Dog Facts

I decided to do something a little different today. Over the past while I've come across some tidbits about dogs and I thought you might find them interesting.

Even though a human stands upright and a dog walks on four feet, the two have very similar skeletons. The only real difference is that a dog does not have a collar bone.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback has an unusual ridge of hair which grows along the middle of its back. This ridge of hair grows in the opposite direction to all the other hair on its back.

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell. They can detect one part of urine in 60 million parts of water.

Trained blood hounds have phenomenal scenting ability. If they are following a trail and they lose it at the edge of a body of water, they can often regain the lost trail after they cross the body of water.

The first living creatures to return from space alive, were the dogs Belka and Strelka along with a grey rabbit, 42 mice, 2 rats, flies and a number of plants and fungi on August 19, 1960.

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has a daily walk around the grounds of Buckingham Palace. She is accompanied, a few steps behind, by her two Corgis, on leashes held by the dog handler.

A lonely dog, deprived of canine or human companionship for long periods each day can easily become destructive. Therefore, they should have someone or something to keep them occupied. Many people leave either a radio or television on to “entertain” their dogs.

Many dogs respond favourably to music and some will even provide vocal accompaniment. A few dogs have even learned to “play” an instrument such as a piano or a mouth organ.

Some dogs, trained to aid the disabled, can load and unload washing machines. Others can “answer” the phone by picking up the receiver and holding it for their disabled companion to talk to the caller.

Dogs have now been trained to detect impending heart attacks or epileptic seizures and can then warn their owners, so appropriate action can be taken.

The Newfoundland dog has webbed feet which enables it to swim exceptionally well, in spite of being a large dog with a heavy coat. As well as the Newfoundland, many “water dogs” such as retrievers also have strong webs between their toes to assist them in swimming. Many arctic breeds, like huskies, also have webbed feet which keep them from sinking too deeply into snow

Any breed of Tibetan origin that has tan markings above its eyes is called “four eyes.” Many Tibetans believe that these dogs can see evil up to three days in advance.

Dogs that have been rescued should be seen by a veterinarian before being put up for adoption so that any potential new owner will know the needs of the dog and can then make an informed decision regarding getting it for a pet.

Greyhounds that have retired from racing or been rescued from racing establishments make great dogs for apartment dwellers. They are affectionate, quiet (they seldom bark), and they are used to small places because in the racing world they frequently had to stay in small crates when being transported from place to place.

Diarrhoea in dogs is frequently caused by a rapid change in diet or a slight chill. It can usually be rectified by withholding food from the dog for 24 hours and then feeding the dog a light diet for the next few days. Fresh water should be available at all times. If you notice blood in the diarrhoea or if vomiting and diarrhoea occur together or if other unusual symptoms accompany the diarrhoea, get your dog to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.

For hundreds of years, dogs were expected to work in return for food and shelter, but in modern times they are more valued for their companionship. One duty they performed was pulling dog carts, which carried all manner of things, including people, parcels, milk containers, fruit and vegetables, wood, meat, bread and coal.

“Lassie,” one of the most famous canine movie stars, was in actual fact a male dog by the name of “Pal.”

Until next time,

Teia

Grooming and General Care of Your Dog

Medical Update: I went to the vet last Wednesday and had a thorough examination. My groin has completely healed and the lump beside my nose has disappeared. The area of my chin that was covered with weeping lumps has healed up, and the swelling has nearly all gone away. The vet told dad that he could reduce my “Prednisone” treatment from one half tablet in the morning and one half tablet at night to one half tablet in the morning. Dad must continue to monitor my condition and let the vet know if anything shows up again. Now, on the following Monday, everything is still OK, so hopefully my problems have been solved. Unless something happens again, no further medical reports will be given. Thanks to all who sent get well messages. Now, on with today's post which deals with grooming and general care of your faithful companion.

The amount of grooming your dog will need depends on the breed of the dog and the length and texture of her coat. Generally, dogs with long hair will require more grooming than short haired dogs. Some long haired breeds will require a bath every week or so to keep their coat from matting, with daily brushing in between.

Before commencing to brush your dog, you should examine her for cuts, sores, mats in the area where the legs meet the body and in the hair on her ears. Also check her anus for crusted stool as this could cause a sore to develop. And, check inside her ears to ensure that there is no wax buildup.

Dogs with short hair only need to be bathed occasionally, but they still need weekly brushing to remove dead hair and surface grunge.

Non shedding dogs will require regular baths and hair cuts to keep them looking nice and to prevent matting of their coat. You should purchase a breed specific book so that you can get advice and tips for your dog from specialists.

If you plan to enter your dog into dog shows, then you should consult with a professional groomer to learn what needs to be done to prepare your dog. And, even if your dog is just a family pet, you should take her to a professional groomer at least once to learn how to properly groom her and what tools you will need.

If you just try to do it all yourself, without expert advice, you could end up spending a lot of unnecessary money on items that either don't work, break or become unserviceable quickly, or just don't do what you want them to do. For example, if you plan on cutting your dogs hair yourself, make sure you get good quality dog clippers. Hair clippers for humans will not stand up to regular clipping of your dog's hair. Some types of hair require special types of brushes. Dog nail clippers must be used to cut your dog's nails. Human nail clippers either will not cut the nails, or they will splinter the nail when cutting.

When dad was younger he cut the hair of the family dogs, and both mom and dad groomed and bathed them. Now that they are older, they take us to a professional groomer for baths and haircuts. They brush us and clean our eyes, ears and bums between visits to the groomer, and give us emergency baths when we get really grubby. Our groomer, as well as giving us a bath and haircut, also trims our nails and thoroughly cleans our ears and removes excess hair from the inside of our ears so wax doesn't build up.

For further information on grooming view:

“Drying the Dog” posted Wednesday August 26, 2009.
“Tips, Techniques and Equipment for Brushing Your Dog” posted Wednesday July 1, 2009.
“Improve Your Dog's Health with Proper Grooming” posted Sunday April 26, 2009.
“Bathing Your Dog” posted Wednesday March 25, 2009.

Until next time,

Teia

Dog Obesity and Overfeeding

Medical Update – The vet phoned dad and said that there was no indication of deep infection and to start the steroid prescription. Since then my groin has healed and the lumps on my chin and beside my nose have started to shrink in size. Unfortunately I'm still losing weight. Dad will be taking me back to see the vet tomorrow, so hopefully he can come up with a solution to the weight loss. (This is the exact opposite of today's blog topic, which as the title says is obesity.)

An alarmingly high proportion of dogs, these days, suffer from obesity. The primary cause of this is due to over eating and lack of exercise.

Most dog owners, now-a-days, have very busy lives with many work related and social responsibilities. As a result, their dogs don't get taken for as many walks as the should. Many days their food is either left down all day, like mine, or care is not taken in measuring out the proportions recommended for the size or breed of their dog.

Some breeds are more prone to becoming obese than others. Cocker Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers are two breeds which are very susceptible to obesity. On the other hand, Terrier breeds are the least susceptible breeds to becoming obese.

If your dog shows a tendency to having a weight problem, ensure that she only eats what you give her. Do not allow other family members or well meaning neighbours to give her treats or special tidbits. Please have your dog examined by a veterinarian (vet) before considering putting her on a diet as there may be an underlying medical problem that is responsible for your pet's weight gain. As mentioned last time, in multiple dog families, you have to be vigilant that food guarding or food gorging is not taking place. This is a jealousy or psychological type problem that needs to be discussed with your vet so that you can find a safe and satisfactory solution.

The one downside to having your female dog spayed, or your male dog castrated, is that hormonal changes take place which alter their weight regulating mechanism. This means that the same amount of food after the operation may result in weight gain. If this occurs, discuss it with your vet to arrive at a sensible solution. It may be necessary to reduce the number of calories in the food provided. This may involve switching to calorie reduced food, or adding more bulk to your dog's current food to make it seem more substantial.

One method that has proved fairly successful with a number of dogs is providing them with uncooked carrots as treats instead of dog biscuits. Uncooked carrots can also be chopped up and added to your dog's regular food to provide extra bulk when the amount of food is reduced to lessen the calories consumed. As well as reducing calorie intake, these vegetables are good for aiding the teeth cleaning process. Some dogs are satisfied with the carrots just being washed and the tops and tips being removed, while others prefer to have their carrots with the tops, tips and skin removed.

Since cold winter weather increases a dog's appetite, adding bulk without increasing calories is necessary at this time of year. Where I live in northern Canada, winter is long and cold – temperatures in the minus 30 to minus 50 degree Centigrade* range, often accompanied by a wind, makes outdoor exercise impractical much of the time. As a result, reduction of calories is essential or weight gain at this time of year is inevitable.

Until next time,

Teia

* Centigrade or Celsius temperatures are scales where water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees – in the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. At minus 40 degrees, all three scales are in synchronization.

Feeding Your Dog

My "Sister" Gemma

Medical update - I've lost another half pound in the past week. I went to the vet yesterday and had my stitches removed (put in where the biopsies were conducted and the scarred flesh in my groin was removed to aid in the healing process.) We are still waiting for extra tests, being conducted on the biopsies, to be completed. Once the results are in and if no contra-indications are expected, the vet is going to put me on a two week treatment session of Prednisone, a steroid, to promote increased healing and to clean out any lingering infection. Now onto today's post.

Although us dogs have usually been considered as carnivores, we are actually omnivores, which means that we can eat, enjoy and digest various types of food. We do not require as high a protein diet as cats do. We can live perfectly well on a completely balanced diet, but we do enjoy some variety in our meals.

It doesn't matter whether you use a premium complete commercial diet, or choose to create your own food combinations, you must ensure that our diet is well balanced, containing both proteins and carbohydrates. Our diet must also contain fatty acids, vitamins and minerals to ensure optimum health, proper bodily functions, healthy skin and a healthy coat (hair/fur). Fruit and vegetables are beneficial ingredients to include in our diets. I love apples, mangoes, cantaloupe, bananas, watermelon and strawberries and, to a lesser amount, most other fruits and vegetables. When we are convalescing, boneless chicken or fish mixed with boiled brown rice makes a highly digestible meal.

Active dogs need a higher protein diet than those of us that laze around looking pretty. And, of course, overweight dogs, like my “sister” Bandit, should have fewer calories than those of us that still have slim figures.

All commercially prepared packaged food for dogs contains comprehensive lists of ingredients which should be carefully studied before you make your choice of the food for your dog. For example, my food, which keeps me from getting kidney stones, is made by Royal Canin Canada Company under the brand name “Medi-Cal”. The maintenance variety which I eat contains the following ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Oat flour, Pearled Barley, Rye (the grain not the liquor), Chicken Fat, Corn Gluten Meal, Salmon Meal, Tomato Pomace (source of Lycopene), Flax Meal, natural flour, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Tomato (source of Lycopene), Apple Pomace, Dried Egg Powder, Fish Oil, Cranberry Meal, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulphate, Fructo-Oligosaccharides, Taurine, Salt, Vitamins: [DL-Alpha-Tocopherol (source of Vitamin E), Inositol, Niacin, L-Ascorgyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), D-Calcium Panothenate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement and Vitamin D3 Supplement], L-Lysine, Choline Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Marigold Extract (source of Lutein), Trace Minerals: [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulphate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulphate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Brewer's Yeast Extract (source of Mannan-Oligosaccharides), L-Carnitine, Beta Carotene, L-Glamine. Naturally preserved with mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract and Citric Acid. It is a slightly acidic dog food that is formulated for optimum nutrition and urinary tract health of active adult dogs.

You must always remember that we have sensitive digestive systems and if you change suddenly from one type of diet to another, that we could end up vomiting or having diarrhoea. You must always introduce diet changes gradually mixing the new food in increasing amounts with the current food over the course of a week or so. In this way we can adapt to the new food without adverse results.

Fresh and canned dog food should be removed and disposed of if left uneaten as it tends to spoil quickly after being expose to air. Bacteria quickly forms and could result in your dog becoming ill. Dried dog foods can remain available all day because they contain natural preservatives.

Adult dogs usually require one main meal per day with a light snack at the other end of the day. Since we are more active during the day, the main meal is probably best served in the morning with the snack before bed. In this way, we have the fuel for our active day and a snack before retiring for the night. When the main meal is served at night, it tends to result in more weight gain as the calories we ingest do not get burned up by activity so they add fat to our bodies for later use during energetic times. Unfortunately, many of us produce more fat than we use up as fuel and thus we become overweight. (More about overfeeding and obesity in a later post.)

Your dog's daily meals can be divided into two equally sized meals if desired as this method doesn't result in your dog getting a large meal before retiring. NOTE! Under NO circumstances should your dog be exercised energetically within one-half hour of ingesting a large meal. If you own a large dog, to aid his digestion, you should raise his food dish off the ground so that he does not have to bend so far down to get his food.

Because I have dry dog food, it's available all day and I can eat whenever I want. As a result, I've become a “grazer,” which means that I eat a little every time I get hungry. However, since my “sister,” Bandit came, things are a little different. Bandit guards the food bowl and if she thinks that I want some food, she will gorge herself on it so that there won't be much left for me. This has resulted in me doing the same thing thing to her. As a result, both of us were getting fat until I got sick. It has also led to growling matches and a few fights, so mom and dad are thinking of changing to scheduled meal times, which doesn't suit my style of eating.

Bones are not recommended as they tend to splinter and can cause internal damage. Cooked bones should NEVER be given to a dog as they splinter easily and often result in tragedy. Raw marrow bones can be given to your dog, but they must be discarded if they start to splinter or if they start to smell like they are spoiling.

We must have access to fresh water at all times because proper hydration is an absolute must have condition. Stainless steel bowls for both food and water are the most hygienic and they are much easier for you to clean than bowls made from other material.

If you are considering a raw food diet for your dog, you should see the following:

“Should Your Pets Eat a Raw Diet? Five Considerations Before You Start” published on this blog on Saturday August 15, 2009 and “How to Prepare a Raw Diet for Your Pet(s)” published on this blog on Friday December 18, 2009. You can access these entries by clicking on 2009 and then the appropriate months or by searching “raw diets” via the blog search capability in the top left corner of the blog page.

Until next time,

Teia

DOG COMMUNICATION

Dogs are one of the more intelligent animals kept as domestic pets. We have the ability to communicate with other dogs, other animals and even humans. We communicate using body language and vocal sounds. Our body language involves the use of our eyes, ears, mouth, posture, eyebrows, head position and tail. The vocals we use are yips, barks, howls, growls, whimpers, whines and “dog talk” which sounds like we are trying to imitate human speech. Some of our communications involve using the same gesture, but with a different meaning dictated by the circumstances in which it is used. For example, if we pant, it can mean that we are hot and we are trying to cool down, or it can mean that we are anxious or happy. If it is hot and we are panting heavily, it usually means that we are overheated and we are trying to cool down. If we are in the veterinarian's office and we are panting, it usually means we are anxious or scared. If we are playing with you and we pant and almost look like we are smiling, it means we are happy.

In the wild, dogs live in packs which have a certain hierarchy which is determined by personality, strength and personal confidence. Confident and higher ranked dogs hold their tail high. Lower ranked dogs, or submissive dogs, allow their tail to droop. If you notice that your pet dog carries his tail held high, it means that he is confident and proud. If he carries his tail low, it means that he is submissive and insecure. If you speak harshly to your dog when he has done something you don't like, you will notice that his tail will droop. If you have ever had occasion to observe a dog when it is about to become involved in a fight, you will notice that the fur on his tail is all fluffed out. As well all the hair on his body will also be standing out. This makes him appear larger to his opponent, which may cause the opponent to back down and submit to the larger appearing more dominant dog. (As an aside, if you are ever confronted by a black bear, stand on your tip toes, put your arms out and up as far as you can and yell as loud as you can...this makes you appear very large to the bear and most of the time he will run away. Growing up in the wilds of British Columbia, my dad had numerous confrontations with bears and by using this technique he was never attacked once...mind you he was very careful to never get between a female bear and her young either.)

When I am confused, I wag my tail slowly while I try to figure out what I should do. If I am excited about something, I wag my tail very quickly. If I am confronted by another dog and I recognize that he is higher ranked than I am, I will wag my tail and move my hips also. This means that I am ready to submit to the other dog.

When I become aggressive, I roll my lips back and show my fangs and growl. This indicates that I am ready to bite or attack. If I show my teeth in a smile, it means that I am showing that I am submissive. By observing the number of teeth I display, you can tell whether I am smiling or being aggressive. When I smile, you can only see my front teeth, and when I snarl and roll back my lips, you can see all of my teeth and gums.

My ears are another indicator of what I am trying to communicate. When my ears are erect, it indicates that I am concentrating on something. When I fear something I lay my ears back. When I am happy, I put my ears forward and pant lightly.

When I bark, I'm trying to scare a stranger away and also trying to let my mom and dad know that something is wrong. I also bark when I am playing. When I am excited or playing, my barks are sharp and short. If I am stressed or anxious, my bark is high pitched and repetitive. If I am lonely, I howl mournfully. If I want to communicate with another dog I bark repeatedly in the same mid range tone. When I growl, it is to warn people or other dogs to leave me alone or to threaten my “sisters” to mind their manners. If I am outside and I howl, particularly if it is an undulating howl, I am trying to communicate long distance with another dog I have heard. If I yawn, it usually means I am sleepy, or bored. However, if I yawn repeatedly it means that I am stressed about something, or in pain.

If I lift a forelimb and make a scratching movement in the air, it means I want to play. If I stamp my front feet it means I am excited. If I stamp my front feet and yip, it means that you are supposed to do something for me, usually give me a treat for something I have done that should be rewarded.

If I lift my paw and hold it out to you it means I want to exchange a handshake with you. If I want something, I will scratch it. If I look at something and tilt my head, it means I am concentrating on what I am looking at and trying to determine what it is. If my head is tilted but I am not looking at anything in particular, it means that I am trying to identify something that I have heard. If I go to the door and whine, it means I have to go out. If I go to the food bowl and it is empty, I will either bark while looking at it, whine while looking at it or pick it up and bring it to you. I also use these tactics if my water bowl is empty. If you are eating something and it smells real good, I will lick my lips and I may even bark, whine or yip to try and get you to share it with me.

If I stand facing you with my legs spread apart and my muscles bunched, then I am warning you to either back away or stay away from me.

If I am looking at you and I raise my eyebrows, it means either I am waiting for you to say something or if you have said something, I don't understand what you want me to do. If I draw my eyebrows down into a frown, I'm puzzled by something. If my eyes get big and round and my eyebrows go up, it means I'm surprised or startled by something.

If I want to play with you, I will bring a toy to you and stand there wagging my tail. Many of us can be trained to play catch, to fetch thrown objects, to catch frizzbies, to play fly-ball or to compete in agility competitions. “Mitzi” the first dog mom and dad had after they married, could play hide and go seek, ride a skateboard and a toboggan and stand on her hind legs and dance. Spend time with your dog and you will be amazed at what he or she can communicate to you.

Until next time,

Teia

A DOG and YOUR LIFESTYLE

If I was to come up to you and ask what affect a dog would have on your lifestyle, you would have a reaction, whether you like dogs or do not care for them. Either way, dogs affect your lifestyle. Dogs and humans have interacted for thousands of years, so rare indeed is the person who does not have an opinion or feelings about man's “best friend.”

Therefore, it is safe to assume that you have had at least one experience with a dog that was either positive or negative. This experience has had an impact on your life, whether you realized it or not. If it was a negative experience, you will be scared or distrustful of dogs and avoid them as much as possible. If it was a positive experience, then you will probably have a pet dog or have done so in the past. If the experience was kind of benign, you may not have formed an opinion one way or the other, however, this type of situation is not typical. Typically, that experience with the dog has left you with a life long emotional feeling regarding dogs.

If you think that dogs are big or small stinky nuisances, then you will probably not have a pet dog and you will never experience the emotion of receiving unconditional love (you may have a great love life, but it will have conditions attached to it). In spite of this, you will have to admit that dogs, or a specific dog, has influenced your current lifestyle. If you are completely honest, and haven't substituted another pet in the place of a dog, you will have to admit that your life is somewhat sterile and maybe, just a little empty, or at least missing a little something.

Now, just for fun, let's look at a hypothetical example to see how your emotions and lifestyle can be changed. For this example, let's say you are a twenties or thirties single person who is career orientated. Because you are so wrapped up in your career, you are probably not at your optimum weight or physical condition. You may have even tried to diet or taken out a membership in a gym, but they didn't work because your lifestyle didn't leave enough time to properly adhere to the regimen required,

One night, you come home tired and just want to get off to bed when you realize that tomorrow is garbage collection day and you must put the garbage in the bin in the back alley. It's raining and quite cold. You grab the garbage you've placed into a garbage bag, pulled on a coat and a raincoat and rushed out to the garbage bin. There, huddled whimpering beside the garbage bin is a little puppy. It appears to be abandoned, and it looks pathetically at you. You don't particularly care for dogs because they don't really fit in your lifestyle. But, this one looks so pathetic and helpless that you feel pity for it and pick it up and take it in out of the wet and cold, just for the night.

Once inside you grab a towel and dry the poor little thing. It licks your hand. Once it's dry, you pour a little milk in one bowl and a few leftovers from the refrigerator in another. The little thing devours everything in minutes, then licks your leg and curls up near your feet. You resolve to arrange for the puppy to go to the place where they put abandoned dogs, but you're not sure if it is the city pound or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). You take the puppy out to relieve itself just before you head to bed. Next morning, just before you head off to work you take puppy out again, then when you come back in you put a few pieces of newspaper on the kitchen floor and head off to work.

Work is a bedlam of calls and demands and you don't have time to find out where to take the little stray. You'll have to keep it another day. On the way home you stop at Walmart and go into the pet department to get some puppy food. The clerk recommends that you take the puppy for a daily walk, so you buy an inexpensive collar and leash.

When you get home, you find that puppy has wet partly on a piece of newspaper and partly on the floor. You put the newspaper in the garbage and wipe the floor. The puppy bounces over and licks the back of your hand.

You put food and water down for puppy and make a quick supper for yourself. Then you put the collar on puppy who is not happy with it at all. She keeps trying to pull it off with a hind leg. After putting your coat on and pocketing a bunch of paper towel and a couple of plastic sandwich bags to pick up any bowel movements, you snap the leash onto the collar and partly lead and partly drag puppy to the door.

Once out on the front sidewalk, puppy rushed off to the end of the leash pulling madly as she explores everything she sees. A couple of gentle tugs on the leash slows her down a little and you make it erratically to the end of the block. You decide to walk around the block a few times. By the time you get around the block the first time she is walking more normally and not pulling as frantically as she was. The second time around the block, she stops and you're glad you brought two plastic bags. You pick up after her and seal the bags to enclose the odour. When you get back to the front door of your building, you realize that you've just walked eight blocks or about eight-tenths of a mile as most city blocks are about one-tenth of a mile in length. Puppy looks tired and you're a little fatigued yourself. You haven't walked that far in quite a while.

The next day at work is another busy one and you don't get time to phone about the puppy, again.

When you get home, there's no mess left by puppy who happily bounds up to you. You bend down to pet puppy and get a sloppy lick on your chin. You feed puppy and yourself and repeat the walk again. Your legs area a little stiff and sore from the unusual exercise and puppy is much more manageable.

This routine continues for the rest of the week and by Friday, you find, much to your amazement, that you've become quite attached to puppy and can't bear the thought of her going into a cage at the pound or the SPCA. Since you've decided to keep her, you give her a name and get some toys and some piddle pads in case she has to go when you are out. The walks continue and the length of them has increased to three times around the block. “Taffy” has grown a bit and always greets you enthusiastically when you get home from work.

About a month goes by and you notice that your clothes are not fitting as well as they did. They all seem to have stretched. You step on the bathroom scale and are shocked to see you have lost ten pounds. You realize that your daily walks with “Taffy” have resulted in a loss of weight and then you also realize that you are not nearly as stressed or “up tight” as you had been.

“Taffy,” the little stray you were going to put in the pound or SPCA (you're still not sure who looks after strays in your city), has helped you to reduce your weight and make you a happier and less stressed person. She has also provided you with attention and plenty of affection. Quite a reward for taking her in. And to top it off, she has changed your lifestyle and possibly your whole future.

Although the above was a fictional account, get yourself a dog and see if it doesn't make you into a whole different person...I dare you!

Until next time,

Teia


PS. Let me know if a dog has changed your lifestyle.

Your Dog's Sense of the World

Dogs have associated with humans for approximately 14,000 years. During that time we have been your companions, hunting partners, protectors and assistants. If you have spent a lot of time with your dog, he will treat you as the pack leader and look to you for direction as to what he is to do. Since you are his leader, then you should understand exactly how he perceives the world around him. In that way, you will be better equipped to provide the direction he needs to satisfy your desires.

Just like you, dogs have five senses: smell, sight, hearing, taste and touch. However, your dog's senses are tuned differently than your senses. Because of this, our perception of the world is somewhat different than your perception. Let's explore this further, so that you can understand why your dog reacts the way he does.

SMELL

Smell is our greatest asset. This is why dogs are used at airports to detect drugs, explosives and other contraband. It is also why dogs are used in search and rescue. Have you ever wondered why dogs have such a superior sense of smell?

Both humans and dogs have an olfactory system which discerns smells. Part of that system is a centre located within the brain called the olfactory bulb. This centre receives signals from the olfactory nerves located within the nose and it filters these smell signals and passes them onto the brain. While a human's olfactory bulb weighs about 1.5 grams, our olfactory bulb weighs about 6 grams, with slight variations by breed. That is four times larger than a human's olfactory bulb. When you consider that our brain is about one-tenth the size of a human's brain, this means that the portion of our brain devoted to smell is about 40 times that of a human's brain. Given that comparison, it is no wonder that we have such a keen sense of smell. In view of the fact that smell is our greatest asset, you can see why our perception of the world revolves around what we smell.

SIGHT

A human's most vital sense is sight. What a person sees primarily creates their sense of the world. A human's eye is constructed so that it can detect the finest details. However, our eyes are constructed to detect movement. Their ability to detect fine details has been sacrificed in favour of the ability to track movement and to see in low light situations. This is why we can see things that are moving, in near darkness, when a human cannot see anything. Most humans have good depth perception, while we have poor depth perception. Our pupils are much larger, in proportion to the size of our eyes than a human's are. In addition, our pupils cannot constrict as well as a human's can. This feature lets in more light, sacrificing depth perception for the ability to discern things in low light conditions.

Have you ever noticed that our eyes shine when they are caught in a beam of light at night? This is caused by a reflecting mechanism located behind the retina which gives us an additional chance to see things in near darkness. Tests have determined that we can see things in one-quarter of the light that a human needs to see the same things. As a side note, cats only need one-seventh of the light that a human needs to see, which explains why cats can see at night.

HEARING

Along with our sense of smell, we have a much better sense of hearing than humans do. The difference is primarily in the upper frequency range. While a human can hear sounds with frequencies up to 20,000 Hertz, we are capable of hearing all the sounds a human hears plus we hear sounds with frequencies ranging as high as 47,000 to 65,000 Hertz, depending on our breed. To show this comparison in a simpler way, consider a piano keyboard. The last key on the right end of a piano keyboard vibrates at approximately 20,000 Hertz. If you add another 28 keys to the right of the current keyboard, then the last key of the addition would vibrate at approximately 65,000 Hertz. Humans would not be able to hear at least the last 20 of the new additions, and most wouldn't hear any of the new additions. This is why humans cannot hear dog whistles, but we can hear them fine. The frequency of these whistles is above the frequency that human ears are capable of hearing. Because we can hear things that humans cannot, we frequently bark at something that our owner is unaware of. This sometimes frustrates our owner because he or she cannot understand why we are barking.

TASTE

If you examine the dog food section of a major supermarket or a pet store, you will see a vast array of dog food with all sorts of flavours. However, according to my veterinarian, I gulp my food down so quickly that I don't have much chance to taste it and I seldom chew it either. This trait is probably linked to my instinct which dictates eat quickly or your competition will take it away from you. Possibly dogs in a one dog household eat a little slower, but I doubt it. As they say...it's in my genes. So why all the variety? Actually, the smell of the food is what attracts us most. Our sense of taste is limited by the fact that we only have about 1700 taste buds while humans have about 9000.

TOUCH

Dogs have different degrees of sensitivity on different parts of our bodies. Our nose and muzzle as well as the pads on our feet are quite sensitive to touch. Some dogs become upset when you rub around their nose or mouth or the pads of their feet. Others enjoy a rub on the nose or around the mouth. Mom and dad had a German Shepard cross that loved to have the pads on his feet rubbed gently. His brother did not like to have his feet touched at all. I don't mind it sometimes, but I'd sooner get a tummy rub.

Our whiskers are very touch sensitive, because they are deeply imbedded in the skin covering the area above our mouth. Because of this, our whiskers amplify the slightest touch. Studies have determined that 40% of our brain area devoted to touch is dedicated to this area of our body. Interestingly enough, most groomers shave this area of us which greatly diminishes our sense of touch. My whiskers are shaved every time I'm groomed, so I frequently have to rub my face fairly vigorously on something so I can get a sense of what it feels like. On the other hand, I don't get food all stuck on my whiskers because they are shaved off.

In conclusion, we both have five senses that we can use, but humans mainly rely on their vision for a sense of the world while we rely mostly on smell. The other four senses are used by both to varying degrees. The other difference between us is that humans just don't understand how much you can learn by licking and smelling each other.

Until next time,

Teia

Breeding Golden Retrievers

Most people can breed mongrels as all you have to do is introduce a male dog to a female in heat. However, people who buy Golden Retrievers only want top quality dogs. To do this, it is a complicated process and as a result, for beginners, breeding Golden Retrievers is nearly impossible. You should never attempt to breed unless you know a lot about requirements for hobby breeders, as it is simply unfair to the breed and your potential customers if you have a litter of puppies that simply aren’t what they should be. This is why you shouldn’t attempt to breed just to have puppies or make a few bucks.

Breeding Golden Retrievers is a very serious hobby, one that should be left to those who know how to make the right choices. Because Golden Retrievers are very popular, it is imperative that litters be of good quality to maintain the breed standard. You should be aware that there is a certain amount of cost and care involved with breeding, especially if you want to ensure that you maintain the breed quality. There is also a lot of responsibility involved as well, because you do not want to be known as the breeder who lowered the quality of the breed. Furthermore, proper breeding of popular breeds can take quite a bit of time as well.

Breeding may help to fulfill the needs of a Golden‘s owner, but if a dog isn’t bred, it will have no knowledge of missing it, no regrets, or no guilt toward living a life without having been bred. Frequently, pregnancy causes a Golden Retriever female to develop health problems; it has no known health benefits.

If you wish to become a quality Golden breeder, you will have many choices in front of you. You will need to determine the mother and the father that will produce the best litter. To get the highest quality possible from the litter, you will need to determine the traits of both dogs, their temperaments and how well they seem to react to one another. You will also need to determine in either of the dogs has any type of health problems, to prevent any diseases or ailments from being passed onto the litter. Once you settle on a female Golden, you will have to thoroughly examine her and determine how close she matches the breed standard. If you notice any shortfalls, then you will have to find a male that is strong in these areas. In this way, you can have a better chance at a good litter of puppies.

Sometimes, when breeding Golden Retrievers, the mother of the litter will prove to be poor at motherhood, which will require more work for you. If the mother isn’t doing her job of nurturing her young, then you will have to assist her to ensure the puppies live. This can be the most time consuming aspect of breeding, because you will have to feed the young and make sure that they turn out as healthy as possible.

Aside from that, as a breeder, you will face many costs. As well as the cost of food and vet bills, you will have to pay stud fees for the male if you do not have a suitable one of your own. When you add up all of the costs, you will quickly realize that breeders do not make much money when they make a sale. In fact, most breeders do it as a hobby, not as a money making proposition. Quality breeders usually are not concerned with money as much as they are with the quality of their litters. Quality is better than quantity, as even the best breeders have problems selling puppies from time to time.

Although breeding is fun for hobby breeders, it is something you really should not be doing if you do not have the experience. If you are very sure that you want to breed your female Golden Retriever, then find a knowledgeable breeder who will give you the assistance you will need to ensure you end up with a healthy litter and that you do not endanger your pet’s health. If you are the least bit unsure about breeding your female, then I advise you to get her spayed so that you do not end up with a litter of unexpected mongrels. A purebred Golden Retriever should be bred only with dogs of her breed, to help preserve the breed and keep their bloodline going. If you have thought about breeding in the past - you should study long and hard before you actually make it a reality, because there is a lot of work and responsibility that you must undertake when you do it.

Until next time,

Teia

Tips for Buying a Golden Retriever Puppy

Anyone that has ever been around a Golden Retriever knows that they are beautiful, obedient, and make great family pets and hunting dogs. Golden’s, as they are frequently referred to, also make great guide dogs for the blind, narcotic detection dogs and even tracking dogs for finding missing people. Although there are many other dog breeds out there, Golden Retrievers remain one of the most versatile and most astonishing breeds that you can get.

Before you rush out to buy a Golden Retriever puppy, you should first take the time to learn a bit more about the breed. You can attend dog shows, meet with various owners of Golden Retrievers and even go to your local kennel club. Most people who own Golden Retrievers are extremely proud of them and will be more than happy to share their enthusiasm with you.

When you buy your Golden Retriever puppy, it’s worth considering the possibility of buying it from a backyard breeder. Backyard breeders usually know and care a lot about the breed. Usually backyard breeders aren’t just in it for the money - they actually care about their dogs and want you to get the best Golden possible.

You can also visit the Golden Retriever Club of America or their local member clubs, as they can supply you with a list of breeders in your area. If these breeders don’t have any Golden’s for sale themselves, they will be more than willing to help you find what you’re looking for. If you do not have a club in your area, then check with your local veterinarian. Since veterinarians usually treat most dogs in the area, they are familiar with any local breeders. By dealing with someone from a Golden Retriever Club or veterinarian recommendation, you can get a Golden from a very reliable source.

Whatever you do, you should never rush into buying a Golden Retriever. You should always take your time, because when you buy your puppy, you want a healthy puppy that will grow up to be a fine testament to the breed. By taking your time and making a careful decision, you can save yourself a lot of time and money later on down the road.

Golden puppies that are of poor quality, are normally produced by breeders who just want to have a litter or breeders who are just looking for the profits and care very little about giving thoughts to looks, quality, or temperament. If you buy a puppy from either of these types of breeders, you’ll more than likely end up with a puppy that has poor health, poor temperament and even flaws in relation to the breed standards.

When you get your puppy, you should always think long term. If you buy from a quality breeder, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Always remember that you aren’t just buying a Golden Retriever puppy - you are buying a companion and a friend for life.

Until next time,

Teia

Dog Breeds: The Old English Sheepdog

If you've ever previously owned or had a chance to play with an Old English sheepdog, then you know that they have a sweet demeanour and that they are very intelligent. Their soft fur matches their personality. These dogs are very hard workers, but if given loving attention and plenty of exercise, they have adjust well to being family pets. As well as being friendly, sheepdogs provide great companionship to their human families. Go to the library, or do some online research and you will understand why they are so popular in both the country and the city.

Although very few records were kept of the origins of Old English sheepdogs, they were first shown in England in 1873 as the “Shepherds Dog.” During the 1880’s they were exported to the United States where they became very popular, particularly with the wealthier families. During this time they also came into prominence in western England where they were used and bred for herding and protecting sheep. Obviously the breeders succeeded, as they created a dog that is intelligent, hardy and protective of its charges.

Since they came from hardy stock and they were bred for working with sheep where they do a lot of running and herding, these dogs need plenty of exercise, both physical and mental. They need to run around outside for physical exercise and they need mental challenges to keep them from getting bored.

When they get these physical and mental stimulations on a regular basis, they are extremely playful and sweet. They make excellent companions for active children and other dogs. Because they are quite intelligent, you may also find that they will sometimes be headstrong and stubborn.

Since they were originally bred to herd and protect sheep, these dogs require something to take care of, which is why they are such great companions for children. They are also excellent stock dogs for farms that have animals that need protection. Since these dogs need activities, exercise and purpose in their life, they will suffer if they are neglected. Old English sheepdogs do their best when they are surrounded by loving attention. So, make sure that you are ready to give this breed the care, attention and activity it needs.

Looking at their long, fluffy fur, you would expect that it would be difficult to take care of their coat, however, it is only marginally more difficult than taking care of a dog with a shorter coat.

Puppies should be brushed regularly to help them get used to being groomed. This will insure that when they grow up, they will be used to having a thorough weekly brushing. Because a thorough brushing can take close to an hour, many people simply clip their sheepdog's fur short during warmer weather and let it grow back for winter. This will cut down the time for the weekly brushing, but it does change the appearance of the dog. You won’t recognize it as a sheepdog. A neighbour a few doors down the street does this with his old sheepdog. The first time he did it, I didn’t recognize the dog and wondered what it was. The old dog felt good though, as he was prancing about the neighbourhood which contrasted with his usual slow gait.

In conclusion, the Old English sheepdog is a great family dog, especially if you have a large yard for it to run in or have time to take it for daily walks or runs. You should also try to have a family member at home as much as possible so the dog isn’t alone all day. As previously mentioned, they do not do well when left alone for extended periods. Old English sheepdogs need social interaction to keep them happy and healthy.

Until next time,

Teia

The Story of Reggie

I do not know who the author of this story is, or how long it has been around. It was sent to my dad as an email. He read it to me and I knew I just had to include it as a post on my blog. It is a great story…and according to all the research I have done…it is just that, a story. Snopes claims that it is 97% certain that there is no truth to the story, but that it does show the sacrifices that members of the military have to make when they are sent off to war. So, as a tribute to their sacrifices so that all of us can live in freedom and “do our own thing,” here is the “Story of Reggie.”

"They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he settled in, but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and "heel" and he'd follow them - when he felt like it.

He never really seemed to listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.

This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell. The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cell phone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid it on me."

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter.. I tossed the pad in Reggie's direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With his back to me.

Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the shelter phone number.

But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."....


To Whoever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time...it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong... which is why I have to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw it, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really - don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once and it almost cost him dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones - "sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning and again at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people and me most especially.

Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new.

And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....

His name's not Reggie.

I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him and tearing up this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well...well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanour if he's been giving you problems. His real name is Tank.

Because that is what I drive.

Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with...and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq , that they make one phone call to the shelter...in the "event"... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting too downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family. But still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.

And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honoured him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you,
Paul Mallory


I folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies.. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright..

"C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.

"Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished. I kept whispering his name, over and over and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball? His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth."

I hope you enjoyed the story and that it brought a lump to your throat and a tear to your eye. It did for me!

Thank you to all the men and women of the Military who keep us safe and free.

Until next time,

Teia


PS. Today’s Grandma’s 89th Birthday…Happy Birthday Grandma!

How to Prepare a Raw Diet for Your Pet(s)

In spite of mom and dad’s concerns about raw food diets, these diets seem to be more popular than ever. With that in mind, I chose this article for today’s post.

Before there was such a thing as commercial pet foods, dogs ate table scraps and the leftovers, including bones from on the farm butchering; cats usually lived on the rodents they caught around the house or outbuildings, occasionally supplemented by a bowl of milk or a squirt of milk from a cow’s teat during milking in the barn.

The acquisition of pets by city dwellers and their need for a more convenient means of feeding their pets gave rise to the pet food industry we have today. However, after the pet food disaster of a couple of years ago, more and more people have come to realize the dangers and inadequacies of commercial pet foods.

The Most Highly Touted Benefits of a Raw Diet.

Numerous articles and books have been written about raw pet food diets. In fact, they have become so popular that now commercially prepared raw diets can be obtained in fresh, frozen or dehydrated condition. The most commonly mentioned benefits of raw food diets include increased health and vigour, a much more glossy coat, cleaner teeth and longer, healthier lives.

Cautions that Should be Followed.

Discuss any change in diet with your veterinarian. Ill or aging animals may need to be eased into a raw food diet. You may want to start with lightly cooked food, particularly if their digestion or immune system is compromised in any way. For the safety of your dog, bones should initially be ground or be large enough so the dog will chew off any meat and cartilage but not be able to break and ingest bone fragments.

The "One Hundred Percent Complete" Myth.

Most commercial diets on the market are usually advertised as "100% complete and balanced." This was the case back in the 1970’s when pet food diets did not contain taurine and pets were dying from heart problems because no one realized taurine was an essential nutrient. Now, quietly, taurine is also being added to previously "complete" pet foods. What nutrients will be “discovered” as being essential in the next few years?

As an example in human terms, the cereal Total (R) is advertised as 100% complete -- would you feed your child nothing else for her entire life? I don’t think so! It is nearly impossible for a manufactured food to be 100% complete because we simply don't know everything there is to know about nutrition, either human nutrition or pet nutrition. And, since we do not know enough, how can we manufacture 100 % complete food products?

Diets for Dogs.

Dogs, while technically carnivores, are opportunistic scavengers. They will grab anything that smells good to them and run away to gorge themselves on it. No matter how well trained, most dogs will grab any food item that they can reach on a counter, table or window ledge and some have been known to grab meat off a BBQ. If allowed to run free, they also spend time searching through human garbage for tasty tidbits. A dog's diet can consist of a wide variety of foods; however, meat and bones should still be the primary ingredients. If vegetables are included in your dog’s diet, they should first be blanched and frozen to break down cell walls and release nutrients for the dog to absorb. Carrots are very hard for dogs to digest, so they should be pureed. Since some dogs like fruit, this can be provided to them, but avoid grapes, raisins, nuts and onions, which can be toxic, especially to small dogs. Feed garlic only in moderation. Grains are not required and in fact can be harmful to some dogs. However, if your dog needs to gain some weight, then rolled oats, brown rice, or barley will help. Dogs will also like an OCCASIONAL piece of whole grain bread as a treat, but be warned that this will quickly cause your dog to gain weight and overweight dogs tend to develop diabetes or heart problems more easily.

Diets for Cats.

Cats are completely carnivorous animals, which means that they MUST eat a meat-based diet. Almost all commercial cat diets are completely inappropriate with their grain and vegetable fillers. Obesity, diabetes and irritable bowel disease are some of the most common problems in cats that are continuously fed a dry food diet. You should choose a variety of raw meats and organs to provide a good diet. Most cats like their food ground, however some enjoy gnawing on raw chicken wings and necks.

Keeping the Balance in Your Pet’s Diet.

You do not eat the same thing every day and the same should be true for your pet. They need variety in their diet to obtain the best health benefits. When you first start feeding a raw diet, most likely you will start off with one meat source (most people use chicken because it is readily available and inexpensive). If you can get a frozen mix, like Oma's Pride, your job will be much easier, as it is made up of ground meat, bones, vegetables and organs (for dogs), or a variety of ground meats (with or without bones) and organs for cats. When planning meals for your pet(s), you must remember to balance the ingredients over time so the pet(s) get the full benefits of a raw diet. Meats from different animals, even different cuts of meat from the same animal, will have different nutrient content. By choosing a wide variety of meats and including organs as well, you can achieve balance over time. Add yogurt or cottage cheese (if your pet does not have an allergy to dairy products) and raw or cooked eggs at least once a week.

When feeding raw diets, puppies don't need special diets, however, they will require as much as 10% of their weight in food to start off with, gradually decreasing to the adult maintenance level of 3% by 1-2 years of age.

Working dogs and dogs involved in sporting activities should get 3-5% of their body weight in daily food. Judge the success of your feeding program by body condition which should show a definite indentation in the stomach area. The dog should be active, alert and have a good coat if the diet is balanced and adequate. Good meats for dogs include chicken, turkey, lamb, beef (for most dogs, although some dogs have shown allergic reactions to beef), also duck (for weight gain) and rabbit. Most of these are available from larger grocery stores, butcher shops or raw pet food distributors.

For cats, rabbit, chicken, and small amounts of fish make great choices that are "close" to their natural diet. Do not overdo the supply of salmon or herring as they contain quite a lot of oil and will tend to add weight to your cat if given too frequently. Try to pick less oily fish and keep the salmon and herring for special treats.

Feeding a raw diet to pets is not complicated although it is more time consuming than opening a can or dumping dry food into a bowl. Just follow these general guidelines, check with your veterinarian regularly and read as much about it as you can, and you'll be a pro in no time.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. I like my meat cooked. To me, raw meat tastes awful, so I won’t eat it unless I am VERY hungry. I LOVE table scraps though and I like raw fruit, particularly pieces of apple that have had the skin removed and pieces of cantaloupe and watermelon.

Teaching Kids and Pets to Co-Exist Peacefully

It is possible for children and pets to peacefully coexist in the same household. Many people mistakenly think that as soon as they start having children that their pet needs to head to the local shelter. They fear that the cat or dog will not get along with the new child and it will bite or scratch the baby. This is seldom the case and if you take the time to introduce your pets to your children properly, your kids and pets can live in harmony.

One of the biggest concerns that new parents have when it comes to a pet in the home is how it will react to a baby. Many of the old wives tales such as cats sucking the breath out of babies simply are not true. In fact, many cats and dogs readily accept a new child into the home and become fiercely loyal and protective of the baby. A German Sheppard guard dog that mom and dad had when their older daughter brought their new granddaughter over to their house thought she was the greatest thing he had ever seen. He sat near her basket with a sappy look on his face. As she got older, he would let her do anything she wanted to him, including things that would bring a growl when anyone else attempted to do them. He would have given his life to protect her.

When you bring your baby home from the hospital, you should introduce your pet to your new baby. Of course, these introductions need supervision. Allow your cat or dog time to sniff your child at his or her own pace. Make the introduction pleasant for your cat or dog. In most cases, your cat or dog will not give your baby a second thought. Allow your pet to adjust to the new situation on his or her own terms. When a baby comes to the house, it is an adjustment for everybody.

The other thing that you might want to consider doing when you bring a baby into the home is to make sure that your cat or dog is properly groomed. This includes trimming the nails of your dog or cat. Your dog or cat may want to put a paw on your baby. If his or hers nails are long and sharp, your dog or cat may accidentally scratch your infant. While you can never eliminate pet hair from your home, if your dog or cat is frequently brushed it will certainly help your home stay a little cleaner. Many new parents also worry about allergies. Actually, many studies have shown that children, who are exposed to pets from a very young age, have less pet allergies than children who are not exposed to pets.

Another good idea is to make sure that your pets do not have access to your baby’s room without supervision. While your pet means no harm to your child, pets are naturally curious. A cat may jump into your infant’s crib, or large dogs could easily knock a bassinet or cradle over. You should always supervise your pet when it is around your new baby. Most of all, you should try to make sure that you are still spending quality time with your pet when possible. This especially pertains to dogs, which are used to playing in the backyard and going for walks.

As your child grows, you need to begin teaching your child proper pet etiquette. If your dog or cat has learned to respect your child, then your child also needs to learn to respect your pet. Teach your child from a young age that they should never pull or yank a cat or dog's tail or ears. Your child can learn proper pet etiquette even at a very young age. You will also want to teach your child to respect your pet’s space. This includes making sure that your child understands that he or she should never wake a sleeping pet. This could cause your pet to become startled and could result in biting or scratching.

In addition, you will want to make sure that your child understands to stay out of your pet’s food, water and litter box. Your child will be naturally curious, so it is always best to give your pet some private space away from your child.

There are many things you can do to make sure children and pets coexist peacefully. Your children and pets need to learn to respect each other from the very beginning. There is no reason to get rid of your cat or dog just because you have a child in your home.

Until next time,

Teia

Indoors or Outdoors: What is best for Your Pet?

Before you take on the responsibility of owning a cat or dog, you need to take the time to consider the living arrangements for your new pet. Many people adopt pets with the idea that they will be raising an outdoor animal. How many people in your neighbourhood keep their dogs or cat’s outdoors at all times? The fact of the matter is, outside is not a safe place for a cat or a dog, as I will explain in a moment. When you adopt a pet, you need to make sure that you are ready to allow your pet into your home.

It is true that both cats and dogs will love being outside, it is their natural environment. Cats delight in chasing birds, climbing trees and hiding in shrubs. Dogs adore barking at the neighbours, chasing squirrels and digging. However, there are many dangers to keeping your pet outside at all times. Dogs tend to get more outside time than cats do. Owners take their dogs out for walks and in some cases allow their dogs unsupervised access to the backyard from time to time. Cats are usually either indoor pets or outdoor pets.

It is more common nowadays, for owners to keep their cats indoors as they begin to realize the dangers of allowing their cat to live outdoors at all times. I highly recommend that you keep your cats and dogs inside. For cats, you can help them practice their natural instincts inside by giving them plenty of places to run and play inside your home. Buy your cat a good scratching post with a high perch and install a window seat so they can gaze at the birds outdoors.

The number one danger to your pets when they go outside is other animals. You never know when your dog or cat will encounter a stray animal, or strange cat or dog from down the street. You know that your pet is properly vaccinated, but you do not know the health condition of other animals outside. In addition, if your dog or cat gets into a fight with another animal, your pet can be seriously injured or harmed. Unless you supervise your pet at all times when they are outside, you never know when your cat or dog will encounter a strange animal. Now-a-days, even quiet residential areas of large cities have coyotes, foxes, skunks, racoons, abandoned dogs and feral cats wandering the area after dark. Many of these animals carry parasites and diseases, which they can pass on to your pet. Coyotes usually work in packs and their favourite tactic is to send a lone coyote to bait your dog into chasing it. When your dog takes the challenge and chases the lone coyote, the rest of the pack come out of hiding and your dog, no matter how large, becomes a late lunch for these nighttime killers. Unless your cat can make it up a tree, she doesn’t stand a chance against these killers. If you have been watching the news over the last several months, you are probably aware that bears, wolves and other large predators are coming into suburban and city locations with increasing regularity. As their natural habitat and/or prey is decreased, they have no choice but to change their hunting areas to continue to exist. A dark city street, park or large backyard provides a perfect location to hide and spring out on unsuspecting pets and/or children.

In this time of bird flu, your cat should not be allowed to eat wild birds, particularly crows, starlings and others that either migrate long distances or mix with birds that migrate. I have not heard of any cases of a pet dying from eating an infected bird, but if your cat or dog did eat one and then crawled away to some secluded spot to die, no one would know anything about the cause of death because no city or town that I am aware of performs an autopsy on dead pets that are found within their limits. The only time that an autopsy is performed on a pet is when the owner insists and there is a possibility that the pet has been deliberately poisoned, or if the pet is suspected of having rabies. In most cities when a dead pet is found it is taken to the landfill and disposed of with no follow up of any kind. Usually the owner never even finds out the pet is dead. To the owner it just remains missing.

Other dangers of allowing your pet to live outside are cars and other people. A cat darting across the street late at night is a recipe for disaster. What if your dog gets loose from your yard and encounters a child? How will your dog react? You hope that your dog will be good and stay friendly. However, what happens if the child begins to taunt or tease your dog or poke a stick at him? If your dog bites or scratches another person, chances are, you will be responsible for your pet's actions. Many pet owners have found themselves in a serious situation when their dog or cat has acted aggressively when outdoors. Most times, you will face a court appearance and your pet will be destroyed.

When your cat or dog stays indoors, you can also help control fleas, ticks, and the exposure to heartworms. This is not to say that you should not treat an indoor pet for these problems. All dogs and cats, whether they spend most of their time indoors or outdoors, should be on a monthly heartworm preventative. This parasitic disease can be fatal to your pet and your pet can also pass these parasites onto you. It is important to remember that if your cat or dog lives outdoors, you will have many more problems when it comes to fleas and ticks. Fleas can jump from your pet to you and once they get into your home they are difficult to eradicate. Ticks frequently carry Lyme disease, which they can pass onto your pet. There is a lot of controversy about this disease, which is very debilitating. It is quite difficult to diagnose, and once infected with it, the pet or person suffering from the disease may never get rid of it, as treatment methods are not standardized and frequently not very successful.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should keep your dog or cat indoors. Pets that are indoor pets live longer and healthier lives than pets that live outside. This includes all pets.

Once you make your pet an indoor animal, they will lose some of their outdoor survival instinct. As a result, you will need to protect them when you take them outside. Supervised walks or supervised trips to off leash parks are fine. You should also supervise them when they are in your own fenced in yard, as they will now depend on you to provide a home and protection for them. As mentioned above, you never know, particularly at night, what might be lurking nearby to attack your beloved pet.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. In the northern town in which I live and in the neighbouring city, wolves, bears, coyotes and cougars are frequent visitors and numerous outdoor pets become meals every year. Even the dog catcher had his dog attacked by a bear. Fortunately, the dog was able to get into a very well constructed dog house and avoid death, but he suffered some very nasty scratches and tooth marks that required veterinarian treatment. And of course, if you live in parts of Florida, you have to watch out for the thousands of Burmese Pythons which are devouring wildlife and pets at alarming rates.

Dangerous Dog Treats: What to Know Before You Treat Your Pup

What pooch does not love getting a treat or two now and then. Most pet lovers also enjoy giving treats to their dog. If you’ve had your dog for a while, then you have a good idea of the type of treat your dog likes, but trying a new one is always a temptation. There are so many treats available these days and they come in all different shapes, sizes, colors and consistencies. For every great dog treat, there are those on the market that are not so good. These treats can harm your pet by lodging in your dog’s throat or intestines. This can cause choking or worse. If you love treating your canine friend, then you will want to be aware of those treats that can be potentially harmful. Even with treats that are not usually dangerous, you need to supervise your dog when she eats them.

Greenies: Most dogs really enjoy these treats. They are advertised as a treats that help clean your dog’s teeth. However, as a pet lover who does not want to see your pet in danger, you need to be aware that “greenies” can cause choking. This is because dogs eat these treats very quickly which causes large chunks to lodge in the throat. Young puppies should not eat this treat and dogs that are prone to gulping their food should also avoid them. There have been reports that if your dog does not digest chunks of these treats, they can lodge in your dog’s intestines or bowel, and sharp edges could tear or perforate these organs. If your dog eats these treats, be aware of potential vomiting, bloody stools, and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms after your dog has eaten this treat, seek medical attention immediately.

Rawhide Chews: What dog does not love snacking on these chewy treats? Rawhides are good because they clean your dog’s teeth and keep your dog occupied. However, rawhides are dangerous, as well. As pet lovers, mom and dad have always provided rawhide chews for their dogs. Until they did some research, they did not realize that some rawhides that originate outside of the United States might actually be preserved with arsenic-based chemicals that will be ingested by your doggie when he or she chews. For this reason, make certain that any rawhide treat you purchase is processed in the United States where this preservative is forbidden. If you cannot tell where a treat originated do not buy it! In addition, you still need to watch your dog when he or she is munching on rawhides to help prevent choking. Any dog that gulps food has a chance of gulping in a large chunk of rawhide, which may lodge in the dog’s throat. This usually happens when the rawhide becomes partially soft and gooey. The gooey part slips down and the hard part jams in the dog’s throat. Make sure you buy rawhides that are the right size for your dog, too. A small dog needs the smaller sized rawhide treats. The other night, my “sister,” Gemma, had a rawhide lodge in her throat. Dad was nearby and he patted her on the back and dislodged the rawhide which Gemma then coughed up. If no one had been near at that time, Gemma may have choked to death.

Chocolate: Baker’s chocolate is a terrible thing to allow dogs to eat. Of course, sometimes dogs get into candy and cake without your knowledge. Chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, so as pet lovers, you need to be aware of your dog sneaking chocolate nibbles, especially around the holidays. Chocolate contains an ingredient called theobromine. This acts in a canine about the same way caffeine acts in a human. A little will make the doggie hyperactive, but a large dose may be fatal. If your dog has gotten into chocolate, you need to look for vomiting, shallow breathing, and irregular heartbeat. If your dog shows any of these symptoms after eating chocolate, take him to a veterinarian immediately.

Bones: It seems that it is the right of every dog to be able to crunch on a real bone from time to time. Dogs love bones of all types. However, some bones can be dangerous. Both chicken and turkey bones are especially dangerous because they are brittle. When your dog chews on them, they can easily splinter or cause choking. Some pork and beef bones can also cause the same problem. Dad’s parents had a Boston Terrier who choked to death on a steak bone that became lodged in her throat. They tried everything they could think of to dislodge the bone, but could not get it out and the dog died in their arms. NEVER give your dog cooked bones of any kind. The cooking makes them brittle resulting in splinters and sharp pieces, which could lodge in your dog’s throat. Some “raw food” advocates suggest that raw poultry bones are safe for your dog to eat, but mom and dad’s experience has shown that even raw poultry bones will splinter under some situations. As pet lovers who do not want to see any pet meet with a tragic end, mom and dad do not recommend feeding poultry bones to your dog. Veterinarians agree that one of the safest bones you can give your dog is a shinbone. If you must give your dog a bone, make sure you supervise your pooch and if he or she shows signs of bleeding, then you should call your vet immediately.

This is not to say that you cannot give your dog an occasional treat, all pet lovers enjoy giving their dog a treat, and it is one of the fun parts of owning a dog. And, of course, us dogs love them! You do need to watch your dog and make sure that your dog is safe when snacking. Always pay attention to what kind of treat you give your dog in case of a recall. Another trick to follow when thinking of trying a new teat is to read all of the writing on the packaging. If you notice misspelling or grammar mistakes, chances are that the product was made in a country that does not have good pet health and safety rules and therefore the treat should NOT be purchased for your pet.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. If you reside in Canada, where all packaging requires both French and English versions of the contents and manufacturers information, make sure that the French is correctly spelled and that it is grammatically correct as foreign manufacturers frequently make mistakes in the French version of the package information.

PPS. From Dad: Last weekend, I attended a Christmas Craft Sale in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. One of the tables featured a local lady selling hand made dog treats from human grade ingredients. I bought Teia and her “sisters” some beef, garlic and cheese flavoured dog bone shaped cookies. They eat them so fast I’m not sure if they chew them or just inhale them. While at the booth, the lady gave me a copy of the following poem, which I thought you might enjoy.

MY DOGS LIVE HERE

My dogs live here, they’re here to stay.
You don’t like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space
This is their home, this is their space.

You will find dog hair on the floor,
They will alert you’re at the door.
They may request a little pat,
A simple “no” will settle that.

It gripes me when I hear you say
“Just how is it you live this way?
They smell, they shed, they’re in the way…”
WHO ASKED YOU? Is all I can say…

They love me more than anyone,
My voice is like the rising sun.
They merely have to hear me say
“C’mon girls, time to go and play.”

Then tails wag and faces grin,
They bounce and hop and make a din.
They never say “no time for you,”
They’re always there, to GO and DO.

And if I’m sad? They’re by my side
And if I’m mad? They circle wide
And if I laugh, they laugh with me
They understand, they always see.

So once again, I say to you
Come visit me, but know this too…

My dogs live here, they’re here to stay.
You don’t like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space
This is their home, this is their place.