Rogan in his twilight years (age 15)

You probably think this post is going to be about euthanasia, don’t you? Ha! Gotcha. No, it’s about corpulent canines, such as Sarah, my little foster Chihuahua whose achingly adorable photo graces my last post.

Recently, my awesome colleague Reannon sent me an article from CNN.com that jolted me out of my complacency about Sarah’s round, cuddly torso. (A sure sign of canine obesity is the absence of a true waistline when viewed from above.) The article quotes Dr. Kristine Yee, a veterinarian at California Animal Hospital in Los Angeles, who warns us that severe respiratory, cardiac, metabolic, and orthopedic problems can be exacerbated by obesity. She specifically mentions a beagle who had to have three knee surgeries just because she was too heavy! Yikes! I believe Chihuahuas are prone to knee problems too.

Back in 1991, I had a very sick dog who had lost his appetite and a cocker spaniel named Rogan who happily wolfed down all the leftovers, resulting in obesity. The way I got him to slim down was by replacing half of his food rations with raw, grated cabbage. I mixed it up well with his wet food, and he was a happy camper because he still got the same volume of food.

You could use other crisp veggies for this as well: zucchini, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower. They have very few calories but provide bulk and flavor and vitamins and antioxidants. Rogan’s weight plummeted in short order, and he kept it off for 11 more years. There was also a marvelous side benefit to this—Rogan’s increasingly serious anal gland troubles disappeared completely for the rest of his life!

So Sarah and I are going to get serious now—I’ve gotten out the measuring spoons so I can accurately mete out smaller portions. Another habit to get into in order to keep Fifi fit is to refrain from giving her treats just because she’s cute. Treats should be reserved for good behavior in response to a request—otherwise, they lose their appeal and thus their power.

Koro winking, 1985

You know, our dogs are much more attuned to our body language than we realize. Believe it or not, they even enjoy copying us sometimes. Try this: Catch your dog's gaze and then wink at him or her, while saying, "Wink!" in a perky voice. Do it at least 10 times or so. I would be very surprised if your dog doesn’t quickly learn how to wink right back at you. All my dogs have learned how to wink and so have most of the other dogs I’ve ever winked at.

They'll also copy you if you make your eyelids very droopy and sleepy as if you can hardly keep them open. Do this when Max is lying down and looking at you, and I bet you that under relaxing circumstances, his eyes will get droopy, too, and he will probably even yawn and go to sleep. Under the right circumstances, you can actually use this as a technique to quiet down an overly excited dog. I use it on my three foster Chihuahuas when I bring them to work and they start to bark too much—works like a charm.

The beautiful girl in the accompanying photo is my first dog, Koro, winking at me way back in the '80s. It was Koro who first taught me that animals have rights—I wonder if she was thinking what a good pupil I was! ;-)

My enterprising neighbor and colleague Bob sent me a June article from The Globe and Mail about the increase in cancer in both wild and domestic animals, and there were several very important points made in the article with regard to our dogs:

Between 1975 and 1995 the incidence of bladder cancer in dogs examined at veterinary teaching schools in North America increased six-fold. … When researchers interviewed the owners of Scottish terriers with bladder cancer, they found that dogs whose owners had used phenoxy acid herbicides on their lawns were four to seven times more likely to have cancer than dogs whose owners had not. The "cancer in dogs" studies reveal the multi-factorial nature of cancer. Bladder cancer in dogs is linked to the use of insecticidal flea and tick dips, but more so if the dogs were obese, and lived near another source of pesticides. Dietary protection is important, too. In the terrier study, the researchers found that when the Scotties ate green leafy vegetables three times a week, there was a 90% reduction in their risk of cancer.

Being the pacifist that I am, I’m also a staunch opponent of pesticides of all kinds (since their sole purpose in life is to kill). We are blithely contaminating our entire planet with these poisons. And just look how harmful they are to dogs (and to all living creatures).

On the other hand, look how healthful greens are! Greens are the ideal food for us and our dogs. Why? Because they're packed with antioxidants, especially kale, which, believe it or not, is kind of sweet-tasting, in case you haven't had it. There are many ways to get greens into Fido, even if he’s picky. You can sauté them in coconut oil, blend them in the blender with broth, steam them and mix them with whole wheat pasta or brown rice, etc.

If all else fails, you can give him spirulina tablets in a wad of wet dog food, peanut butter, or mashed potatoes. Spirulina is the ultimate green—a type of one-celled organism cultivated indoors in tanks and just bursting with nutrition. OK, so in powder form it looks like pond scum. So what? Just mix it in the blender with bananas, a little water, and a little coconut oil and you will have an ultra-nutritious and luscious (albeit very green) smoothie for yourself and your dogs. Five of my dogs lap it up every morning—five out of six can’t be wrong!

Young Doberman Shandy with his soft, velvety ears intact―that’s more like it!

I really thought I was having a daytime nightmare on Friday. I picked up a copy of The Virginian-Pilot and my eyes were drawn to an article called “Norfolk’s Pet Surgery Ban Is Unlawful, Some Say.” Apparently, Norfolk’s City Council banned do-it-yourself surgery on companion animals last year, which is great but shockingly overdue (what century are we living in?). But now it seems that this local law actually conflicts with Virginia state law, which allows owners of animals to perform surgery on their animals at home as they see fit!

These surgeries include ear-cropping, tail-docking, declawing, and debarking! As I read this, my jaw dropped and I just kept rereading it, trying to extract some kind of sense out of it, but I’m still in shock. I keep picturing these mean, unfeeling bullies taking knives to their innocent little puppies and kittens with no painkillers whatsoever. What kind of a person would do this? In my view, only a Neanderthal.

And how exactly do these people debark or declaw their own animals? I don’t even want to think about it.

One of the arguments used to support this hideous practice is the fact that farmers are allowed to cut off sheep’s tails and castrate cattle without benefit of painkillers or a veterinarian. Well, I say, instead of looking to farming practices to prove that it’s OK to mutilate companion animals, how about if we normal people look at our aversion to this DIY surgery law to prove that nobody should be allowed to whack body parts off any animals, be they farmers, hunters, breeders, animal experimenters, owners of companion animals, or anyone else. All animals have feelings. Why is this so difficult for some people to comprehend?

I lived with a gorgeous Doberman named Shandy for 10 wonderful years, and he came to me with soft, velvety intact ears and an expressive, long tail that looked for all the world like a vibrating question mark. The thought of hacking at either of those lovely appendages just makes my skin crawl.

Carly thinking things over: “Yeah, that makes sense—let’s skip the drama.”

Just recently in the dog park, I met a beautiful, playful young Great Dane. All was well for nearly an hour, when she suddenly turned on my Dexter and viciously attacked him in a sustained manner suggesting that she meant business. Luckily, Dexter managed to slip out of her reach, but he was extremely frightened (as was I). Seconds later, I was at his side with every panicky primate instinct inside me screaming, “Hug him! Hold him! Reassure him!” But instead, I just clapped him gently on the side a few times and said softly, “You’re OK, sweetie. You’re OK,” … and he was!

We quickly took the opportunity to make our exit while the Great Dane was still being kept in a “time-out” by her guardian, and Dexter trotted jauntily over to the gate as if nothing at all had happened. But what would have happened if I had followed my primate instincts with my canine companion? The emotional outpouring would have made a big impression on him—but not a good one. His fear would have been validated and magnified into a memorable and traumatic experience.

This is how many dogs develop phobias. A minor traumatic event that they would normally just shake off (literally) becomes a terrifying experience that affects the dogs’ future emotional state because we opted to indulge our primate penchant for drama. This is a difficult habit to break, but it’s well worth it to try.

The next time Fifi takes a tumble, see if you can calmly exclaim, “Hey, baby, are you OK?” in an upbeat, positive manner. Chances are, she will be. Of course, if there is any bodily harm done, do rush her to the vet immediately. But even then, the more positive, calm, and confident your demeanor, the less traumatized your dog will be.

Remember, dogs are extremely sensitive and will pick up on and absorb the energy that you put out. That’s why it’s so important for us to maintain a calm, healthy mental state while in the presence of our dogs. Of course, later on, you can go out with your friends and have a total meltdown—that’s fine. Just not in front of the dog. ;-)

This is the title of my boss, Ingrid Newkirk's newest book, hot off the presses. When I first heard the title, I thought, "Oh, no—how could she write such a silly book?" I had visions of dogs dressed in elaborate costumes and their people trying to make them play ridiculous games.

Boy, was I wrong! This book is packed with information that benefits dogs, but it's presented in a lighthearted and fun manner. It's all about discovering what your dogs need and want and enjoy and finding ways to give it to them. The "party" aspect is just a way of celebrating our dogs with our dogs in a joyful, carefree manner.

It all started when Ingrid was staying at a hotel in England and discovered that the hotel owners had two very neglected dogs who barely ever got to have any fun. As she stayed in this hotel frequently, she made a point of attending to the dogs whenever she was there, taking them for walks in the neighborhood. Then one day, she asked if she could take the dogs up to her hotel room—and that's where she had her first dog party. It consisted of playing, eating, barking, and snuggling—all that's really required to make a dog happy.

Our dogs are so easily pleased and yet so often they don't even get their basic needs fulfilled. They give us unconditional love, and we are too lazy or too busy to prioritize a nice long walk for them every day. This book reminds us how special our dogs are and why they deserve all the love and fun we can give them.

Here's an excerpt:

Don’t leave off your guest list anyone, canine or not, whom your dog might still miss since they moved away or changed dog parks some time back. Dogs have long memories. It is extra sad for them to suddenly not see a friend, given that we are ignorant of their language and cannot tell them why we divorced, that Rita moved to Oklahoma, or that that nice guy Sam went off to college. Sometimes a dog party invitation can provide just the perfect prod to bring old pals back together in a joyous reunion of wagging tails.

Are there any siblings you can reunite your dog with, or old dog pals who have gone elsewhere? For instance, dog expert Jayn Meinhardt reports that her neighbor had a large, quiet 3-year-old dog named Callie. Says Jayn, “Callie was a very sedate dog, which is why I was so surprised when I looked out the window one day and there was Callie bounding and leaping with another dog. She was running and jumping and nipping and carrying on. I couldn’t imagine what she was doing; it was so out of character for this dog.

"When I saw the neighbor a few days later, I asked her about Callie's odd behavior. She explained that her brother had adopted Callie's sibling and moved away. The two dogs had not seen each other in three years, since they were 2 months old, yet they immediately reverted to the way they had played with each other all those years ago."

This book is full of lovely, poignant, insightful, and hilarious anecdotes about dogs, as well as oodles of resources for dog fun, such as The Wolves of Bay Mountain, a CD of recorded wolf howls to be used at a howl-a-thon party; doggie life jackets for a boating or kayaking party; and dog-friendly films, such as The Movie for Dogs, for a canine movie party.

There are recipes and quotes and poems and instructions―this book just doesn’t quit. And every single page is devoted to giving dogs the love and attention and good times that they so richly deserve but rarely get to experience.

You can purchase a copy from PETA’s Catalog or from your local bookstore. Enjoy!

TJ thinks he died and went to heaven: His new home features loving human companions, lots of furry playmates―and air conditioning!

Dogs who are forced to live outside, whether on a chain or in a pen, suffer a lot of hardships. Depending on the weather, they can swelter in the heat or spend all day shivering in the cold. They get wet when it storms and have to cope with scary lightning and thunder. Even with adequate shelter—which is not the norm—fending off all the insect life that attacks outside dogs is a losing proposition. Flies eat away at the tips of their ears, fleas drive them crazy with itchiness and can give them tapeworms if they happen to swallow one, mosquitoes buzz around their heads and can inject them with heartworms, and ticks suck the life blood right out of them as well as transmitting Lyme disease. Intestinal parasites rob them of nutrition, and heartworms destroy their hearts.

But their callous owners also destroy their hearts. Dogs are pack animals, and forcing them to live separated from their family (their pack), especially when alone and isolated, is even crueler than all the physical discomfort and harm. Loneliness and frustration are the prevailing themes of these sad dogs' lives.

I had a sheltie neighbor named TJ who lived right across the street from me—always outside. His one consolation was that he had a fenced-in yard and wasn't chained. But he had spent his first five years living this way, with a family that gave him very little attention. Yet, in spite of his plight, what a loving, sweet, friendly dog he remained! I began to invite him over to my house to play with my dogs.

That's when I started noticing his health problems. He had a toenail that was so long, it had formed a curlicue, his thick fur was matted, and he had a bad case of diarrhea. I cut his nails, cut out the mats, and cleaned him up the best I could, but I insisted to my neighbors that he go to the vet because of the diarrhea. I was shocked to find out not only that in all his five years, TJ had been inside a vet's office only once before but also that my neighbors thought that was normal.

So at the vet's, I asked for a complete checkup and was appalled but not terribly surprised at the results: heartworms, hookworms, and a raging kidney infection. I presented the bill for his checkup, antibiotics, and hookworm meds as well as the projected bill for his future treatment of the heartworms and kidney infection to TJ's "daddy," and TJ's daddy suddenly didn't want to have a dog anymore. I asked him why he had gotten a dog in the first place, and his response was that he liked the way the yard looked with a dog in it.

TJ was lucky because he ended up in a wonderful new home found through a well-run, local sheltie and collie rescue group. He now lives indoors with three other dogs, a cat, and a very loving human family who have done everything in their power to treat his medical problems, which have eased quite a bit but remain significant. TJ's kidneys were badly damaged from the prolonged infection. I feel certain that a primary cause of his infection was the fact that his former family was so negligent about providing him with drinking water on hot days. More than once, I went over to get TJ and found his water dish bone dry.

And that is the trouble with keeping a dog outside. People who don't care to keep their dogs close to them tend to be the kind of people who don't really care about their dogs, period, and thus don't pay enough attention to them to keep them healthy and happy. Oh, they'll say that they care, but they really mean "when it's convenient."

Don't be fooled: Dogs don't really like being couch potatoes.

Part of the canine psyche is a desire for gainful employment. Believe it or not, dogs who lie around getting petted all day are not feeling exactly fulfilled. They want to have something to do that makes them feel important. They want a job! The jobs can be simple or they can be more involved and require training. As a person who is not very creative, I have trouble thinking of jobs for my dogs, but luckily, they can sometimes come up with their own jobs. For example, Rowdy came up with the job of checking the perimeter of the fence every time we go out into the back yard. And Sunny created for herself the job of keeping an eye on me (i.e., guarding me) as I move from room to room within the house.

I did actually come up with Dexter’s job, which is to go out onto the front porch with me whenever I have to take out the trash or the recycling. As you may have guessed, the jobs don’t technically have to be useful; they just have to make your dogs feel useful. So to that end, you should always thank and praise them for their service each time they get the job done.

R/G and Louie know how to get along!

This is a guest post from Amanda McKinney, a PETA staffer and professional dog trainer.

The dogs I sometimes foster for PETA have had it rough. Some have literally been driven crazy, spending day after day at the end of a chain, watching as life passes them by. Others suffer from injuries and illnesses long untreated. Luckily, these dogs have PETA's Community Animal Project to come to their rescue. CAP's field workers don't just sit around waiting for calls to come in—they're in the "trenches" every day, seeking out animals who need their help. When one of these fortunate critters comes home with my beagle, Louie, and I, they’re first welcomed into my home by my awesome little cat, R/G, who greets each and every one of them at the front door. No matter what their physical or mental state, she sniffs each one politely and allows them to do the same to her. It's quite amazing when you think about it—barking at cats and other animals passing by is one of the few pitiful pleasures most chained dogs have in life. How is it that these abused, neglected, and unsocialized dogs are able to respond so favorably to a strange cat?

I knew from the moment that I began considering adding a cat to my family that whomever I ended up adopting would have to be socialized with dogs other than Louie. I always pick up strays when I see them and take them home to wait for animal control. I foster. I didn't want to stop helping dogs because of my potential new addition, and I didn't want to upset my new feline friend every time I met a dog who needed a place to stay.

After a few weeks of looking at local animal shelters, I found her. She was the one, another companion animal soulmate I wanted to share my life with. Shy at first, she spent a lot of time hiding. I respected her boundaries and began figuring out what she liked so I could reward her when she acted confident and outgoing. She bonded with Louie and me and our housemates, and she stopped hiding. It was time to bring in the first strange dog.

Whenever you're training or socializing any companion animal—canine, feline or other—you should set up scenarios that maximize their chances of success. I decided the first strange dog R/G met should also be the easiest to get along with, and I chose Bella, a mellow, unobtrusive little Westie I know. Although apprehensive at first, R/G quickly realized that Bella meant her no harm, and her curiosity got the best of her. As she inspected this new dog, I praised her as much as I could without distracting her. Before long, the cat, both dogs, and I were cuddled up on the couch for an afternoon nap.

With one very positive experience under our belts, all I had to do was keep up the momentum. I asked friends and family members to bring their dogs to visit. In just a few months, my once-shy kitty became more dog-experienced than most dog people. She met big dogs and small dogs. Some were lazy and relaxed, some playful and hyper. I thought the first time one of these dogs chased her would be a bit of a setback. Boy, was I wrong. Now she barely gives newcomers time to sniff everything and get settled before she demands a game of tag.

R/G has long been comfortable with the stream of foster and misplaced dogs revolving through our household. She helps make them comfortable too. As I said, most of these temporary pack members lived very difficult lives prior to PETA's intervention, and adjusting to living indoors with a family of people and animals can be difficult and distressing for them. We all do our part to make the transition easier, and R/G's relaxed, confident greeting quickly melts away any lingering fears and doubts that those animals have about their new situation. Before I know it, she has coaxed her newest playmate into some silly game of her own invention, and a lonely, unloved animal has made a somewhat unlikely new friend.

A word about safety: Please exercise due caution when introducing your cat to strange dogs. It's always best to begin this process with dogs who are known to be cat-friendly. If it is absolutely necessary to bring an unknown dog into your house, make sure that you have close control of the dog in case things go wrong. Vanilla extract can be a good friend in situations like this—dab a little on the back of the neck of each animal involved, as well as your own wrists—animals are more open to new relationships when everyone smells the same.

Dogs like Cato would prefer not to have aggressive dogs menacing them!

If you ever find yourself in the path of a large hostile dog, conventional wisdom says that you should “make like a tree” (stand still and avoid eye contact), and if that doesn’t work, you should “make like a rock” (curl up on the ground, face down, with your arms covering your neck). However, if you have your dog with you, that’s not going to work because your dog will likely be the target. I’ve found myself in this tricky situation several times lately, and I’d like to share the two methods that I used to save my dogs from being mauled.

The first one was to throw a handful of treats straight at the dog as a decoy and then slowly back away. I always take treats with me to help with training my dogs, but this is another good reason to keep treats handy when out walking.

If that doesn’t work or you forgot your treats, try to “make like a wolf” and scare the dog away: You just puff yourself up, looking as imposing as possible, with a really mean look on your face, and you emit the most primal, deepest guttural sound in the most threatening voice that you can muster (for some reason, this comes easy to me!). Don’t worry about what the neighbors will think—your furry friend’s life could depend on it!

I can’t guarantee that these will always work, but they worked like a charm for me, and they’ll give you a fighting chance if you don’t have any other options.

Neglecting a dog is the same as abusing one.

This is the name of a new campaign by the Southern Hope Humane Society in Powder Springs, Georgia. The inspiration for the campaign was a tragic case of neglect in which a beautiful young dog named Angel was chained, starved, and left untreated for a broken leg and pelvis in a local back yard. Her sad photo is featured on a billboard next to the tag line: "Don't get a dog if you can't take care of one." There are also several posters of neglected dogs with pithy, pointed text such as: "If you don't want to go to the vet, there's always jail."

Many people shouldn't acquire dogs at all because of their personal financial situation, their lack of commitment to providing for the well-being of a dog, insufficient time to spend with a dog, or just a basic lack of compassion and empathy for animals. This campaign spells it all out in detail, listing specific reasons not to get a dog, including the various costs of dog-related supplies and services. Additional incentive is provided by a listing of people and the punishments that they received because of their thoughtless and extremely cruel neglect of their own dogs.

Hooray for the Southern Hope Humane Society! I would love to see all humane societies try to be this bold and creative. People need to be shaken out of their complacency. Many people have no idea that this sort of horror goes on every day, while others are well aware but don't realize that it's illegal and punishable and that all they have to do to stop it is pick up the telephone. If you'd like to contribute to this campaign, please visit the Southern Hope donation page.

Mante eagerly awaits his morning run!

The following is a guest post from my lovely friend Corey.

When my alarm goes off in the morning, the first sight I see is Mantequilla (a.k.a. Mante), sitting at the edge of the bed, shoving his cold, wet nose under the covers and begging to go for his morning run. He dances around the house, wiggling and hopping, until I don my running gear and harness him up.

As soon as our feet hit the pavement, he's on pace, trotting along jauntily, wagging his tail and sniffing the air. Just having an all-around good time with his companion human. When I start to slow down, he looks back as if to say, "Come on, Mom! Hurry up!"

Running has been our ritual ever since he was old enough to safely run more than a mile. Mante is a bundle of energy—running every morning offers a great way for him to release some of it while also keeping in shape. Not to mention, it's a great way to spend quality time together.

All animals benefit from a healthy exercise routine, be it a daily hour-long walk or a 30-minute morning run. If you want to take your canine companion running, start off slowly. Just like us, they need to build up their mileage. Start by walking and adding a few minutes of jogging at a time. See how they do. If they're still comfortable (not panting or slowing down), then jog for a little longer. For their first run, don't exceed more than five to 10 minutes at a time. Gradually build up from there. Soon they'll be able to run with you for a reasonable length of time.

If your dog just loves to run, like Mante, and happily accompanies you for longer runs, be sure to take water along. There are a ton of great doggie hand-held water bottles and collapsible bowls that can easily fit into your fanny pack. Give them water often and make sure they stay hydrated.

Your dog should never run with the leash attached to his or her collar. Just think about how uncomfortable that would be for you if someone was yanking on your neck while you ran. Instead, get them a comfortable harness, something that will not chafe and isn’t too tight. They'll thank you for not being a "pain in the neck."

Now you're ready. Harness up, grab some water and your dog, and hit the pavement.

Happy running!

Sugar has decided to go as a ladybug this year. Nice costume!

I'm not really that into Halloween. Although I enjoyed it as a child, these days trying to facilitate the interface between my six resident dogs and a steady stream of unknown, excited, costumed children is just plain difficult. I could make all my dogs stay behind closed doors in a bedroom, but that just doesn't seem fair to them, so I usually end up placing a big basket of Peanut Chews on my porch with a sign that says, "Help yourself!" and making myself scarce during trick-or-treat hours.

By the way, if you have dogs, please be extra vigilant that they don't get their paws on any Halloween candy, especially chocolate. Candy in general is full of sugar (horrible for the immune system, joints, teeth, etc.), but chocolate in particular contains a substance called theobromine, which can be fatal to dogs if they ingest enough of it. (This applies to cocoa mulch as well, so gardeners and dog people, beware.) Other food substances poisonous to dogs include raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, mushrooms, alcohol, coffee, uncooked yeast dough, onions, and onion powder. Garlic and avocado are debatable—there is some evidence that they can be toxic to some dogs, so it might be best to avoid those too. Xylitol, which has become a common additive in foods and toothpaste, is also quite toxic.

If you suspect that your dog has eaten something poisonous, please call the ASPCA's animal poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435. (Why not post this number next to your phone, just in case?) It's open 24 hours a day, every day, but you will be charged $55 on your credit card in exchange for advice on how to proceed. Obviously, this service is worth every penny—you're dealing with the life or death of your beloved canine companion!

Do have a safe and happy Halloween!

Koro came through when it mattered most!

One of the easiest ways to teach a dog to come to you is to play Hide 'n' Seek. But first you have to teach Fifi to stay, which isn’t hard at all. Just hold up your hand in a "stay" gesture, say, "Stay," in a serious tone of voice, and keep giving her delicious treats as long as she stays, while also saying in a chirpy voice, "Good stay!!" Start with very short stays—just a few seconds and then build up to longer ones. Release her by saying, "OK!!" but DO NOT give her a treat when you release her—only during the actual stay.

Once she can stay reliably for 10 or 15 seconds, you can start playing Hide 'n' Seek, which is REALLY fun and a great way to teach "the recall." Show Fifi that you are in possession of a container of luscious treats and tell her to stay. Go into the next room and quickly hide—someplace easy, like behind the door or behind the bed. Then call out, "Fifi, come!" She knows you’ve got the treats, so she will come looking for you. As soon as she finds you, say, "Good come!!" and give her a treat. Then repeat and repeat and repeat. You can hide in a closet, up on the kitchen counter, under a blanket—get creative. It's loads of fun.

Then take it outside and practice "come" in a safe area. Try running away from Fifi while yelling, "Fifi, come!"—her chase instinct should kick in, helping her to practice the recall until it becomes second nature. Continue dispensing treats. Gradually increase the amount of distance and distraction in the environment, and try hard not to tell Fifi to come if you don't think she is going to, because that would just be teaching her that "Come" is optional, which it most definitely is not.

Always carry treats with you, and give her one every time she comes to you at first, even if you didn't call her. Later, you can gradually fade the treats so that they aren't integral to her cooperation. The most important thing of all is this: Don’t ever, ever, ever scold her when she comes to you, no matter what she did just before you called her. So even if she is ripping apart your most expensive article of clothing, if you call her and she comes to you, she must get enthusiastic praise and a warm welcome! Coming to you should always be a reward in and of itself if you want her recall to be reliable. The reason for this is obvious—a dog who won't come to you can get lost, hurt, or even killed.

The most terrifying experience that I ever had with the recall was on a train in France 25 years ago. I had my first dog, my beloved shepherd mix Koro, with me, and we had both stepped off the train briefly (I thought that she might need to relieve herself and was more likely to do it off the train than on it). In retrospect, it was probably pretty foolhardy of me to take her on such a long train ride. But, be that as it may, the next thing I knew, the train was starting up again before we had reboarded! I tried to lead Koro quickly back up onto the train, but then—horror of horrors—she slipped her collar! Ice water coursed through my veins as I fixed Koro (whose recall was not what it should have been) with an intensely serious look and said, "Koro … come!" Well, Koro came, and I picked her up and tossed her onto the train with just enough time left for me to scramble up onto it too. Lesson learned!