From San Luis Obispo to San Simeon, California’s central coast is a dog-friendly destination

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Weekend getaways are more fun with a dog. Our canine buddies make sure we stop and sniff the roses (and whatever else smells interesting), introduce us to new people and get out for walks in between the wine tasting and sightseeing. I’m always seeking places that are fun to go with dogs, and one favorite is California’s central coast, roughly the area between Point Mugu and Monterey.

We’ve made a couple of trips to what could be described as the central part of the central coast in the past year, once to San Luis Obispo for a nose work trial with my dog Harper, and more recently for a visit to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, which was offering seasonal evening tours with costumed docents. When I mentioned our plans, my friend Liz Palika enthusiastically recommended a stay at Cavalier Oceanfront Resort in San Simeon.

Our large room featured a fireplace and a patio where we could sit with the dogs or walk them out to the trails along the bluffs. It’s not the only dog-friendly hotel in the area. We’ve stayed previously at Cambria Pines Lodge, where dogs can accompany owners to meals in the outdoor dining area. Cambria Shores Inn is also popular with dog lovers. Cambria Chamber of Commerce volunteer Linda Haskins says the area boasts 21 inns and motels that welcome pets.

When we arrived, I called pet sitter Sharon Joy, whom we had scheduled to stay with our dogs during the tour. (Hearst Castle is many things, but dog-friendly is not one of them.) She met us at our room and instantly made friends with our dogs. We could tell they’d had a good time with her when we returned. Haskins says that Cambria Veterinary Clinic and Cambria Animal Medical Center may also be able to recommend pet sitters or provide boarding during daytime tours.

The next day we toured Paso Robles wine country, a breathtaking drive inland along Highway 46. Our first stop, appropriately enough, was Tooth and Nail Winery, where we enjoyed live music and glasses of rose on the covered patio overlooking the moat that surrounds the castlelike winery. Robert Hall Winery warmly welcomed Harper and Keeper into the tasting room. We wrapped up our wine tasting with stops at Grey Wolf and Dover Canyon wineries. Look for a winery map with dog symbols indicating pet-friendly status, or check pasorobleswineries.com.

If you and your dogs would rather hike or beachcomb, the central coast has you covered. Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is 440 acres of ocean-view trails and boardwalks. Parking is limited, so go early or look for a spot in the adjoining neighborhood. William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach permits dogs on the sand. Haskins says Shamel Park in Cambria is popular with local and visiting dog owners. Further south in San Luis Obispo, Irish Hills Natural Reserve has eight miles of out-and-back and loop trails through chaparral, oak and grasslands. Assume leashes are required unless otherwise posted. Beware: Ticks are ubiquitous, including American dog ticks and Western black-legged ticks, which can transmit Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Check your dog thoroughly after hikes.

Food lovers don’t have to leave dogs behind either. Whether they are in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Cambria or elsewhere, plenty of restaurants in all price ranges have outdoor seating for dining with dogs. We’ve enjoyed breakfast at Lily’s Coffee House in Cambria, lunch at Orale Taqueria in Paso Robles and dinner at Novo Restaurant in San Luis Obispo.

Wherever you go with your dog, have fun!

Q&A

Some facts about

polydactyl cats

Q: Why do some cats have extra toes?

A: Cats normally have 18 toes: five on each front paw and four on each back paw. Some cats are born with additional toes -- usually on front paws, but sometimes on rear paws as well.

Any cat with extra toes is known as a polydactyl. The word comes from the Greek polydaktylos, meaning “many toes.” The first official mention of it in scientific literature was in 1868, although it’s known to have been observed prior to that time.

Polydactyly is a dominant genetic trait. That means that even if only one parent carries the gene for extra toes, 40 to 50 percent of his or her kittens can also be polydactyl. The Maine coon is one breed in which polydactyly is commonly seen, but it can occur in any cat.

The additional toes may or may not be fully functional. In feline folklore, extra toes were thought to give cats better balance, making them popular choices as ship’s cats.

Polydactyl cats are often nicknamed "Hemingway cats" for their association with the Pulitzer- and Nobel Prize-winning author, who had a number of them at his Key West home. They may also be known as “thumb cats” or “mitten cats.”

Paws, a Minnesota cat, and Jake, a Canadian cat, are both recognized by Guinness World Records as having the most toes: 28.

While polydactyly is considered a genetic abnormality, it’s a naturally occurring variation that isn’t necessarily harmful. In a study of Maine coon cats published in 2016 in the Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, researchers concluded that while polydactyly affected the number and shape of a cat’s toes, it had “no apparent deleterious consequence on feline welfare.”

Fun fact: Humans can experience polydactyly as well. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Why some animals

have white legs

-- If you’ve ever wondered why some animals have white “socks,” “mittens” or “boots,” science provides the answer. It’s related to a genetic oddity called piebaldism, the result of a mutation that causes melanocytes -- the pigment cells that give color to hair, skin and eyes -- to be distributed unevenly as they spread throughout the body during fetal development. Research published in 2016 in the journal Nature Communications suggests that piebaldism occurs because the melanocytes don’t divide often enough during development. The result: Not enough pigment for the animal to be all one color. Piebald coloration occurs in animals as varied as cats, cows, dogs, ferrets, domestic goats, goldfish, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, magpies, mice, pigs, rabbits, rats and snakes.

-- When you see a Maltese, you may first be attracted by the glamorous coat, but beneath the waterfall of white hair beats the heart of a gentle, lively and fearless dog that has charmed people since the time of the ancient Greeks. Maltese love people. That focus on humans can make them easily trainable because they love attention. Maltese may look like lap dogs, but they shine in dog sports such as agility, obedience, rally and tracking, and they make good therapy dogs. The silky single white coat requires daily combing and regular shampooing to look its best. Families with young children should choose a puppy who will weigh 5 to 7 pounds when grown.

-- A cat’s body hums along at a temperature of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit -- a little higher than normal human body temperature and about the same as that of dogs. A normal range is 100 to 102.5, so call your veterinarian if your cat's temperature is higher or lower than that. If the thought of taking your cat’s temperature rectally is daunting, you can purchase a thermometer that will read the temperature inside your cat's ear. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Behavior experts share the best ways for kids and dogs to interact safely

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Kids and dogs encounter each other daily. Sometimes they are members of the same family; sometimes they meet at the home of a friend, family member or neighbor; and sometimes they pass by on the street or at a park or other public place. They don’t naturally know how to communicate with each other, though, and mistakes can have unhappy consequences. Here are some ways to ensure that both enjoy their time together and stay safe.

-- Outdoors. Kids run around and yell and scream. Dogs like to run around and bark, too, but the fast movement and high-pitched tones of kids at play can get them too excited. And dogs with herding or watchdog instincts may chase and nip, especially if they think “their” child is at risk. To make sure things don’t get out of hand, Fear Free-certified trainer and behavior consultant Debbie Martin of Veterinary Behavior Consultations in Austin, Texas, suggests the “red light, green light” game.

“If kids are running around the yard and the dog starts to chase them, we call ‘red light’ for everybody to freeze and be a tree,” she says. That’s an opportunity to get the dog out of the situation if necessary and then give kids permission to resume play.

-- Body language. Kids always want to pet dogs they see on the street. Instead of automatically saying yes, have youngsters ask the dog if she’d like to be petted. Then guide the child through the body language signs that indicate whether the dog is saying yes or no to a meet-and-greet.

A dog who welcomes petting has a relaxed body, open mouth and a tail that’s swishing with a loose wag. One who’s not so sure may signal discomfort by showing the whites of the eyes, tightening the lips, putting his ears back, leaning or looking away, putting the tail down or moving it in a slow, stiff wag. That dog would rather not be approached. Suggest that the child wave to the dog instead.

-- Petting dogs. For dogs who welcome petting, let the dog go to the child instead of the child approaching the dog. Children should stand still, hands at their sides or gently patting their leg in encouragement. There’s no need to offer a hand or fist for the dog to sniff. Owners or parents should give specific instructions: “Stand still, hands at your sides, and let the dog come to you.”

When the dog comes forward, kids can then offer a scratch under the chin or a soft pat on the shoulder. Spell out how dogs like to be touched. Behavior consultant Jennifer Shryock of FamilyPaws in Cary, North Carolina, uses the phrase “One hand enough, two hands too rough.”

Putting two hands on the dog often means roughing up fur, hugging, crowding them or grabbing the face, she says. One-handed petting, on the side of the dog that’s closest to the child, is gentler and prevents the child from leaning over the dog, which can seem threatening or scary to them.

“It’s a good habit for people to get into,” she says. “I so often see kids grab dogs by the face, and this helps prevent that.”

Let them pet the dog twice, then wait to see if the dog “asks” for more with a nudge or a look. If the dog has had enough, he may “shake off” or walk away.

When dogs have a choice in how they interact with kids -- or anyone -- they will feel more comfortable. That makes for happier and safer encounters and play: the foundation of a lifelong friendship.

Q&A

Crate-train cats?

Yes, you can

Q: Can cats be crate-trained the way dogs can?

A: Cats don’t need to be crate-trained for housetraining purposes, but they can absolutely learn to go into a carrier or crate and stay in it comfortably.

Crate-training has a lot of important applications throughout a cat’s life. Of course, it’s useful for taking the cat to the veterinarian, but also for road trips -- if you’re moving to a new home, for instance -- or if you have to evacuate because of a natural disaster. Having a cat who will quickly and willingly enter a carrier or crate can be a time-saver, stress-saver and lifesaver!

Pheromones, treats and time are all part of the secret to teaching cats to love their carriers. Treat the carrier with sprays or wipes that mimic the calming pheromones cats produce when they feel comfortable or safe. Hide treats in it or lay a trail of treats that leads inside the carrier to encourage a cat to explore it. Place meals inside the carrier. Leave the carrier out in an area the cat enjoys or where the family likes to gather. Any time you see the cat go in the carrier on her own, praise and reward her. All of these are ways to help the cat develop a positive association with the carrier.

Once the cat is comfortable hanging out in the carrier, practice closing it for brief periods, gradually extending the amount of time the cat spends in it. When you transport the cat in it, hold it in both arms so it’s not swinging at your side. At the vet or any new place, set it down gently and let the cat come out on her own instead of pulling her out. Bring treats or a toy to reward her when she exits. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Up, under, inside:

Cats need space

-- Starting in kittenhood and continuing throughout life, cats need spaces they can call their own, where they can rest, hide or watch what’s going on in the home. A window perch, a box or the top of a cat tree are all good options. These types of areas help cats to feel safe -- especially if there are other animals in the home or grabby toddlers. In multicat homes, boxes may be viewed as resources and taken over by a particular cat, so it’s a good idea to place them in separate areas so that each cat has an option to go in one.

-- You’ve probably seen pet foods or supplements containing probiotics or prebiotics said to improve the immune system, metabolism or gastrointestinal function. What are they, and can they help? Probiotics are defined as living organisms that, given in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, prebiotics are “nondigestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and activities of specific bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and exert beneficial effects on the host.” Studies show that prebiotics and probiotics can have beneficial effects on gut health in cats and dogs, including limiting growth of “bad” bacteria and increasing populations of “good” bacteria.

-- Meet the Peterbald. This Russian cat breed has an unusual coat. Depending on the length, the Peterbald’s coat can feel like peach fuzz, plush velvet or the stubble of a man’s facial hair. Some Peterbalds have an ordinary cat coat. The chatty, medium-size cats have a slender but muscular body, large ears and long, whippy tails. Smart, affectionate and playful, they love spending time with their humans, including children. Don’t be surprised when a Peterbald curls up on your face -- the closer the better! -- or sneaks beneath the covers at bedtime. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

How an abandoned pit bull went from desertion and starvation to a forever home

By Dr. Marty Becker

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Last August, my wife, Teresa, and I were in Louisiana, volunteering at a shelter animal clinic. Before heading there, Teresa and I agreed not to adopt any pets that day. We even shook on it.

You probably know where this is going.

Along with a team of veterinarians and veterinary nurses and a scrum of veterinary and pre-vet students, we methodically but tenderly examined 300 dogs, drawing blood for heartworm checks, giving dewormer for internal parasites and products for external parasites, and implanting microchips. Throughout, we focused on each dog’s physical and emotional well-being, guided by our Fear Free philosophy.

Then Relic staggered in. The adult male pit bull was the thinnest dog I’ve ever seen in 39 years of practice. He was covered in fleas, ticks and lice, and inhabited internally by roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms and heartworms.

Then he did something special. I had drawn a smiley face with aerosol cheese on the palm of my left hand. Relic walked over slowly and started licking it out of my hand. His tail wagged so hard, it made him unstable. I’d never seen a dog fall over from being happy.

I looked down at Relic and up at Teresa. In unison, we said, “We’ll adopt him.”

Relic had been abandoned in a decrepit house. When the landlord found him, he thought the fly-covered unresponsive dog was dead and called animal control to come get the body. When they discovered Relic was still alive, they rushed him to Bellevue Veterinary Clinic in Opelousas, Louisiana. The dog weighed only 19 pounds and was near death, but Dr. Kevin Fuselier gave him a chance, and he slowly began to recover.

When we spoke with him, Dr. Fuselier said Relic (now called Lazaruff for his rise from the dead) had only a 33% chance of survival.

Lazaruff made it. But we weren’t able to adopt him. The veterinary behaviorists who evaluated him recommended that he go to a home where he would be the only dog and where someone would be home with him most of the time. Lazaruff had separation anxiety, and he was happiest lying next to somebody with his big “meat head” on their lap.

The right home hadn’t come along, so last month, when Teresa and I were in New Orleans for Animal Care Expo, we decided to drive him back home with us to see if the right family was in northern Idaho, where we live.

During that weeklong road trip, his light shone bright. He never got carsick, never barked, never soiled his crate. He went from having to be lifted into his crate to jumping into it in the back of the SUV. We made “pit stops” at shelters along the way, spreading our message of emotional well-being and enrichment.

Then the miracle happened: Our friends at Panhandle Animal Shelter in Sandpoint, Idaho, connected us with Breanna Franck and her husband, Terry, who owned their own home, had no other pets, worked opposite schedules so somebody would be home most of the time and, most important, loved dogs.

Lazaruff walked over to Breanna, she knelt down and he washed her face with one lick of his dishrag-size tongue. He went into their arms, into their vehicle and into their hearts.

Teresa and I have stayed in close contact with them, and Lazaruff continues to fall over from being happy. But now it’s not because he’s too weak to stand. It’s because he’s waiting to get his belly rubbed.

Q&A

Prevent early-morning

feline food demands

Q: We took in a neighborhood cat. We love him, but he wakes us up at 3 a.m. every day wanting to be fed. Help! We need our sleep.

A: Cats are wonderful, but they have some innate body clock differences that can sometimes make them a challenge as housemates.

Cats are what we call crepuscular, a fancy way of saying that they’re most likely to be active at dawn and dusk. It sounds like your cat doesn’t even wait until dawn to do his hunting -- i.e., demand that you feed him. And you’re not alone; this is a common problem for many cat lovers.

The good news is that pet experts and manufacturers are making great efforts to provide cats with toys and other ways to get food that don’t involve waking up their people at the crack of dawn, let alone earlier.

A cat’s normal hunting behavior involves multiple forays for prey daily, not all of which are successful. Simply setting down a bowl of food twice a day doesn’t present a cat with any challenge to brain or body. But puzzle feeders allow you to mimic a cat’s natural feeding behavior, from the hunt to the satisfaction of eating.

Whether you feed canned or dry food, you can find a puzzle toy that works with it. Experts at FearFreeHappyHomes.com recommend buying or making an assortment of food puzzles so you can continually challenge your cat’s hunting skills. Fill them with your cat’s normal amount of food for the day, and hide them around the house so your cat can use his nose and other senses to find food without gobbling it all up at once and then demanding more from you at 0-dark-30.

For more information about food puzzles, both homemade and commercial, check out foodpuzzlesforcats.com. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Tennessee names

bluetick state dog

-- The bluetick coonhound, the University of Tennessee’s mascot, is now the state dog, thanks to unanimous votes in Tennessee’s House and Senate and Gov. Bill Lee’s signature making it official. The personable hounds take their name from their blotchy dark blue coat with black spots on the back, ears and sides. The people-loving dogs are often seen riding shotgun in pickup trucks and can be good friends for kids old enough to stand up to rambunctious play. Expect to give the medium-size (45 to 80 pounds) bluetick long walks and hikes and plenty of sniffing time. Drawbacks: The coat has a distinctive musty scent, and the bluetick is famous for a “big bawl mouth” -- in other words, he’s loud.

-- More than a dozen authors will be signing their books on animal care and health, breeds, science and mystery fiction, adventure, fantasy, memoirs and more at the 2019 Cat Writers’ Association 25th anniversary conference. The book signing and fundraising event, open to the public, benefits the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) and takes place at Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch, St. Louis on Friday, May 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the West ballroom, located on the lobby level.

-- Sometimes it seems as if certain dogs ought to be able to put the initials M.D. after their names. Besides the ability to sniff out certain types of cancer or recognize the odor indicating that a person’s blood sugar is too high, dogs have now been trained to indicate the presence of malaria infections. Tested in an area of West Africa where malaria is endemic, the dogs successfully identified the distinctive odor of the disease 70% of the time by sniffing clothing worn by people with malaria infections. They recognized uninfected people 90% of the time. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.