Wednesday, September 30, 2009

News Reel - Cat Police

Ok, this is a bit off topic, but I enjoyed reading it so I thought I would share. I do have a cat related blog, but I don't have time to update both this one and that ... I may take up the torch again sometime, but not right now.



So without further ado, here is an OT article about cats Municipal cat police taking things a bit too fur. This creeps me out.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

DogsDeserveFreedom - Economics, Dogs and Volunteering

The economic state of the world sucks. Plain and simple. Some prices have gone up, some have gone down and most people don't want to spend money because they are afraid they may not have a job in another month.


I was going to start this blog entry with some wordy paragraph, blah blah blah, but I'm not good at that stuff. There are a great many other bloggers out there who have some wonderful wordy thoughts to share.


So what do economics have to do with dogs? TONS.


When people lose their jobs, they sometimes lose other things too. Homes. Possessions. Dogs. Cats. Family. It happens. When you have to choose between a roof over your head and the family pet, guess which one usually goes first?


What can we do? I say it again ... TONS. There are so many things you can do to help. Whether you have a job or not, you can volunteer.


If you work, go to the local shelter and walk the dogs for an hour (or more) a week ... it may not seem like a lot to you, but to that dog it's so very important. You just gave a dog a respite from the chaos of a shelter. It may give him the hope he needs to fend off depression for another day.


If you have lost your job, why don't you go to the shelter for 3 or 4 hours every day for the next few weeks until you are back on your feet?


Not only are you helping a local charity, you are helping animals and you are gaining some valuable references.


News flash! You can put your volunteer work on your resume!! I know ... that's crazy-talk ... but it's true. Volunteering at your local shelter can help you along the path towards a new job.


Perhaps you were an office assistant and need work - why don't you volunteer a few hours a week to work reception at the shelter? Perhaps you were a landscaper and need work - why don't you offer your services to the shelter? Perhaps you are able to fix fencing? Or are an electrician? Or a computer technician? You get the gist.


So the next person you meet who has lost their job (even if it is you!), why don't you suggest they spend some time volunteering in the community? Explain to them that they can not only do some good, but they can put it on their resume. Keep in mind that not everyone is an animal person ... perhaps they would feel better volunteering at the Food Bank or Hospital? The need for volunteers is everywhere.


Sure, the economic state sucks and people are dumping dogs left, right and centre, but we don't have to get all depressed and down about it. Get off your duff and do something about it!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Featured Rescue - Black Labrador Retriever

Well I haven't posted all weekend ... I haven't even done any Entrecard drops all weekend either! I apologize, but things have been hectic around here. Why does that seem to be the norm lately? Anyway, there was a big humane society function this weekend that kept me hopping as well as a new dog that has come to live with us (a perma-dog this time). I have a lot of topics boiling around in my brain and I will start jotting them down before I begin to boil over!







I've posted in the past about Black Dog Syndrome (BDS). For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, please take a look at the blog entry and familiarize yourself with it. In addition to my mantra of A Tired Dog is A Good Dog I have one more that is just as important ... All Knowledge is Worth Having. Share the info about BDS with your neighbours, family and friends.






Having considered BDS, I would like to bring your attention to Prissy. Prissy is one of the 4,894 dogs available on petfinder that are listed as Black Labrador Retrievers. If you count up the dogs listed as Black Labrador Retriever, Yellow Labrador Retriever, Choclate Labrador Retriever and Labrador Retriever, you would see that there are currently 28,404 dogs available for adoption.



Prissy gets along well with children, people and other dogs. So why is it so difficult to find a nice home for a nice dog?? Maybe because there are so many "nice dogs" out there.



So now that you know the numbers, care to wager how much more difficult it is to find a home for a Black Labrador Retriever as opposed to any of the other breeds listed?


http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14746156

Thursday, September 24, 2009

High Kill Shelters

Yep, you read that right. High Kill Shelters. They are out there. This is not new news. I'm not going to start ranting about it though; that could go on for hours!



There are many shelters out there that euthanize hundreds of animals per week. Many function as Canine or Animal Control. I know of a few High Kill Shelters in Ontario. Hamilton has one. Many of the smaller communities have one but for most, I don't know their contact info.



Most of the animals are perfectly healthy, adoptable animals. There just aren't enough homes for all of them. Many are cats, but there are dogs in that number too. The sheer numbers that face us are staggering.



Someone once told me that the adult cat at the shelter that was adoped was like winning the lottery. It's a one in a million chance of them getting out in a carrier instead of a body bag.



I was looking to find High Kill Shelters this summer. I wanted to pull a few dogs out since I had the space and time to work with a few. I ran into a snag ... I actually had trouble identifying which ones they were! (Other than Hamilton Animal Control, the SPCA here in my area, and the canine control a few townships over) The organizations keep that info quiet.



After thinking about it for the last few weeks, I have decided to compile a list of High Kill Shelters. I will keep a running list accessible by any who are interested in knowing or helping these animals out.



So here's my request of you all ... If and when-ever you find a High Kill Shelter, please post it here on my blog. If you know of any now, please post the info here in the comments section!


Consider it a challenge. Find any High Kill Shelters in your area (or any area) and let me know where they are!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Guess the Breed #8


Today's Guess the Breed was again brought to us thanks to Calsidyrose, author of We Don't Rent Puppies.
This little girl is around 9 months old. She is a shelter dog - can you guess her breed??
As always, here are the rules ...
1. No bashing other peoples' opinions. (Friendly banter only.)
2. Post your opinion!
3. Have fun!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Featured Rescue - Sherman the Bassett Hound

I ran across this guy on Petfinder and again have to wonder why rescues use such dreadful names. Statistics show that cute names adopt out faster than names like "Sherman". I asked the same question about that Border Collie named "Eubie".





This guy is 10 years old. Being a senior, he is already going to have a tough time finding a new home, let alone the fact that his eyes don't produce tears properly so daily eye drops are a neccessity ... why would you compound the problem by giving him a name like "Sherman"??





http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14363257

Monday, September 21, 2009

Followup GTB

Thought I'd do my followup for the Guess the Breed that have been posted. I will do future followup on the posts themselves at the bottom, but for today I figured I'd put all the ones we've done so far in one post.


I was going to do this post yesterday but ended up spending a lot of time playing telephone tag ... someone left two 7 month old pups at a vet clinic. They were dropped off for their spay and never picked up. They have been there since last Monday. We'll see how it all pans out.


GTB #1 was a mix-breed dog. When we don't know for sure what breed he is, the first person who puts together a guess is the one I will post a link for. Sadermaxx from Sader's Pet Pix put forth the first guess.


GTB #2 was Dogue de Bordeaux. GoLightly had the first right answer. GoLightly is author of GoLightly - Fiction and GoLightly Fiction, BeginningToEnd


GTB #3 was a Long Haired German Shephard. Freshwater Fish had the first right answer.


GTB #4 was a Briard. Dog_Geek got it right off the bat.


GTB #5 was Boston - Beagle. GiantSpeckledChihuahua was the first accurate guess.


GTB #6 was a mix-breed. First guess was by 2halves from Just Another Dog Blog.


GTB #7 was Anatolian Shepherd. Debie got it first thing.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Guess the Breed #7


Today's Guess the Breed is a purebred dog. I have a few other pics that are mixed breeds. I thought I should give some a challenge that is a bit more black and white.
Is this one more difficult than the Briard? I hope so ...
As always, remember the golden rules to playing this game ...
1. No bashing other peoples' opinions. (Friendly banter only.)
2. Post your opinion!
3. Have fun!
Tomorrow I will post the results of those who have posted correct answers to previous GTB's. Share a little link-love.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Training Rant - Table Manners

Well we've had way too many raindrops and lollipops around here lately. This is because I’ve been stewing about some things but haven’t yet been able to put them out into well formed sentences – let alone well developed posts! I imagine you all don't want to see a post full of me sputtering unintelligibly. The amount of drafts labelled “Rant” in my blogger account is staggering. So, I figured I’d finish one off today … today’s special is Table Manners.


Why do some people find it so difficult to teach appropriate table manners to their dog?! This is NOT a difficult concept – I promise! Good grief. I get tired of people coming over and having their dogs drooling on my dinner plate.


With every foster dog I’ve had come through, it usually takes around five days to teach them appropriate table manners. FIVE DAYS! That includes the puppy mill dogs who have lived their whole lives in crates; it includes the neglected dogs who have lived outside tied up their whole lives; it includes the owner surrender who used to eat off the owners’ plates; it includes the aggressive dogs, the shy dogs and the abused dogs.


So why is it that I have such success with table manners but people who have had their dogs for months (or even years) are not able to teach this?? I’ve been trying to figure this out for a while and I can only assume it is one of two things:


1 – They don’t care how their dog acts while they are sitting at the table.
2 – They don’t know how to teach appropriate table manners.


So, what do I mean by “Appropriate Table Manners”?? Well it is really quite simple. Here's what I don't want ...


- No begging (staring at people and using “Jedi Mind Tricks” to get food)
- No drooling on people, the floor or the table (the last thing I want is to slip on a puddle on the floor and break my neck! Not to mention the fact that leaving said puddle on the table, people or floor is just gross)
- No nose/face/other body parts on the table (that is where my food is – not the dog. I don't even put my nose or face on the table, so why would I let the dog?)
- No walking around or under the table (makes me dizzy)
- No walking around people (this not only makes me dizzy but makes me feel creeped out)
- No pawing at people (what a great way to knock the food out of the person’s hand so it falls on the floor, eh?)
- No dogs on laps at table (this is just plain irritating let alone the fact that it's is Rude and allows the dog to drool on people and the table. It also opens it up so the dog thinks it is ok to check out the table's offerings.)
- No playing (we don’t need fur flying around food and if I have to monitor the play then I don’t have the opportunity to eat my dinner in peace)


So, that’s a good list of what I don’t want, but what do I want? What is appropriate? One of the most IMPORTANT things in training dogs is first identify what you don't want, then identify what you DO want. Focus on what you want and teach them how to do it.
Here is my idea of appropriate table manners …


The dog needs to go lay down somewhere in the room and ignore the people eating as well as any other dogs in the room at the time. (It doesn’t count if the dog is in a down and staring at someone who is eating – that is considered begging.)



I spend most of my time when I’m not in my day job volunteering for the humane society, walking/playing with our dogs, training the dogs in my care or teaching people how to train their dogs. You know what? My dinner time is my time. Just like my shower time. I will gladly open up my house to all manners of four leggers, but I expect the dogs to go lay down during these times.
Call me selfish. Call me what you want. But don’t expect me to share my meal with your dog.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Guess the Breed #6


Today's Guess the Breed has been brought to you by Calsidyrose, author of We Don't Rent Puppies . She generously offered some pictures of shelter dogs for us to guess at! Very nice of her, eh? If you have time, go check out her blog. It's always an interesting read.


This guy is estimated to be around one year old.
Please post your guesses in the comments section, but remember the rules!
1. No bashing other peoples' opinions. (Friendly banter only.)
2. Post your opinion!
3. Have fun!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Featured Rescue - Lucinda the Boxer

It's been a while since I posted a Boxer up on the Featured Rescue. There are over 6000 Boxers available for adoption on Petfinder! Yikes. I just love the energy these dogs have!






This is Lucinda. She is about a year old and is already looking for her next home.






http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14575026

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Featured Rescue Followups August

Well, we have good news for some of the dogs I've featured. While some have been adopted, many more are waiting for their forever home. I encourage everyone to spay and neuter their dogs that are not breeding material. There are too many unwanted dogs out there.
Rafe and Redman the Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Status: NOT Adopted
Featured on January 12, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
Rodesian Ridgebacks are difficult to place in homes. I hope they find that right someone soon ...
Bella the Catahoula Leopard Dog
Status: Listing Removed - Assumed adoptedFeatured on January 21, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
FiFi the Great Pyrenees
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on April 26, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
The picture they have used to post her is horrible. I don't think that picture is even the same dog as I had originally put up in April ...
Codi the Welsh Corgi
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 10, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
No new news on this guy's Petfinder Page.
Eubie the Border Collie
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 13, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry
I really wish they would change Eubie's name ...
Jack A Roo the Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on May 30, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Jack A Roo is going to need the perfect home to come along. He is deaf. Note that deaf dogs can make excellent members of the family, but it takes a special sort of person who is willing to do the training required.
Winston the Boston Terrier
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on June 17, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Sam the Chow
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on June 25, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Scooter the Dachshund
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on July 5, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Parker the German Shorthaired Pointer
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on July 18, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Fala the Vizsla
Status: Adopted
Featured on July 25, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Max the Alaskan Malamute
Status: Listing Removed - Assumed Adopted
Featured on August 8, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.


Neeko the American Eskimo Dog
Status: Not Adopted
Featured on August 14, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.


Joey the Australian Shepherd mix
Status: Adopted
Featured on August 22, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.


Lady the Greyhound
Status: Not Adopted.
Featured on August 28, 2009
Follow link here to see blog entry.
Sorry - I just realized I neglected to post the petfinder link to Lady! Here it is:
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14229253

Monday, September 14, 2009

Guess the Breed #5

How was your weekend? We had play dates all weekend so we were pretty doggie-centric! Went to the dog park on Friday, then we had people come over with different dogs both Saturday and Sunday. My guys were so tired last night, they kept falling asleep wherever they lay down. A tired dog is a good dog.


Today's Guess the Breed is brought to you by mytwh - this is one of her dogs, Ziggy. She said that many people try to guess his breed so give it a go!


Note that these are Ziggy's puppy pictures so he will look bigger and a bit different as an adult!
He's a real looker, eh?
Put forth your guesses, but remember the golden rules ...
1. No bashing other peoples' opinions. (Friendly banter only.)
2. Post your opinion!
3. Have fun!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Dear Dog, Best Regards

I found this online and after I had finished reading it I laughed! (I say after because in the first paragraph I was somewhat cranked!) I just had to share it with you. It has nothing to do with training, but it's Sunday and I have to get moving on some chores around here. You can do some wonderful things with Photoshop nowadays. Here goes ...


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


Dear Dog,


I am so sorry about you being sent to the dog pound for the broken lamp you did not break; the fish you did not spill; the carpet you did not wet; or the wall you did not dirty with paint.


Things here at the house are calmer now, and just to show you I have no hard feelings toward you I am sending you a picture so you will always remember me.


Best Regards,

The Cat.


Friday, September 11, 2009

Phoenix the Chow Update

So I'm a few days late on this ... but I figured I'd post it anyway. The Humane Society of Durham Region has posted an update about Phoenix the Chow. I have pasted their update below. Things are looking up for Phoenix. I'm happy for him. I wish him a comfortable life ... regardless of its length.

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


September 9, 2009


Today Phoenix was feeling well enough to go into his foster home.The foster parents met Ruby and Debby at the vet clinic at 10 am. They spoke at length with the clinic staff about his needs and were given instructions about hismedications and food. They were also told that as of this past weekend he was feeling good enough tostart humping people. We received our first update this afternoon and were informed that he had marked every blade of grass in the yard before proceding to have a nap on the bed with one of the foster parents. He is fitting in very well and they love him to pieces. His next veterinary checkup is next Thursday.


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

This is an interesting turn of events. You see, treatment for a dog with cancer can be quite costly but the foster home likely won't foot that bill. Note that they didn't "Adopt" him. I've been learning a lot about the careful wording used by some organizations. By giving the dog to a "Foster Home" that means that he is still property of the Humane Society and as such, remains the financial responsibility of the Humane Society.


So, while it is a very nice thing that these people have taken Phoenix and given him a place in their home, they likely won't pay for much. If they are lucky, they may even get the food they need to feed him donated. Treatment will certainly be paid for.


Do you know how costly it is to give a dog Chemotherapy? (If anyone knows the answer, please post! I honestly don't know other than that it will be expensive.) Also, is Chemo as uncomfortable for the recipient dog as it is when used in therapy for us?


Like I said, I wish him a comfortable and pain-free life. Regardless of its length. Be happy.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

CL Rant - Great Dog Part 2

After posting yesterday the rant about the "Great Dog" who needs to find a new home because of the new baby, I started thinking about an email that I received a while back. I know this isn't new and you all may have read it before, but I think of it each and every time I see an ad where someone needs to get rid of their dog or cat because of the arrival of a new baby.


I'm sorry if you've already read this article, but I thought I'd share it since it is one of my favourites.


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


Really need help. MUST GO!!!
Please help! After two long years of being on a waiting list for a dog, we have been notified by breed rescue that, at long last, our number has come up and ... WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY!


We must get rid of our children IMMEDIATELY because we just know how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be and it just wouldn't be fair to the children. Since our little puppy will be arriving on Monday we MUST place the children up for adoption this weekend!


They are described as:

One male -- his name is Tommy, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), light blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn't bite. Temperament tested. Does have problems with peeing directly in the toilet. Has had chicken Pox and is current on all shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything, is very clean, house trained and gets along well with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon.


One female -- her name is Lexie, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), strawberry blonde hair, green eyes quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Non-biter, thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots, tonsils out, and is very healthy and can be affectionate. Gets along well with other little girls and little boys but does not like to share her toys and therefore would do best in a one child household. She is a very quick learner and is currently working on her house training. Shouldn't take long at all.


We really do LOVE our children so much and want to do what's right for them. That is why we contacted a rescue group. But we simply can no longer keep them. Also, we are afraid that they may hurt our new puppy.


I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a real emergency here! They MUST be placed into your rescue by Sunday night at the latest or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. Our priority now has to be our new puppy.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Asshat Rant - Great Dog

I found this little gem while I was checking out the Craigslist posts this morning. I'm having some troubles with my CS4 and uploading to Blogger so I've had to copy and paste below the text from the ad. I have italicised the ad and make my comments in RED.


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


for adoption:Great Dog to a Great Home

Now accepting applications for a wonderful dog to a loving home. Our dog is a 4-year old Labrador/Australian Shepherd cross that we have raised from 8 weeks old.
You've had him for 4 years and now don't want him anymore - like an old shirt or dirty laundry that won't come clean. Nice. Great. His family, his home ... taken away because he doesn't fit anymore.

He is a great dog. He is a happy, active dog who loves to catch Frisbees, eat sticks, roll around in the snow/grass, chase squirrels and cats. He also loves to eat ice cubes. At least, he's happy until he realizes that you're getting rid of him. Just wait. Have you seen what happens after the first two weeks are over and the dog realizes that his family isn't coming to get him? That, while the vacation with some other family has been fun, he pines away for his home? It is heartbreaking. His heart will break and you will have been the one with the sledge hammer.





He, like most dogs, is scared of fireworks/thunderstorms and will want to sit on your lap if you're willing. While some dogs do have this issue, it is something that can and should be resolved - it can be dangerous. The dogs hear the fireworks/thunder and blindly run. They can run across a county or two before they stop. How many dogs show up in shelters and pounds after the 4th of July? Or Canada Day? I could tell you, but the sheer numbers may make you want to cry. Should I tell you that in many places, Canine Control will only keep your dog for 3 days before they euthanize it? Some don't even keep them 24 hours (trust me on this one ... ours has been known to shoot the dog on the side of the road).





He will sit, lie down, speak and eat only on command. (not that he won't gladly clean a kitchen floor if you didn't ask him!) Sounds like he knows some obedience. So he's trainable. What's the problem? Why haven't you bothered to resolve whatever issues he has?





He is super-affectionate with people. He doesn't lick or jump up on them. Crotches, on the other hand, are his doggy hand-shake. I'm sorry but it is just plain rude when a dog shoves their nose in a person's crotch. I am quite aware that it is the way a dog introduces him/her self and I know that it is a big part of dog-dog interaction ... HOWEVER I am not a dog. I do not want a dog to shove their nose certain places. It is uncomfortable and if the dog is a drooler it can be embarassing. Not to mention the bull-in-china-shop dogs that will shove their nose in so quickly and hard that it actually hurts! Believe it or not, dogs can be taught not to do this. I have a newsflash for you ... dogs can greet people WITHOUT shoving their nose in remote places! I know ... that's crazy-talk. Loony-bin material, right there.





He is a large apartment dog, about 80 pounds, and is incredibly intelligent so he would benefit from an environment where he would have freedom but structure as well. In other words, she doesn't want him to go somewhere that he may be crated. Great. There's no way I would open my door to let an 80 lbs dog wander around my home until he's properly trained. By your next sentence, I know he's not trained well enough to be alone in my home uncrated for a full work day so why would you bother making such a statement?





He is not perfect. He barks at the door, doesn't like puppies, and will be aggressive with dogs he might find aggressive or a threat. Again, all fixable issues. If you were willing to put the time into him, that is. If he goes to the wrong home and doesn't get the training to resolve these issues, he may be euthanized.





He needs A LOT of exercise. He needs to go to a home that has the time to run him. We bring him to run after his Frisbee for exercise and he is usually tired out fairly quickly. Sounds like a normal dog - needs exercise every day. Surprise! What did you expect? The equivalent to a stuffed dog? Just go get a Gund. If he tires quickly from Frisbee, then he doesn't sound overly active. Simply a bit of pent up energy.





We recently had a baby and do not have the time to devote to him. He also is not comfortable with toddlers. Ah - so the truth comes out. We had a baby and did not do the training we should have before the baby came home. Now that we have the baby, we are too busy to do that training. Too bad. So sad. Don't worry about the dog ... after all, it's only a dog.





He prefers not to be climbed on. Then why are you letting your toddlers climb on him? Perhaps you need to spend some time training your children as well.





We are terribly heartbroken and upset about losing him but are obviously left with no other option than to find a new life for him. There are other options, but you don't want to hear them. You are lazy and don't want to train your dog or your children. You need to understand that you are giving up on a member of your family. He needs you. Depends on you. Relies on you.





Please email if you are interested. Thanks You may be willing to live with his little foibles and issues, but perhaps the next person is not. What happens when your dog is aggressive with Great Aunt Cindy's dog who comes over every year for Thanksgiving dinner? It looked funny at him and he misread that as "aggression" so he grabbed the dog and shook it, there was a dog fight and GA Cindy's dog had to go to the emerg clinic. Your dog is euthanized. What happens when he bites the new owner's Nephews when they come barging in the door at Halloween wearing their costumes? Your dog is euthanized. You know he has these issues, but you are willing to give him away to some stranger on CL.





Asshat. You get the asshat award today. Why? Because you are condemning your dog. Because you don't want to spend the time training your dog. (I will upload the award pic later - things aren't working on this end very well).





He didn't choose you, you chose him. Why does he have to suffer for that?

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Guess the Breed #4

Ok, I hope this one's not too easy for all of you! I've been looking around for the right dog to use for this GTB and I think I found one.


I have heard of this breed a few times, but there aren't any around town here that I know of. I did get to meet a few earlier in the summer ... but I won't tell you where until after you've done your guesses because it might give the answer away!


So, Guess the Breed. What kind of dog do you think this is?

As always, remember the Golden Rules ...


1. No bashing other peoples' opinions. (Friendly banter only.)
2. Post your opinion!
3. Have fun!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Tips - Vacationing with Your Dog

I hope you all have been having a great time this weekend. It's a long weekend and like many other people, we are away for a few days. I am seeing a lot of dogs in the hotel this weekend.


I wanted to post some quick, point form tips for you and your dogs to remember when vacationing with your dogs.


- Don't keep your dog on an extenda-leash when in the lobby ... it is a real pain in theass to be trying to carry bags and figure out where rooms are with a little dog running out in front and tripping people


- Don't let your dog go up to everyone and say hello. There are people who don't like dogs and who are afraid of them - RESPECT their thoughts, fears and opinions. It's not like I'm putting a spider on your clothing against your protestations and telling you not to swat at it because she's "friendly"


- You are in an unfamiliar place and your dog may not feel totally comfortable asking to go for potty breaks. Make sure you take him or her out regularly to set them up for success and not for housetraining accidents!


- Ensure you have up to date information with your current phone number ON THE DOG. If your dog gets scared by a bus's airbrakes or something going off that it's not used to and takes off, you need to ensure he or she will find their way back to you.


- MICROCHIP


- Barking dogs in hotels are just rude. If your dog is a barker when in an unfamiliar place, leave him at home until you've cleared that training hurdle.


- Remember, you are required to take the dog with you whenever you leave the room. That means you need to preplan everything you do to accomodate.


- HAVE FUN. You can get some good quality time in with your dog that will help you to strengthen the bond between you so go out, take your dog with you and have a great time!


Vacationing with your dog can be a fun and rewarding experience, but don't make it a negative thing for everyone around you. They are guests of the hotel too and have the right to enjoy their vacation just as much as you do.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Post Exchange - Dogs Hate Michael Vick

Ok, I had to share this site. I originally found it when I was checking my drops inbox on Entrecard. If nothing else, Entrecard has let me to a few different neat blogs that I wouldn't have found otherwise! I just wish there was enough time in the day to read them all AND get my work done!


It's not really something I would normally pass on through this blog, but it made me laugh so much looking at some of the pictures that I thought you would all enjoy it too.


http://dogshatemichaelvick.com/


Hope your long weekend has started off great!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Featured Rescue - Zeta the Belgian Malinois

There are 208 Belgian Malinois available today on Petfinder. This is a really neat, multipurpose breed. A friend of mine had a Malinois as one of their many junkyard dogs when we were growing up (they owned a scrapyard and always had five or six dogs). Of all their dogs, the Malinois was always the most interesting one to watch. She thought things through ... you could see her watching and thinking about whatever was going on, then you could see the exact instant where she figured it out. So neat to watch but she really would have done well doing something more than simply guarding ...


AKC standards page says "One of the four types of Belgian sheepherding dogs, the Belgian Malinois is an alert, high-energy breed, popular as both a police and military working dog. Although sometimes mistaken for the German Shepherd Dog, the Malinois is more elegant in build and lighter-boned, but does not lack for strength, agility or herding ability. Active participants in conformation, obedience, schutzhund, herding, sledding, and tracking, the breed ranges in color from rich fawn to mahogany, with black tips on the hairs and a black mask and ears."

This is Zeta. She is 8 months old and already trying to herd the cats in her foster home. She is house- and crate-trained. Zeta is currently in Ohio looking for her forever home.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

When You Get a Dog ...

Perusing through CL always gives me ideas (some aren't very nice) and makes me want to bang my head on the closest hard surface in frustration. I see dog owners getting rid of their dogs after they tire of them (or are unable to train them) all the time. Unlike most people out there, I foster some of them and you know what?


I watch those dogs go through the saddest time of their life and the deepest depression you could ever imagine when they come to the realization that their loved ones ... their family ... are not coming to rescue them or take them home.



Here are a few things to remember the next time you decide to get a dog ...


Dogs bark. They bark more when they're bored or scared or lonesome. Sometimes they bark aggressively at people, animals or objects. You need to accept that this is part of having a dog and it is your job as the owner to teach them when it is and is not appropriate to bark.


Dogs pee and poop. Get used to it because they aren't going to stop doing this unless you stop feeding them (please don't stop to try this out if you already have a dog). The bright side? You can teach them the advantages to doing their "business" outside where and when you would like, but it takes a bit of effort on your part.





Dogs need exercise. This includes (but is not limited to) a walk off the property for an hour and a half a day... regardless of weather ... this is minimum. Have I recently told you that "A Tired Dog Is A Good Dog"? This is my mantra ... I live by it.





Dogs need training. This includes obedience classes and a bit of effort on your part. You will find that if you follow through with the training, you will be pleased with its results. Obedience classes will help teach you the basics. Even people who have had dogs "all their life" should consider taking their dog to a class - it's a good experience for your dog and good brush up for you if nothing else. The classes aren't for you - they are for your dog. You may "know it all" but your dog doesn't.





Dogs need socialization and training in different locations so they are used to people, kids, and other things like dogs, bikes, shopping carts etc. Again, this is a basic requirement to having a dog. It's not that hard! Take them for a walk through a park, a parking lot and a shopping centre - hey, it could be part of your 1.5 hour walk in the evening with your dog!



Dogs have medical emergencies. Normally this occurs when your vet is closed (though the emergency clinic up the road is quite happy to take your money). You should ALWAYS have a bit of money stashed away for emergencies.


Dogs are not solitary animals. (Frogs are.) If you want an animal you don't have to spend time with, don't get a dog. Plain and simple. Social interaction is one of the basic needs of a dog and must be fulfilled for the dog to be healthy and happy. If you don't, you WILL have behavioural problems.


When you buy a puppy from Petland, you are not "rescuing" it. You are lining the pockets of the Puppy Mills and encouraging them to continue. Congratulations, you have just supported Puppy Mills.


Don't buy from a Back Yard Breeder. It is a great way to get a dog that is not healthy (disease, genetics, temperament or all of these) and keeps people breeding dogs for money in business. So if you're looking for a sickly dog with weird temperament issues and a gimp, then you would have gone to the right place.


Dogs are not supposed to be aggressive/protective with their food, toys or any other thing. This is not something that you should encourage. Someone will get hurt. It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow, but it will happen.



People who ignore these basic facts are dooming their dog to the eventuality of abandonment. Don't let it happen to your dog.
If you have family or friends that are interested in getting a dog, it is your responsibility to ensure they understand what they are getting into.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Milestone ... 300 posts

This is my 300th post!





Yikes. How crazy is that, eh? Who knew that I had so much to say? Ok, maybe my husband ... and maybe my coworkers ... and maybe the rest of my family ... and maybe everyone else around me ...





Ok. Ok. I get it. I talk a lot. I have a lot to say. Sorry. Sometimes I get so busy ranting that I go off on a tangent ... it's just because I have so much to say that it all comes out and doesn't always make sense. Throughout the posts in this blog I have tried my best to stay on topic ... sometimes that works ... and other times it doesn't.





To mark this very special occasion, I will break the rules and not say anything ranty and I will post something totally opposite ... My poopsie-poo is the very-bestest-doggie in the entire barky-world ... pah. Who am I kidding? I am no more able to post something gushy than I am able to put my dog in a stroller and walk it around town ... it's too far out of character for me.





Here's hoping that my next 300 posts will be as informative and entertaining as the first.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Monthly Followup August

Monthly Followup



Is it September already? Good grief! Where did the summer go? Did it miss us? Anyway, I'll try to recap and followup this month as best I can ...



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Dog Owner Fined



Per the News Reel - Ontario Dog Owner Fined, an Ontario woman has been fined $14,000 after being found guilty of libelling a commercial dog breeder online.


What does this mean for you and me? You are responsible not only for what you say but also for what you type and post. Think before you act.



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Phoenix Updates



Do you remember the Neglected dog in 'horrific condition'? This was the Chow Chow that was found with bald patches, open and bleeding sores, and ridiculously long nails. Below to the left is a new picture of him - you will notice that he is looking a lot better and is on his way to recovery.


I pondered in my post about him what would happen to him. Would he recover physically? If he did, would he pass the SAFER test? Perhaps I should have wondered if he had life threatening pre-existing medical conditions ...


Here's an excerpt from the Humane Society of Durham Region's web page:

Phoenix has started to show some signs of feeling a bit better. He is eating well and going outside for regular bowel movements. He even barked for the first time today. We finally got confirmation of his specialist appointment today and he will be going next Monday to have the cancer on his tongue checked out. Unfortunately that was the earliest appointment we could get. We will know more about what if anything can be done to treat the cancer after that appointment. In the meantime we are continuing to treat the other issues he has by building up his immune system and trying to clear up his infections. We have received test results confirming the presence of cancer cells on Phoenix's tongue. We are planning to transfer him to a specialist to determine the next course of treatment or other options that are in his best interest. His skin condition has been diagnosed and it has been determined that it should respond well to medical treatment



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Top Commenters
Since I will be posting Top Droppers from Entrecard, I will only be posting the top 3 commenters. This month's top 3 commenters are:
mytwh
GoLightly author of GoLightly - Fiction and GoLightly Fiction, BeginningToEnd
giantspeckledchihuahua author of ummm...
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Entrecard



Well, I'm new at this whole Entrecard thing. I put the widgit on this blog in the middle of August to test it out and see if it was worth it.



I have noticed a lot of people post their top droppers for the past month as a sort of thank you for stopping by. I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon for this one ... so here are my top droppers for August:


BeadedTail
Sader's Pet Pix
Travelin' With Marie
A lil Enchanted
Life With Roxxymetal
Ask Ms Recipe
A Kitty Named Reese
Revelations Zero
Stunned By Stone
Woodworker blog