Celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week, May second through eighth, by nominating a kid or teen who shows exceptional compassion toward animals in American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest.

Two grand prize winners will each receive one thousand dollars! Nominations must be received no later than April fifteenth, so nominate your kind kid today! Download a nomination form now and visit americanhumane.org for more information.

All winners and runners-up will be announced nationally during Be Kind to Animals Week, May 2-8, and featured on the American Humane website

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In just 10 months, 13-year-old Abby Jungers spent more than 700 hours volunteering at her local animal shelter, the St. Charles Humane Society in St. Peters, Mo. She cleans kennels, walks dogs, helps with heartworm tests, trains new volunteers, participates in mobile adoptions and more. Taking on even the least desirable tasks in the name of helping animals made her one of American Humane’s 2009 Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest grand prize winners.

Every year, American Humane conducts a national search for children who have shown dedication and outstanding effort in improving the lives and welfare of animals. Online Dog coach is joining in the search and linking you to nomination forms for your child.

Kids and animals have always had a special bond. “Thousands of kids in the United States are doing all kinds of creative things to make the world a better place for animals,” said George C. Casey, American Humane’s interim president and CEO. “We want to recognize their efforts and encourage others to follow their lead.”

Kind Kid nominees are divided into two age groups: Children (6-12) and Teens (13-17). Judges will select one grand prize winner and one runner-up from each age group. Grand prize winners will each win $1,000, and runners-up will each win $500. All winners and runners-up will be announced nationally during Be Kind to Animals Week, May 2-8, and featured on the American Humane website at www.americanhumane.org/bkaw

How to enter:  Nominations must include a 300-word description of how the child or teen has shown extraordinary compassion for animals. Other supporting materials, such as photographs and news clippings, are encouraged, but not required. Do not send videos. Nominations must be submitted online or received by mail by April 15, 2010. No purchase necessary. Complete contest rules and nomination forms can also be obtained on the American Humane website.

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Speaking of dogs and babies communicating… my four dogs have taught my 1-year old what doggies say, check it out in this cute video!!!

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Over this past year, I have been amazed everyday watching my baby boy turn into a toddler. Around 10 months, we noticed that his communication skills really started to flourish. He began using sign language and becoming more verbal. Interestingly, he has also become more observant of the communication between our dogs.

Last night, he was playing in the living room when our two Golden Retrievers started to play rough with a little growling and baring of teeth. My son stopped playing, smiled and looked as if he was going to get in the middle, but then he babbled as if talking to the dogs and quietly walked around the dogs. After the dog play session was over, my son walked over to Rankine and gave him a big hug. They snuggled for a few minutes and then he was off to playing again.

As I watch him interact with our 4 dogs, it is clear to me that he has learned to read our dogs signs to know when he can hug them, play with them, pet them and most importantly when they want to be left alone.

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…and eyes, and ears, and tail…

Dogs don’t communicate with words or crying like we do. Their whining, barking, and growling is used in limited, and usually extreme, situations. To “hear” what your dog is saying, you really need to watch their body language.

Use these signals to assess your dog during training, agility, or other dog competitions. If you see signs of stress, try something easier for the dog to build up his confidence. Find games you can play to take his (and your) mind off of the surroundings at sporting events such as Touch Nose to Hand or other dog tricks.

A calm dog is relaxed – especially his eyes, mouth, ears, and tail. Take for example Rankine when his baby is walking all over him. Notice how his ears, lips, and eyes are relaxed. This is a calm dog who doesn’t mind the baby’s antics.

Had Rankine been asking baby to stop, you may have seen one of the following cues:

• Lip licking
• Yawning
• Ear flicking
• Flinching
• A “crescent” shaped whites of his eyes
• Intentional turning away from the baby
• “Freezing.” This is different from stillness in that you can almost see the tension in the body. If you ever see a dog “freeze,” beware. This is often a precursor to snapping.

You can learn more about a dog’s body language at Living with Kids and Dogs by Colleen Pelar. Watch her videos to see how dogs show their stress.

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