Dog Related Summer 2014 Goals

1. Teach Murray to "spin" using the clicker.
2. Learn to safely clip dog nails.
3. Practice our recall.  Murray seems to be "forgetting".
4. Work on getting Murray more comfortable in water.
5. Work on controlling our excitement when we see other dogs.
6. Learn more about interpreting titer test results.
7. Find ways to help my local shelters.
8. Learning to "lighten up" when I tend to get worked up over a dog related issue.
9. Work on ways to help keep Piper calm during thunderstorms and fireworks.
10. HAVE FUN!

My watcher

My swimmer

Wordless Wednesday- We Love A Ride!

Highlights From Memorial Day Weekend: Murray's Point Of View

Friday night rolled around and just as I was getting to relaxing into my weekend, they stuffed me in the Jeep along with lots of food, pillows and bags of stuff!  Some of the stuff was mine so I knew were in for a long haul.  Piper took up most of the available space so I kept to my small corner of the backseat, and off we went!  Our destination...CAMP!  Now not campING exactly.  I'm talking a kind of summer house up in the woodsy Adirondack Park.  Mom tells me, and I have to agree, that I am a great traveler and I seem more comfortable with it each year.  So being the good boy that I am, I knew I was in for a fun adventure!  Here are my highlights...

*We build a real fire inside the house at camp.  At home we push a button to turn ours on and it's behind glass, but this one is touchable!  I stay away, not just because my worry wart mom tells me too, but that thing shoots at me!  I swear it does!  I never saw any bullets, but the loud popping sound that woke me from a sound sleep was definitley theat fire trying to kill me!

*I got to sleep in bed of course, but this bed is just a full bed, not a queen like at home, so I got to snuggle real close and hog space and covers!  Mom and Dad even rotated their position to put their heads at the foot of the bed so I could sleep at their feet, which was actually the head of the bed.  Confused yet?  They were worried I would roll off the bed in the middle of the night and hurt myself because the foot board on this bed was very low.  The head board helped keep me on the bed.  It was funny when Mom and Dad kept losing their pillows off the foot-head board!  Hehe

*I got to sniff, wander and poop in tall woodsy grass!  I even lost my listening skills here and there a bit.  I could hear Mom and Dad calling me or telling me what to do, but my nose took over and kept leading me away sometimes!  Oops!

*I did have to make a quick trip to the vet.  No worries, it was a scheduled appointment for my titer test and heartworm/lymes test.  Actually, let me take that back...absolutely worry!!!  My doctor, who is super nice and friendly, just has the darnedest time finding a vein in my leg to draw out the red stuff!  After what I know had to be 20 pokes, blood streaming down both legs and Mom freaking out a bit, he took it from my neck.  One and done!  Phew!

*I had lots of car rides = one happy dog...nuff said.

*Mom gave Piper and I big bone treats, which was especially nice after my traumatic doctor visit.

*I ate a grilled hot dog- YUM YUM!

All in all it was lots of fun!  I was tired for the last 2 days, but I guess that's when you know it was a good time :)  Woof!

Happy Memorial Day!

Wishing everyone a very happy and safe Memorial Day.  Never forget those we have lost...

Great Book- A Dog's Purpose

This is a great book for dog lovers but it's also a fantastic story even if you aren't a dog lover.  It is told from the point of view of the dog and covers just how dogs see their world.  It proves once again, the deep love of a dog. You'll both laugh and cry as you follow four different dog lives.  A great fictional read! 

Denali

Thanks Denali!

Cancer Detecting Dogs

Everyone knows that dogs have a keen sense of smell, but now they can even pick up on the worst of the worst...cancer!  We're finding that dogs are capable of detecting cancer even before your doctor does!  Cancers in the lungs and colon are being found by dogs at a highly accurate rate.  There are findings that dogs are over 90% accurate in detecting colon cancer through breath and stool samples alone.  Prostate cancer is being found in urine samples and even melanomas and ovarian cancers are being discovered...all using man's best friend and their strong sniffers.  It is believed that dogs are relying on that strong sense of smell to pick up on subtle chemical changes in the human body which show up in breath, urine and stool samples.  As with with most cancers, the earlier the detection the better the treatment and success rate.  Ovarian cancer in particular, the sooner it's found, the better the outcome....and it is starting to be found that dogs can find ovarian cancer even before modern medicine.  This method of cancer detection using dogs would certainly be more cost effective, quicker and easier at regular annual check ups.  Seems like a smart idea to get on board and support programs working with cancer sniffing dogs.

Sniff Sniff

Wordless Wednesday- Almost Memorial Day Weekend!

Great Book!- Reaching the Animal Mind

This book is just excellent in helping you get to your dog's heart and mind.  It takes you deeper into what really drives dogs.  It's a great read for any dog owner seeking more insight into their dog's thinking.  Karen Pryor shares her experiences through some great stories, while being humorous and entertaining along the way. 

2 Worthwhile Apps!

Dog Land- Free

This is a social app for dog lovers.  There is photo sharing, fellow dog lover interactions, tips, and connections to Facebook and Twitter etc!  It's a great app for sharing dog photos when you might feel like you're over-sharing on Facebook.  Lots of fun!  The set up is like a cross between Facebook and Instagram with a newsfeed and photo editing options. 

Petmobi- Free

This is also a social app for dog lovers, but it also includes a nutrition and exercise tracker with rewards for pet health.  In your pet profile you set fitness goals and it calculates daily needed calories.  Then you track your pet's nutrition and exercise through the help of the app's large database of pet foods, treats, human food, exercises, distance and time.  It also allows you to connect with others through updates, likes and comments, all on your own wall!  It keeps records of your pet weigh ins too!  It's really cute and just great to promote dog health.

Lets get tracking!

Ding Dong! It's The Dog!

Both Murray and Piper scratch at our doors.  We have bells hanging on the doorknob that they ring to go out to our yard, but to come back in or to to go somewhere out the front door, they scratch. And scratch and scratch! Sometimes I find myself just simply waiting by the door for them to want to be let in, to avoid the jumping and scratching.  But wait a minute...just maybe my dug up doors will soon be a thing of the past!  I just came across a doggie doorbell!  People are reporting it takes only a couple days to train your pup to ring his doorbell and the sound and volume are not too overpowering.  Some people are saying they even take it when they travel with their dogs!  How cool!  Is anyone out there using one?  I'd love to hear about it!

 

Dog Travel Packing List

*Car restraints

*Leashes and collars

* Lots of poop bags

*Dog bed

*Toys

*Food and water

*Treats

*Food and water dishes

*Tie outs

*Health certifications

*ID tags

*Medications

*Dog first aid kit

*Local veterinarian contact info

TBT

My baby Murray

Wordless Wednesday- After Work Dog Time

Tips For Dog Weight Loss

Most dogs aren't getting enough exercise and are being shown love with too many treats.  These could be the main reasons your pup is pudgy.  It's not always easy to help your dog lose unneeded weight, but it is possible and very very important for good overall health.  Here are some tips to help you get started.

*Consistent exercise everyday- approximately 20 minutes for small dogs and up to 45 minutes for larger dogs.

*Feed several smaller meals a day as opposed to one large meal.

*Feed a high quality diet with vegetables, meats, herbs and supplements.

*Monitor his progress weekly through weigh-ins and then making any necessary adjustments to food and exercise plans.

*Ask your veterinarian to help you formulate a weight loss plan, or seek out a veterinary nutritionist to help.

*Measure, weigh and count out all meals and treats to be sure you aren't feeding too much or too little.

*Your goal should be to aim for no more weight loss than 1-2% body fat a week.  It's unsafe at a faster rate.

*STICK TO YOUR PLAN

Don't be a couch potato!

Happy Fur Mom Day!

From this fur mom, to all the moms of both two legs and four... wishing you a very HAPPY MOM'S DAY!

Yoko

Thank You Yoko!

Wordless Wednesday- Selfie Time!

Do's And Don'ts Of Walking Your Dog

DO's

*Pick up your dog's poo.
*Have your dog leash trained before going out walking.
*Limit meet and greets with other dogs unless welcomed.
*Keep you dog under control.
*Have fun!

DON'Ts

*Allow your dog to roam through people's gardens and lawns.
*Allow your dog to lunge at other dogs or people from his leash.
*Approach other dogs on the street unless welcomed.
*Walk in overcrowded areas.
*Allow your dog to "eliminate" just anywhere.  Cars and people's gardens are unacceptable locations.

Ready to go!

Service Dog Ettiquette

It's important to be aware of how to behave when in the presence of a service, or working dog.  These dogs are allowed in any public place, so it's really the public's duty to be informed.

* Don't speak to the dog.  Always speak to the owner first, to ask permission to speak to their dog.  The dog must stay alert to it's owner at all times and you might cause it to become distracted.
* Only the owner should deliver commands to the dog.
* Do not be intrusive in questioning the owner about their disability.  It's just rude.
* Do not pet or touch the dog in any way.  Also, do not allow children to run around the dog or pet it either.
*Carefully monitor, and keep at a safe distance, all dogs that might encounter a service dog.
*Never offer food to a service dog.
*Never take things away from a service dog once it has retrieved something.
*It's your job to remove yourself from the situation if you're afraid or allergic to dogs.  The owner and the dog have every right to be in public.

Always respect working service dogs

Weekends :)

Sundays are a great time to get out, get moving and connect with your pups!  Happy Sunday Funday Runday!

Springtime Dog Safety Tips

Plants- Blooming springtime plants can pose a danger to your dog if ingested.  Keep you dog away from plants such as bittersweet, day lilies, lilies of the valley, tiger lilies, azaleas, crocus', ferns, morning glories, and tulips.

Spring Runoff- This time of year water seems to be running from everywhere!  We live on a hill so I see it running down everyone's driveway, sidewalks and through yards.  Then of course there are the puddles that form from the runoff.  It's important to remember you have no idea what's in runoff, and you should keep your dog from walking in it and drinking it.  Anything from rock salt, antifreeze, pesticides and pool chemicals can be washing down through your neighborhoods this time of year.

Cocoa Mulch- It's a common site to see people out gardening in the springtime and mulch has become a very popular gardening item... but one type in particular is dangerous for your dog.  Cocoa mulch contains caffeine and theobromine (same as chocolate) and can be toxic to your pup.  Keep it out of their reach and from walking through it. 

Garden and Lawn Fertilizers- For hopefully obvious reasons, the chemicals in these products are toxic to your dog.  Look for pet safe or organic fertilizers.  Also, keep your pet off lawns and gardens of others if you aren't sure they are safe.

Springtime Debris- Things like tree branches,garbage, broken glass and animal waste are just a few of things you'll want to keep your dog getting his mouth or paws on.  Until streets, sidewalks, yards and fields are spring cleaned, keep a close eye out.

Mothballs- The chemicals that cause the scent in mothballs is toxic to all of us.  Keep them sealed up tightly and out of your dog's reach.

Ant Bait- Both the small, often plastic containers that ant bait is packaged in, along with the pesticides inside, are harmful for your dog.

Flea and Tick Medications and Preventatives- It's important to make an informed decision, with the help of your vet, as to which flea and tick treatments are best for you and your dog.  There are natural solutions and chemical solutions.  Some feel natural products don't work as well as the chemical ones, while some natural product users feel they work even better! It's important to consider your dog's level of risk.  If you choose to go the chemical route, there are many options and it's important to learn about your choices.  Some repel, some repel and kill, and there are collars, sprays, drops and pills.  Some are found to even be safer than others.  Please do your research.

Allergies-  Keep an eye out for any display of allergies within your dog.  He could show coughing, flaky skin, itching, sneezing or a greasy looking coat.  If you suspect an allergy, speak with your vet.

Other Animals- Nice weather brings out more people, pets and wildlife.  It's a time to be extra cautious for things that might trigger your dog or another animal to react.

Cleansers- Spring cleaning equals household cleansers in full force!  There are pet safe options and natural products you can both purchase or make yourself. 

Bring on the springtime fun!

Why License Your Dog?

Most cities require your dog to be licensed by law.  It is generally very affordable and is to be renewed annually.  If you are like me, I never knew the true reasons behind dog licensing laws.  Here are the reasons... 

1. Licensed dogs have a greater chance of being returned home if lost.  Dogs found wearing their license tags can be looked up and reunited with their owners. (Don't forget micro-chipping as well!)

2. Helps keep the public safe from rabies.  When licensing your dog, a rabies vaccination is required.  Your city is ensuring the dog population stays safe, and in turn the human population as well. (I would like to see cities accept titer tests as proof of immunity against rabies as well).

3. Identifies to strangers who might find your lost dog, that your dog is not a stray.

4. Helps your city organization regulate aggressive dogs and investigate any incidents involving a dog, to keep everyone safe.

5. Many times licensing fees help fund local shelters.

Support your local shelters...license!