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On a recent morning walk with my dog, Rocco, I ran into a friendly neighbor.
“He’s been voted one of the cutest dogs in the neighborhood,” she said to me.
“Thanks,” I reply.
“Hi Rocco, how are you? You’re such a cute dog,” as she pets his head.
“He’s a crazy puppy,” I reply jokingly. “He has more energy then I do.”
The small talk continues as she asks me various questions about the dog, his breed, age, etc.
Now, I don’t mind chatting with the neighbors and it’s good to know people are generally friendly and enjoy pets. Except there is one thing that bothers me…she knows my dog’s name, so obviously we’ve met before… but I don’t think she knows my name. And I don’t know her name either.
As I’ve lived in this area now for almost two years, I’ve noticed this is a common trait among the neighborhood. People who are out with their dogs on a regular basis get to know each other….or should I say each dog.
So, I’ve met several dogs in the neighborhood, and only recognize the owners by their dogs. There is Angus, Reilly, Haley, Laz, and Kasper who are regulars on my walking route. The names of the people walking them??? I have no idea! Granted, it’s my fault too for not introducing myself either; but I suddenly feel unimportant once the dogs are introduced. I guess it really is a dog’s world.
Thinking back, I’ve never really met any of my neighbors until I got a dog. Rocco is a conversation starter and people will stop to greet him and say hello. However, in some ways I still don’t feel like I’ve met any of my human neighbors. But at least Rocco has met his canine neighbors!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Canine Neighbors
Do Dogs Feel Love?
http://pets.yahoo.com/dogs/behavior-and-training/316/do-dogs-feel-love/
Check out this well written article about dogs and if they feel love. There really isn't a definitive answer, but this article presents some good arguements.
Why Dogs Burrow
Does your dog like to burrow under the covers? There is actually an explanation of why according to an MSN.com article in their dog central section.
Dogs are denning animals, they love small spaces. In the same way that humans like to fluff up their pillows before settling in for the night, some dogs like to create comfy beds and hide under clothes and sheets to make themselves feel safe, warm and comfortable. All breeds may do this, but terriers, hounds and huskies are more predisposed to burrowing than others.
There’s no downside or risk to letting your dog burrow, unless you don’t want dog hair under the covers. A separate dog bed might be handy to keep the hair out of yours. An additional bonus of your dog having the instinct to burrow is that it can make crate training easier, since being in a crate can mimic that denlike environment.
So the next the time your dog wants to get under your covers, just know that she's just trying to find a safe place to sleep.
Creating Bad Habits?
I might be guilt! I think I'm creating bad habits in my dogs. I'm an enabler. You see, when my oldest dog, Rocco, doesn't particularly like his dinner (he has allergies, so I have to be careful what I feed), he usually goes to bed hungry. Until 3am, when he wakes me up and whines.
Rocco isn't the type that usually goes to the bathroom at that hour, so I knew something else was bothering him a couple of weeks ago the first time he woke me up whining. I got up, gave him a treat, and he begged for more. Then a I realized that he didn't really eat his dinner, so he must be hungry. I got him some dry food, and he eat it up.
A few days later, the same thing happens. He doesn't eat dinner (which was a nice mix of a high quality canned food and a dry food), and then gets hungry at 3am. He wakes me, I feed him. We both go to bed happy. But, as Mrs. Pet Haven points out, now Rocco knows that he can wake me up whenever he wants and I'll feed him....not something I want to have happen every night.
So, now I must analyze what's going on here. Am I creating a bad habit? Am I basically saying that it's ok not to eat your dinner, because I'll be at your beck and call to feed you? Or am I just over-analyzing the whole thing? Obviously if he doesn't like a particular kind of food, I should try another (that he hopefully won't be allergic to!).
Has anyone else created an annoying habbit with their dogs? Would love to hear other stories. In the meantime, I have to pay extra attention to Rocco to make sure he finishes his meal and doesn't get distracted so that he'll sleep through the night.
Doggie Dude Ranch
Friday, April 18, 2008
Dog "Hot Spots"
Recently, it seems like my dog is at the doctor more then I am. As a dog owner, you not only learn all about behavior, but you learn about dog health conditions. Unfortunately, I had to learn about dog "hot spots."
Dog hot spots are a result of a skin condition officially called pyotraumatic dermatitis. It is a bacterial infection that develops and rapidly spreads in the skin. Hot spots are painful to the dog, can emit pus and smell badly. Hair loss from around the infected area is common. Because dog hot spots are so painful and irritating many dogs will bite and scratch the area causing the infection to spread.
Although hot spots are most common in dogs with thick coats, they can occur in any breed. A common cause for hot spots is moisture getting caught next to the dog's skin, making an ideal spot for an infection to start. Moisture can become trapped by matted fur, a dog collar, or simply thick fur. Many times chronic dog hot spots stem from an allergic condition (which is most likely the case in my pup). Though some dogs are simply more prone to hot spots than others.
It is best to treat hot spots quickly to prevent further spreading of the infection, and for the relief of your dog. Also, some dogs will scratch at a hot spot to the point of breaking the skin. This makes the condition even more painful, and provides the opportunity for a more serious infection to occur.
As for the source of Rocco's condition? We know he has seasonal allergies. Plus, recently, someone bought our dog some generic "commercial" dog treats as a gift. Since we normally feed him so-called premium treats, it's possible that he has food allergies and the generic dog treats caused him to break out with the hot spot. That, combined with having thick fur, could be the cause. Hopefully, this will be the last time we have to worry about hot spots.
Pets With Food Allergies
Food allergies account for about 10% of all the allergies seen in cats and dogs.
The entire process of a pet being sensitized to a particular agent in food and the complicated antibody response that occurs in the intestinal tract in pets with food allergies are not very well understood. Despite our lack of understanding of the actual disease process, there are many things that we do know.
Food allergies affect both cats and dogs. There is no strong link between specific breeds and food allergies. Food allergies affect both males and females and neutered and intact animals equally. They can show up as early as five months and as late as 12 years of age, though the vast majority of cases occur between 2 and 6 years. Many animals with food allergies also have concurrent inhalant or contact allergies.
There is a distinction that needs to be made between food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies are true allergies and show the characteristic symptoms of itching and skin problems associated with feline and canine allergies. Food intolerances can result in diarrhea or vomiting and do not create a typical allergic response. Food intolerances in pets would be similar to people that get diarrhea or an upset stomach from eating spicy or fried foods. Fortunately, both food intolerances and allergies can be eliminated with a diet free from offending agents.
Several studies have shown that some ingredients are more likely to cause food allergies than others. In cats, the most common offenders are fish, beef, and dairy products. As you may have noticed, the most common offenders are the most common ingredients in both cat and dog foods. This correlation is not a coincidence. While some proteins might be slightly more antigenic than others, many proteins are similar in form and the incidence of allergic reactions are probably associated with the amount of exposure.
The symptoms of food allergies are similar to those of most other allergies seen in cats. The primary symptom is itchy skin. Symptoms may also include hair loss, excessive scratching, and miliary dermatitis.
It is difficult to distinguish an animal suffering from food allergies from an animal suffering from allergies based on physical signs. However, there are a few signs that always signal food allergies. If ayour pet suffers from allergies year-round or if symptoms begin in the winter, it's highly likely that it is a food allergy. Cats may develop very itchy skin which does not respond to antihistamines or steroid treatment.
A high quality diet, as opposed to feeding commercial brand foods, can also help reduce food allergies.
(resources - peteducation.com)
Leaving dogs in hot cars - DON’T DO IT!!
If you’ve read my blog in the past, you’ve likely seen me write rant about people leaving dogs in cars only to find them dead when they come back. Well, here ya go…here’s another one about two geniuses in Maine who left not one, but two dogs in a car while they went shopping at Home Depot. Sure, they feel bad about it now, but why didn’t they think about what they were doing before they left their dogs in an oven to die a grueling death?
According to Ellsworth Police Lt. Harold Page, a mother and her adult daughter parked their car at a Home Depot on Wednesday afternoon and left their dogs inside the car while they shopped. When the women emerged from the store about 45 minutes later, the dogs had died from heat exhaustion, police said.
[…]
According to the Bangor Daily News, the dog owners said they left their dogs inside the car but kept the engine and air conditioning running. When they returned to the car, the engine and air conditioning were not running. Police later observed the air-conditioning controls were in the on position and the keys were in the ignition.
Davis Instruments has information from a study done in 2002 on how hot it can get in parked cars. Does this really sound like something you want put your pet through?
Finding: On a day when the outside temperature was 73° Fahrenheit, it took only 20 minutes for the temperature sensor inside the car to reach a lethal level of 107° Fahrenheit.
Finding: On a day when the outside temperature was 86° Fahrenheit, it took only five minutes for the temperature sensor inside the car (placed in direct sunlight) to reach 132° Fahrenheit.
Finding: On a day when the outside temperature was 86° Fahrenheit, it took only 10 minutes for the temperature sensor inside the vehicle in the shade to reach a lethal level of 109° Fahrenheit.
Please, if you have your dog with you and you feel you MUST go in somewhere, either take the dog in with you (some places allow this) or take the dog home. Or if, as in this case, there are two or more of you, have one person stay outside with the dogs. Use your head a bit folks, if it’s too hot for you to sit in a hot car, it will be for your dog too. And, your dog doesn’t know how to turn the A/C back on if it goes off!
My dog was attacked by another dog
As I’m sitting here typing, my dog Lydia is lying next to me sleeping peacefully here on the couch. She’s perfectly fine now, and hopefully having some pleasant dreams as her feet twitch every few seconds. A few weeks ago though, we were nursing some aches and pains from a dog attack.
We went out for a walk, on the route we’ve walked for years. She was on a leash, walking quietly, minding her own business, when all of a sudden a dog lunged on top of her. Neither of us saw it coming. There was no warning whatsoever - no growling, no barking - absolutely no warning at all! As it attacked, there was just a flurry of dog, and a lot of yelping and growling mostly by Lydia. It was nearly impossible to know what to do and left me feeling so absolutely useless. There was no way I was going to reach down and try to pull them apart so I just yelled for help and tried to pull Lydia back. It was useless though because the dog had a pretty good hold on her. Eventually someone came and pulled the dog off of Lydia and I was able to check her neck to see if she was bleeding. There wasn’t, thankfully.
The dog owner, who saw the attack, is an idiot. He didn’t check to see if my dogs or I were ok. Nor did he apologize. And, after taking Lydia to the vet, the guy wasn’t interested in paying the bill. After talking to a couple of the neighbors though, none of this is surprising. The guy has had a few complaints to animal control because of the dog getting out and doing the same thing. Animal control won’t do anything though since there was no permanent damage to either one of us.
The way the current vicious dog ordinance in Austin is written, this type of dog is not considered vicious, and therefore all animal control can do is to give the owner a little ‘dog owner responsibility’ speech. In other words - nothing. There’s a new vicious dog ordinance being worked on though, which I’ve posted about before. Many people, including me, are unhappy with some of the language in it because it makes the ordinance too vague. Once the ordinance is finished though, hopefully animal control will be able to take some type of action when something like this happens.
The good thing is that Lydia is feeling a lot better now. She was limping for a few days, and had some scratches and small puncture wounds on her neck, but she’s going to be OK.
Press release: Pet sitters offer a wide range of services
Austin, TX – February 20, 2008 – Professional pet sitters offer a wide range of services to help pet owners care for their pets.
Professional pet sitters offer pet owners convenience and peace-of-mind by allowing them to leave their pets in the comfort of home while they travel or work long hours.
Although pet sitting has been around for many years, it is finally coming into its own. Pet owners are seeing it as a valuable and practical solution to caring for their pets when they are unable to do so themselves. They find that using the services of pet sitters is an excellent alternative to boarding their pets or having friends or family care for them in their absence. When pet owners travel, they are comforted by the fact that their pets are safe and happy in their own home. Similarly, when their job requires they work long hours, placing their pets in a professional pet sitter’s hands gives them peace-of-mind knowing their pet is not left alone for an extended period of time. Pet owners who have never used a pet sitter in the past are often sold on the service after just one try.
The advantages pet owners enjoy when a professional pet sitter cares for their pets are many, including:
- The pet stays in his normal surroundings; with the sights, sounds, and smells that are familiar to him.
- The pet does not need to be transported to a kennel or other unfamiliar place.
- The pet is able to follow his same routine (i.e. feeding, daily walk, etc).
- The pet and owner are able to develop an ongoing relationship with their caregiver.
- Individualized care and routines may be established for the pet.
- Household services may be performed such as daily home security checks, bringing in mail, and alternating lights.
- The pet owner feels a sense of security, knowing his pet and home are being looked after.
Pet sitting has been named as one of the fastest growing home-based businesses according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “This growth is a result of the importance we put on the pets we share our lives with.” said Therese Kopiwoda, founder of PetsitUSA.com, “Now, more than ever, our cats, dogs and other pets are considered family members rather than just pets. And, as family members, we want only the best for them. Pet sitters help us in that endeavor.”
Professional pet sitters take pride in the personalized, ongoing service and care they provide for their human and animal clients. Many of them invest time and money on a regular basis to further their pet-related education by attending industry related conferences, taking classes in pet first aid, pet massage, pet behavior, and dog training. And, while some may specialize in a particular service such as daily dog walking, others offer a wide range of services such as pet sitting, dog walking, dog park outings, overnight stays with the pet, pet waste removal, dog taxi services, and hospice care, to name just a few. Because pet sitting is a personalized service, most pet sitters are able to work with the client to develop specialized routines for the pet. In this way, pet sitters serve as the pet owner’s partner in the care and well being of their pets.
Pet owners who would like to know more about pet sitting and the pet sitting business may visit PetsitUSA.com, where they will be able to search for professional pet sitters in their area. They will also find FAQs and information to help them with their selection of a pet sitter, to prepare for their pet sitter’s visits to their home, to learn what to expect from their pet sitter, and to learn what the pet sitter will expect from them.
About PetsitUSA.comPetsitUSA.com is one of the leading online destinations for pet owners searching for professional pet sitters, dog walkers, dog runners, and dog daycares throughout the United States. Based in Austin, Texas, PetsitUSA.com was launched in 2003 by Therese Kopiwoda, who also serves a small number of pet sitting clients
News
The Pet Food List Newsletter is now available online. Here’s what we have for you in this issue…
My new puppy has separation anxiety,” the caller on the other end of the line tells me. More likely, the young puppy - a social creature by nature - has simply never been taught to stay alone. Other owners tell me, “My dog won’t stop barking in the yard - I think it’s separation anxiety.” “Could be,” I’ll say, “but it could also be those darn squirrels that are so much fun to bark at.” Read the full story.
This year’s Wishbones for Pets (WBFP) drive runs from October 15 through November 30. WBFP is a pet sitter driven charity program, by which pet sitters work with local businesses to collect pet supplies and other necessities for pet welfare groups in their local communities. Read the full story.
South by Southwest, the prestigious internet/music/film conference held every March in Austin, TX, is considering a panel on pet bloggers and the pet food recall. Christie Keith, from Pet Connection will be there, I will be there, as well as other pet food bloggers….Ben from Itchmo.com, and David Goldstein from the Huffington Post and horsesass.org. All of our websites gained quite a bit of attention during the recall. If our panel is chosen, we’ll be there to talk about how bloggers made an impact in the recall, and how they are changing the way other major stories are reported. Find out how you can help us get there!
