Spring 2019 Newsletter

Spring 2019 Newsletter

Happy Spring Everyone!

From author Amber Higgins

Here's an update on what's happening at Family Disaster Dogs.

Centerfold from my new book My Puppy Can Find Me all rights reserved

I'm super excited to let you know that my children's book is available for Pre-order from Waldorf Publishing, yay!

The artwork is by my dear friend, UK Dog Cartoonist Helen "Scotty" King. Check out her dog cartoons, she can do one of your dogs too!

The book will be out in print on Nov 1, 2019 just in time for Christmas gift delivery. By pre-ordering today, you help my book get into major markets, like Walmart, Target and Barns and Noblie.. they like to see if anybody is interested in books before they place large orders from my publisher. I would really appreciate you taking a look at the book and placing an order so all children can learn.



Get your copy click HERE from Waldorf Publishing only $14.99



Here's what this book is about...

“Does your child know what to do if they are lost?”



“Do you know what to do if they are missing?”



My Puppy Can Find Me picture book is your child’s first step on an exciting learning experience that will teach them what to do if they are lost or find themselves alone. By reading this picture book with your children the whole family will learn what to do if they are ever separated or missing and how the family dog can be of assistance during emergencies.



This new concept of dog training teaches search dog skills to family dogs for in-home family rescue and missing person emergencies. Your children will learn valuable lessons by doing these fun exercises that reinforce and teach the pet dog and family to work together during crisis situations to overcome fear and survive.



The whole family learns how to use the family dog to the full advantage regardless of the age, size or breed of the dog. As a family member and part of the pack your dog always knows where each member of the pack is at, this is natural for the dog to know and we as dog owners only need to learn how to take advantage of this natural instinct our dogs possess.

 "My Puppy Can Find Me"

Get your copy click HERE from Waldorf Publishing only $14.99

More exciting news..I am training Mark Elliot and his black Lab, Bella to be a volunteer Search Dog Team that will aid in finding lost and missing persons along the central Oregon coast. They are doing great! This type of training takes 1 to 2 years of a couple days a week working on different scents, surfaces, and people in order to pass testing and certifications qualifying the dog and handler as a team. Follow their progress on our Facebook page Family Disaster Dogs

Check out the video of them training

I am also building an Online Virtual Classroom with Obedience and "Family Disaster Dogs" lessons available so everyone can learn in the comfort of their own homes how to teach your dogs basic obedience and other easy skills so your dog's can help you in emergencies. Next I will build a course from the "Evacuate with Your Dog's Help" book.

Included in each course is a copy of the book, videos, direct contact with me as your instructor, extra tips and tricks based on over 40 years of working with all breeds of dogs as a master all- breed groomer, breeder, trainer and Search dog handler.

   See the Classroom here



 I also have recently published the paperback edition of  "A Squirrel Planted an Acorn" on Amazon. The hardcover is a much nicer edition but also very pricey published in hardback so I made this paperback available at a much lower cost. The e-book is available with a free preview too.

See all my books on Amazon



I hope this finds you and yours doing great!

Feel free to give me shout on social media or email anytime.

Facebook  Page

Have a wonderful safe spring!

Amber Higgins

Tips for Choosing a Rescue Dog

Photo by Pranidchakan Boonrom from Pexels

Throughout the country, there are rescue centers with dogs ready and waiting to be adopted by a family and to become part of their lives. There are many good reasons to get a rescue dog as your next pet, and of course, providing an animal from the shelter with a loving home is a rewarding experience.

Deciding to get a pet is never a decision to take lightly, and there are many important considerations to take into account. All pets are a big responsibility, and this is a fact that should not be forgotten.

Before you look for a rescue dog you should:

Think about how much time you have free to offer a dog, will it be left for long periods while you work?

Will you be able to cover vets bills, food, insurance etc.?

Do you already have a dog, and will it be upset by a new arrival in the family home?

Consider what breeds of dog are best suited to you, do you like to go on long walks which you could take your dog on too?

Would you prefer a puppy or an adult dog?

Would you like a pedigree rescue dog so that you can be better informed about the dog’s characteristics and traits?

Would you prefer to have a long-haired dog or a dog with a short coat?

How much time would you have each day for grooming a long-haired dog?

Image: Pixabay

Questions to Ask the Dog Rescue Center:

How and why did the dog end up at the animal rescue center?

What does the center know about the dog’s past, was it mistreated in some way or abandoned, or has the dog’s owner passed away, or become unable to care for it?

Has the dog already been spayed or neutered? (some rescue centers automatically do this, so it is worth checking with the staff when you visit).

Do they know what breed the dog’s parents were? (This could provide you with more of an insight into the dog’s character traits, as well as indicating how big the dog will grow to if it is a puppy).

Does the dog have any ongoing or current health issues?

Choosing to bring a rescue dog into your life is an incredible thing to do, but there is much to consider before you head to the shelter to see all the dogs.


Bear in mind that a rescue dog is likely to be affected by its past treatment, this may mean that it will struggle around other dogs, either by being aggressive or timid. If the latter is the case be sure to understand how to break up a dog fight, and in the unfortunate event that your dog suffers an injury ensure that you register with a vet. If a human is hurt then after seeking medical advice a dog bite attorney may be able to help.

Remember that past mistreatment may mean that it takes a while for your new dog to realise that you can be trusted, so patience is crucial.

Make a Shelter From 3 Items and Survive the Storm

To make a shelter from 3 items

Make a fast emergency lean-to shelter

Items needed

You’ll need at least one item from each list below

1. Tarpaulin or Plastic Sheeting or Large Leaf Garbage bags (all of these items are on the list above and should be rolled tightly and packed in the Bug-out bag)


2. Twine or light rope, shoelaces work in a jam

3. A tree branch you can reach that is long enough for the shelter roof. Or a rock wall overhang or 2 to 4 long poles about 6 to 8 foot long cut from tree saplings

Find a tree branch or rock overhang that is tall enough to reach and has a flat open area on the ground below.

To Make the Shelter

Open the tarp or plastic, lay flat on the ground.

Using the twine, tie 2 of the corners of the opened flat tarpaulin or plastic sheet to the tree branch or use a heavy rock to tie to and set on the rock overhang then use rope or twine to secure the rock in place.

Long poles cut of tree saplings also placed against the rock wall will work. The poles can be put in the ground to make a lean too if the ground is soft enough.

Stretch the tarp out and to the ground for a sloped roof lean-to shelter. Use stick stakes or heavy rocks to hold in place.

Make as secure as possible with extra twine, rocks or stakes.

Lay another tarp, plastic sheet or garbage bags on the ground for a protective waterproof barrier.

Make the underside into your camp.

Hint

Face the doorway or open side away from prevailing winds and storms; usually they come from the west. South facing to the east is a good choice for most parts of the USA.

Learn more in my book 

Evacuate with Your Dog's Help-Survival Bag List

Visit www.Familydisasterdogs.com for more cool ideas !

Look for us on Facebook! Family Disaster Dogs (page and group)

My Puppy Can Find Me-children's book

This children's picture book is the most important lesson every child with a dog should learn to avoid every parent’s worst nightmare.

“What to do if your child is missing."

As of Jan 2021 this book is only available from the author via the contact page above.

By reading "My Puppy Can Find Me" picture book with your children the whole family will learn what to do if they are ever separated or missing, and how the family dog can be of assistance during emergencies.

Children will learn valuable lessons by doing these fun exercises that reinforce and teach the pet dog and family to work together during crisis situations to overcome fear and survive.

The whole family learns how to use the family dog to the full advantage regardless of the age, size or breed of the dog.

As a family member and part of the pack your dog always knows where each member of the pack is at, this is natural for the dog to know and we as dog owners only need to learn how to take advantage of this natural instinct our dogs possess.

This children's picture book shows the whole family, young and old, how to use the average family pet as your own hero dog and search dog.

"My Puppy Can Find Me" ebook and picture book is based on the original "Family Disaster Dogs" book (available on Amazon) by former Search Dog trainer and Bloodhound breeder Amber Higgins in the USA.

With artwork and illustrations from U.K. Dog Cartoonist Helen "Scotty" King.

The valuable lessons you and your children can learn are:

1. Young children learn how to tell the family dog to "go find parents"

2. Children learn to wait in one place and play a game until adults find them (we cannot find a missing child if they keep moving away from the searchers, its best to teach children to sit and wait)

3. Parents and older children learn how to tell the dog to go for help and find missing loved ones.

4. Parents learn to ask the dog to find anybody

5. Any age or size dog learns to go to family members or friends upon command like police and military dogs do.

This skill can be used for carrying objects to a person or as a messenger dog.

6. Any dog learns to show you how they can track a missing human pack member and find loved ones with these easy fun game like lessons.

This book is for children 3 and up!

This child version of the Family Disaster Dog book has easy to read familiar words and fun illustrations for your child to learn as they read.

A note from the author
I want to help dog owners and friends of dog families avoid every parent’s worst nightmare. What to do if your child is missing.

Our dogs know where we are every moment and when we leave the house they long to follow us. Our dogs do find us when we open the door. Our dogs can find whoever has left the house, yard or pack, if we dog owners know how to ask. Let us show you how to ask any dog to help you.

The more we share this valuable information, the more children and missing persons we all will help. Thank you in advance for reviewing, liking and sharing so others can learn too ! Amber

Visit the sit to teach your dogs to rescue your family, Family Disaster Dogs