what if I were to tell you to abandon those mainstream options to go live on a farm instead?
That’s exactly what I did. For two years I was a certified personal trainer. I hoped acquiring that knowledge would motivate me to get in shape. It didn’t. I just became a hobbyist personal trainer who didn’t exercise.
Exasperated with myself and my failed enterprise, I threw my hands up in despair. Feeling the need for a jarring change, I dropped everything to go live and work at Quail Hollow Farm in Overton, NV for 10 weeks.
There on the farm, I learned the true meaning of humility, and my fitness knowledge was put to the test. By the end, I was in the best shape I’d been in since I was a teenager. It’s incredible what fresh food, sunshine, clean air and manual labor can do for your body.
I understand not everyone has the luxury to leave behind their lives to be a farm trainee. Luckily, infusing your life with Farm Fit principles has never been easier. I did all the dirty work for you. By following these principles, you can enjoy the benefits without accidentally sitting in fresh cow poop like I did.
The Farm Fit Program for City Folk
Principle #1: Farm Nutrition
My favorite perk of the farm internship was being included in their weekly Full-Farm CSA (community supported agriculture). This meant I was able to pick my groceries from a list of available items on the farm every week, ranging from meats, eggs, dairy products, grains, herbs and produce. I learned to eat what was in season and to make well-rounded farm fresh meals. Within days of eating this way, all of my chronic digestive problems disappeared.
Minimize your intake of processed foods and start eating fresh foods instead. If you can afford it, the Full-Farm CSA is offered to residents of Las Vegas and Henderson and is delivered straight to your home. Alternatively, you can join their regular CSA for a bag of produce each week delivered to a drop off location.
If a commitment to a CSA sounds too daunting, you can still obtain fresh food from farmer’s markets around town almost every day of the week. Or, shop directly at a farm in town. (See website links in sidebar.) Learn to eat what is in season, prepare farm fresh produce at home and try new foods!
Principle #2: Plenty of Sunshine
I spent about 8 hours a day outside in the sun. Aside from initial sunburns, remedied by wearing a hat and buying sunscreen, I was amazed at the healing powers I experienced from the sunshine. My skin took on a healthy glow and my mental health was suddenly pristine.
Fast forward to the present, where I’m back to my routine of staying up late and spending most of my waking hours peering at a computer screen. I’m definitely feeling the consequences. If you have a job that requires you to stay indoors during daylight hours, you may be feeling these subtle effects, too. Insomnia, anxiety, depression and fatigue are the most common.
Luckily, there’s still a way to get the sunlight you so desperately need. Purchase a UV lamp for your home or office to give you a boost when going outside isn’t an option. Even just 10-20 minutes near the sun lamp each day can bring dramatic improvements to your sense of well-being.
Principle #3: Fresh Air
Only an hour outside of Las Vegas, the air quality in Overton is drastically cleaner. At night, you can see the Milky Way and count shooting stars. I noticed my allergies were virtually eliminated.
Fresh air can be hard to come by in the city. Opening a window can help a little, but the haze of pollution seen from the outskirts of Las Vegas is concerning. On days off, escape the smog and breathe fresh air from places like Mt. Charleston, Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire.
During your workweek, however, you may want to invest in some equipment to help you breathe easier. Utilizing humidifiers and air purifiers can help with allergies, dry skin, dermatitis and more. They also help combat the unavoidable pollution you are exposed to in the city. With these inexpensive tools, making a refuge of clean air in your space is available at the touch of a button.
Principle #4: Manual Labor
By far, the most physique-changing experience on the farm was the manual labor. Instead of lifting weights, I hauled 5-gallon buckets of compost. Rather than using a treadmill, I walked up and down a steep hill between the greenhouses. Farm animals had to be wrangled, weeds had to be pulled and fields had to be harvested.
Don’t limit physical activity to times and places you set aside for exercise. On the farm I wasn’t counting sets and reps, tracking steps or making sure my right side got the same amount of exertion as my left side. I was just working and living.
Find areas in your own daily routine where you can exert more physical energy than usual. Take the stairs instead of an elevator. Park farther away from building entrances. Carry heavier loads of groceries instead of multiple light loads. Be creative. The more active you can be in your daily life, the better. Small additions to the frequency of daily activity will make more of an impact than sporadic diets and short-term bouts of spin classes.
Also, the more you can integrate the principles, the more likely Farm Fit will stick. For example, get sunshine, fresh air and manual labor all at once when you go hiking. You don’t need to abandon city life like I did to put this Farm Fit program to work for you. By following these principles you can enjoy the health benefits of a farmer while retaining your city roots.
Helpful Links for Farm Fit Living:
In Pursuit of Patience
In Pursuit of Patience:
Cultivating Composure in a Right-Now World
By Michelle Vessel
Instant downloads. Online streaming. Paying with a wave of your phone. Getting groceries or takeout delivered with the click of an app. Communicating by way of emoji-laden texts, often in as few actual words as possible. In the hyper-paced, technology-centric world we’re living in, the concept of waiting has pretty much gone by the wayside, taking the need to be patient right along with it.
More Than a Virtue
While that old adage about patience still applies, what you might not know is that its flipside, impatience, has been linked in recent research with a truly staggering array of negative health conditions and life outcomes. Having a short fuse can quite literally kill you, whether by exacerbating health problems like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, premature aging and decline, substance abuse, stroke risk and obesity, or by prompting you to make dangerous decisions, such as veering into oncoming traffic in a no-passing zone to get around a slow-moving car. Impatience is also correlated with fewer friendships, financial problems and chronic procrastination.
So what can you do if you happen to be the high-strung type? Patience (or lack thereof) is an inborn personality trait, right? Either you’re blessed with it at birth or you’re out of luck. Actually, there are decades’ worth of research indicating that this is a widespread misconception. Although it is true that some people are naturally calmer and more even-tempered than others, patience can also be seen as a skill that can be developed and enhanced over time using a number of different techniques and practices.
Practice Makes Patience
In one recent research project conducted by Dr. Sarah Schnitker, a neuroscientist at Baylor University, the study participants took part in a training program designed to increase patience. The results? At the end of the program, the participants displayed increased patience, decreased depression, and overall increased levels of happiness. What’s more, other studies have shown that those who successfully improve their patience levels also show heightened levels of other positive emotions, such as empathy and compassion.
Sounds great! Where do I sign up? According to Dr. Schnitker, the most important thing to remember is that you can’t just suddenly decide to be a more patient person and instantly see results. Instead, the way she and her colleagues were able to help people become more patient was to frame the process as a kind of structured training regimen, like one you might undertake if you decided to build up your stamina to run a 5K race.
Culled from the work of Dr. Schnitker and other experts working on similar research, here’s a five-step plan for becoming a more patient person and reaping all of the mental and physical benefits that come with calmness and composure.
- Pinpoint your impatience triggers.
Even the most tolerant and stoic among us have pet peeves that set us off. The first step in cultivating patience is to take an inventory of the situations, people, places and things that are most likely to push you into a simmering state of annoyance. It’s impossible to rearrange your life to eliminate every inconvenient thing imaginable, but sometimes we plunge ourselves into irritating scenarios unnecessarily. Once you’ve decided to try to develop more patience, look at your lifestyle through a different lens and try to remove as many stressors as possible, even if that just entails minor changes like taking a different route to work or waking the kids up 15 minutes earlier to ease the before-school craziness. For those unavoidable situations that are impatience triggers, identifying them in advance can help you prepare yourself mentally beforehand so you can face them down with a calmer mindset.
- Learn to sit comfortably with impatience.
Think about a time recently when you were overcome with impatience. What were the physical sensations you experienced? How did you feel emotionally? How did you react? What could you have done differently to defuse the situation? The next time you find yourself in an annoying situation and you start to experience the physical sensations of impatience, force yourself to focus on the symptoms and think about why you’re feeling this way. What specifically is leading you to feel stressed out? Then take a few deep breaths and think about something pleasant or a future event you’re looking forward to. According to Daniel Goleman, the author of Emotional Intelligence, this shift to analytical thinking short-circuits your inner caveman’s often wildly disproportionate “fight-or-flight” response to something like being stuck in a slow-moving checkout line.
- Tell yourself a different story.
Baylor neuroscientist Dr. Schnitker is a proponent of the technique known as cognitive reappraisal, which essentially just means looking at the stressful situation in a different light. Once you’ve identified the physical and emotional symptoms of impatience and interrupted them, you can boost your calmness even further by adding some much-needed perspective to the situation. How does being more patient connect to your overall values? Do you want to be the type of person who snaps at a teenage store clerk who made a simple mistake, or the type of person who reacts to adversity with poise and grace? The key is that impatience is all about focusing solely on the moment, whereas patience depends on your ability to mentally extract yourself from fleeting annoyances.
- Celebrate your progress.
In keeping with the metaphor of training for a 5K, it’s important to track your development as you steadily improve your patience. If you exhibit patience in a situation that typically would have set you off, congratulate yourself! Consider keeping a “patience journal” akin to a gratitude journal, in which you track your progress each day and list a few calm responses that you’re proud of. Pick a few small treats, like a bubble bath or a self-care spa blitz, that you reserve for particularly proud moments on your patience journey. This can be a particularly powerful tool in helping your brain to lock in the patience habit.
- Zoom out and take steps to help yourself be more patient.
In addition to minor changes to your daily schedule and habits to help you be more patient, consider making some larger-scale lifestyle swaps as well. Factors such as eating well, getting enough rest, keeping alcohol and caffeine use moderate, and exercising regularly are all part of the big picture when it comes to cultivating patience. One of the most helpful lifestyle changes researchers associate with improved patience is having a regular yoga or meditation practice, both of which promote the type of mindfulness that is really at the heart of the concept of patience. Finally, try not to bite off more than you can chew. If you try to cram more than you can reasonably accomplish into your daily schedule, you’re setting yourself up for inevitable defeat.
There’s no way to totally eradicate petty annoyances from your life. But with just a little practice and perseverance, you can completely alter the way your brain processes and reacts to these inevitable frustrations– and reap the physical and emotional benefits of more patience at the same time.
New Year, New Pet: 5 Steps for a Happy Transition
New Year, New Pet: 5 Steps for a Happy Transition
By Ashlee Verba
With Christmas behind us and 2018 coming to a close, you may have recently welcomed (or been thinking of welcoming) a new pet to your household, which is a very exciting way to start the new year. But if you think bringing a new animal home is as easy as adopting it and bringing it through the door, you’re unfortunately mistaken. Whether you’re a first-time pet owner or welcoming a new addition to your existing brood, here are five necessary steps toward preparing yourself and your household for a new year with a new pet.
Step 1: Research
Thank goodness for the internet! If you’re considering a new pet, hop online and research the best breed for your lifestyle. It’s important to consider things like how big they’ll get, their temperament and energy levels, food intake, grooming needs, and common health issues. If you’ve already gotten the new addition, conduct the same research specific to their respective breed (or breeds, if they’re mixed) so you know how best to prepare for a life together. Be realistic in what you’re able to provide for the animal and know that it’s ok to take your time in finding what you want.
Step 2: Prepare
Once you’ve found the perfect new addition for your household, it’s time to prep the space and buy what’s needed. Of course, there are the usual things like bowls, a bed and a leash or litter box, but you’ll likely need a few more things. You don’t need to go overboard, but a few chew or scratch toys should be there upon arrival to help your pet learn what’s theirs and avoid nuisance destruction. If you’ll be crate training, have the appropriate-sized crate waiting for them and begin training their first night home, for consistency. You may also need to prepare a meeting space for existing animals, be it a separate room or outdoor space (see step 3 for more introduction tips). And, of course, prep your new buddy with the necessary vaccines before exposing them to your existing brood.
Step 3: Introducing New Pets
If you already have a pet and are brining a new little friend into its world, it can be nerve-wracking. As long as your current animals don’t have a history of serious aggression, it’s totally doable. The most important thing to do is remain calm.
There are a few ways you can accomplish the meet and greet. One option is to bring your existing animal(s) to the shelter prior to adoption to see how they get along, which avoids the heartbreak of bringing the new pet home only to learn it won’t work. This option can be stressful for your current pet(s), as they are out of their element and surrounded by new smells and unknown barking dogs, so you may not get the same results you would if they were in a less taxing environment.
The second, and most commonly recommended way, is to introduce the new buddies on neutral territory, like a park, and let them get to know each other the best way dogs know how: sniffing and chasing. Keep the leashes handy in case you need to intervene but, so long as the space is enclosed, it’s best to allow an off-leash introduction, as leashes can sometimes amplify pets’ anxiety. As an added bonus, this also burns excess energy so that everyone’s not wound up upon arriving home where the real coexisting starts.
The third way, which is likely best for introducing a new cat, is to designate a space for your existing animal and allow the new pet to roam the home and get acquainted. Once that happens, switch the pets’ spaces so that they can essentially sniff each other out. It’s recommended to let the animals see one another prior to meeting, either through the back door or a baby gate, but it’s up to you, as that will depend a lot on your current pet’s temperament and excitability. The most important thing with this method is to be present and proactive; don’t allow any aggression or bullying from either side and let your pets know you’re there for them by soothing them as best you can.
Step 4: Training
Just like parenting children, training your pet educates them and helps them to be more confident and amicable companions while also enhancing your bond. For cats, training may only go as far as establishing boundaries of where they are allowed and where they’re not, such as kitchen counters and tabletops, but if you’ve got an apt kitty on your hands, train away! (You can even toilet train a cat, for those who loathe the litter box.) For dogs, common commands such as sit, stay, wait and come should be practiced regularly; not only will it reiterate your role as pack leader but it makes your life easier to have a well-behaved pet. It could even save their life in certain situations. Training, of course, can go much further than sit and stay, but it’s certainly recommended to practice the fundamentals regularly. Always remember: the trick to effective training is treats!
Step 5: Managing Expectations
Bringing a new pet home can be hard. If things don’t go exactly as you imagined (and, let’s be honest, they likely won’t), it’s hard to stay positive and think things will change for the better. Sometimes it can take months for the sand to settle and pets to peacefully coexist, so be patient with yourself and your animals, as everyone is acclimating to the new presence. The best thing to do is to be present and diligent in establishing acceptable behaviors.
It’s also important to know that, while utterly adorable, young animals pose their own set of challenges. If you’ve never raised a puppy or kitten before, be prepared for biting, chewing, scratching, peeing and endless energy at seemingly inconvenient times (here’s looking at you, sunrise.) It can be especially hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel with young pets. It’s easy to think they’ll never grow out of these horrible habits, but with the right combination of love, training, and consistency, your young animal will turn into a tailor-made companion who only has eyes for you.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to bringing a new pet home, especially with existing animals, so modify these steps to fit your situation and do what’s best for your household. Remember to be patient and present, and that things will likely change with consistency and time. Here’s to a wonderful 2019 filled with a whole lot of four-legged love!
“Alexa: Find Rover!” The App for Lost Pets
“Alexa: Find Rover!”
The App for Lost Pets
By Ashlee Verba
Technology these days is truly incredible. With just the sound of your voice, Alexa can provide the perfect playlist, Siri will give turn-by-turn directions from here to New York City, and the mere shape of your face can unlock your phone and authorize online purchases. Imagine if a small fraction of that technology was dedicated to finding lost animals instantly. Well, the app Finding Rover did just that, and the Animal Foundation is bringing it to the valley to aide in their life-saving mission.
Finding Rover is the first and only facial recognition technology developed to find lost pets in real time. As an owner, all you have to do is create a free profile for your pet and save it to their database of over two million animals. In the event your pet gets lost, whoever finds them can upload an image to the app or website and the facial recognition software immediately brings up the contact information saved to your pet’s profile—getting them back home where they belong. With over 15,000 success stories and a live demonstration on Good Morning America, Finding Rover’s technology is unprecedented, and will inevitably help Las Vegas’s high-volume shelter.
According to Kelly Leahy, Communications Manager of the Animal Foundation, the shelter receives an average of 80 animals a day, with the majority of them being lost pets. She says their hope with the technology is to bring the community together to get lost animals home faster; this is one of many improvements the shelter is making for their Mission Possible 2020 campaign—an initiative to save and rehome every viable animal they can by the year 2020. Leahy also mentioned that the biggest hang-up with the technology is simply getting the word out so people actually use and trust it. So, how does it work? What can owners do to optimize their pet’s chances of being brought home? How can other shelters get involved? What’s the catch? Not to worry, we sniffed out all the need-to-know details on this amazing software so that you can get your paws on it without worry.
How It Works
Mark Marrello, Chief Operating Officer of Finding Rover, recognizes people’s wariness of the technology, which is constantly being updated and improved. When the first app-only version launched in 2014, the pet’s image needed to meet certain requirements, such as a blank background and front angle to ensure optimal results. The company quickly realized it was difficult for shelters and individuals who found lost pets to provide such images, so the software was updated to filter only the necessary parts of the image, such as the geometry of the face and any respective markings.
Just like human facial recognition, the software uses the shape of the face, eyes and ears, as well as any distinct markings of the fur, to find your pet in their database. The app will also use your location to find lost pets (or their owners) in real-time within a 200-mile radius. The best part is that as long as your pet has a profile, and whoever intercepts them knows about Finding Rover, their chances of coming home just got a whole lot higher.
Making a Profile
Whether you download the app or go to FindingRover.com on your computer, making your pet a profile is completely free and takes less than 20 minutes. According to Marrello, young dogs’ pictures should be updated at least annually, as their face changes so much in the first few years. Owners should also update their pet’s profile picture if the geometry of their face changes, such as a fluffy Chow Chow being shaved down, making it significantly smaller. As far as weight gain or signs of aging, Marrello says as long as their markings and face shape remain similar, the technology is advanced enough to recognize them. That being said, it certainly doesn’t hurt to keep the picture, and your contact information as recent as possible for your peace of mind.
Local Shelters: You’ll Want to Hear This
Technology aside, the most incredible part of Finding Rover is that it is completely free for both pet owners and shelters. Shelters interested in integrating facial recognition technology into their mission can simply contact the company and consent to a one-time setup for the software to be installed (also free of charge). There’s no contract, and most importantly, it does not duplicate any efforts on behalf of the shelter staff. By uploading pets’ images to the shelter’s website, they automatically get uploaded to Finding Rover’s, too. Marrello says that any shelters who remain skeptical of the price can reach out to him or one of the shelters using the technology and ask how much they’ve spent on their partnership with Finding Rover: Nothing. Seriously, it’s completely free.
Individuals with an affinity for helping animals can also integrate a Finding Rover widget on their social media or blog pages, because the more people creating profiles for their pets means both the database and the number of successful matches increases, too.
What’s the Catch?
There is no catch. For owners, it’s truly as simple as creating a free profile, uploading a picture, and keeping the information current. For shelters or individuals who find a lost pet, it’s as simple as downloading the app (or going to the website) and uploading a picture under the “Lost” or “Found” section of the website. The results are immediate, meaning there’s no lag time in providing the pet’s profile; as long as the information exists on both ends, that sweet fur baby’s going to sleep at home after a long and worrisome day.
Thanks to the Animal Foundation (655 N. Mojave Rd. 89101), Las Vegas pet owners will be reunited with their lost pets faster, which is a win for both parties. But you have to help them help you! Hop online, go to FindingRover.com (or download the app), and create your pet’s profile today and don’t forget the website if you come across a wandering pet while out and about. It may just find their owner and save you both a trip to the shelter.
To learn more about the Animal Foundation and their Mission Possible 2020 initiative, go to animalfoundation.com. To integrate Finding Rover on your shelter or personal website, go to www.findingrover.com/partners.
Normal Dog Aging or Doggy Dementia? By Ashlee Verba
Normal Aging or Doggy Dementia?
By Ashlee Verba
As dogs age, owners will inevitably see some changes; they may walk a
bit slower or sleep a bit longer, but they’ll still exhibit signs of
excitement, recognition and happiness.
But certain behaviors–like zoning out, pacing, or losing their house
training–could be more than just aging. It could be Canine Cognitive Disorder
(CCD), also known as doggy dementia. Resulting from physical brain changes in
aging pets, CCD is a neurological condition
with behavioral symptoms, and it’s fairly common in dogs over age 10. Just like
with humans, there isn’t a cure to ‘dogzheimer’s’ but recognizing it and making
a few small accommodations can make living with it less frustrating for your
pet. Here’s what we know.
Deciphering
Dementia with DISHA
The tricky part is that some symptoms of CCD
overlap with signs of typical aging like arthritis, diabetes or declining
vision and hearing, so veterinarians recommend the acronym DISHA to help
characterize the most distinct changes associated with dementia: Disorientation, (altered) Interactions with family members or other pets, Sleep cycle changes, House soiling, and Activity level changes.
One of the most commonly-noticed
symptoms of CCD is getting disoriented or lost in their normal routine or
environment. Things like staring at walls, confusion on walks, going to the
wrong door to be let out, or spatial awareness issues like getting stuck behind
a piece of furniture, are all signs of disorientation. You may also notice your
senior pet in a different part of the house at bedtime rather than in their dog
bed–another big indicator of confusion seeing as dogs have a natural sense of
time due to their routine.
Their interactions are another
huge insight into your pet’s brain function. If your once sociable, happy pet
is now growling at family members or other animals, it might be CCD. While some
older pets will become cranky if they’re in pain from another ailment, like
arthritis, dogs with dementia will also tend to withdraw from their loved ones
and favorite activities. Things like ignoring the doorbell, treats or prompts
to play may be indicators to call your vet and figure out if what’s ailing your
aging pup is physical or mental.
Changes to their sleep-wake cycle
is one of the more specific symptoms to Canine Cognitive Disorder and shouldn’t
be shrugged off as just getting old. Dogs that
used to sleep all night may now pace for hours on end and many dogs reverse
their normal schedules, making their daytime activities their nighttime
routine. If your pet is exhibiting this behavior change, consider talking to
your vet about anti-anxiety medication that may be able to prompt sleep at the
right times.
Urinating or defecating in the
house, especially with a house-trained pet, is another sign that something may
be going on upstairs. In some cases, like with diabetes, bladder infections or
kidney problems, it is a bowel issue and your pet physically can’t hold it. In
cases of doggy dementia though, your pet might be staring out the back door and
start to relieve himself; if the aforementioned issues have been ruled out,
then it’s safe to deduce that they no longer recognize and understand that they
should be going outside.
All aging dogs will experience
decreased energy and activity; they may be slow to greet you at the door, but
they’re still responding to your coming home. Dogs with cognitive dysfunction,
however, tend to be unresponsive to most stimuli, even things as rousing as the
doorbell ringing. They may also struggle finding their bowls, have trouble
eating or drop their food and not bother or be able to find it. If you feel
confident they aren’t having issues with their vision, it could be dogzheimer’s.
Additionally, repetitive activities like head bobbing, leg shaking, constant
nuisance barking, or pacing in circles are also strong indicators of cognitive
issues and not signs of simply getting old.
Other symptoms not included in
the DISHA acronym include changes in appetite, increased anxiety, and memory or
learning problems like not responding to their names, forgetting training cues
or not responding to new training.
What Owners Can Do
Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure
for doggy dementia but there are ways for owners to slow it down and manage it
for their dog’s comfort, mainly by changing their diet and enriching their
environment at home. Certain foods are formulated with antioxidants and omega-3
fatty acids to strengthen cellular health and slow down cognitive dysfunction;
additionally, using a puzzle feeder at mealtimes is a great way to promote
mental stimulation and keep their minds active. Just like with humans, physical
activity as well as social interaction can help slow down the aging process as
well, making walks and playdates even more important if your pet can manage
them.
Establishing and sticking to a
routine is a great way to limit their confusion, which can be a frustrating
experience for old dogs. Adhering to a set schedule when it comes to feeding,
walking, and bedtime can be very orienting for aging pets. If possible, try to
turn lights on and off around the same time at the start and end of each day to
help regulate their sleep-wake cycle.
Another helpful way to aid in
their canine confusion is to make accommodations at home. The same way you once
puppy-proofed the house, similar precautions should be taken for your aging
dog. Eliminate any gaps behind or underneath furniture to prevent them from
getting stuck, remove obstacles they may trip over or get caught in like cords
or cable wires, and put their food and water bowls in a corner so they can’t
walk through and spill them. It may be helpful to put pee pads in various
places around the house so that if your pet gives you a sign they have to go
you can at least get them somewhere acceptable to lessen your frustration with
accidents.
And of course, regular check-ups
with the vet are a must. There are certain drugs and dietary supplements that
may further aid in slowing down cognitive dysfunction, but they should be
tailored to your dog’s existing diet and medications.
The thing about CCD is that, even
with all the information in the world, you cannot diagnose it yourself. Tests,
scans and/or x-rays should be professionally administered to rule out health
problems like arthritis, brain tumors, diabetes, and liver or kidney disease.
Caring for an aging pet can be challenging, but knowing the signs of doggy
dementia can only help when it comes to loving and caring for your ol’ best
friend.
