From MSNBC blogger Helen A. S. Popkin: More on the Obama’s dog choice
All posts by The Dog Lady
Shiba Inu Puppy Watch
Have you seen this yet? Apparently, it is being streamed into thousands of homes daily. What a great marketing tool for all of you breeders out there. This puppy cam simply shows a litter of Shiba Inus as they go about their day. Too cute!
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/shiba-inu-puppy-cam
Enjoy!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Traveling overseas with your dog
Planning a vacation overseas? Should you take your dog with you? The best way to decide is to check with the embassies of the countries to which you will be going. Each country has its own restrictions and requirements regarding pets being brought inside their borders.
Saturday Survey: Your Dog’s Favorite Toy
Hard to believe it’s already Saturday again! This week’s topic: what does your dog like best to play with?
Canine Cancer
Did you know that cancer kills one in every four dogs over the age of 2? If you’ve never had to live through watching your beloved animal being eaten up from the inside, let me assure you, you don’t want to. We finally had to put our fox hound (pictured above) down several years ago after the chemo failed.
Anyways, Fox 42 in Omaha recently aired a segment about this very topic. Click here, then do a site search (at the top right) for canine cancer. The video clip should be the first thing on the list that returns. The second thing is a link to the Morris Animal Foundation, which is trying to raise $30 million to find a cure for cancer.
Sorry to end the week on a down note.
Good day, and good dog.
Never, never, never give your dog an electric blanket!
BAKERSFIELD, CA — “Bubba” the chihuahua is lucky to be alive after chewing through the power cord on his electric blanket. Bubba’s owners Della and Nick Hendricks sprang into action when Bubba chewed through the cord and received the shock of his life Wednesday morning. The shock left Bubba unconscious and not breathing. Nick and Della quickly gave Bubba chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth and were able to revive him. They then rushed him to a nearby animal hospital. Bubba suffered minor burns, but is expected to make a full recovery.
(From WKYC.com – video here.)
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
The Obama’s Dog
OK, the economy is tanking and we have two wars going on, but it seems everyone is more interested in which dog the Obamas will take to the White House. The news today includes an article from allergists, asserting that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. And, different breeders are offering potential dogs to the First Family-elect.
Doggie Doctors
Have you ever noticed how your dog seems to be able to sense when you are down or not feeling well? They usually want to cuddle with you and take care of you. There was a story that circulated on the Internet recently about a woman who had cancer. When she lay down to take a nap, she awoke to find herself covered in dog toys, the precious treasures her dog had brought from his toybox in the basement. How do they do it? Recent research is pointing to their awesome sense of smell.
Veteran’s Day for our canine soldiers
Top Ten Tuesday is pre-empted this week so we can bring you this special Veteran’s Day post.
We all know that many dogs serve with our military forces, sniffing out bombs and walking guard posts, among other important tasks. But what happens when a dog is forced into retirement? Statistics from 2006 show that 281 retired war dogs were adopted, 74 were waiting to be adopted, and 116 were euthanized.
Has Your Dog Ever Cheated On You?
You love your dog. Your dog loves you…until someone better comes along. Has your dog ever, well, dogged you? Mine sure has! Kayla absolutely LOVES my friend Wendy. Probably because Wendy lets her kiss her right on the mouth, which I don’t, but it’s amazing to see the effect this woman has on Kayla! I’ve even seen Kayla walk away from her food dish when she sees Wendy’s truck pull up outside.
Any other time, I am Kayla’s favorite. She spends most of her time on my lap, or at least right next to me. But when Wendy shows up, she acts as if she’s never seen me before.
Animal behaviorists say it’s really not all that uncommon, nor is it hard to figure out. This is kind of the dog’s version of “the grass is always greener”. Some dogs are looking for a home with only 1 pet, rather than their current home which may have many pets and children competing for your attention. Others prefer the neighbor’s treats, food selection, or even toys.
So what can you do? In my case, I just content myself with the cat that can’t do without me, and wait until Wendy leaves so Kayla will be mine again. But, if you are really worried about it, try taking the time to bond more closely with your dog.
Veterinarian and applied animal behaviorist Sophia Yin from San Francisco Veterinary Specialists recommends the following exercise: Put the leash on your dog and show him that he can get anything he wants, but only if he sits and focuses on you. When he does so, pet him and praise him for abour five seconds, then stop. Next time he sits and focuses on you, throw a frisbee or a tennis ball for him a few times. Teach him how much fun you are to be around.
Once he figures out the game, invite your rival over. When the dog sits and focuses on you, he gets your attention. When he doesn’t, he is still on the leash, so you can keep him from going to see the other person. When he becomes consistent in coming to you to fulfill his needs, then you can allow him to see his other person again.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!