Happy Doggies Make Happy Humans

Great Dog Trick--Laughter Guaranteed

Here's the thing I love about You Tube videos. You get to laugh. When you add dogs to those videos, wonderful laughs are guaranteed.

There's something endearing about how dogs throw themselves wholeheartedly into whatever they're doing. And, when it's unexpected (but truly doggish,) we love it even more.

So, here's my gift of delightful laughs as you watch this hilarious David Letterman video. Please pass it on to your friends who could really enjoy a good laugh.

Walking Your Dog--It's Time for the Summer Schedule

I love this YouTube video of The Dog Song by Nellie McKay. It's so soft and upbeat. She really expresses the best part of our lives with our dogs--companions who bring out the best in each of us.

When I'm out walking Krystal, I sometimes sing this song to her, "I'm just a walking my dog..."

Since I work from home, I get to walk Krystal throughout the day. Our spring schedule has been:

• A 15 minute walk when we get up in the morning.
• A long walk, at least a mile, beginning around 11:30am
• At some point in the day we play fetch inside the house.
• A 20 minute walk around 5:30pm.
• A 10 minute walk at bedtime.

We are now in the midst of changing our dog walking schedule with the arrival of summertime heat and humidity here in Raleigh. Our summer schedule is changing things around quite a bit. We get up earlier:

• Our long walk is now early in the morning, before the heat sets in. (Right now it's actually pleasant then.)
• Our 11:30 walk is now a 20 minute walk. When the heat really sets in, it will go down to 10 minutes.
• During the afternoon, we have several games of fetch, so she can run around the house like a wild and crazy dog.  
• A 20 minute walk around 5:30. When the heat really sets in, it will go down to 10 minutes.
• More fetch games.
• A 20-30 minute walk before bed.

During this transition period, Krystal is a bit disoriented. In spite of that long walk in the morning, she's raring to go for another long one at 11:30. So when I cut the walk short, she's disappointed and a bit confused. I've started taking treats on our walk to reward her for transitioning to shorter walks.

I usually sing songs while we're walking, she knows them and has a different walking style to go with each song. To help her during these intense summer months, I've started singing in the house as well. And, I've added Nellie's song to our repetoire:

"I'm happy because I'm just a walking my dog, singing my song, strolling along. It's just me and my dog catching some sun. We can't go wrong!"

Benefits of Dog Ownership--Dog Pack Energy

 

When people talk about the delights of having a dog as a member of their familly, they usually talk about the dog-human relationship. I'm grateful for the way our dogs provide us humans with ways to spontaneously get together and share our moments of the day. 

Our neighborhood dog pack is not nearly so orderly as the one in this photo. In ours, the number of dogs and type of dogs vary. We've got humans who are part of the pack as well. Membership varies, and is pretty much determined by when our dog walking times coincide.

 Last Friday evening about 6pm brought our pack of dogs and humans together.

I was walking Krystal, and suddenly she went on alert and began straining at her leash. I looked around, and sure enough, there was Krystal's friend Ruby--a rambunctious black Labrador Retriever. About that time, Ruby spotted Krystal and began straining on her leash. It was a lovefest.

Michele and I greeted each other while we watched our dogs go through their greeting rituals. We started chatting, dispensing treats and enjoying the soft warm weather.

In a short period of time, we were joined by a few more humans. Our pack energy began to flow. While the dogs relaxed on the grassy hill we humans began to share.

I was glad Krystal and Ruby were enjoying each other. Krystal had been on alert for the past few days. Jack the 13 week old German Shepherd puppy (who must weigh about 30 lbs) had been so glad  to see Krystal that in his puppy joy and entusiasm he pouced right on top of her. 11 lb Krystal was not pleased--in fact she felt physically threatened.

I shared how happy I was that Krystal's sense of self was returning and she could enjoy her time with Ruby, a much bigger dog--even bigger than Jack the German Shepherd puppy.

Michelle and her husband shared their weekend plans to go to Charlotte and take their nephew to lunch to celebrate his 21st birthday. They couldn't leave until about 11am on Sat, because Michelle wanted to do her water aerobics class first. We all agreed that was a good idea. I added I was going to Tai Chi on Saturday morning.

James and his wife were headed off Virginia Beach to visit a newly arrived baby in their family. James and I discovered we both do stuff on the Internet, so we had a short geeky conversation about that. In the background I could hear Maureen observing about our conversation to Michelle and her husband.

For her part, Maureen had joined us for the dogs. She's cared for both of them, so they know and love her. She was headed off to Philadelphia for a week's vacation. She wanted to say good bye to Krystal and  Ruby, and get slobber kisses and hugs from both.

I'm grateful for the dog pack energy the dogs bring us. Their gift is bringing us together and providing ways for us to step out of our busy lives, join in pleasant conversation and share with one another. What a wonderful gift.

Thanks dogs. I really like living life in a doggish manner.

Photo by: dregsplod

6 Suggestions to Help You Adopt a Dog

Isn't this a wonderful photo? These two, dog and girl, are totally together. Gloriously happy as can be.

I'll bet this is a version of what you're envisioning as you begin the process of adopting a dog into your family. I'm here to say, "Yes, this can happen to you!"

My own experience, and that of many, many others is that your special dog is out there waiting for you to come pick her up, and take her home.

Here are my 6 suggestions for beginning your trek on the road to doggie happiness:

Getting Ready to Adopt

1. Take some time to think through why you want to bring a dog into your family. Companionship and fun are good reasons. So are many others. What are yours?

2. You might want to think about your family lifestyle, and what kind of life you can offer a dog.

• Do you live in a home with a fenced in yard? Or, an apartment? Are you working at home or does your employment keep you away from the home 10 hours a day?
• How are you going to walk the dog each day?
• Have you got kids that want to romp around with the dog?
• What size dog are you interested in? Are you more the lap dog type?
• Would the dog live indoors or outdoors? In a bedroom, or in the kitchen? Are you interested in crate training the dog (crates can make great dens--little doggie paradises.)

3. Do you want a dog that's "purebred" with AKC registration papers that you can show at dog shows? Or, would you prefer a "family dog" that can fit in with your daily life?

Choosing Where To Look For Your Dog

4. I recommend you start with your local shelters and rescue organizations. These folks are dedicated to finding good homes for the pets in their care. They've got a wide variety of dogs and if you're patient, you can find the right dog for you and your family. Shelters and rescue groups also have dogs with AKC papers, so don't skip these wonderful resources. (FYI, Oprah recently adopted a purebred Cocker Spaniel from a shelter in Chicago.)

You can look for local shelters on www.petfinder.com and www.pets911.com . Both sites have a facility to type in your zip code and give the geographic radius you are willing to drive to get your pet.

5. Be aware that each shelter and rescue organization has its own rules on what they think will make a good adoptive family. Some have application forms to fill out, references to provide, interviews with family members and current pets. Others go by their personal "gut feel."

• When I adopted Krystal from a private shelter (located through www.Petfinder.com ,) they told me that many shelters would not have let me adopt from them because I didn't have a fenced in back yard. 
• Krystal's shelter told me the reason they decided to let me adopt Krystal was because I provided references with phone numbers and emails (they never contacted them.) More importantly, I also provided the name, address and phone number of the veterinarian I was planning to care for my new dog. For that shelter, my providing the vet's information was the most important piece of information. It showed my sincere intention to provide excellent care for my future dog.  (Much thanks to my friend Karen for handing me her vet's business card when I mentioned I was looking for a dog!)
• Be ready to encounter these types of situations. If you find a roadblock, don't take it personally. Move on to the next shelter. Don't be disuaded from bringing dog happiness into your family life.

6. Six great things about shelters and rescue organizations are:

• They know their dogs and they can help you figure out what the best type of dog is for your family's lifestyle. They're good at this. So be sure to let them help you.
• Shelter animals are often spay/neutered, vaccinated, and have their microchip identification already inserted.
• There are lots of different types of dogs in shelters, so you've got a choice.
• Usually, the shelters know a lot about the dog you become interested in adopting. Be sure to ask "personal" questions about the dog.
• If the dog turns out to be sick, or not a good fit for your family, most shelters want you to return the dog to them. They can then find a better fit or get medical care for the dog.
• Adopting from a shelter supports your community. When you adopt from a local shelter, you create room for another dog to find a new "forever family." 

Krystal and I send you our best wishes on your search for doggie happiness.

Photo by: D Sharon Pruitt

Graduating From Being Afraid of Other Dogs

I've got happy news to share. My dog Krystal has graduated from being afraid of other dogs!

Her "final exam" was doing the K9 3K walk sponsored by the Wake County SPCA. She passed with flying colors.

As we drove into the parking garage, I got a little nervous. There were dogs, humans and kids everywhere. Krystal had never been in the company of so many dogs or humans. 

I decided the only way this could work was if I had a positive attitude and was ready for fun. Before I got the car parked, I started telling Krystal what a good dog she was, and singing songs to her.

Krystal was amazing. She took it like a champ.

The first sign that things really were going well came as we walked down the stairs of the parking garage. We passed several dogs who weren't used to going down stairs. Krystal is fond of stairs, and she kept on task. She didn't start barking or get all territorial. She just kept going down those 4 flights of stairs. All that time I was letting her know what a good dog she was.

The bigger challenge was just ahead. We had to cross the street and go into Moore Square, which was filled with thousands of dogs and their humans. 

Krystal held her own. When we got to the corner, I followed our normal routine and told her to "wait." She waited. When I told her to "cross," she trotted straight across the street. She totally ignored everyone else--her little ears were back in full obedience. It was a sight to see.

As we stepped into Moore Square, I admit to more than a little trepidation. I'm not overly fond of big crowds, so I gave myself a talking-to about remaining grounded and calm so this could become a good experience for Krystal.

Once again, she surprised me. She's always been frightened of big dogs, but she didn't bat an eye. She walked right with me over to the line for the registration tent. There she stood calmly taking in the scene. I was feeding her treats and singing to her.

When the SPCA started the 3K walk, humans and dogs started moving together. I was flabbergasted at the sight of my self-confident little dog walking so peaceably and happily among all these other dogs. Never a whimper or sound of a fear-bark. She was so self-confident that she just moved away when she encounted a dog she wasn't comfortable with.

After about 1/3 mile, the pack energy took over, and all the dogs and their humans began moving in sync. Krystal was smiling, clearly enjoying herself.

I was floating with joy.  Krystal completed the walk with nary a fear-bark or display of territoriality. Our lives were transformed with every step.

--------------------

When Krystal came to live with me 2 1/2 years ago, the shelter told me she had been found as a stray. They thought she had been on her own for 6 weeks. I truly admire her ability to survive that ordeal.

In the world of stray dogs, and 11 lb dog doesn't have much clout. She clearly survived on leaves, twigs, and acorns. The big stray dogs did her no favors, and our first year was filled with massive fear-barking when we encountered any dog on our walks.

I'm very grateful for my obedience instructors at Bon-Clyde Learning Center, who taught me how to work with Krystal. And who stayed for an extra hour one evening to teach me about terriers, and give me techniques to build Krystal's self-confidence and reduce her fear.

Thanks very much. It took us 2 years of love, dedication and training. I used your techniques the entire time. We're a much happier family now.

Bo Arrives at the White House

It's been a long wait, since that election night promise. Finally Bo, the Obama's new Portugese Water Dog has arrived. I've got to say, I love those white sox!

He did rather well, for his first public appearance. He was bouncy and enthusiastic. Those are traits I've seen in other Portugese Water Dogs. Best of all, he didn't freak out with all those cameras and lights.

Did you see Malia getting little Bo to sit? She did it perfectly. She sat in front of Bo while holding a treat, then she raised her hand up. It took several times for Bo to be able to focus on Malia and the treat. But, when he did, his little head followed Malia's hand up as he reached for the treat. And, his little rump went right down on the ground. Malia let out a proud shout, "Oh, good boy!", letting Bo know he had done exactly what she wanted him to do.

While many people are complaining that the Obama's didn't adopt a shelter dog, I'm fine with that. They did what was right for their family. That's what's most important. They researched the dog world, and found the type of dog that was best for them. They had friends helping them find the right dog to invite into their home. And, during this short film clip the girls shared some of what they learned--Malia succeeded in getting Bo to sit, and Sasha shared that Portugese Water Dogs have to be taught how to swim.

It's exciting to watch this family welcome their new dog into their lives. My dog Krystal and I wish them all the best and happiest of times together.

We're also hoping other families find it in their hearts to adopt a dog! It's a wonderful experience.

James Herriot's Dog Stories

 

These are times to purposely seek out books, people and dogs that provide great companionship and a steady upbeat outlook on life.The pastoral writing of James Herriot fits that bill nicely.

 Dog Stories is a collection of 50 stories that were pulled from Herriot's books. You'll recognize some of them if you've watched some of the PBS show All Creatures Great and Small.

What's special about these stories is that they're focusing just on the dogs and their humans. At the end of each story Herriot adds a page of personal reflections about the dog, the human, the veterinary experience.

For instance, we now learn that Tricki Woo's human, Mrs. Pumphrey, actually provided James Herriot with a "drawing-room [that] was a warm haven in my hard life and Tricki Woo was a lovable patient. The little Peke with his excentric ailments has captured the affection of people all over the world, and I have received countless letters about him."

We also learn that Mrs. Pumphrey was one of the few who recognized herself in his books, and that she thought it was a lark.

In this book we hear stories of the shelter dog who stole Herriot's heart, the dog who helped him with his courtship of his future wife Helen, Herriot's relationship with a local animal healer, a large family of irrepressible humans who were also irrepressible dog lovers, the amazing two legged farm dog who's human believed in him, and the blind dog who romped over the Dales while healing his human.

Dog Stories can be read straight through like a novel, or sought out when you need a refreshing pick me up. You can even pet your dog while you're reading, and get double the pleasure and companionship. 

Iditarod: The Dog Sporting Event of the Year

Hey ya'll,

 

This is Krystal, reporting on the dog world's greatest sporting event of the year--the Iditarod.

 

In case you humans didn't know, we dogs keep a close watch on this event. We keep in touch with the news through traditional methods (dogs barking out the news to all dogs within hearing range) to the thoroughly modern. I've just spent several hours on Kaye's lap while we searched the Internet for the latest news and You Tube videos for this blog post.

 

For the canine population, nothing can compare with the Iditarod Dog Race. American humans have their March Madness, World Series, and Super Bowl, soccer players have the World Cup. There's the Olympics, and Harry Potter has Quiddich. We dogs have the Iditarod.

 

It's all about the dogs. We love those racers. They're the fittest, most competitive dogs in the world. They train almost all year long, and are light, sleek dogs with strong with long legs.

 

And, they love to run! Wow. The enthusiasm shown by those Alaskan Huskies (and other breeds) is beyond belief. I've got chills running down my spine just thinking about it.

 

Just listen to these dogs in this You Tube as they get ready to start this year's race. They are rarin' to go!

It's understandable that humans focus on their human counterparts in this competition. But, the human mushers all know who really makes this race work! Take a look at 4 time Iditarod winner Jeff King's website if you've got any doubts.

 

In order to win races, the dogs have organized themselves into various jobs and positions within their pack. Iditarod Musher (15 top ten places in 26 Iditarod races) DeeDee Jonrowe fills us in on her website:

 

Dog team members are given titles according to their position in the team relative to the sled. These include leaders or lead dogs, swing dogs, team dogs, and wheelers or wheel dogs.

Lead dogs steer the rest of the team and set the pace. Leaders may be single or double; the latter is more common now, though single leaders used to be more common during the mid-twentieth century. Exceptionally a leader may be unhitched (a loose or free leader) to find the trail for the rest of the team, but the practice is uncommon and is not allowed at races. Qualities for a good lead dog are intelligence, initiative, common sense, and the ability to find a trail in bad conditions.

Swing dogs or point dogs are directly behind the leader (one dog if the team is in single hitch). They swing the rest of the team behind them in turns or curves on the trail. (Some mushers use the term swing dog to denote a team dog.)

Team dogs are those between the wheelers and the swing dogs, and add power to the team. A small team may not have dogs in this position. Alternately, the term may be used to describe any dog in a dog team.

Wheel dogs are those nearest the sled, and a good wheeler must have a relatively calm temperament so as not to be startled by the sled moving just behind it. Strength, steadiness, and ability to help guide the sled around tight curves are qualities valued in "wheelers."

You've got to see this training run video with a mushing team in action. Notice how the dogs are all working together, matching their speed and pace, all lined up beautifully for aerodynamic results.

That's the beauty of a dog team. We're pack animals, you know. And, we know how to organize, work together, and happily get the job done with enthusiasm, courage and exceptional skill!

 

As I'm writing this Lance Mackey and his dogs are in the lead of the 2009 Iditarod race. He won the Iditarod in 2008, and gave his lead dogs full credit by having them on the winner's stand with him.

 

This is a fantastic race this year. Be sure to let your dog know what's happening, ya'll can check out  the official Iditarod website for race results and commentary. You wouldn't want your dog to be known around the neighborhood as being uninformed on this important event. 

 

Just so you can see the unbounded enthusiasm of these amazing racing sled dogs, I thought I'd finish with this special opportunity to view some exceptional James Mason photos of mushing race dogs and their humans.

Oprah's Guide to Adopting a Pet

If you were watching Oprah on Thursday, you were in for a treat. She's added a new family member by adopting an 8 week old puppie, a blond Cocker Spaniel named Sadie.

You could tell Oprah was absolutely delighted to have Sadie in her family. Her happiness was contagious, bringing back memories for me of when I adopted my dog Krystal from a shelter in South Carolina.

Sadie found Oprah during a photo-shoot Oprah was doing at her shelter in Chicago. There were apparently a bunch of dogs for the photos, which will accompany an upcoming O article on adopting shelter dogs. In that special way that dogs have, Sadie latched on to Oprah and nuzzled her way into Oprah's heart.

From the looks of things, Sadie will fit in perfectly with Oprah's media live-style. When the producer brought Sadie onto to the stage, she was a cool composed puppy. Sadie didn't appear to be the least bit phased by all the lights, audience applause, and people calling her name. On top of that, she looked absolutely wonderful in her little spring coat, a Ralph Lauren selection.

Here's the great news. Oprah.com has an entire section on adopting a pet. I've spent some time looking through the content, and I really recommend you spend some time there, especially if you are considering bringing a new pet into your family.

One of the things that makes me feel really good is that Oprah's got all her pet information in the "family relationships" category of her website. She really honors her pets as true family members.

A Glorious Game of Fetch

I hope you've had a good laugh at this video. All the dogs I know would surely be delighted with this machine.

Can you imagine being a dog and having that machine available all day long? You could play fetch to your heart's content.

You would place the tennis ball into the slot, just so.  You're smiling as you watch the machine to make sure it raises the shooting mechanism and is ready to shoot. The anticipation is so delightful that your body and tail are wagging furiously. Then, at just the right time, you take off full speed in the direction the ball will surely be sent.

Oh my, it's glorious, the ball has been thrown, you're racing after it. You even get to chase it after it bounces onto the floor. Ahh, you've succeeded. The ball is in your mouth. So satisfying, you salivate and smile at the same time, flapping those amazing ears, wagging your full body down to the tip of your amazing tail.

If you're human is around, you get to share this glorious experience, and feel their joy radiating as they actually laugh out loud. It just makes you want to shake yourself out and do it again!

What could be better? A happy human and a happy dog? Aaarrrff!

I'm having so much fun with this blog post, I would love to hear from you about ways you keep your dog happy! I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Shouting Out a Valentine for You and Your Dog

While "watching" this video on You Tube, my dog Krystal and I got up and danced around our office. We did a bit of shouting and barking as well.

It's impossible to sit still with this one. All that shouting by that cute little stuffed dog. And, the silliness of those ears flapping to the beat of the song.

So, I'm shouting out a valentine to you and your dogs. Let's dance it up, shout it out, share the love and the enthusiasm for our canine companions and the happiness they bring us.

Saaaaaayyyy you will!

Is that Elephant Really Tummy-Rubbing that Dog?

What a delightful sight. Watching this video of Tarra the elephant give a tummy rub to Bella the dog.

Now, that's trust. But that's really what tummy rubbing is all about. Trust and appreciation.

In my experience, each dog makes its own decision regarding to whom they will present their tummy, and when.

My dog Krystal has her own personal mission to spread happiness and joy to all creatures (except squirrels, rabbits and birds). Once she's met you, and you respond to her happiness offerings with petting and cooing, she'll go for the gold very quickly without hesitation.

Other dogs have other agendas. I know a Chow mix dog that's very dignified. Tummy rubbing is a very selective activity for this dog.

Breed and personality can also enter into the equation. Some dogs are focussed on their human companion, others on their immediate family-pack, and others are so independent that tummy-rubbing never enters into the equation.

One thing I know for sure. Once a dog has offered a tummy-rub, and I respond with tummy-rubbing love, appreciation and respect, things are different between that dog and me. A tummy-rubbing bond has been established--the essence of love and companionship. And, we've got bond of appreciation for choosing to be special to one another.

These tummy rubbing companions, Bella the dog and Tarra the elephant, fill me with tummy-rubbing happiness.

Here's wishing you a great tummy rubbing day!

Hotel for Dogs--and Kids Too!

What a great time for dog movies! We've already had Bolt and Marley and Me. Now playing, is Hotel for Dogs. It's the best so far.

Anyone who cares about dogs or kids will thoroughly enjoy this delightful movie. I've posted the video trailer here for you to get a gleaming of what awaits you.

You already know I'm partial to spirited small while dogs. So you won't be surprised to hear that I love Friday, who is the dog star of this show. That said, there are zillions of dog breeds in this movie, and many with well drawn personalities. So every dog lover can find a favorite or two.

This is a family movie, and the adults can thoroughly enjoy it as much as the kids. It's got a well developed plot, with great characters. The acting is superb and so is the production. It's creative and inventive, hilarious and sad--all at the same time.

The Hotel for Dogs shows the best of of the human-dog relationship. We dog lovers already know a solid compassionate relationship with a dog can bring out the best in us. We can become better human beings, living life more to our capacity, having more compassion, and taking more action. Dogs can help us become happier, better people.

The plot turns on that admirable dog characteristic: to live in the moment, make the best of whatever is going on, and still play, have fun and spread the love around.

Two of the kids in this movie show us how amazing humans can be when they live their lives in a doggish fashion. These kids are just as admirable and loveable as the dogs.

Please be prepared to enjoy yourself. About half way through, I was wishing I had my dog Krystal with me. I can't wait for the DVD so we can watch it together. Krystal was found as a stray, and I found her on PetFinder.com, so I'm partial to strays being rescued. After the movie, I was very happy to go home and walk her. We talked dog silliness mostly.

There's so much to this movie, it may become a classic. And, and amazingly enjoyable one at that!

Have fun!

Happy Dog Swimming in the Snow

With much of the nation in the grips of a deep cold wave, we need some laughter.

Watching Bailey, the unknown reindeer, frolic in the snow brings joy to my heart. He's having the time of his life. Thank goodness for You Tube and videos--we get to share in Bailey's amazing adventure.

When he leaps into that snow, it looks as though he's doing the breast stroke. And when his head peaks out above the snow bank, just making sure his master is watching, oh what a dog look.

I love watching him swimming in the snow. Wouldn't it be fun to tunnel right along with him!

Ears flapping, tail wagging, leaping and jumping. That's a happy dog. 

I feel better already. I hope you do.

Enjoying Bolt, the Dog Movie

 

They're the latest version of the three muscateers. They're not off to save the world, they just want to get Bolt back to his human.

Bolt is a fun, action packed movie for the holidays. We saw it at the Saturday matinee.

I particularly enjoyed the first 10 minutes or so, which featured an action packed chase scene. I loved watching Bolt race around and save the day.

I had fun imaginining my little white dog Krystal doing all those things Bolt did. FYI, Krystal's nickname is "The Rocket." Most of the time she's Little Miss Baby Krystal, a sweet dog who jumps into your lap, loves to be petted by everyone she meets, distributes kisses to one and all, and whose mission in life is to spread happiness and joy.

Several times a day The Rocket makes an appearance. Nothing can contain her joy as she races around the house at full speed. Sometimes she grabs a toy, and off she goes. Her speed and course cover the whole house as she exuberantly races around, expertly leaping over obstacles and rolling around while she takes a break--only to jump up and start again.

I can only laugh out loud, and feel exuberantly priviledged to have The Rocket in my family. There's nothing like my Rocket dog to bring joy to my heart.

Bolt had that racing joy in the beginning of the move. But then, as happens in movies, he was separated from his human. The movie is about this separation, and how this suddenly stray dog Bolt finds new friends who help him travel across the country and search for his human.

This is a well done movie, with great characters and a great story--of love and loyalty (wonderful dog qualities) and adventure and second chances. It's funny, and certainly made me feel happy. All the hallmarks of a wonderful movie during these troubled times.

While there are several parts that are more than scary (I wouldn't take a younger child,) this is enjoyable entertainment you might consider during the holidays.

Finding My Neighbor's Maine Coon Cat

  

We've had a happy weekend here in Raleigh. Mathew Pufftail has returned home to happy hugs and kisses, and the warmth and safety of his adopted home. To say nothing of a steady food supply!

Mathew slipped out the door one evening while his human Sandy was pre-occupied. She didn't notice he was gone until the next morning.

In one of those wacky moments of life imitating art, Sandy called me just about an hour after I had posted my last message on different ways to find a lost dog. Of course her emotions were high, and she was a bit frantic, as I offered my ideas on ways to find Mathew Pufftail.

Sandy asked me to keep an ear out for her cat while I walked my dog Krystal. She thought I might hear the cat calling as I returned to home. Of course, I agreed. All the while I'm quietly wondering to myself about this idea, since my dog Krystal is not overly fond of cats...

For the next 8 days Sandy did all the things she could think of to find her pet. She made and distributed posters, contacted the vet, the local SPCA and other shelters, ran ads in the local newspaper, talked to the post man, seached the neighborhood and local creek, and drove around surrounding neighborhoods stopping to talk with dog walkers and jogging fitness buffs. Everyone was wonderful and supportive. She even met several other Maine Coon cat owners, who had been through similar experiences.

Her stress was multiplied by the fact that Mathew Pufftail was an indoor cat, with no microchip--so he might be found by someone but that persoon might not know how to return him to Sandy.

At church, Sandy's brother Dave ran into Maureen, a true pet person who lived in our neighborhood. He asked her to join in the seach. She came by after Sandy's cat had been missing for 8 days.

That evening, Sandy and Maureen scoured the area with flashlights in hand. At one point Maureen thought she saw Mathew Pufftail. But when both Sandy and I heard the description we thought not. Krystal and I walked Maureen back to her home, and then we continued on our walk.

As we approached our walkway, what should my wondering ears hear? Not the prancing feet of eight reindeer, but the hoarse meow of a cat asking for help!

The cat was still hiding in the bushes. I was concerned for the delicacy of the situation. He could stay and be rescued, or easily get spooked.

I scooped Krystal into my arms, and called out to the cat as I quietly walked to Sandy's front door. It felt like forever before she answered, and I'm not sure if she believed me that we had her beloved Mathew Pufftail within reach.

As he heard her voice, he became more vocal and came out from under the bushes. I saw him first, and verified to her that this indeed was her cat. She didn't recognize him right away, because 8 days in the cold and rain had its affect. But, Mathew Pufftail recognized her and began telling her about his adventure as he slowly made his way up the porch stairs to Sandy.

Sandy was super aware that she needed to let the cat come to her, and once he arrived she scooped him up and gave him a joyful hug.

Finding Your Lost Dog

Thanks to Jodi for telling me about the robo-call she recently received regarding her neighbor's lost dog.

When you're looking for your lost dog, you'll do just about anything. Luckily, there are a host of new technology tools to help us find our beloved. Here are some tools for you to use.

1)  www.FindToto.org is a web-based service that helps you find your lost dog or missing cat. It's an ingenious use of internet and direct call technology.

Service Provided:

• Using the address where your dog went missing, FindToto calls 500-5,000 of your immediate neighbors. You decide the numer of calls.
• The call is professionally delivered, using information you have provided--about your pet, and your contact information. 
• Calls can be made within minutes of receiving your order, but message delivery hours meet industry standards for robo-calls.
• Numerous testimonials are on the right side of the home page.

2) Posters. Never underestimate the power of a missing dog flyer. Pet lovers do look at the pet photo and pets are found that way.

Most posters are home made.

My microchip registry service provides the following services when a dog goes missing.

• Creates a personalized missing pet poster that can be downloaded--with a photo of the dog, dog's name and description, and human/owner contact information. You can then hoof it around your neighborhood and town, placing copies of this poster where everyone can see it.
• Faxes that same personalized missing pet poster to all veterinarians and shelters in the area that the dog went missing from.

Be sure to check with your microchip registry service to see if they provide these services. You can contact the vet that inserted the microchip if you can't remember which service yu are registered with.

3) Contact your veterinarian. They generally have a system set up to notify local vets and shelters about lost companion animals.

4) Contact your local pet stores. They often provide search services for a reasonable fee.

I hope none of you ever have to use this information, but I know many people feel better just knowing help is available should you need it.

Photo by Pheezy

Which Puppy for the White House?

It's refreshing to focus on matters of the heart.

These days the web is filled with people who start out talking about President-elect Obama's promise to his daughters. But they actually end up writing about their first dog, their first puppy. The love for those dogs comes bouncing over the Internet and fills my heart.

I saw a TV news report last night which featured the head of the American Kennel Club (AKC). His office was filled with puppies of all breeds, pure bred and mixed. The pups were bouncing around in that special way they have. I was thoroughly entranced, smiling at all that vivacious puppy energy coming across the airwaves of the nightly news. 

This is a good thing! After this long, contentious Presidential campaign, it's wonderful that we can let our hearts be filled with sweet doggie memories and puppy love.

Many people are weighing in on exactly the type of dog the Obama family should bring into their lives--dog or puppy, shelter or privately bred, pure breed, mixed or mutt. I'm sure there are a few options I've left out.

My hearty suggestion is that the Obama family adopt the dog that is right for them.

With asthma in the household, we've been told they've already begun researching the best breeds for their needs.

This is exactly the approach I recommend.

1) Describe what your own needs are, what your lifestyle is like, what kind of life you live.

2) From that information, describe the kind of life you can offer a dog.

3) Find out what types of dogs fit the kind of life you are offering.

4) When you have your list--go for it. When you find the right dog, you'll know!

One of my favorite ebooks is How to Choose the Right Dog For You.

This book helps people go through the process of figuring out what kind of life they can offer a dog, and which type of dog can fit that lifestyle. It's well written and thorough, but not at all overwhelming.

In the beginning, the author says,

"I've seen so many mismatched pairings of owner and dog over the years troop in and out of my sight that I finally gave in to the pleadings of my best friend and decided to put down on paper what knowledge I have collected, with the thought of helping fellow dog lovers to find the best pairing of dog for them." 

There would be a lot more happy dogs and happy humans if everyone looking for a dog took time to read How to Choose the Right Dog for You.

My dog Krystal adds:

"Two paws up! A dog who comes into the home of someone who read this book will surely be happy."

 

Climbing Stairs with Your Dog

We moved across town recently, and all our daily routines have been blown to smithereens. Setting up new routines is a real bother. But, with a headstrong dog it's especially important.

We now have to climb a flight of stairs to get to our front door. In the past it was only 3 or 4 steps up the porch. Now we've got a whole flight.

Stairs aren't a problem for Krystal. She's always been totally unfazed by them. When I brought her home from the shelter, we were living in a two story house. I was really concerned she would get tangled in my feet, so I trained her to "STAY" at the bottom of the stairs while I climbed the stairs first. When I reached the top stair, I would turn and say "COME," and she would bound up the stairs.

Now we are living in a one story home, but we've got a full flight of stairs before we get to the front door. I rarely let Krystal off the leash, because she's incredibly curious and a bit headstrong. So how do we get up those stairs without having the leash get all tangled up in my legs and causing an accident?

My solution was to copy how we cross busy streets. I tell her to "WAIT" on my right. When the time is right, I tell her to "CROSS." Together we walk straight across the street. She does a great job of it at least 90% of the time. That 10% of the time includes finding food bits in our path, the sudden appearance of another dog or a child, a car with a particular engine sound that needs investigating, etc. For a curious dog, life can be very interesting....

So I started that crossing-the-street pattern, with a short leash, trying to keep her under control at my side while we climbed the stairs.Well, it sort of worked.But it was clear that in her mind, climbing the stairs was completely different from crossing the street.

She had a lot of trouble dealing with waiting on my right, she didn't like the short leash, and didn't want to walk right beside me--in front or behind were her preferences. I didn't like her behind me because she could always speed up and decide to try to walk between me feet--a disaster waiting to happen.

On the third day, I got distracted by a new neighbor. Without my direct control, Krystal just bounded up the stairs ahead of me.

It was so easy, I had to laugh. I had been creating a training nightmare, which Krystal solved with her direct simplicity.

I now make her "WAIT" on my right (so we have an agreed upon start place--very important if you've got a bag of groceries), and then I say "GO!" And, off she goes ahead of me.

I'm glad I listened to my dog. She's a smart cookie.What has your dog been telling you lately?

Image by Elsie esq.

Compassionate Action

By Simon Davidson

This is an update of my previous post, Abandoning Your Dog.

I'm happy to see the compassionate and generous ways people are responding to these difficult economic times.

Compassionate action is being taken by the Wake County SPCA in North Carolina, with its response to a dramatic 30% increase in the number of cats and dogs left at their shelter.

Emotions can be high as pet owners reach the wrenching decision to leave their companion animals in the care of others. Many people tell the SPCA they have lost a job. Or they've lost their home, and are moving to an apartment that doesn't allow pets.

These distraught people offer their stories. They cannot afford the vet bills, or they cannot even afford to feed their beloved dog or cat. With the estimated annual cost of a pet approaching $1000, this is very understandable. Many of these people are living on extremely tight budgets.

In response, the Wake SPCA recently started a Pet Food Pantry, assisting people trying to keep their pets. The SPCA asked for donations of high quality pet food for the Pantry to distribute.

The SPCA Pet Food Pantry opened last Saturday and was a huge success. Hundreds of dogs and cats each received a month's supply of food.

Added to that good news, is that today the Wake SPCA has a notice on its website that they received so much donated food that their storage capacity has been reached--they cannot accept any more food donations (monetary donations are always appreciated.)

My heart is warmed by this active compassion and open generosity.

This is an update of my previous post, Abandoning Your Dog.

Are You Ready?

That's the question my friends at United Animal Nations are asking. If disaster strikes, are you ready to evacuate quickly?

They ask this question because their mission is "bringing animals out of crisis into care." When groups of animals are in crisis from floods, fires, hurricanes, or plain old bad shelter management, you will often find United Animal Nations there--setting up and running temporary shelters, calling in their trained volunteers, and managing reunions between dogs and their humans.

One of the most important things you can do for your family and your pets is to plan for a quick evacuation, and practice that plan.

Research has shown that in stressful situations, our brains work best if there have already been some rehearsals. Those rehearsals set up a pattern in our brains. When the time comes to move quickly, an already established pattern can be in our brain database--ready to be acted upon.

Right now, United Animal Nations is trying to assess pet owner's state of preparedness. I suggest you click onto their site, and take their short poll, click here.

Afterwards, you may want to review their excellent ideas and resources for disaster planning, click here.

TTouch Massage for Senior Dogs

Here's a second Tellington Touch video for you, focusing on techniques for senior dogs and dogs recovering from surgery.

I particularly like the body wrap for the senior dogs, and will suggest it for my dog Krystal's BFF Winnie the Pooch. Winnie's got all sorts of aches and an injury to the muscles of her right hind hip. She's had physical therapy and meds, so I'm thinking adding that body wrap might just help her feel a little more comfortable in her own skin.

I'm guessing this body wrap might also be helpful for a fearful dog. Swaddling can be powerfull.

This video shows several different massage movements (called TTouch) to go along with the body wrap as well as injury recovery. I'm delighted to see these additional TTouch methods so I can add them to my repetoire of body work techniques with Krystal.

If you've tried TTouch on your dog (or even on your cat), it would be great to hear about your results.

(To view the first video demonstrating the basic TTouch method, see my previous blog post TTouch for You and Your Dog.)

TTouch for You and Your Dog

I love You Tube. Finally, I get to see what this Tellington TTouch is all about. I've heard it's a wonderful way of touching your dog to help relieve tension and even heal emotional and physical conditions.

This demonstration shows the basic TTouch method that internationally respected animal expert, Linda Tellington-Jones has used with horses, dogs, cats, birds, and other companion animals.

According to her website,

"The intent of the TTouch is to activate the function of the cells and awaken cellular inteligence--a little like "turning on the electric lights of the body.

"The TTouch is done on the entire body, and each circular TTouch is complete within itself. Therefore it is not necessary to understand anatomy to be successful in speeding up the healing of injuries or ailments, or changing undesirable habits or behavior...

"TTouch helps to release tension and increase body awareness. This allows the animal to be handled without provoking typical fear responses."

I'm glad she used a horse on this video, that way we can really see what she's doing, and how she's doing it. No scruffy fur to get in the way.

I spent some time TTouch-ing with my dog Krystal. You'll not be surprised to hear that she took a breath just like that horse in the video. She then looked around and settled down for more relaxing TTouching.

I'm going to watch this You Tube video several more times and practice those soothing circular movements so they come naturally. This is one of those methods that feels like it's as good for me as it is for my dog--a way for us to increase our mutual respect and compassion.

If you're interested in learning more, Linda Tellington-Jones has a number of publications, including this DVD,The Tellington Touch for Happier, Healthier Dogs, and this book entitled Getting in TTouch With Your Dog.

(You can a second TTouch video on my next post, TTouch for Senior Dogs.)

No Pet Left Behind

by US Geological Survey

Happy news for US pet owners.

The rescue workers in those Iowa floods saved pets as well as humans. The pet rescue reforms brought about by the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina seem to have taken hold.

Even better news is that while Iowa appears to be one of those states that had not established a state-wide disaster pet rescue plan, amazing public officials, private citizens and volunteers stepped up and created temporary shelters.

According to a New York Times article, Beloved Pets, Displaced by Floodwaters, Find Temporary Shelter in Iowa, when the floods overran Cedar Rapids' city animal shelter, they removed all animals to higher ground at the nearby Kirkwood Community College's Animal Health Technology building.

From that beginning, the emergency shelter grew. Displaced people began dropping off their pets to be cared for while they waited for more permanent housing. Calls came in from folks who had to flee the floodwaters, asking for their animals to be rescued. And volunteers began arriving from all over the US.

Volunteers from United Animal Nations were in Iowa, providing emergency shelter services for all kinds of pets. Their blog posts for June and July have some great photos. The Humane Society of the US also had great blog posts in June about their work at Kirkwood Community College.

All this goodness of heart makes me smile. In fact, I giggle everytime I look at the photo above. I keep wondering what that rescue boat would look like if those people had a Great Dane, instead of a cute little cat!

by US Geological Survey

Vaccinating Our Loved Ones

by zmxncbv.com 

I'm sure most folks have heard of the controversy regarding the necessity of vaccinating children. The question under debate is whether those vaccines are the cause of a number of childhood diseases that  have apparently increased significantly since widespread vaccinations began (for example, autism.)

You may not be aware there is a lot of questioning in the pet world over the same issues.

People are questioning whether their veterinarian prescribed flea and tick medications are doing more harm than good, and whether the heartworm medication is truly helpful. Home remedies, both time tested and new, are either appearing on the market or being mixed up in home kitchens.

I regard all this questioning as goodness. It makes us better protectors and providers for our pets. Questioning also helps the vets and researchers include new ideas and medical concepts into their work.

One set of questioning focuses on the rabies vaccine. The argument goes that the initial rabies vaccination produces the desired antibodies in the pet's system--so why are there required booster vaccinations throughout a pet's lifetime?

I have heard there is a small but growing movement of people who are not submitting their pets to booster rabies vaccinations.

What are the factors that go into a decision like this?

These days it's sometimes hard to know whether to follow accepted medical/veterinarian procedures, or to walk an independent course. Wellness and alternative medicine practices can sometimes be difficult to evaluate.

One very important decision factor was recently brought to my attention while I was at a North Carolina Natural Sciences Museum gathering that included a number of veterinarians, vet students and members of the public.

Toward the end of the evening there was a short discussion on rabies vaccinations. A vet student asked this very question:

If the protective antibodies are already in a pet's system, why should that pet be required to submit to booster rabies vaccinations every few years?

The unscientific answer was surprising.

If your dog has not had the required vaccinations, and your dog is exposed to rabies, your dog will most likely be put down--by law. You will probably have no say in the matter.

Without required vaccinations, groomers can refuse to clean your dog, boarding facilities can refuse to care for your dog if you need to leave town. And, if there were an emergency evacuation, your un-vaccinated dog may have a hard time being sheltered (reminder: be sure to carry a copy of your dog's vaccination records in your disaster kit.)

I was fascinated how quickly the issue moved from the science of rabies vaccinations to the laws protecting people from this dreadful disease.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Who Is That Dog?

by Greg Westfall

Thanks to Melanie, for sending me to NPR to hear this delightful story about doggie DNA test results, Got a Mutt? Labs Will Test Your Dog's DNA.

It seems to me that mutt owners and folks who found their dogs at shelters will probably experience the most happiness from the results of these doggie DNA tests. With these dogs there's always the question of the dog's ancestry and what life was like for your beloved dog before coming into your home.

I remember when Krystal and I went to obedience school, one of the first questions the trainers asked us was the background and lineage of our dogs. The folks with purebred dogs had ready answers. The rest of us had answers peppered with speculation on lineage, behavior, and how the original owners might have treated their dogs.

During obedience training, Krystal's dominant West Highland White Terrier characteristics were definitely in evidence--so much so that at one point, one of the instructors held me after class for almost an hour explaining the special personalities of Terriers, and how to live with them. She had 4 Terriers, so she knew what she was talking about.

I've always been grateful for that special attention from the instructor. Hearing her tell me that Terriers demand "fairness" above all else, truly helped me develop a stronger more compassionate relationship with Krystal.

So when someone tells me they've got a mutt, and haven't a clue to their dog's ancestry, I'm respectful and  amazed. I admire the dog, and how creative the dog has to be to communicate important lineage characteristics like "fairness." I admire the human for developing that special flexibility to have a companion animal in their household with no guide to the special characteristics and needs of their dog.

I can just imagine how fun it it might be to receive part of the "back story" of your dog. Filling in some of the gaps can open new vistas on personality and health characteristics, providing endless hours of conversation, speculation and delight.

Please let me know if you've learned your dog's DNA lineage, and what you think about the results. Have any personality or health characteristics suddenly been "explained?" I'm curious to hear your experiences. It sounds like fun.

Call of the Wild

by My_Boy_Dodger

Recently, Anne found herself in the midst of an interesting conversation while at a dog park event here in Raleigh with her large furry Bearded Collie, Winnie.

A number of owners of large furry dogs expressed very strong opinions that large furry dogs should NOT be clipped in the summer.

Their argument was, "nature knows best." If large furry dogs needed less fur in the summer, they would have evolved to shed that unnecessary fur in the hot seasons. Some owners went so far as to to describe a theory that the summertime fur acts as a cooling insulator for these dogs.

This type of thinking flies in the face of logic and experience--which is probably part of its attraction.

Acknowledging this attraction, I did a little web search just to make sure. I found a great article from an Irish vet that details the importance of making sure our furry friends have less fur in the warm summer months.

"Nature knows best" is an argument that needs to be used carefully with dogs. Thousands of years of domestication and specialized breeding has created vastly different results than actual natural selective breeding would have produced.

Let's face it. Large furry dogs probably would not willingly locate themselves in the hot humid summers of the southern United States. My recollection is that we spent most of last August in temperatures averaging over 105 degrees Fahrenheit!

It's a pretty good bet that the Husky down the street would most likely prefer Alaska to North Carolina. (If only his human would move the household!)

Nonetheless, there's a certain romance, a certain cache to having a "wild" animal in the house. I certainly felt it a few months ago when I was talking with someone who had grown up in a household with a cookie stealing half Malamute / half Wolf.

Perhaps that's what these folks are yearning for when they bring in the argument that "nature knows best." In the natural world, the world of actual wild animals, forests, rivers and streams, I'm the first one to talk about "nature knowing best."

But, in the world of dogs and humans, I think more along the line of harmonious relationships between two different species that have lived together for thousands of years.

What are your thoughts on this matter. Do you think of your dog as a wild animal? Another species? What are your experiences with treating your dog as a "wild" animal? Have you observed others treating their dogs in this way? What happened? Please comment, or send me an email.

Shedding Made Easy

Thanks to Lori for forwarding this delightful FURminator video.

One of her friends used the FURminator on her dog, and swears the dog lost 10 lbs. of fur. Quite something. Take a look.

If you've got a dog that sheds, you're going to want a FURminator. There are over 1100 positive product reviews on Amazon.com.

For your convenience I've done some searching on Amazon.com, and here are the links to the small, medium and large FURminators.

I've provided links to the products with the lowest overall price--cost plus shipping. That way you don't have to spend time shopping around the different vendors that Amazon offers.

Please let me know how this works for you.

I would certainly buy one, but Krystal doesn't shed. 

Three Dogs, Four Adults and Two Children--One on a Scooter

Last night was a delighfully balmy spring evening. I took Krystal out for a stroll around 8:15, anticipating a soothing walk after a busy day.

Early in the walk I had indications that "soothing" probably wouldn't be part of that evening's experience. We had come to a T in the road, and decided to turn right. Immediately Krystal started deep sniffing, straining on her leash, and barking up a storm.

She's a hunting dog (half West Highland Terrier and half Poodle), so I recognized the symptoms of a "dog on the hunt." There are several dogs in the neighborhood that trigger this reaction in her, so I knew no commands to sit, leave it, etc were going to distract her from following this scent with the utmost of enthusiasm.

I turned around and started walking in the other direction. Krystal easily joined me, and calmed somewhat. She remained distracted, sniffing the extraordinarily interesting scent of that dog who had gone in the other direction.

About 2 blocks later, a man approached us asking if we had seen a Golden Retriever. I suggested he go the way we had come thinking maybe his Golden was the dog Krystal had scented. Off he went.

On our way back home, we ran into the man again. He was more distracted than Krystal, worried about his dog, Jake, and told us he was going to drive around the neighborhood.

Thank goodness I made him point out his house to me. I was just coming up on that T in the road when I spotted several of my neighbors. They immediately asked me if I knew of anyone looking for a Golden Retreiver.

by Bonnaboo

We started walking back to the Golden Retriever's house en masse. Our caravan consisted of a mom and her two kids--one was on a scooter. A grandfather, unrelated to the mom and two kids, Krystal and myself. As we moved down the street the story came out.

The mom and kids were outside playing when the Golden approached them, tail wagging. The Golden was a friendly dog with no tags. Everyone knew the grandfather further down the street had just brought a new Golden Retriever into his home. So the mom took dog and kids in tow, and walked down to what she thought was the Golden Retriever's home.

The little street party arrived just as the grandfather was driving up. He was mystified as to how his own dog got out of the house, but opened up the front door and the stray Golden walzed right in as though he belonged there.

Within moments the grandfather realized he now had two Goldens in his home, and one of them belonged elsewhere.

I believe the boy on the scooter was the first to arrive at the Golden's house. With the car still gone, we began knocking on neighbors' doors to see if someone would take the Golden (who remained at the grandfather's house.) While we were calling on the neighbors, the man drove up.

With leash in hand, he joined our moving street party, as we walked toward the grandfather's house. Each of us told our part in this story of community--a pack of people and dogs watching out for each other.

Helping Animals During Emergencies

Do you want to help animals during natural disasters or other emergencies?

My friends at United Animal Nations have announced their 2008 training schedule for volunteers wanting to join the Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS.)

Volunteers learn how to shelter, love and care for animals who are displaced when disaster strikes. They help bring animals out of crisis and into care.

With more than 3500 volunteers in the US and Canada, EARS has an excellent service history. They have rescued and sheltered animals during many types of emergencies--from local shelters that are shut down by animal welfare inspectors, to hurricane Katrina. This training is sponsored by the ASPCA.

In 2008 there will be 13 one day trainings, offered across the US and in Vancouver, BC.

I know these folks personally, and can highly recommend working with them. I'm looking forward to getting trained in Charleston, SC. I hope to see some of you there!

Adventures in Dog Food

from MShades

Krystal and I have been on a dog food adventure lately. As often happens with these kinds of adventures, there's been more confusion than fun.

Krystal has a tender digestive system, which has been ably taken care of over the last year by her wonderful vet.  A major element of that care includes a "low residue" food, which is easy for Krystal to digest. Once Krystal started eating this food, life improved significantly.

There's an interesting industry practice in the US veterinary universe whereby these types of special foods (low residue, urinary etc) are only available for purchase from vets by prescription. It appears that this is one way the pet food companies support the vets--by giving the vets unique products to sell that are not competitively available at PetSmart or on the web.

We've spent the last month dealing with this particular issue.

A little over a month ago, it was time to buy more food. I went to the vet's office to pick up a new 30 lb. bag, and was informed that in the time since my previous purchase the vet had changed food providers.

This meant I was no longer able to feed Krystal the low residue food she had been thriving on. We'll call this Food #1.

Because her food is only sold by prescription, I now had to purchase Food #2. I was assured there would be no difficulty transferring Krystal onto this new food. With reservations, I purchased Food #2.

For several days I presented her with a half-and-half mixture of both foods. Krystal gobbled down Food #2. For a dog on a restricted diet, new food was like manna from heaven.

Within 48 hours Krystal was a bundle of new energy. While she previously sat in my lap all day while I worked on the computer, she now was jumping up and down all day long and moving throughout the house at a brisker pace. She was increasingly distractible.

I mis-interpreted this as an energy burst that came from the new food--probably she was able to digest the food better, and was truly receiving more nutrients that with Food #1. I figured her metabolism would sort itself out.

At the end of the third week, with an increasingly distractible dog who barely visited my lap during the work day and who was doing her Terrier best to test several well established house rules, I was lonely and confused. To be honest, I had lost the connection between Food #2 and her changing behavior.

It wasn't until Krystal got car sick for the 4th time that I started making connections. She's always loved car rides, and has always been glad to accompany me on errands and take walks outside our neighborhood. Getting car sick just wasn't in her repertoire.

While I was cleaning out her travel crate it dawned on me--Food #2 had brought a lot of changes, and throwing up in the car was only one of them.

What to do?

1. Go find Food #1.
2. Once Krystal was back on Food #1, watch her behavior carefully.
   
   1. IF she returns to her previously lovable self, then there would be happiness and joy for all of us.
   2. IF her new behavior continues, we would go to the vet and see what's causing this behavior change.

Thankfully, my neighbor's daughter has a white boxer, Annabelle, who was being fed Food #1. I went to her vet and purchased Food #1. (FYI, Annabelle's vet had to call Krystal's vet to confirm there was a valid prescription.)

The results are amazing. Within 24 hours of returning to Food #1, Krystal was moving out of her distractible-ness. It was wonderful. My sweet lovable dog was returning to her former self. Over the next week she sat in my lap for increasing amounts of time, remembering it was her favorite perch. She began to behave much better on our walks. And, it was clear she was enjoying herself much more. We could play games and walk through the park. Her former glee was finding it's way back into her emotional repertoire.

One of the things we've learned over the last few years is how little understanding there is about:

1. The ingredients in dog food.
2. The actual nutritional needs of dogs.
   

We also need to add to our lack of understanding, how much the ingredients in dog food can affect a dog's behavior. Perhaps when a dog is misbehaving or has difficulty being trained, a change in food might be in order?

I would love to hear your observations and stories on the relationship between dog foods and their behaviors.

T-Shirt Therapy Does the Trick

Who would think something so simple as a snug t-shirt could take care of a serious skin condition?

It's been a tough 2 years for my friend Lori and Mister Kennedy, her Jack Russell Terrier.

I want to share their healing story to encourage those of you who are engaged with unusual health issues. Persistence and out-of-the-box thinking can sometimes bring pleasant surprises.

Here's their story.

For the last 2 years Mister Kennedy, an 8 year old Jack Russell Terrier, has been suffering from a painful skin condition that caused him to continuously scratch areas of his body, and expose his scratched sensitive skin to the open air.

With no fur covering the skin, Mister Kennedy just kept on scratching, causing infections and extreme discomfort. These open sores were all over his body. Just looking at this photo makes me wince.

His human, Lori, spent countless hours over the last two years taking Mister Kennedy to vets and specialists, acupuncturists and dietitians. There were special diets of raw food, organic food, doses of benedryl, medications and herbs, special soaps and treatments.

No stone was left unturned. Most treatments would help Mister Kennedy for awhile, but sooner or later this painful condition would reappear. As you can imagine, each flare-up brought increased distress and frustration to both Lori and Mister Kennedy.

Out of the blue, about 3 months ago, Lori's sister came up with the idea of putting a snug t-shirt on Mister Kennedy. Maybe, her sister said, it would help those sore skin spots heal easier. And, maybe, Mister Kennedy might feel better with the snugness against his skin.

Lori seriously doubted  anything about a t-shirt could in any way make Mister Kennedy feel the least bit better. Mister Kennedy was one of those dogs who could not stand to be dressed in fabric. Every time Lori tried to put something on him he would quake and shake.

Out of desperation, she tried it. Mister Kennedy was not at all happy about that t-shirt.

But, something amazing began happening. Mister Kennedy stopped scratching. Within the first week his sores began to heal.

Miraculously, within two weeks he really looked wonderfully different. His sores were truly healing, his disposition began improving. His old-self began returning.

He's grown to like his snug t-shirt. Just take a look at him now!

No one knows why that snug t-shirt works. I'm sure glad it does.

I would love to share other healing stories, so please tell your story either in the comments below, or send me an email using the contact form.

A Formerly Homeless Doggie Speaks Up

Hey Ya'll,

I'm inviting ya'll to join Kaye and me for the K9 - 3K Dog Walk, here in Raleigh, NC. on April 19 at 4pm. We'll start at Moore Square.

We're going to have a blast. Just think of all those dogs and their humans together in one place. Aaaarrrrfff! Barking and butt sniffing galore! And all those dog loving humans--amazing petting opportunities. I can't wait.

I want ya'll to know, this isn't just a fun-fest. We're all going to be there to raise money for that wonderful place, the Wake SPCA.

I'm inviting you to join us in helping rescue and rehome more than 3000 homeless pets this year. What a wonderful thing to do. Help both pets and humans have happier and healthier lives.

All you have to do is click on the banner below, and ya'll will get to our fundraising home page. Ya'll can donate any amount you want. Every penny will help the animals.

 

Please be sure to check out our fundraising page, ya'll will get to read my personal story!

Licks and sniffs for everyone,

Krystal

A Fresh Kiss of Happiness

I'm convinced my dog Krystal's purpose in life is to spread happiness and joy.

When we are out walking, she's ever on the lookout for children and adults she can meet, kiss, and offer the happiness of a tail-waggingly warm greeting. She loves kids, and they love meeting a happy dog that's "just the right size."

Whenever I mention my idea about Krystal's purpose in life to other people, I often hear their happy replies, "That's my dog's purpose in life, too!"

One guy I met even stated flat out, "Spreading happiness and joy is the life's purpose of all dogs." While saying that, he was grinning from ear-to-ear remembering the happiness his childhood wolf-malamute mix brought him.

Receiving  kisses of happiness from Krystal often brightens up my mood, and my day. A spontaneous burst of play helps me even more. I've learned to take those happiness offerings and spread them throughout my day.

So here is my offering to you today.

A fresh, joyously happy kiss from Krystal.

Re-Usable and Biodegradable Bags for Me

It brought tears to my eyes.

I wanted to write about how much I admire the people of Ireland for taxing plastic bags in 2002, and in a matter of weeks reducing their plastic bag consumption by 94%. The Irish are now consuming 1 billion fewer plastic bags annually. That is a thrilling number and an astonishing achievement.

So I went to Google News and searched, "Ireland plastic bags". Go ahead, click and see what I found--an entire world of articles about cities and towns addressing this major environmental problem. Beautiful! This kind of good news brings tears of happiness.

Since I've got a dog, I felt a need for plastic bags to pick up the poop while we're out walking. Generally I "recycled" two plastic bags a day, depositing the poop-filled bags in my trash can.

While this was a great recycling practice, it did not address the 100-years-to-decompose problem each plastic bag brings. Then I found BioBags, which are certified to be 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable. Suddenly, there was no justification for using plastic bags.

It's funny how something so simple has the ability to change so many life patterns. I bought the BioBags (they work great, I love them.) And I bought re-usable cotton bags to carry my groceries and other purchases.

I keep the re-usable cotton shopping bags in the trunk of my car, and bring them into stores when I'm shopping. I do forget sometimes.  But I am dedicated to this change in habit, so I go back out to my car and retrieve my  bags.

I've found sales clerks to be very supportive. Often, they even seem to be pleased to be part of the conservation process.

I would love to hear how you are dealing with your plastic bag eco challenges. Please comment below, or send me a message.

Socializing Your Puppy for Health and Happiness

I've got some important new information that updates my previous post Puppy Love.

In that post I had seen a number of new puppies being walked in public parks by their humans. I was concerned for the puppies' health, since their immune systems are not yet fully developed. I researched on the web, and didn't really find anything specifically telling folks to keep their pups away from public places. So I consulted a vet who gave some clear directions.

• A puppy should have its full set of vaccinations before being socialized--that is usually completed by around 16 weeks of age.
• Any social benefits derived from earlier socialization are offset by the risk of catching a potentially life-threatening illness.

This weekend I attended a workshop conducted by the Animal Behavior Service at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University.

Dr Barbara Sherman, Director of the Animal Behavior Service, gave a presentation on Living in Harmony with Puppies, which brought together several important pieces of scientific information.

The period of 3-16 weeks marks a puppy's prime learning period for socialization. This means it's the most important time in a puppy's life for developing socializing skills with their mom, other puppies, dogs, children, human adults, and other animals.

In fact, this is a critical period of the puppy's life.

• A rich social life during this critical period immeasurably helps the dog in all social aspects of its future life.
• A lack of socialization during this critical period can handicap a dog for its entire life--including  behavior problems whose effects can multiply over time.

The seriousness of this situation is that behavior problems are the leading cause of death for dogs, with millions of them being euthanized every year for that reason--they never developed the social skills to get along.

So how do you balance socialization needs with physical health needs?

You provide play opportunities and contact with friendly well-vaccinated dogs and puppies. Be selective. Don't go to the park for puppy socialization.

• Friendly, easy going,calm adult dogs who allow puppies to explore and play in their adorable puppy ways.
• Puppy classes that ensure all participants are vaccinated are excellent ways for pups to learn to play with one another in positive environments.

Additionally, during this socialization period,it's important to provide positive experiences by having your puppy gently handled by your children. If you don't have children in your household, you can import them from your neighborhood.

I'll provide more information on puppy socialization in future posts.

BC Lottery for the Animals

The British Columbia SPCA is holding their annual lottery for the animals. You may be interested in supporting their work by buying one or more lottery tickets.

There are only 14,499 tickets available. Each ticket costs $20 Canadian, and 3 tickets go for $50.00 Canadian.

The lottery prizes total $50,000 Canadian, and will be distributed throughout the month of May. A special warm-up distribution of $2500 Canadian will occur on April 1, 2008.

For details, click on the image below.

Here are some quick stats about the wonderful work the BC SPCA did in 2005:

• Rescued 57,000 domestic, farm and wild animals
• Responded to nearly 200,000 animal-related calls
• Reunited thousands of lost animals with their anxious families
• Found new, loving families for 21,578 homeless animals
• Conducted 5,914 cruelty investigations
• Seized 1,031 animals for dangerous or neglectful situations
• Rescued 1,574 deer, birds and other wildlife
• Provided humane education for thousands of children through school presentations and youth camps
• Received 201 million hits to the BC SPCA website from users seeking information on animal care and related issues

Their community support within the province shines through their over 4,000 dedicated volunteers and 375 employees.

I am filled with gratitude for these people and the work they do to help animals and their humans have better lives.

Abandoning Your Dog

An update to this post is Compassionate Action.

It must be an emotionally wrenching thing to do. To abandon your dog.

This seems to be happening to a number of dogs and their humans during this uneasy economic period with an increase in foreclosures.

While the numbers aren't clear, there are noticeable situations in Chicago and elsewhere that people in financial difficulties are moving from their homes into apartments that do not allow pets.

While some people are taking their pets to local shelters, others are abandoning their cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, horses. Simply leaving them locked up in their homes and farms without access to food, water and care. The Chicago Tribune reports there are a number of notorious cases in several states.

As appalling as this news is, it is certainly a testament to how our pet population is affected by what goes on in our national economic arena. And, it says a lot about how shocking and debilitating it must be for pet owning humans who find themselves in dire financial straits.

With 85% of US dog owners reporting that they consider their dogs a family member, I cannot imagine the personal desperation and shock that must cause people to walk away from their pets.

In fact in the Pew Research Center's study on "Gauging Family Intimacy--Dogs Edge Cats (Dads Trail Both,)" 94% of respondents said they had a close relationship with their dog, while 87% said they had a close relationship with their mom, and 74% said they had a close relationship with their dad.

How can you help?

We all know the cost of owning a dog is not insignificant. If you know someone going through financial difficulties, you can gently ask if they need help finding a new home for their pets.

You've got lots of resources available to you: your vet or groomer may know of people wanting a nice dog, and you can contact the local shelters.

One of the best ways to find local shelters is to go to www.petfinder.com, scroll down the purple left column to the box "Find Animal Welfare Groups." Type in your zip code, and you will get a list of shelters whose location is an ever expanding geographic circle from your location.

If your location is not covered by Petfinder, you can look for shelters at the World Society for the Protection of Animals and at World Animal Net.

Let's offer active compassion to humans and their dogs who find themselves in frightening circumstances.

An update to this post is Compassionate Action.

Head Massages Make the Difference

We were all cranky on Saturday. It was spitting rain all day, and the dogs weren't happy (Winnie the Pooch was visiting for the weekend.) It was cold, damp, and becoming even colder as the day progressed.

To make matters worse, there was a freezing rain/snow storm that was supposed t hit at 10am, but didn't arrive in Raleigh until around 5pm. (This is as bad as it gets in Raleigh, and I'm extremely grateful.)

All morning long I'd been sitting at the computer writing articles on dog massages. In the afternoon I decided to try out my work on the dogs.

I gave both of them head massages--top of the head, behind the ears, the sweet spot...

I'll say this, giving a massage is almost as good as getting one. Our crankiness dissipated. I won't go as far as saying we magically became happy campers, but we were calmer and able to better enjoy the afternoon.

My Dog is Happier

One of the exciting things I've noticed about my dog Krystal is that she's always changing and growing. Sometimes in startling ways.

One of my challenges is to "let" her grow, and not confine my idea of her personality by the dog she was during the first 6 months she lived with me.

When she first came to live with me she'd been in the shelter for only a month. But before that she was a stray. The shelter told me that given her condition when she arrived, they thought she'd been out there for awhile, perhaps several months.

A dog on her own, weighing less than 11 pounds. I'm filled with admiration for her fortitude and ingenuity. To this day, she digs acorns and eats twigs and leaves. I don't leave her outside on her own, she'd fill up with all those things that her digestive system wasn't designed to process--but that clearly saved her precious life.

She was literally my shadow when she first arrived. Underfoot, on my lap--constantly staring at me exuding extraordinary adoration and joy.

She loved being with other people as well. Women, men, children and babies. She went up to each of them spreading her adoring love and joy. She loved going to the mall on rainy days, greeting each person she met with special gentleness and happiness. I called her my "social butterfly".

Krystal suffered my enjoyment of walking in the woods. There was no real joy there for her. Perhaps too many memories of her time as a stray. Neighborhood walks were ok, but it was the walks in malls and crowded parks that really brought her happiness. When she saw a person coming her way, she would go "on alert" and focus on that person--she had spotted a "petting opportunity."

The most difficult thing for her was other dogs. She was terrified of them, and would go into loud and lengthy fear barking episodes.

During the summer I took her with me on a hike on Mt Mitchell in western North Carolina. After hiking about 1/2 mile, her DNA suddenly kicked in. She became a different dog. She started scampering over the rocks and fallen trees, tail wagging, mouth open. Openly exploring. I couldn't walk fast enough for her. A West Highland Terrier / Poodle mix, that was the terrain she was born for. She had a ball!

Back home, over the last 6 months she's become more confident with other dogs. She's joined a pack with her BFF Winnie. She's now more territorial than fearful. While walking in parks, she'll often want to meet and play with other dogs.

She's more at home with her environment as well. She now lets me know where she wants to go for her walks, and often insists we explore places we haven't been before.

When we're walking around the local lake, she's doing dog things--meeting and smelling other dogs, playing and running about, smelling the air, smelling the ground where there's been dog poop or pee, checking out what the local traffic has been, peeing and marking her presence.

She still "spots petting opportunities," but it's not her only concern. I used to have to end each petting episode, and almost drag her away from the children, babies and people petting her. Now, she greets them, lets the kids pet her, and then lets me know she's got other things to do.

Around the house, she's still a constant presence. But in the morning she often sleeps in after her morning pee, and appears in my office an hour or so after I've started work. In the mid-afternoon she's in the living room, snoozing in the sun that comes through the window. In the evening, she's on my lap until she decides it's time to spread out for a good sleep. Then she goes off to her living room cushion for a comfy snooze before bedtime.

She's a happier dog, I can tell. She's making decisions about snoozing in the sun, rather than obsessively curling up tight on my lap while I'm on the computer. A year ago that would have been unthinkable, she was on my lap all day long. Now she lets me know how long she wants to be petted by children and people she meets. She also lets me know where she wants to go on her walks. Most of the time we agree on the latter, but I'm still the alpha dog in this family so I do make the final decisions.

And my alpha dog self says its great to see Krystal coming into her own as a dog, doing dog stuff. No longer is she my beloved "social butterfly." I'm on the alert for new aspects of her doggie personality as they manifest.

An Easy Way to Help Protect Animals

There's an easy way for you to participate in the ASPCA's campaign to end animal cruelty.

They are giving you the opportunity to sign a pledge that you will work to end animal cruelty.

Protecting animals is a crucial part of the ASPCA's mission. They are really hands-on in this field. Their investigative and forensic work on the Michael Vick case recently received international attention.

Within the last month, the ASPCA announced the creation of the first mobile CSI-type forensic lab with trained veterinarian staff that can be used to investigate and provide evidence in important animal cruelty cases.

You may ask, what good does it do to sign this pledge? It does a lot of good.

First, you are making a public statement. That's important.

Second, when the ASPCA goes to Congress or state legislators while lobbying for animal protection legislation, they can confidently tell those legislators how many people have signed this pledge -- they can even tell the legislators how many people from their state and district have signed the pledge.

Legislators are intelligent enough to translate those numbers into potential voters. So the more people who sign the pledge, the more the legislators will listen to and hopefully act upon the ASPCA recommendations.

Third, these same numbers can be used when working with private corporations, and for funding grants.

It's amazing how powerful your signature on a pledge can become.

I signed the pledge. Now you have to opportunity to join me.

Puppy Love

Updated important information on puppy health and socialization is available in Socializing Your Puppy for Health and Happiness.

There seem to be lots of new puppies around these days. I'm concerned about their health.

I started noticing them just after Thanksgiving. In really cold damp weather at an art fair here in town I saw the absolutely cutest 7 week old rottweiler. We all petted him, he looked like a miniature bear.

Then my neighbors rescued a 6 week old border collie / lab mix. A gift for their 9 year old son, they adopted the puppy a few weeks before Christmas thinking they could keep him as a surprise until Christmas day. That didn't work, and the pup and his new family were walking around the neighborhood meeting all the local dogs.

Krystal and I have a favorite local park we go to several times a week, and we met a 6 week old cockapoo puppy on one of our walks.

Yesterday, being New Year's Day, dogs and their humans were enjoying the sun and walking around a local lake. We met at least 3 young puppies, one of them a charming Boston Terrier who was so small he was using a cat collar.

After each one of these delightful encounters, I'm always asking myself, why are these puppies out and about? Don't their humans know that young pups don't have fully developed immune systems? Don't they know there's a risk of the puppy catching a potentially life-threatening illness from other dogs?

This morning I did some Google searching, and found only one site mentioning that puppies need to be kept at home until they were 4 months old. No reason was given, however. I went to Ask.com, and had the same results.

There's a reason people don't know this. It's not written about. I looked at a lot of dog sites, some run by veterinarians, and no one mentioned it. These sites did say puppies need to get their shots. But only one site mentioned waiting until the puppy is 16 weeks old to begin socialization.

So I ended up contacting a vet to see if my information was out of date, if there was new thinking on this matter. The vet was very clear--

• A puppy should have its full set of vaccinations before being socialized--that is usually completed by around 16 weeks of age.
• Any social benefits derived from earlier socialization are offset by the risk of catching a potentially life-threatening illness.

With that resolved, the question becomes, is there a polite way to inform these new puppy owners about this health practice of waiting until a puppy is 16 weeks old before socialization? Any ideas on the best way to handle this without coming across as a know it all? What's your experience? Please comment.

Updated important information on puppy health and socialization is available in Socializing Your Puppy for Health and Happiness.

Who Will Care for Your Dog?

I heard about Molly the seven-year-old cockapoo while I was looking for a dog to adopt.

She was the dearly beloved dog of a North Carolina elderly couple who suddenly found themselves no longer able to care for her. A neighbor drove the couple and Molly to the local shelter.

The tears were deep and heartfelt as the couple said goodbye for the last time, and left Molly in the excellent care provided by the shelter. Her humans were devastated, and so was Molly.

It's a good idea to have a plan on how your dog will be cared for when you can't be there. Here are some ideas you can investigate and talk over potential care arrangements:

• People you exchange dog-sitting with.
• Friends and family who have dogs, even if they live in another state. Transport can always be arranged.
• Local shelters--find one that will be compatible with your dog's needs, and they can find a new home for your dog. (Shelters can be great places because if the adoption doesn't work out, most often the shelter will take the dog back and find a new home.)

I've added an emergency contact card to my wallet and my dog's Disaster Kit. This card has my pet's name and type (dog,) as well as the names and numbers of people who have agreed to provide emergency care for Krystal. There is also a second form you can post on your refrigerator, with a space for the vet's number and locations of food and medications, etc.

Thanks very much to 2nd Chance 4 Pets for providing this card online.

Dogs will be Dogs

"Who Invited the Dog?" asks this morning's New York Times. A rambling article with clever moments, it's about some humans who bring their uninvited dogs to human social situations and the chaos that ensues.

While reading the article I was thinking it could be fodder for a Cary Grant movie gone out of control--sort of a Bringing up Baby. Or even a Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn comedy. I wonder who could do this type of movie these days?

Perhaps the most interesting part of this article is the flurry of comments that ensued.

Those who are not in love with dogs, are having a field day describing both dog and human behavior that sends them around the bend.

Dog lovers are busy pointing out the obvious--this article pretends to be about dogs, but it's actually about humans who are missing several elements in their social skills. Such as, appreciating the difference between dogs and humans, and recognizing that certain social events (like weddings!) require certain types of social behavior.

With over 39% of US adults owning dogs, there are all sorts of wonderful articles to be written--this one on outrageous human behavior is only one type.

Those of us who love our dogs, generally love them because they are dogs, and they have special doggie qualities. Vive la difference.

A New Pack Member

We had a major event in our household this weekend.

My dog Krystal became a member of a dog pack.

A little background might be helpful. Krystal had been rescued as a stray, and I adopted her from a shelter. After the honeymoon period, Krystal began to show her intense fear of other dogs.

She would go into an absolute frenzy of fear barking. The dog on the receiving end would respond accordingly. I began to cultivate dog walking routes and times when other dogs wouldn't be around.

We went to obedience school, which helped a lot. I cannot say enough about that wonderful experience. We learned some new tactics for dealing with fear barking (more detail in later blog posts.)

These tactics worked (sort of,) so I kept them up. Over the last few months I've noticed them finally taking hold--consistency does work! Lately, I could see that Krystal was moving out of her dog-fear based world.

Then my friends came to stay for a week--Anne, John and their dog Winnie the Pooch.

Winnie's a very large Bearded Collie. Elderly, grounded and gentle. Krystal was wary and tetchy. Thankfully, Winnie was unflappable, regardless of Krystal's tetchiness.

There were no major incidents. I regarded the visit as a major success. With Winnie, Anne and John now living nearby, we had more visits and dog-sitting sessions.

Last weekend started out pretty normal. Krystal was pleased to see her new friend Winnie. But not especially overjoyed.

After all, Krystal was still a bit afraid of Winnie. If Winnie were sprawled in a doorway Krystal wanted to walk through, Krystal would consider for a long while before making several false starts to walk around Winnie and through the doorway. Eventually, Winnie would tire of Krystal's fretting and get up and move, so Krystal could go where she wanted to go.

The atmosphere began to change on Saturday. I was at the computer when Winnie decided she needed to go out. I didn't see her standing at the door. Krystal leaped from my lap, barking up a storm. She ran to Winnie at the front door, ran back and forth barking away, until I got up to see what was happening.

Suddenly, Winnie had her own personal "alert dog." It worked quite well. Krystal was pleased to perform the service. There was a new respect between them. I noticed Winnie did not devour the food Krystal left in her bowl.

Sunday morning I was in the kitchen, putting honey in my oatmeal. Something made me turn around. And there they were.

Two dogs standing side by side. Staring at me. A pack. Exchanging information in that silent unfathomable way dogs do. Four feet on the floor, in a standard dog stance, staring at me. Without any discernible signal they turned as one, and moved on to a more interesting part of the house.

I was breathless. Taken by surprise, my prayers had been answered. Krystal had found companionship among her own kind.

Updating Microchip Information

The vet who inserted your dog's microchip can tell you the website where your dog's chip is registered.

It's time to update the information associated with Krystal's microchip.

I moved several months ago, so my address was out of date. My veterinarian says this is the major problem with this type of service. People get their pet microchipped and feel safe. They go home and forget to register. Or, they register and then move, without updating the register.

So, if the pet is found at some point in the future, there is no way to contact the owner.  According to my vet, this happens "more than you would think."  You would think if the pet gets lost, the owner would immediately update their microchip information, but apparently this doesn't always happen.

Like most things we put off, updating took only a few minutes. I keep the registration card the vet gave me in my wallet next to my driver's license and insurance card. The registration card has all the information I needed, her microchip number, name etc, and most importantly, the registration website and phone number.

I logged onto the website, updated my address, reviewed Krystal's information and discovered there was field for her rabies tag number. Since she'd gotten an her shots recently, I updated that field with her new tag number.

I hadn't noticed the first time that you could upload a photo, so I did that too. If she should ever become lost, this service can notify all vets and shelters in the area to be on the lookout for her. I'm assuming they use this photo in that notification.

That was it. Wonderfully simple.

I decided to make a copy of the front and back of this card to go in Krystal's emergency kit.

If you don't know the website your dog's microchip is registered with, you can call the vet who inserted the microchip.

Grounded Dogs in Canada

Over the weekend I heard that Air Canada was no longer carrying pets of any sort. I wondered how all those Canadian dogs were going to get where they need to go.

So, this morning I went to Air Canada’s website and found a much more complicated situation.

No pets are allowed in the cabin with you. Period. Except for certified service dogs, who are allowed to fly at their human’s feet.

If you are flying within Canada, pets no longer are allowed in baggage.

Flight in cargo appears to be another matter. The cargo folks are properly concerned about temperature control on smaller planes, but are otherwise offering pet transport service.

However, Air Canada is still transporting pets in baggage for international flights to the US, Europe and elsewhere.

I’m wondering why Air Canada is treating its own national customer base (humans and pets) so badly?

The Morning Sniff

The Morning Sniff is a series of observations on dog life, which will be published occasionally on this blog.

After the flurry of excitement of getting ready--jacket, leash, plastic bag, the front door is finally opened.

She rushes through the door onto the porch, and at the edge of the top step abruptly halts. Nose to the air, sniffing.

After an initial sampling of the current scents in our vicinity, she conducts a more thorough scan.

Nose starting at her left and eventually swinging to her right in a wavering arc, she finds the smell streams, relishing each one with a twitching nose.

She's on alert, body tensed and leaning into the smell streams. On occasion, the right fore paw is lifted and bent at the knee, in the classic hunting dog's pose. She's found something interesting, of particular note. She's thoroughly absorbed in her own experience.

It's the first cold snap of the year. Extra time and effort are expended on the new smells of the current weather and season.  Eyes and ears flutter as autumn smells are discovered and savored. The nose reaches for a deliciously piquant airstream, her entire body follows, leaning forward and up.

Suddenly, she's done. Completed her smell banquet. Her body relaxes, she smiles. She shakes herself out.

She turns her head to me, catches my eye and nods. She's ready for our walk.

Dog of the Year

I love stories about how our pets help us.

The ASPCA has just announced their Dog of the Year award, going to a two-year-old Golden Retriever named Toby.

Toby's human, Debbie Parkhurst, was eating an apple when a piece became stuck in her throat. She frantically tried to dislodge the apple piece by beating herself on the chest. The Golden Retriever came to her rescue by knocking her to the ground and jumping up and down on her chest until the apple was dislodged.

This heimlich maneuver performing dog saved Debbie's life. You'll not be surprised to hear that Debbie rescued Toby from a dumpster in 2005. 

What a great pair!

To read more about the ASPCA's awards, click here.

Gratitude

Recently, we were on the way to the vet's office to get Krystal's shots when it occurred to me what an important week it was.

A little over a year ago, Krystal was picked up as a stray. She was found roaming the streets of Anderson, South Carolina. A passing motorist spotted her, stopped the car, got out and retrieved her, and took her to the town's animal shelter.

Apparently she'd been on her own for awhile, so she was skittish and her beautiful white fur was filthy and matted. And she was HUNGRY.

I'm so grateful to that motorist for stopping to pick up Krystal. Here is my message of gratitude.

Your simple act of kindness is greatly appreciated. You have made a real difference for Krystal and me.

She's here on my lap right now. Safe and sound. Thank you.