Dog Rules To Live By

Guest article from The Dog.

Dear People:  Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good Dog.

1. I will not eat the cats’ food before they eat it or after they throw it up.

2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just  because I like the way they smell.

3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.

4. The sofa is not a ‘face towel’.

5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad’s underwear when he’s on the toilet.

7.  Sticking my nose into someone’s crotch is an unacceptable way of saying ‘hello’.

8. I don’t need to suddenly stand straight up when I’m under the coffee table.

9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house – not after.

10. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.

11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.

12. The cat is not a ’squeaky toy’, so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it’s usually not a good thing.

“What a dog I got, his favorite bone is in my arm.”~ Rodney Dangerfield

Yet Another Dog Park No No

Why do people assume that all dogs will get on together? After all, you don’t like everyone you meet, do you? Here’s another example of foolish pet-parent behavior at the dog park.

There were just a handful of us at the park with our pooches when along came two women with three large dogs. They opened the gate, released the hounds and sauntered back to their car to get water, etc. As it happens, the dogs were well-mannered and well-adjusted but none of us knew that and the two women didn’t know our dogs. I’ve seen too many incidents where dogs I’ve known as docile and friendly can suddenly become aggressive if they feel threatened.

In this instance the smart thing would have been for one of the women to stay with the dogs and the other to fetch their “stuff”. If you’re on your own and juggling dogs with all their accoutrements, then bring the things in to the park first. Just leave them inside the gate and you’ll be able to give all your attention to your pups. But NEVER leave them alone, not even for a few moments.

Here are some other things to watch out for at the dog park.

“Dogs are great. Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all.” ~ John Grogan (Marley & Me: Love and Life with the World’s Worst Dog)

A Mutt Of A Different Breed

By most standards, Muttley was born on the wrong side of the tracks but to me he was a champion. Though he never had a good hair day in his life, no pedigreed blue-blood could have had a bigger heart, nobler bearing or sweeter temperament.

For years dogs of uncertain ancestry have been given short shrift at rescue shelters. Purebreds (about 25 – 30% of the intake numbers), by dint of their association with quality, tend to be snapped up before the humbler mongrels even get a look.

But at long last, the lowly mixed-breed is gaining status; in some measure thanks to the American Mutt-i-grees Club, which promotes the adoption of mutts from rescue groups and shelters rather than feeding into the trade of puppy mills by buying your pet from a store.

Muttley came into my life at a very tough time. Lou, who had been my love, my partner and my friend, was dying of cancer. Out of the blue one day he announced that he wanted a dog. There was no way he would be able to help in the care of a pup so I knew it would fall on me and, already, caring for Lou was a full-time day and night job with medications every four hours, a special diet, endless doctors’ appointments, being companion, advisor and restorer of faith. But how could I possibly say, “No!”. So off we went to the local pound.

Walking into the shelter there was a large window with the featured pet. “Lucky” was the doggy in the window that day. Lou took one look and said, “I want that one”. My heart fell. Poor Lucky looked like a big pink rat. He was  hairless even before the Chinese Crested breed made it trendy. With protruding bones and ugly sores over his body he had the skinniest chicken legs you’ve ever seen. Those legs had ugly rope burns on them where he’d been trussed up like the Sunday roast. Lucky’s life had obviously not been a reflection of his name and I didn’t know if I had the extra energy or the soul that it would take to look after him while also caring for Lou.

Of course, when we left the pound we left with Lucky and for me that turned out to be one of the luckiest days of my life. By the time we reached home my heart was breaking for this pitiful little creature who sat on my lap looking at me with such a mixture of trepidation and hope.

Lou renamed our little pooch Muttley. We figured he was a maltese poodle mix with maybe a dash of something else. Whatever his “muttigree”, his personality was blue-blood all the way.

Lou died a few months after Muttley came home. Those months were a roller-coaster of anguish, anxiety and a fair amount of happiness and nonsense. But all that I’m going to tell you about another time and then you’ll understand why Muttley is the inspiration for this blog.

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” ~ James Herriott

Dogged By The Flu

In a recent posting I mentioned the “Old Maid” at the dog park and the possibility of dogs transmitting disease to each other. If you read the article it should come as no surprise that the old maid has been in a tizzy about the doggy flu (canine influenza – H3N8). As soon as he heard of it he whisked his pups off to the vet for vaccinations and, since then, has opined endlessly about the “dire epidemic” facing the canine population.

Apparently, the ASPCA is thinking along the same lines as they have announced today that they will be conducting a three-year study on canine influenza. Frankly, I think there’s probably a lot of hype to this (as with the swine flu) but I decided to do my own research. Here’s what I found….

From the CDC:  Key Facts About Canine Influenza

Things to know about the H3N8 dog flu

What you need to know

So, to sum up….  As I thought, the Old Maid was over-reacting as usual. A healthy dog is unlikely to catch the H3N8 virus and, if she does, will recover with normal care. Dogs most at risk for the flu (puppies and older or ill pets) are also most at risk of adverse reactions to the vaccine, so consider alternatives such as simple avoidance of other dogs and use a quality diet with immune-boosting supplements. If you still think perhaps you should vaccinate, then discuss your pet’s health with her doctor before making a decision.

“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.” ~ Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Talk About A Cinderella Story!

I’m on the road this week, so will be very brief. If you haven’t seen this video yet it could be a rags to riches story for a dog a cat and a rat. Oh, and their human. Enjoy!

How Do You Choose Which Dog to Adopt?

The number of dogs that are destroyed in shelters every single day is heartbreaking. In most cases, these dogs have done nothing to deserve the hand they’ve been dealt in life. They come from broken homes where they were abused and neglected, or from no home at all. These are unwanted animals, with a hard past and a sad life. You can make a difference in the life of one of these poor creatures. Instead of buying a puppy from a breeder, adopt a dog instead.

There is certainly no shortage of dogs available for adoption. You can find dogs of any breed and any age. It’s important, however, that you not choose your new dog based on appearance alone. St. Bernards are beautiful, but if you live in a small apartment, they’re not a practical choice. While poodles are adorable, they’re not the best fit for a busy person who doesn’t have time to groom them regularly. You must be absolutely certain that the dog that you plan on adopting will be compatible with your lifestyle, and that you are willing and able to take proper care of them. Older dogs in shelters or adoption centers often get passed over in favor of a puppy or younger dog. I urge you to consider the older dogs as well.

Age, appearance, and breed should not be primary factors when choosing your new canine companion. Instead, spend some time with the dogs. Ask the shelter employees about their personalities. Every dog is different, with a unique and distinct personality. If you lead a fairly sedentary and laid back lifestyle, a hyper dog wouldn’t be a good fit for you. Similarly, if you’re looking for a dog that you can jog with at the park, a lazy dog or a dog in bad health may disappoint you.

If you have other pets, or young children, make sure that your new dog would get along well with every member of its new family. If you’re adopting your dog from a shelter, this information is usually displayed on a tag hanging on the kennel. Most pet adoption websites will display compatibility information as well. If you don’t see these things mentioned, ask. Some dogs can’t tolerate cats, other dogs, or the unpredictable antics of young children.

Health problems are very common among dogs in shelters. Abused animals may have bones that have not healed correctly or other untreated medical issues that are not immediately apparent. Dogs coming from bad living conditions often have fleas or worms. Have a veterinarian look over your dog and discuss any health issues that are found and the cost and effectiveness of treatments.

Countless numbers of dogs are adopted, only to be returned to the shelter because they are not compatible with their new family. This is very harmful to the dog’s emotional health, and can discourage a person from adopting again. Be careful in your selection. First impressions are important, but don’t allow them to blind you to possible problems. Be responsible, and only adopt a dog if you know without a doubt that you can give it a good and loving home.