Raising Healthy Dogs

Dogs, they are adaptable, great companions and will be loyal to the death. Anyone with a family canine will agree that the dog is a gift. Some dogs touch our lives in ways that we cannot compare to any other relationship.

Some dogs go above and beyond with loyalty and bravery and are often unsung heroes. Here are some dogs that made a difference on the earth and to others just by doing what dogs do; love, be a  great friend and then love some more.

Hero of the Titanic, Rigel is a survivor of the famous Titanic sinking the Newfoundland dog waited in the freezing cold water near a lifeboat and alerted the Carpathia rescue ship to other survivors in the water, saving many lives. Rigel was adopted by a crew member of the Carpathia due to the death of his owner on the sinking ship. He shortly afterwards retired to Scotland.

Peter, a collie employed in London during the Second World War was awarded the Dickin medal, otherwise known as the Victoria Cross for animals. Peter was a search and rescue dog employed during the latter part of the Second World War. He worked endlessly sometimes for up to 10 hours a day to locate people in the rubble of bombed buildings. Peter was not strictly a hero for humans as he also once led rescue teams to a trapped African Grey Parrot.

A Guide dog in all circumstance Roselle, a Labrador, was in the world trade Centre on September 11th with her owner and blind recipient Michael. Leading her master gently down from the 78th floor Roselle proved her bravery and loyalty despite the building they were in collapsing around them. Roselle passed away aged 13 from illness in June 2011 and has since been featured in a book called Thunder Dog.

Any dog owner will tell you that all dogs are special, amazing even and they enhance our lives every single day. Of course there are many hero hounds but everyone that lives with a dog knows that their particular canine friend is the best dog in the world. Well, they are! Mine especially!

Dogs, like many other animals, come in many shapes and sizes. From Great Danes, who can weigh upwards of 200 pounds, to miniature Chihuahuas that tip the scales in mere ounces, there are many choices available to the prospective dog owner.

So, how do you know what size dog is right for you? There are many factors to choosing a dog. Do you have a yard? Or kids? How much time can you spend with a dog? Some dogs require a lot of exercise and a lot of space to run and play. Other dogs don’t like children or may like to always be near their owners.  Sometimes it is a general preference of the breed, while other times, it’s the temperament of the dog.

Careful research into the temperament and health of different breeds is required when picking your companion. Some illnesses and conditions, like hip dysplasia and deafness, occur more in some breeds than others. Non-standard colors can also be a sign of problems in a dog. For instance, some estimates say up to 18% of all white boxers are deaf in either one or both ears.

Other dogs are ideal for families with children. Outgoing and energetic dogs who love to romp and play are often well suited to families with children and other dogs, but may become destructive of depressed if they aren’t allowed enough socialization and playtime. These dogs demand attention and will get it, one way or another. Other dogs are content to leave the playtime to others, as they prefer to lie at the foot of the master of the house, spending most of their time simply avoiding the hustle and bustle of the major areas of activity in your home.

Border collies and other working dogs are sometimes chosen as pets, though you MUST socialize them early and have a large, fenced in area for these dogs to run and exercise, or they could become a nightmare of behavior problems when the urge to head for wide-open spaces hits them.

Make sure the dog you pick for your family will be a good fit by choosing one that can live happily and safely within your family structure. Consider factors such as: how and when you can take them for walks and outdoor play, and how much time you can spend with them every day.

Also, keep in mind the estimated costs of veterinarian care and feeding. While some breeds can be relatively cheap to house and feed, others may require as much food during a week as a human, and the expense can quickly add up if you choose a breed that is bigger than your budget.

Choosing a dog for your family is not a decision to take lightly. But if you do your research, weigh all the factors, and make a choice in breeds that is the best possible fit for you, then your dog will give you years of love, laughter, and loyal friendship.

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Thousands of years ago, an ancient hunter was huddled by his fire, chewing the last morsels of meat from its bone and watching the wolf near the edge of his camp warily. The wolf looked thin and hungry. Without a pack to help him hunt, he was at the mercy of nature to provide him with whatever bits of nourishment he could find. From the looks of the wolf, though, pickings had been slim.

He edged a little closer to the hunter. The smell of his dinner was making the wolf drool uncontrollably. He was starving. The ancient man, feeling a little sorry for the poor beast, tossed the remains of his bone to the disheveled looking mongrel and retreated to his cave for the night.

The next morning, the hunter was up with the sun for another day of hunting for food. The wolf was at the cave entrance, but jogged a safe distance away when the hunter emerged. That night, while the hunter was again having his dinner by the fire, the wolf came a little closer. Again, the hunter tossed him the scraps of his dinner and went to bed.

Day after day, night after night, the hunter slowly won over the wolf. The animal, now much healthier and stronger than when the hunter first found him, follows him on his hunting trips, even driving prey back towards the hunter’s position when it manages to outrun him. The wolf lies by the ancient man’s feet and listens for danger. No longer begging for scraps, the wolf’s belly is full from the spoils of hunting with his master. After dinner, they retire to the cave for a night’s sleep.

Man had domesticated the wolf.

No one knows when man really domesticated the dog, but scientists think it happened about 15,000 years ago, though some think it could have happened about 30,000 years ago. It is not known why the wolf diverged from its evolutionary path and began the path to domestication, but some scientists think that wolves that had less fear of humans and were content to scavenge around campsites were the first steps towards the evolution of the modern dog.

Most of the evidence for the evolution of dogs into a domesticated animal comes from archeological and genetic evidence in caves and excavations that state a large canine that survived on a diet of ox and horse lived more than 30,000 years ago and place them as domesticated by the shortened muzzle and crowding of the teeth on the jaw. Before that, the earliest burial plot of a human with a dog was dated at around 10,000 to 14,000 years ago.

Even though the evolutionary timeline for the appearance of domesticated dogs is strewn with controversy, and it’s widely believed that man domesticated the wolf, there really isn’t any evidence that the adaptation and evolution of modern dog species was due to being in the presence of the ancestors of the modern man. Some biologists believe, however, that the key to canine evolution came with permanent human settlements, which would have large amounts of disposable food and further separate wild dogs from their more domesticated siblings.

Sylvester Stallone packed up his new puppy in a box and took him home. He was a pudgy brown ball of fur, and at about 6 weeks old, full of energy and spunk. Once home, Sly gave the little dog a blanket for his box, which he promptly ate.

As Stallone watched, he thought of Hall of Fame football player Dick Butkus – “That’s what I’ll call him,” he thought. “Butkus.”

Butkus, a mastiff, soon grew from a tiny pup to a 140-pound goofball who kept Sylvester and his wife laughing with his lighthearted, fun loving demeanor. Butkus, though, loved to attack large bottles of spring water and tear off the blue cap that keeps the liquid contained in the bottle. After managing to damage two apartments in one particular bottle-chomping spree, Sly didn’t leave him alone with water bottles again.

Butkus also loved to watch TV, and Sly was amazed to discover that he’d learned to play dead from watching television. This dog, it seemed, was destined to be an actor. It wasn’t long before Sylvester packed up Butkus and the rest of his family and headed to New York City, to try and make it in the movie business, and promised to treat Butkus like a king if he succeeded.

Once in New York, however, things didn’t go as smoothly as Sly had hoped, and he soon found himself struggling to keep his family afloat. Things were so bad that Stallone couldn’t afford to take care of the dog anymore, and with a heavy heart, sold Butkus to another family so he wouldn’t suffer.

Down to his last few dollars, Stallone bought a ticket to watch a boxing match, which inspired him to start writing a story. It wasn’t long before he had written the screenplay for “Rocky”, and received interest from a film company.

Rocky was supposed to have a dog in the film, so they tried the usual route of getting a dog actor through a trainer, and was surprised to find out how much it would actually cost. Someone asked if Stallone had a dog they could use instead, and Sly remembered Butkus, and the promise he made him.

Sly found the family he’d sold Butkus to, and begged them to let him have him back. He told them about the promise he’d made to Butkus, and his desire to keep his word to his friend who’d been there beside him during the lean times.

The family thought about it, but it was a hard decision. They’d had Butkus for half a year, and had grown to love him too. However, they saw how much Sylvester loved Butkus, and how much the dog loved him back, and agreed that Butkus deserved his chance to be in Sly’s film. They said their goodbyes, and gave Butkus back to Stallone who rushed back to filming.

“Rocky” was released in 1976 and was a hit, making over $225 million dollars. Butkus shared several memorable scenes with Stallone, and then went on to appear in “Rocky II”, helping solidify Stallone’s portrayal of Rocky Balboa.

Sly’s on screen interaction with Butkus helped make both the character, and the franchise he created, one of the most beloved of all time. And, in the end, Stallone kept the promise he made to his little friend back when his journey began and treated him like royalty for the rest of his days.

“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.” ~ Harry S. Truman

Regardless of your political views, all dog lovers can find common ground as we near inauguration day. We can rejoice that we will have four more years of Bo! Bo Obama is, of course, the First Dog.

The Obama family’s Portuguese Water Dog, was a promise fulfilled for first daughters, Sasha and Malia. They were promised they could get a dog, following the 2008 election. There was much speculation that the Obama family would adopt a shelter dog, but that was not to be.

In the end, this hypoallergenic breed was chosen because of Malia’s allergies. While Bo was not a shelter dog, he could be considered a rescue dog because his original owners returned him to the breeder after their other dog did not adjust to having Bo join the family. Bo’s second chance established his position as First Dog. That’s some rags to riches story—from rejected to top dog!

Since his arrival at the White House, Bo has become the subject of children’s books and has been immortalized in plush toys, key chains and Christmas ornaments. But Bo is not the first First Pooch to attain notoriety. Bo joins a long line of Presidential pets.

George Washington owned a whopping thirty-six dogs! The Father of our country was not alone is his love of animals. While they were not all dog owners, forty-one of our forty-four U.S. Presidents owned animals while in office. White House pets have ranged from mundane, white mice to bear cubs, which were a gift to Thomas Jefferson from Lewis and Clark! First Dogs have ranged in size from lap dogs to Mastiffs and Newfoundlands.

If you’re interested in taking a road trip to learn more about Presidential pets, there’s even a Presidential Pet Museum in Glen Allen, Virginia. Yes, there is a photo gallery of Bo Obama. Make us proud, Bo. Make us proud.

Ask any new dog owner how their recent addition has changed their everyday life and regular exercise will be high on their list of replies.

With the internet, electrical games and a huge amount of television channels at our disposal it can be easy to spend our free time looking at a screen or having great fun with the latest technology, the days can pass with little fresh air in our lungs, particularly if we, as so many of us do, work indoors.

This is where the benefits of dog ownership come in. After all it is remarkably difficult to lock oneself away from the world and lounge on a comfy sofa when a canine friend needs a good run around, and yes, most want their daily jaunt as early in the day as possible.

It is certainly difficult not to comply with the requests for exercise when if you shift position an enthusiastic hairball hops to his paws and either runs for the door or whines pitifully that its “way past walk time”.

Not only does your relationship with your pet improve greatly with shared quality time such as a walk but you benefit personally in so many ways by getting your canine friend out and about. You gain physical stamina, muscle tone, weight maintenance and improve the strength of your body even if you walk only half an hour a day.

Mentally even a steady ramble will improve your quality of life, walking can clear your mind and thought processes help you to relax. Many people including famous writers and creators have their best ideas when out walking. Exercise will release endorphins which make you feel good and being out and about whatever the season will give you a healthy glow of which you can be proud.

The benefits do not stop there either, dog walking is a social activity and, many great friendships and even romances have been forged during endless laps of the park. The amount of social groups that meet regularly just to laugh and catch up together whilst their dogs have a good run around is endless.

So there you are walking the dog does not only benefit the canine at the other end of the leash. By making a habit of it getting off the sofa and lacing your walking shoes can literally change your life, body and social soul.

Dogs have the ability to help us in so many ways and over the last few generations there have been increasing awareness about training specific dogs to provide support and help to people with disabilities.

One of these disabilities is deafness. Whether partial or completely deaf the condition of being unable to hear is isolating. There is also a lack of understanding and deaf people can be seen as ignorant or rude in shops when really they simply cannot hear when they are being spoken to.

This is where a hearing dog comes in. One of the main benefits of a specially trained hearing dog is that they are entitled to go into shops and public places wearing a coat which tells people of their role. So immediately on sight social barriers are broken down and the dog is a visual sign that its handler may not be able to hear well or even at all.

Another important aspect of a hearing dog is its ability to recognize sounds and alert its owner to them. For instance if a deaf person is alone in their home and the doorbell rings then they are likely to miss the visitor, but a hearing dog will gently touch the deaf person and lead them to the door.

Dogs can be trained to alert their owner to many individual sounds including a baby monitor, cooker timer, alarm clock and probably the most important danger sounds such as smoke and fire alarms. This is really important because not being able to hear a smoke or fire alarm could actually put a person’s life at risk.

The third important role of a hearing dog is companionship. Dogs have been proven time and again to alleviate stress and help people to deal with mental illness and depression. Some doctors even prescribe the act of getting a dog as a treatment for depression and there is little doubt that a hearing dog can literally change the life of a deaf person.

Are dogs colorblind? It’s something most of us were told in childhood and we’ve never questioned it. It’s sort of like my mother telling me that eating the bread crusts makes your hair grow long. In reality, dogs aren’t colorblind. And, for the record, a steady diet of bread crusts never turned me into Jan Brady.

So, where did the myth begin? (I’m talking about the colorblindness in dogs. I’m pretty sure the bread crust thing originated in my mother’s desire to not waste food.) Dogs do have limited color vision and that has been stretched into the “dogs are colorblind” tale.

I have noticed that my own dog has preferences when it comes to toy color. A pale blue toy is destined to spend its days under the couch with only dust bunnies for companions. My dog isn’t interested. Oh, he has several such toys because I can be a little dense and it took me a while to realize that he’s only snubbing a certain color. I can pick up pale blue toy, wave it around and throw it for my dog. He will excitedly run to it, sniff it and walk off with a look that appears to be a mixture of disappointment and disgust on his face.  That led me to question what my dog is seeing.

Dogs do not see everything in black and white. Nope. The world doesn’t look like a giant rerun of “I Love Lucy” to them. Dogs have fewer cone cells in their retinas than humans. They see fewer colors than we do, and the colors they do see are not as vibrant. Essentially, dogs see the world in shades of yellow, blue and gray. That’s a rainbow that wouldn’t even make a package of Skittles look appealing! Reportedly, dogs see shades of red and orange as shades of brown and gray. Greens appear to be seen as shades of yellow.

Have you noticed that your dog is more attracted to certain color toys? In case you’re interested, my dog is wild about bright yellow. What colors does your dog seem to prefer?

Recently, NBC aired “Annie’s Search for Sandy”. It was a thirty-minute special, hosted by Al Roker, about the search for a shelter dog to play Sandy in the latest Broadway version of “Annie”. Oh my stars. Be still my dog-loving heart!

The show followed the journey of Bill Berloni, the man who has trained every Sandy that has appeared on Broadway. Berloni rescued the first Sandy from a shelter, in 1977. Each and every Sandy has been a rescue dog. Berloni, himself, is a Special Tony Award recipient for his behind-the-scenes, dog-training genius. He clearly deserved it!

In the program, we saw clips of Berloni scouring shelters and online pet finder sites to find a suitable star. I found myself rooting for each and every dog. Each time a dog was featured, I screamed, “That one! Pick that one!” Yes, I may be a sap, but I got a little verklempt several times throughout the show. Berloni had the power to take these dogs from death row to stardom!

“Annie’s Search for Sandy” was one show I didn’t want to end. I wanted to see more visits to shelter, more grateful shelter workers, more potential stars, and more of the training process. Seriously, I wanted to see a weekly reality show. But that would have taken Berloni away from his ultimate task of turning a shelter dog into a Broadway performer.

We saw the three final candidates journey from their respective shelters to Berloni’s training facilities. The great thing is that each dog won a ticket out of his or her shelter and into a better life. In the end, I was just so stinkin’ happy for all of them.

The dog that was ultimately selected buckled down to some serious training with Berloni and the girl playing Annie. She seemed to love every minute of it. And, best of all, she seemed to know that the sun really would come out tomorrow!

Note: If you missed the broadcast, you might still be able to catch it on the Hallmark Movie Channel.

Photo Provided from Wikimedia Commons

For years, people have used dogs to perform tasks and jobs for which humans simply aren’t suited. People who’ve realized the intelligence, natural ability, and eager to please disposition of dogs have trained them for hunting, herding, and search and rescue, where they’ve performed admirably for their masters and provided a valuable service to their community.

However, these aren’t the only jobs that dogs are capable of performing. Dogs are well suited for a variety of jobs, and many of them have become loyal and trusted examples of the very best of canine nature.

Everyone knows of the extensive history of war dogs, with examples in history coming from such fabled armies as the Greeks, Persians, and Romans. America had a war dog too. He wasn’t bred, or even drafted, for military service; No, this dog was a volunteer.

Sergeant Stubby appeared one day at a field in Connecticut where groups of soldiers were training. Corporal Robert Conroy quickly grew to like the little dog, and when it was time for his unit to ship out, he smuggled Sergeant Stubby onboard his ship.

Sergeant Stubby saw action in 17 battles, and was wounded by a German hand grenade. He was sent from the fighting to heal, and, once he was able, returned to fight on the front lines. He warned fellow soldiers of gas and mortar attacks, rescued injured soldiers on the battlefields, and even captured a spy. He was the most decorated dog of World War I, even earning a purple heart during his service.

When the U.S. had retaken Chateau- Thierry, a French commune about 50 miles east- northeast of Paris, the women of the town were so thankful that they knitted Sergeant Stubby a coat to pin his medals on.

After the war, Sergeant Stubby became something of a celebrity. Marching in and leading  parades, meeting several presidents, even becoming the mascot of the Georgetown Hoyas while Conroy was a law student there, performing tricks at the school’s football games for the amusement of the fans in attendance.

He was also a lifetime member of such organizations as the YMCA, the Red Cross, and the American Legion. General John Pershing, a legendary officer of the United States Army himself, presented Sergeant Stubby with a special gold medal from The Humane Education Society for his selfless dedication to his regiment and service to his country.

Stubby died in 1926, as Robert Conroy held him in his arms. His remains are on display in the Smithsonian, and he received a brick in the Liberty Memorial’s Walk of Honor.

Many dogs would do anything to please their master. Some perform feats of bravery like pulling children from accidents and leading rescuers to disaster victims completely on their own.

But only Stubby volunteered for the Army and earned the rank of Sergeant on the battlefield, for which he will always be remembered and honored.

Guest Author Sally Gutteridge is back. Sally is a professional dog trainer with much experience and extensive knowledge in our canine friends. She has valuable experience in positive dog training techniques and had trained dogs for many years, including disabled assistance dogs, military working dogs, veterinary nursing and countless rescue dog rehabilitation.

You know the thing, when a couple has been together for a long time they begin to take on each other’s mannerisms. Finish their partner’s sentences and sometimes even wear the same clothes. We can certainly achieve that same relationship with our dogs; there is no doubt about this.

There is an old saying that owners can look like their dogs. It is true; there is always someone at the park who seems to be straight out of the same gene pool as their loyal canine.

Many dog shows have a fun class entitled dog most like their handler. Some of the entries in this part of the show are absolutely hilarious. I remember encouraging a man with the same long greying locks as his veteran afghan into the class purely on looks alone. They were so alike I could not believe they needed the encouragement to enter. Needless to say they won and went home a very pleased pair of long haired beauties.

Sometimes owners and dogs seem to morph with little knowledge!

Take a look in the mirror. Does your hair match your dog’s coat? Most hardened dog owners have the same windswept look as their canine purely based on all-weather walking. Some of us have the same colored hair, Lacey my little terrier and I share similar messy blonde locks and I often, with a horrified realization of reality, grow the odd whisker from my chin. Does anyone know why that happens after thirty?

Lacey and myself are quite similar in nature too, particularly in the winter when it takes her just as long to get off the sofa as it takes me to get out of bed. I will just stay here today seems to be the opinion of her, and is certainly my go to phrase, when it’s raining outside.

So take a good look at your own dog or dogs. Do you share habits? Do you like the same people and steer clear of others by a general unspoken rule? Does he get excited over a certain type of food and if so is that food one of your favorites too? A lot of the communication that goes on between us our dogs and our dogs is taken for granted. Sometimes we don’t even notice it happening until someone, one day at a fun dog show tells us that we ought to give the “dog most like handler” class a try.

By Guest Author: Sally Gutteridge

With the holidays upon us, you are probably finding yourself with a shopping list as long as a Basset Hound’s ears! If you normally bake treats for neighbors and friends, why not try something different for the dog lovers on your list? Instead of delivering million calorie tins of butter-laden cookies to people who are already on a sugar overload, whip up a batch of treats for their canine companions.

Delivering “Doggie Bags” to my favorite neighborhood dogs is something I like to do, and it is always been met with enthusiasm from the dogs and their people! Check out the Recipe section of this site for some doggie approved treats. The Peanut Butter Mardi Gras Dog Treats are great in December, too! You might also wish to include the Apple Crisp Dog Treat and a savory treat from our recipe collection.

If you have children, this is a great chance to get them involved in the gift-giving process. Even young children can separate the treats into baggies. I like to make a few different types of treats and put each flavor in a separate baggie, to be packaged into the container of choice. Don’t forget to label each flavor!

Have fun with the presentation. Here are some presentation ideas:

• Paper Bags—There’s no need to spend a lot of money to have an adorable gift. You can use plain, brown sandwich bags to hold your goodies. Kids enjoy decorating the bags with markers or crayons.
• Tins—You can package your treats in a reusable tin or plastic container. There are some cute ones available. I stock up at after-holiday sales for the following year.
• Chinese Food Containers—You can find Chinese food containers at craft stores, or purchase them in bulk from an online source.
• Print up a poem or holiday wishes for the gift tag. Below, is a poem that can be personalized according to the sex of the dog or for multiple dogs.

Happy Howl-i-days!

This gift was made especially for your 4-legged friend.

We hope he enjoys them from beginning to end.

It wouldn’t do to forget him this season.

So let him chow down on some tastes that are pleasin’!

Pet ownership is not for everyone. There are many factors to consider before getting a dog, such as where you live, how much time you can spend with the animal, and how able you are to care for a pet. A dog can be a big investment if you are not prepared to take proper care of it.

However, there are many benefits to owning a dog, which many pet owners already know.

One of the most obvious benefits to owning a dog is companionship. For people without kids or family, life can get a little lonely. Dogs make great companions because of their willingness to please and there trusting and loyal nature. Dogs love spending time with their masters, playing, doing tricks or even just snuggling on the couch while watching TV. In addition, people feel better with someone to love and care for, and a dog fills the bill nicely.

Another benefit is the healthy lifestyle dog ownership promotes. Walks in the park, hiking in the woods, playing chasing games in the yard are all things dogs love to do with their owners, and you will rarely find a dog who does not like to retrieve a thrown ball. All this activity is good for the dog and for the owner too. Running around and playing games with your dog will do more to improve your health and happiness than perhaps any other exercise regimen you can adopt.

Dogs can also be good for protection. Even small dogs have good hearing, and can alert owners to strange sounds or anything else of which the owner should be aware. Dogs not only protect against prowlers, though. Some dogs have become heroes by alerting owners to fires, gas leaks and other problems that could otherwise have proven deadly for their unsuspecting owners. Others have proven capable of alerting owners to possible health problems, even knowing when his owner is about to have a seizure.

Another benefit to dog ownership is knowing that someone depends on you to take care of them. The responsibilities of pet ownership often give people a purpose, or role, that they might otherwise be missing. The cleaning, feeding, and grooming of an animal make the owner feel needed, and being able to properly take care of a pet gives people a feeling of pride and accomplishment from raising healthy, well groomed and socialized pets.

There are many benefits to owning a dog. Health, companionship and well-being are very important for people, and pet ownership is one way of reaching these lifestyle goals. However, perhaps the greatest benefit of all belongs to the dogs themselves. Being loved and cared for is all a dog really wants, and taking on the role of dog ownership will give a puppy the chance to be a part of a family, and have a loving and happy relationship to last him all the days of his life.

Owning a dog is not for everyone, but for the right person, owning a dog is a step towards having a pleasant, happy and full life.

Does your dog watch television? If so, have you heard about DogTV, a 24-hour a day television channel for dogs?  It has been around since April 2012 and seems to be designed as a sort of digital doggie babysitter.

I haven’t tried DogTV.  Hey, what can I say? I’m cheap, er, frugal, and am not sure I’m that concerned with my dog’s constant stimulation. Does that make me a bad owner? I hope not. My dog only seems interested in television viewing because it means she (Sophy) can lay her head in my lap. The only time she shows a marked interest in television is when someone on a program rings a doorbell or a dog barks. Maybe I just haven’t been watching the right channel.

The content on DogTV is designed to relax, stimulate playfulness and expose dogs to stimuli, such as silent vacuum cleaners. There seem to be a lot of tranquil, outdoor scenes and scenes of dogs playing.  The segments on DogTV are three to six minutes long. The color, brightness and camera angles have been specially designed for your dog’s viewing pleasure. It sounds a lot like children’s programming for dogs.  A team of pet experts designed the programming and I must admit that the concept is intriguing.

While I haven’t tried the channel, my dog does spend a great deal of time staring out the front window. Maybe that’s his version of a reality show. He (Chester) stares until there’s a reason to bark and then he barks for all he’s worth! I defy any elderly woman to walk past our house undetected.

For dogs that are home alone all day, DogTV is meant to relieve separation anxiety. I will admit that I have left music on for my dogs when they are home alone for several hours. I have no idea if he enjoyed it, but I thought it did and it made me feel a little less like a heel for leaving them.

In case you are interested, DogTV is available through limited cable providers, as well as online streaming and Roku box streaming. If you have tried this with your dog, I would love to hear from you.

People love puppies. What’s not to love? Their tummies are round. Their heads seem entirely too big for their bodies. They have a way of padding across the floor that can cause practically anyone to say, “Awww.”  Geriatric dogs can be another story. Sometimes people forget to see the, “Awww” worthiness is an aging dog. But, personally, I love an old dog. And I have a deep and abiding affection for the people who choose to care for old dogs.

Old dogs have spent a lifetime trying to please their people. Sometimes the mounting vet bills or the increased care concerns cause long-time owners to surrender their aging hound to a shelter. It’s a crushing reality. Fortunately, for those of us who love old dogs, that means there are numerous volunteer opportunities.

Because shelters are particularly stressful for aging dogs, a growing number of rescue groups focus on finding foster homes for them.  A quick internet search will probably reveal a senior dog sanctuary near you.  You can also contact your local animal shelter to ask if they know of such a program.

There are numerous benefits to caring for an older dog. They require less exercise than younger dogs and don’t need as much space to roam. Their lower energy levels can be ideal for people who love dogs, but don’t want to go through the puppy years. Old dogs still have a lot of love to give to people who are willing to open their hearts and lives. For senior adults, who are looking for a companion, geriatric dogs can be ideal.

Some senior dogs are placed into permanent foster care and others only need fostering until a permanent home can be found. Ideally, foster and adoptive families should have experience in dealing with an aging pet. It is important that someone be available to spend time with an aging dog. They often require more frequent potty breaks and medical care throughout the day.

You will, of course, want to be sure that a geriatric dog would get along with your existing pets. If you have a soft spot in your heart for old dogs and are willing to invest in their medical treatments, perhaps you should look into fostering. Who know? You might even teach an old dog a new trick.

I’ve always heard that dogs look like their owners, or vice versa. Though I must confess that I’m probably not observant enough to notice similarities between a canine and its human unless the person wears a collar and drools a lot. (Also, don’t ask me to find Waldo, because I can’t do it.)

A friend of mine takes great care in selecting a dog—not because she wants to find a charming temperament, but because she’s afraid she will begin to look like the dog. Yes, she’s a little eccentric. Her last dog was a red Chihuahua because she wanted people to comment that they both had red hair. The Chihuahua was even a natural redhead! I have to admit that I never saw any resemblance between this friend and her dog. Although I greatly appreciate the fact that my friend (unlike her dog) never marked on one of my sofa’s legs!

A 2004 study, from the University of California at San Diego, examined this theory that dogs and owners look alike. In this small study, observers were shown photographs and asked to match the dogs with their owners. When given photos of two dogs, observers were asked to match the correct dog to its owner. The study showed that observers were fairly likely to match purebred dogs to their owners. In fact, out of twenty-five purebreds, observers made the correct match almost two-thirds of the time. The matchmakers had much less success in pairing mixed breeds to their owners.

It seems that my friend is not alone in attempting to find a dog that looks like her. Whether on a conscious or unconscious level, people appear to select purebred dogs that resemble them. Why doesn’t this carry over to the mutt population? Perhaps it’s because you’re never quite sure what a mixed breed will look like when it reaches full growth.

What do you think? Do you and your dog share more similarities than the Olsen twins? Leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you!

Sometimes it just isn’t practical to travel with your dog. Perhaps your dog does not have the temperament to be a world traveler, or maybe you’re going someplace that does not allow dogs.  Or maybe, like me, you are traveling for work where bringing your dog might be frowned upon . In those cases, you need to weigh your options between boarding a hiring a pet sitter.

Boarding

When it comes to boarding your dog, you will find everything from a kennel at your veterinarian’s office to a five-star doggie resort. Which you choose depends on your dog and your budget.

• Veterinarian or Small Kennel- Dogs with significant health problems are prime candidates for boarding at a veterinarian’s office. They will receive the attention they require and owners will have peace of mind. For small fees you can arrange for special walks and playtime.
• Doggie Resort - If your pet is particularly social and you would like to spring for some special pampering, look for a pet resort in your area. Pet resorts can provide a wide variety of amenities. One advantage to pet resorts is that you can arrange for two or more of your pets to share sleeping facilities.  But check out the resort to see what they really offer.  I love my vet and his practice boasts a “Pet Spa”.  Well the spa is nothing more than a larger steel-bottomed crate and hardly a spa.

Tip: If you choose to board your pet, pack a few favorite toys and your pet’s regular brand of food.

Pet Sitters

Hiring a pet sitter could mean anything from hiring a professional pet sitting service to enlisting your dog-loving neighbor to care for your pooch, in your home.

If your pet has serious health problems and you are nearing some end of life decisions for it, please think twice before hiring a pet sitter. That is a terrible burden to place on a sitter. If you choose to hire a pet sitter anyway, contact your veterinarian’s office to discuss your wishes and to notify them that you will be leaving your pet.  Be sure to leave a medical release form and your veterinarian’s contact information for your pet sitter.

I am incredibly lucky.  My dog sitter is a vet tech and has been sitting for my pups for years.  When my old girl Molly was nearing end of life I had a stinking work trip that I thought I had to go on.  No sooner did I get there than I realized my only true place was at home.  But it would still take me a day or so to get home (snow delays).  I was so fortunate to have my sitter who had her boyfriend come to my house and hand feed my Molly and just sit with her while my sitter was at work.

Ideally, you will select a pet sitter your dog already knows. If you are going through a service, arrange for a meeting between your dog and the sitter before you leave on your trip.

Some sitters will just visit during the day to feed your dog and let them out for bio breaks.  Others, like mine, will sleep over with your pup.  If that is the case, be prepared to leave them food and anything else they might need to know to keep them comfiortable like where the heat and air conditioning controls are as well as the TV remotes

Write out detailed instructions for your pet sitter. Even if you go over everything verbally, it’s good to leave notes to which your sitter can refer. Include your dog’s normal feeding, exercise and bathroom schedule. If they are taking any medications make sure you leave those instructions too including how to administer the meds.  My dogs are Labrador Retrievers who will eat virtually anything but some dogs are more challenging when it comes to taking medications and may need a pill pocket or cream cheese to swallow a pill.

Tell the sitter about your dog’s quirks. If your dog is likely to try to escape for a swim in the neighbor’s pool, be sure your sitter knows that! My old dog Cooper would hide out in the bathtub if he got nervous.  My Sophy hangs out in the laundry room. But my favorite quick was dear old Molly.  No matter what door you let her out of, she would come in another.  Since my house had about 5 doors in and out, the sitter would never know where to find Molly.

If you expect a pet sitter to collect your mail, water plants, take out the garbage and turn some lights on and off, include that information.

Finally, be sure to include your contact information and travel schedule. Also, don’t forget to take your pet sitter’s contact information with you. Flights can be cancelled and travel plans can change. You will, of course, want your dog cared for in any event!

Guest Author Sally Gutteridge is back. Sally is a professional dog trainer with much experience and extensive knowledge in our canine friends.  But today, we hear from her dog Chips.

First of all let me introduce myself,  I’m Chips and I am a dog. I am a dog that was taken home by my humans two years and fifty-three days ago. Before that I was in a prison, and before the prison I had some other peoples. Those other peoples left me though. But I’m not bitter, for without them leaving me I wouldn’t be where I am now.

But my people are a bit odd. For instance they have a box in the corner of the room which they keep other peoples in. So many that I have no idea where they all go to. I sometimes think that the peoples are going to pop out of the box and take over our home. So I bark at them, which seems to work for they stay in the box even when they are glaring menacingly at me. Obviously not brave enough to challenge Chips the warrior dog.  When I bark at the intruders my own people bark too, I think they are barking at me. I don’t mind though for they are obviously also worried about the intruders because they watch them so carefully.

Another odd thing that my humans do is ask me if I am hungry quite often. I, of course, will always answer yes to such a question with an extra frantic wag of my tail. A tail wag they seem to like very much because they say it again many times. I will stop the wagging one day for they feed me only twice a day even though my tails points out how hungry I actually am!

We go out every single day, my humans and me. Come rain or shine we wander through the woods. Sometimes I have to prompt them off the sofa. When it’s raining it takes longer to get them going. I never give up though. When we are out and about I bark at other peoples and dogs and my humans hold onto me grimly, obviously terrified which of course makes me bark louder. I have to protect them after all, these humans of mine. Plus I like the sound of my bark, its manly and brave I think.

So thank you for reading my blog. I may write you some more, I have after all, not even introduced you to my brothers and sisters. But for now it’s getting close to park time so I must go and stare at my person for fear that she forgets my walk. Have a nice day.

Love from Chips the dog.

Shhh….come close because I’m going to tell you a secret. Don’t tell anyone. I like children’s books. I especially like children’s books about dogs. I am the obnoxious person in a bookstore who is always making recommendations to the people browsing.

If you have children in you life, or if you just want to sneak some juvenile reads for yourself, I have some recommendations for you.

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

There is a series of Henry and Mudge books, designed for beginning readers. They also make excellent read-alouds for younger children. With simplicity of language, Rylant still manages to convey excellent stories about a little boy and his big dog, Mudge.

Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson

The Hank the Cowdog series is probably my favorite dog series evah! Hank is the head of ranch security on a Texas ranch. I find Hank and his cowardly sidekick, Drover, to be bust-a-gut funny. These mystery books are particularly enjoyable for 8-11 year-olds and are a great way to get young boys reading.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

This book was good enough to be turned into a lovely motion picture starring Jeff Daniels. I liked the book. I liked the movie. The book even won a Newbery Honor, Josette Frank Award and Mark Twain Award. It made the list of “Top 100 Chapter Books” in a poll conducted by the School Library Journal.

Because of Winn-Dixie is the tale of a lonely girl and the dog that helps change her life for the better. It’s a sweet, small town story that will have the reader laughing and crying.

Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary

You’ve got to love Beverly Cleary. She writes about childhood from a childlike perspective and makes me long for simpler times.

I also include Henry and Ribsy and Ribsy in my recommendation. The relationship between Henry and Ribsy, the stray dog he rescued, is charming. While some of the references are rather dated, these books hold up well.

Bunnicula by James Howe (the original books was co-authored by Howe’s late wife, Deborah Howe)

The Bunnicula series is written from the perspective of the Monroe family’s dog, Harold. When the family brings home a bunny, they name Bunnicula, Harold and Chester the cat, are convinced Bunnicula is vampire bunny. These mystery chapter books are sure to enchant any young animal lover.

As the festive season approaches, thoughts turn to buying gifts for those you love. Of course, your shopping list has to include your canine best friend. Maybe you’ve been to one of those mega-pet stores, where there are so many choices but most of them just don’t seem special enough. A bag of dog treats is not very novel, and your dog already has lots of toys. This is where Gift Baskets Plus can help.

Dog gift baskets can make it easy to find the ideal gift for Venkat. Choose from baskets containing a mixture of treats, toys, grooming supplies, and even a little something special for his owner. Look at the contents of these baskets, and imagine how your dog would feel if he found one of these under the tree on Christmas morning! Following are just a few baskets to choose from.

The Loyal Companion

This delightful basket contains yummy pizza flavored Canine Carryouts that any dog is sure to love. For toys, this basket has a plush squeaky toy and a tennis ball. It rounds off the selection with Pet Head shampoo.  It’s a great combination of treats, toys, and grooming needs all in one!

Fido and Family (OK I would have named it Venkat and family but it is still a good basket.

This basket has treats for everyone. It has Milk Bone dog treats and a pack of dental chew bones for your dog. It also includes a fur remover tool and doggie toothbrush that will keep his coat in good condition and his teeth sparkling. For the rest of the family, there are Brent and Sam’s chocolate chip cookies and onion dill pretzels. Your dog and and his people will all enjoy these treats.

Doggie Care Package

This package has truly gone to the dogs. It’s a great way to show your dog how much you care. It contains a paw prints gift box, a ball, and a chew toy. For grooming it has a dog washing mitt and / or brush along with dog shampoo.  There is also a fun paw print plaster dog print kit included. Rounding out the package is a handsome paw print box filled with beef flavored dog bones.

Spot’s Doggie Gift Basket

This attractive gift set is great for any dog lover. The cute, convenient boxes are stackable and can be used later to store your dog’s toys. One of them even comes filled with beef flavored dog treats! Another box contains a doggie chew ball and two chew toys. For grooming there is dog shampoo, and a wash mitt and / or a brush. Also included is a paw print plaster dog print kit, and a cute plush toy named Patches the Playful Puppy.

Gift baskets are a versatile and attractively presented gift for your much loved dog. Gift Baskets Plus carries a wide variety of dog gift baskets that will fit any budget. To make your Christmas shopping even more convenient, you’ll also find a range of baskets that will be the perfect gift for your human friends and family members.

Guest Author Sally Gutteridge is back. Sally is a professional dog trainer with much experience and extensive knowledge in our canine friends. She has valuable experience in positive dog training techniques and had trained dogs for many years, including disabled assistance dogs, military working dogs, veterinary nursing and countless rescue dog rehabilitation.

The only fault that our dogs have is that they don’t live long enough. The faithful friends, that dog lovers the world over, live with grow old before our eyes and eventually break our hearts. However between the well learned middle aged dog and saying the final goodbye is the oldie.

The oldie is a dog of grey chin and cloudy eye. He leans his body up our leg, the furniture or any other convenient object rather than stand on his stiff legs. Less inclined to go out for a walk, particularly in the rain our oldie prefers a comfy fire, or if at all possible, a feather bed.

Where he used to follow us around the home in the hope of a dropped morsel we now wander back to him, with love to give him his treat, because it’s so much effort for him to get up on shaky legs. We lift him into the car and drive to the park, despite it being only ten minutes away on foot, so that he can get the best quality experience from his exercise routine.

Walks take longer and every blade of grass seems more interesting than the last. The toileting spot is suddenly ever more important than before and many minutes are spent looking from an empty poo bag to a dog that is carefully choosing exactly the right place for a convenient bathroom stop.

The oldie has often been with us from puppyhood, sometimes he arrived as an adult dog and some, of the very best people, adopt an oldie to let them live out the rest of their time in peace, security and comfort. However we acquire our older dog we never have them long enough. As they get older we begin to think about being without them and it hurts.

So we take comfort that they are here now. Take extra time to show that we love them and are happy to potter around a park at a snail’s pace, for the love they have given and continue to give, we owe them that.

Guest Author:  Sally Gutteridge. Sally is a professional dog trainer with much experience and extensive knowledge in our canine friends. She has valuable experience in positive dog training techniques and had trained dogs for many years, including disabled assistance dogs, military working dogs, veterinary nursing and countless rescue dog rehabilitation. 

Us dog lovers are a wonderful bunch! Don’t you think so? We have a certain capacity for love which we can extend to canines the world over.

We can take responsibility for a member of a completely different species and make sure all of their needs are met. We feed them, look after their coat; we make sure they have mental stimulation and a warm bed to sleep on whenever they feel like it.

We clean up their mess if they are sick and go without so that they have the correct diet. Veterinary treatment and healthcare is always at the top of our budget when we are planning what to spend on. Constantly on alert for change in mood or condition we watch our canine friends like hawks.

We go without if necessary so that the beast within our midst can have the best of everything and we pick up chewed items, no matter how precious they once were without more than the mildest reprimand, because we know that it’s too late after the chewing offence to tell them off now.

Expensive dog beds and sharing our own sleeping space makes us happy. A trip to the pet shop and squeaky toys often replace a pair of new shoes and a personal treat. We pluck hair out of our drinks and meals without a second thought and sit on the broken spring on the sofa because the dog looks so comfy on the only real usable part of the seat. Yes you guessed it we can’t afford a new sofa because the dogs get all the spare cash.

We feel guilty finishing every last morsel on our own plates because of the wide brown eyes looking so sad and hungry at us. So despite really wanting our food we section off the last mouthful, heart aching and pass it to the dog.

Stories of abuse and neglect cut us to the bone, we shed tears over animals that we have never even met and fall into the category of trying to squeeze another one in or working hard to persuade a practical partner that a little oldie will not take up much space or food, in addition to the four that we already have.

Despite all of the above we wouldn’t change things; we keep caring and carry on giving. Dog lovers share a compassion that seems to be lacking in so many areas of our world today and we should be proud because selfless love is an achievement that is rarer that you think. In my humble opinion the capacity to love a dog is an admirable quality indeed! Keep it up folks!

What Every Dog Guardian Needs to Know in Terms of Social Pet Behaviors

When you think of your dog, you probably view him or her as another member of the family, just a bit furrier. Many dog lovers become so attached to their canine friend that they mistakenly start to believe that everyone is fan of dogs. Sadly, not everyone is as head over heels about your dog as you are, so it is important that you understand the importance of exhibiting proper dog owner etiquette.

Any time that your dog is away from home, or interacting with other people, you need to understand how to practice good social behaviors with the dog. Using good dog owner etiquette simply means that you are giving others’ respect by taking their feelings into considerations in regards to how they feel about your dog.

The following are a few simple tips to keep in mind if you want to maintain a positive relationship between your community and your dog:

• Always keep your dog on a leash when you leave your house or yard. Some dog owners think that they do not need a leash because their dog is always extremely well behaved and would never stray away. Well, the leash is not just for you and your dog; it’s for other people. Some people, especially if they are walking their own dogs, become very uncomfortable around an unfamiliar dog that is not leashed.

• Pick up after your dog. One of the most important ways to show respect to your neighbors is by picking up your dog’s droppings. Always keep plastic bags with you on your walks so that you can keep your neighborhood clean. You can quickly find yourself with an enemy if your neighbor finds your dog’s waste on the bottom of their shoe.

• Try to keep your dog quiet. Of course, dogs will bark, but try to be conscious of those around you. If your dog is outside barking excessively, you might be able to ignore it, but others probably cannot. Try your best to calm the dog and prevent too much barking.

• Don’t take your dog with you everywhere that you go. Your friends or relatives may have invited your over, but that does not necessarily mean they want your dog staying over too. Some people are allergic, or simply do not enjoy your dog as much as you do.

• Try to make sure your dog is being polite during introductions with other dogs, or with people. You might think the dog is cute when it excitedly jumps up to greet someone, or plays with another dog, but that behavior can make other people very uneasy. If your dog is playing too rough with another dog, there could be an injury and a lot of animosity between you and the other dog owner.

If you are unsure about any dog behavior situation, always stop and consider the other person’s feelings. Most importantly, if you feel that you have broken a dog owner etiquette rule, apologize. Apologize sincerely, and take steps to prevent the indiscretion from happening again.

For all the dog mom’s out there, your dog wrote you this poem.

Me Love You Long Time Mom

Me love you long time mom

Me love you from start

Me love you so much mom

Me love from the heart

Me thank you for taking me

Home to your own place

Me thank you for giving me

A life full of grace

Me thank you for cookies

And to sleep in your bed

Me thank you for brushing me

When I start to shed

Me laugh when you sing

Off key and so loud

Me laugh when you dance

You make me so proud

Me thank you for long walks

In rain and in snow

Me thank you for car rides

Don’t care where we go

Me love when I come

You give me a treat

Me love that you smell

All four Frito feet

Me love you long time mom

Me love you so much

Me love when you kiss me

Me long for your touch

Me heard today’s special

But how can that be?

Cause every day’s special

With you mom to me

Me love you long time mom

Me love you from start

Me love you so much mom

Me love from the heart

Happy Mother’s Day to all you dog moms out there, even if you are a dad!

You too can use your body language and voice to let your dog know how you are feeling and what you want from him.

When he has done something right, a cheery sounding voice will let him know you are pleased. On the other hand, a deeper voice is a good indicator that you aren’t happy (and this is when you are likely to see those calming signals!).

If you are giving your dog a command, watch carefully what you say. Dogs connect behaviors with words, so the command “sit” is interpreted totally differently to “sit, sit, sit”. If you are frustrated that your dog isn’t sitting when you tell him, you’re more likely to repeat the command over and over again, which won’t help him to understand you at all.

Dogs are very good at interpreting body posture, so they respond well to hand signals. Many dog trainers use hand signals alone when they work with their dogs. The use of hand signals is particularly useful when your dog is some distance away, and may not hear or understand your verbal commands.

Next time you want to play with your dog, try a play bow. Get down on your knees and your elbows, with your bottom in the air, and watch his reaction. Most dogs will know exactly what you are saying, and will bounce up to you for a game. This is a good example of how important your physical posture is in communicating with your dog.

Relationships just don’t work well without clear and frequent communication between both parties. This applies to your relationship with your four legged best friend. If you take the time to learn how to better understand what he is trying to tell you, and how you can clearly tell him how you feel, then the relationship will be stronger and more enjoyable for both of you.

Most dog owners have witnessed their furry friend seemingly being sound asleep and then all of a sudden their whole body starts to twitch or their feet move as if they are running. Some dogs even growl or bark in their sleep. It seems obvious that your pet is having a dream. But in reality, do dogs dream?

Dreams are a way for the brain to process things that are experienced while we are awake. Since dogs do have a thought process where they have to figure out things just like we do, then most scientists and veterinarians believe that dogs must be capable of dreaming.

Dreams happen to humans when we go into what is called REM sleep. It also causes our eyelids to twice just like our dog’s body’s do. Since it has been proven that dogs do experience REM sleep, then it is apparent that they do their dreaming in it just like people do. Studies have shown that a dog in REM sleep has brain waves similar to that which has been observed in humans that are dreaming, which is another bit of proof that dogs to indeed have dreams.

If you watch your faithful pet, then you will be able to tell when he is entering into a doggie dream. When he goes into a deep sleep and his eyelids start to twitch and move, then you know that he is entering into a dream about whatever our furry friends dream of. Perhaps he really is chasing that ball or rabbit. Or maybe he is playing a game with you in his dreams, or even chasing a bad guy. We can’t really know exactly what our pets are dreaming, but they are indeed dreaming.

There has been several scientific studies done that prove that dogs do experience the same sensations and movements as dreaming humans right down to similar brainwaves, so it is a scientific fact that dogs dream. While we can’t exactly wake them up and ask them what they are dreaming, we can be there for them in case they wake up and are in need of cuddling or consoling. Just don’t suddenly wake up a dreaming dog, as he may be startled and bite you if he was dreaming and didn’t know what was going on.

So the next time you see your faithful furry friend with his eyes closed and his feet are twitching and he is giving a little woof of growl, then you can smile to yourself and wonder, exactly what do our dogs dream of?

Most pet owners don’t enjoy leaving their furry friends behind when they go on a family vacation. After all, aren’t Venkat and Fluffy family members as well? These days, there are ways to take your pets with you by finding a pet friendly vacation retreat.

One of the first things to do is to do a bit of research ahead of time. You can do a Google search to see which places will accept pets and if they charge extra for doing so. There are several special websites for pet owners that help you search for hotels such as http://www.pet-friendly-hotels.net/  or http://www.pettravel.com/.  I found a great site last year, http://www.vacationrentals.com.  You can search by state in the US for dog friendly places to stay.  What is great about this site is that they are mostly houses and cabins for rent.  So if you like more space and more privact you are bound to find something you like here.

You run the gauntlet of everything from a hotel that allows you to bring your dog into the hotel and charges you an extra fee but provides nothing else to the really pet friendly locations that offer food, toys, treats, dog beds and special doggie baby sitters.

It all depends on what exactly you want  — a place to sleep or a hotel with ways to entertain your dog while you are off doing vacation things that dogs aren’t allowed to attend. You should also double check when making your reservations if dogs are still allowed. The facts online could be outdated, so don’t run the risk of driving all the way to the hotel late at night to find out that Fido isn’t welcome after all.

Most hotels that do allow dogs will want you to obey certain rules such as where your dog can go to the bathroom, when he can be off leash, if he must be shut up in a carrier if you are gone, etc. book your stay. Your dog may also have to show proof of having his shots, and be friendly to other people or be clean and flea free. There may be a statement that you will have to sign that says if anything is torn up or ruined that you must pay for the damages. You should always call ahead to find out exactly what to expect so there will be no surprises.

The bottom line is that these days it is quite possible to take your dog with you when you travel, as long as you do your homework and are prepared.

Everybody loves a vacation and your dog is no exception.  Whether traveling by car or train, summer or winter, you and your best friend can travel in comfort.  Follow these simple tips and your trip should be stress free.

Car Manners Matter

Having a dog leaping around the moving car isn’t just annoying, it’s dangerous.  Even as a young puppy, he should be expected to sit quietly in one spot in the car.  Keeping him in a hatchback with a wire barrier is ideal, but if he needs to sit on the bench, dog seatbelts are available to help restrain him.  Taking him for short trips will help him get used to the feeling of movement, so motion sickness will be less likely.

Keep Your Dog Restrained

It doesn’t matter how well behaved you think your dog is, being in a new place can disorient or excite him enough to make him forget his off leash training.  Keeping him on his lead protects him and protects the people around him.  Also, if he needs to be left in the hotel room unsupervised, bringing his crate along will protect him from wandering out of the room when the housekeeper comes to clean.  The hotel staff also appreciate having unfamiliar dogs restrained.  Lastly, despite the best preventative measures, dogs do sometimes escape.  Always make sure that your dog has his license, rabies tag and identification tag at all times.

Follow Your Dog’s Normal Routines

While eating in restaurants and sightseeing until late at night are exciting for humans, dogs find sticking to familiar routines comforting.  In addition to bringing his favorite toys and crate, bringing a supply of his usual food is helpful is making your dog comfortable.  If there is any chance that the new water will cause him intestinal distress, either bring water from home in the car or purchase bottled water when you arrive.

Be Prepared with Full Documentation

If you are traveling abroad, make sure that you have the appropriate paperwork with you.  Bring proof of recent vaccinations.  For countries with quarantine rules, make sure to look up the details ahead of time so that you aren’t faced with having to put your best friend into a kennel alone for weeks on end.  Consult your veterinarian and he will provide you with any information documentation that you may need.

You will find that travel with a dog isn’t nearly as much extra work as you had anticipated.  If you are going on a vacation where your dog can spend time with you as you explore, you and he will both have time that you will treasure always.

Memorial Day is a day to give thanks to our heroes; those brave men and women who served their country so proudly. But let’s not forget our four legged heroes. Did you know that thousands of dogs have served our nation’s military, and have died in action?  Today I am delighted to present to you an article written by guest author, Teresa Frith.  Teresa is a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer who has been in the journalist field for over 30 years. She has a BA in English and has been published in Dog Fancy magazine as well as many other military and civilian publications.

Military Working Dogs: A Service Member’s Best Friend From the backyard in War and in Peace

By Teresa J. Frith

His ears twitch back and forth as he listens to the smallest sounds around him. Ever vigilant, ever watchful, his body quivers as he lifts his muzzle to sniff the air for a sign of his target. He wears his battle armor proudly just like his companions do, and will just as proudly defend them as they would defend him.

Who is this epitome of virtue?  It’s the military working dog.

From the backyard to the battlefield, military working dogs have come a long way over the centuries. On this Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the thousands of dogs that have loyally marched off to war with their handlers, sniffed out a bomb that could have killed hundreds of people or covertly traveled with the Seals to seek out and kill Osama Bin Laden.

Over the centuries dogs have had held many roles within the military. These have consisted of jobs such as sentry duty, sniffing out drugs, casualties, bombs or other weapons; attack dog, messenger carrier, scout or patrol dog, and several other positions. They have even been adopted as strays on the battlefield and given emotional comfort to our soldiers that helped to keep them sane and relieve stress.

The Early Years

Dogs were used by many military sources prior to their use in the U.S., such as the Seminole Wars, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War of 1898. They also unofficially accompanied troops during World War I.

However, the first time they were officially a part of the U.S. military was during World War II, even though there had been a request in 1918 during World War I by the American Expeditionary Forces for 500 dogs to be trained as sentries, messengers and patrol aides. That request was disapproved, and nothing official was done concerning military working dogs until about the 1940s.

Even then, they were only used as sled dogs by the Air Corps Ferrying Command to rescue airmen who were forced down in areas of Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland.

Finally, during World War II, a program was put in place by the Army to train dogs for the military.

Especially after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, it was then seen just how valuable the military working dog could become. They were to be trained as sentries at first, and later would play many other roles. To handle this,  the Dogs for Defense, Inc. was established in 1942, which received its funds from the American Kennel Club and interested individuals.

While most military dogs today are specially bred and bought specifically for the purpose of being trained as military working dogs, back then the dogs were donated to the program, and then trained at the kennels under the guidance of the Dogs for Defense program.

The major majority of these first military working dogs were sentry or patrol dogs. By July of 1942, it was being more seen just how valuable military dogs could be and the number of roles would soon be increased do fill not only sentry jobs, but also jobs as messenger, scout, sled and attack dogs.

Around that same time the Quartermaster General began to establish training programs for not only dogs, but also for handlers. By the end of 1942, not only the Army, but also the Coast Guard and the Navy were starting to be interested in using military working dogs.

About 30 breeds of dogs, both males and females, were tried at first, but it was pared down to seven that appeared to work the best: German Shepherds, Belgian sheep dogs, Doberman-Pinschers, Collies, Siberian huskies, Malamutes and Eskimo dogs.

Since that time, the main breed used for military working dogs is the German Shepherd, but some other breeds are occasionally used to do specific tasks on a case by case basis. German Shepherds were chosen because they had the right temperament, the right size and weight; they could adapt to any climate, and were easily trained.

Military Working Dog Jobs

At this time, there were five areas of jobs these dogs were trained to do:  sentry/attack dog, sled dog, pack dog, messenger carrying dog, mine detecting and scout dogs, with the majority of the dogs used mostly for sentry duties. However more jobs were soon to come open in the lives of these valiant and brave animals.

Sentry/Attack Dogs

Even today, there are many military sentry jobs walking their posts with their handlers to guard various bases or other things. These dogs were expected to be smart, willing to work, and aggressive. They were to both patrol their posts, as well as protect their handler. They were taught to give warning if they sensed or saw any suspicious behavior and to attack if given the word.

More than 10,000 dogs were trained for this job during WW II, with nearly all being used for this job. They performed their duties at hundreds of military installations and combat areas.

Scout Dogs

These are the type of dogs that were geared to work with combat units, and are the ones that face the most dangers of all the military working dogs. These dogs are trained to give a silent warning to their fellow soldiers and needed excellent hearing, and had to be very sensitive to changes and figuring out unusual activities.

These great animals knew when the enemy was about long before their human companions and helped to save the lives of many units with their ability of detection. They also did double duty to boost the morale of their human friends, who greatly appreciated their sense of smell and hearing out on the battlefield.

Messenger Dogs

Messenger dogs were trained to be loyal and had to be strong dogs with good stamina, able to swim if necessary, and have excellent powers of hearing, scent and endurance. These were needed so they could succeed at their mission of delivering messages between units or individuals during war times. If these loyal animals were seen by the enemy, they faced being killed by snipers who knew the value of these dogs to their combat units.

Mine Detecting Dogs

Mine detecting dogs were trained to smell out booby traps of all kinds, including different types of mines. They did duty in North Africa in WWII and then in later wars. Dogs are still trained today for these types of detection, as well as to detect drugs and other things, such as casualties. Many a man has been found by a field dog that would otherwise have died since he wouldn’t have been found without the aid of the dog’s sense of smell.

This program, however, was short-lived and disbanded a few years after it was formed because the dogs weren’t able to do their job in all environments or situation.

Disposition of War Dogs

When the sounds of wartimes died down and the service members came home to their loved ones, the military working dogs didn’t always fare as well. Through WWII the dogs that survived were given back to their previous owners, but later on that policy changed.

Due to fears of war dogs attacking or killing civilians, any dog that was unusable in some other position after the war was euthanized or even abandoned on the battlefields.  This was a policy that was getting more and more dispute against it, especially after the very unpopular Vietnam War.

Due to this, in November 2000 President Clinton signed a new law, Public Law 106-446, that let retired military working dogs be adopted by qualified people or law enforcement agencies. The adopters had to sign paperwork holding the military harmless if the dog caused any injuries and damages.

Animals also are being helped to come home from the battlefields. Many military members over the past few years in places like Iraq and Afghanistan have adopted strays that unofficially served in the role as companion, stress reliever and protector. Since only official military dogs can fly home in military planes, these animals faced being left behind.

However, with the financial help of several organizations such as the World Society for Protection of Animals and Military Mascots, these dogs are going home to the soldier’s families to be adopted.

Conclusion

All in all, military dogs have served faithfully and well in both war and peace. From the battlefields of Germany in WWII to a complex in Pakistan to help find one of our greatest enemies, these animals have truly been man’s best friend. So on this celebration of Memorial Day; it is fitting to give a hearty three woofs for these wonder and brave animals, the military working dogs. Woof! Woof! Woof!

For all the dog mom’s out there, your dog wrote you this poem.

Me Love You Long Time Mom

Me love you long time mom

Me love you from start

Me love you so much mom

Me love from the heart

Me thank you for taking me

Home to your own place

Me thank you for giving me

A life full of grace

Me thank you for cookies

And to sleep in your bed

Me thank you for brushing me

When I start to shed

Me laugh when you sing

Off key and so loud

Me laugh when you dance

You make me so proud

Me thank you for long walks

In rain and in snow

Me thank you for car rides

Don’t care where we go

Me love when I come

You give me a treat

Me love that you smell

All four Frito feet

Me love you long time mom

Me love you so much

Me love when you kiss me

Me long for your touch

Me heard today’s special

But how can that be?

Cause every day’s special

With you mom to me

Me love you long time mom

Me love you from start

Me love you so much mom

Me love from the heart

Happy Mother’s Day to all you dog moms out there, even if you are a dad!

Naming your new puppy or rescue dog is a personal choice.  But when pondering the issue of naming a new dog I started wondering why Fido is the generic name for dogs.  After researching, I truly believe that Fido has had his day.

So why is Fido the generally accepted name for a dog?  Well in Latin, Fido means “Faithful” and that is a very good description of many good dogs.  But Fido is so 1800′s. Fido as a generic name for dogs was made popular when Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President of the United States of America) named his dog Fido.  But it is also said that Firehouses typically have dogs and they call them “firehouse dogs”.  So clearly, Fido, for short makes sense.  We need a new name…a more multicultural name to represent the changing nature of the dogs in the 21st Century.  In my opinion (and not supported by anyone else’s opinion that I know of) Venkat is the new Fido!

So why you may ask am I suggesting Venkat?  Well the name Venkat represents a natural leader that is self-sufficient, and ambitious.  But more than that, it is just a fun name.  Can’t you just hear yourself calling your dog?  ”Ven”, “Venny”, “Ven Venny Ven”, and of course my personal favorite, “Kat”.  Don’t you just want to call your dog Kat?

So let’s give Fido his due but support Venkat as the new Fido!  I can see a day, many years in the future when in a Dog Park, somewhere, someone will call “Venkat Come” and a dozen or more dogs will come running.  And if you are “with me” you will smile and say, I was there at the start of the Venkat movement.

If you want to join the Venkat movement, comment on this article or send me an email at francesobrien@charter.net and I will send you a free “Sit Venkat, Sit” sticker.  (Apologies to all the dog trainers out there.  We know we are only supposed to say the request once (Sit) but Venkat Sit is not nearly as fun as a bumper sticker that says Sit Venkat, Sit).

If you’ve been following the Raising Healthy Dog posts, you know that we buy all our dog collars from CollarCorner.com.  The founder, Cathy, is a great friend of mine but she had this thing – she believed that male dogs should not wear pink.  For years she would not sell me a pink collar for my male dogs.  So I would lie and say it was “for a friend”.  But she knew…she always knew.  Fast forward to today, she supports my desire to occasionally dress my big brown boy Chester in pink collars.  Besides the fact that he is secure in his masculinity, Chester believes it is a way to support breast cancer awareness and research.  Here is Chester modeling his Pink on Pink Dots Collar.  Doesn’t he look great?

So if you have a male dog who like Chester is secure in his masculinity, get him a pink collar to support breast cancer awareness!  And don’t forget, Valentine’s Day is coming up. Why not show your pups the love and get them a special collar for the day.  CollarCorner.com is currently running a sale on Valentine’s Day and other collars.  To order one, click here.   And for an added incentive, if you type “Chester” at check out, you will get free shipping and a 20% discount on any collar that is not currently on sale.

Just a note, I am not compensated in any way when you buy her collars.  Cathy is just a great friend who makes even greater collars.

If you woke up one morning and lost your sense of smell, what scent would you miss the most?  I used to work with a guy that actually did lose his sense of smell and he said he missed the smell of gasoline. Gasoline? Really? Now that is interesting.  But for me, I would miss the smell of Frito Feet.

I’m just sitting here on my couch, relaxing after a long day of work and my Sophy is snoozing by my side with her feet in my lap. And darn it, I just cannot help myself.  I have to pick up her paw and sniff it because it smells just like a freshly opened bag of Frito’s corn chips.  I used to think I was crazy but then I found out that there really is something called Frito Feet.  Also know as Popcorn Paws, Frito Feet is what your pup’s feet smell like when an accumulation of yeast and bacteria builds up on their pads. It is nothing serious and is usually more pronounced when doggie paws meet increased moisture (like the two-three feet of snow in my back yard).  Some people find the smell offensive, but for me I will cherish that smell until the day I die and consider it the only benefit of all that snow in my yard.

Be well and I wish you Frito Feet!

Let’s face it.  Dog toys can be expensive; and if your dogs are destructive like mine, they may not last very long.  This makes it hard to justify spending so much on one toy.  So why not make some for your pup?  Not only can it save money, but it can be fun too and in the case of a braided fleece rope dog toy, you do not even know how to sew.

Materials:

• 1/4 yard of three different colors or patterned fleece ( so a total of 3/4 yard)
• 2  rubber bands
• scissors (or a rotary cutter and cutting board)
• long ruler

Instructions:

• Fold the fabric (if it isn’t already folded) selvage to selvage edge.  Selvage refers to the end of the fabric as it comes off the bolt often with writing on it. If you did get 1/4 yard of fabric, the selvage would be the longest part of the fabric
• Cut one 4 1/2-inch strip from each of the three fabrics (If you have a smaller dog, cut 2-1/4 inch strips)
• Unfold the strips and lay one on top of the other
• Using one of the rubber bands, wrap a rubber band around the top of the fleece about 6 inches from the top

• Now braid the three strips of fabric as tightly as you can.  If you have a helper they can hold the strips of fabric at the rubber band while you braid.  Otherwise you can use another rubber band and attach the fabric to a door knob or stair case post.  Or if your arms are long enough, just place the rubber banded part of the fabric between your knees and braid from there.

• Keep braiding until you get about 6 inches from the end of the fabric.  (If you used 2-1/4 inch strips, stop braiding after about 9 inches or keep braiding until the end and just cut in half to make two braided rope toys)
• Wrap the second rubber band around the unbraided end of the fabric and tie a knot as tightly as you can on the other side of the rubber-band.
• Cut the rubber band at both end of the rope and discard

• Tie another knot at the center of the toy.  This will keep the braiding tight

• Trim the edges and you are good to go!

Regular play time with your dog or puppy also ensures regular interaction and connection between the two of you, which is a must to maintain that all important guardian-dog bond. Bonding with your canine should be fun and rewarding for both of you.

This bond, as well as the regular physical exercise and mental stimulation that also go hand in hand with regular play ultimately leads to a happy health dog. If you have several dogs in your household, then it also helps ensure their interactions are friendly and fun also. The behavioral benefits also extend outside of your own home – as dogs that play regularly generally know how to communicate and interact with other dogs and humans they haven’t met before. This is also very useful for when your dog comes into contact with a more aggressive and dominant dog. The upright, aggressive canine body language is quickly picked up by your dog and he or she will follow with an appropriate calm submissive response to appease the situation.

Regular play helps maintain your dog at a nice, lean body condition and will help to maintain good cardiovascular function. Often overweight dogs are never exercised or played with – hence half the reason for their problem (the other half being they are generally overfed, or fed tidbits).

Ultimately the true benefits of play are with the guardian to dog bond. Bonding with your puppy or dog is so important and is what canine companionship is all about! They are our best friends after all. Furthermore, playing with your dog should be fun for both of you – and what better way to help your dog learn and stay healthy and mentally stimulated. Regular play with all members of the family should be encouraged to help maintain a strong bond between everyone in the ‘pack’. It only needs to be 15 – 20 minutes of interaction per day and your dog can also continue play alone or with another dog in the household through interactive toys when you aren’t around. Take some time out to play with your dog more regularly!

When most people think about dog collars, they think about something that is required to attach a leash to.  They think of a dog collar as a commitment and I must confess I used to think that way too.  Then I met Cathy, someone who makes dog collars for a living.  All my friends were buying these great dog collars but I resisted.   At the time I had my 12-year lab Molly and I was feeling superstitious. I thought that if I bought her a new collar she would die shortly thereafter.  But then I realized a collar is not a commitment, it is an accessory.  So I gave Cathy some pink floral material and she made me a collar.  I will never forget the day Cathy presented me with Molly’s first accessory collar.  She put it on my old girl and I swear Molly looked like a pup again.  Molly was just so proud of her collar and all the cooing and attention she was receiving.  I have been buying collars as accessories ever since.  Oh and by the way, Molly lived another two years and sported many collars, but that first pink floral will always be my favorite.

So if you are interested in some great collars for your pups, check out http://www.collarcorner.com/

Note: I am not compensated in any way for recommending this site. Cathy is just a good friend who makes great collars

Daily play is just plain fun for your dog.  So if you do not have time to go for a long walk or f the weather is too nasty outside have an indoors treasure hunt.

Ask your dog to sit/stay and then show her a treat.  While your dog is watching you, place the treat somewhere (like behind a chair or a couch). Go back to your dog and say treasure or find the treasure. Repeat about three times. Once your pup gets the idea of the game, pretend to hide treats in multiple locations, but put the treat in only one place.  Say treasure or find the treasure and praise him when he does.

Did you know you can teach your dog to trim their own nails? You can create a scratching post and teach them how. Here is a link to an article  with instructions.  http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/nailfile.html

OK so many of you have read the studies that say kissing a dog is good for our health.  Showing affection to our dogs  lowers blood pressure and generally helps us live longer.  But did anyone need to read a study? Don’t you just feel better after kissing your dog? I know I do.  So what are you waiting for?  Stop reading this; step away from the computer and go kiss your dog.  Trust me, you will both feel better!  Have a great night.

Frances

If you are tired of picking up toys, here’s a cute trick to teach your dog.

First you will need a container to hold the toys.  Keep the container in a fixed place so your dog will always know where to go.  If you are like me and have multiple toy boxes, that’s OK.  Train them for one location.  Once they have mastered that, you can repeat the process in each room that has a toy box.

To start training, get a handful of yummy treats.  Scatter some toys near the box.  Now pick up a toy, preferably their favorite toy and have your dog walk with you to the toy box.  Give the toy to your dog and have him hold it in his mouth.  Now show your dog the treat and lure him over the basket.  As he goes to take the treat, he will drop the toy into the basket.  As he takes the treat, if he successfully drops it in the basket say “Clean Up”. If you are clicker training, click as you say “Clean Up” so they know they successfully performed the task.  Repeat this with a few more toys.

Practice this a few times a day for several days.  Once they have mastered this, start giving the treat only after they put away two toys.  This will take some time to train but if you put in the effort, you will soon have a dog that can cleanup after himself (well just their toys).