My Friendly Pets

It is interesting to think of some pictures of our dogs that we keep in our heads always…even after they are gone. Some of the most intriguing images I have of one of my dogs, takes place on a cool spring or fall day. I live in a suburban area, but my particular location is rural and we are in a valley surrounded by apple orchards. I can see my dog laying on our deck, with his nose up in the air and his nostrils flaring in and out. His eyes are slightly squinting from the sun. It isn’t a hot day, because he isn’t panting. But he is enjoying the day and thoroughly enjoying the scents that he is encountering. I wonder, “What does he smell? Why can’t I smell it too?”

Dogs are special. And their special sense of smell is no accident. Dogs have about 25 more smell receptors than humans. These receptors exist in smelling cells that live deep within the pooches’ snout. Believe it or not, dogs can detect odors in concentrations 100 million times lower than that of humans. One fact that I found said that a dog can detect a drop of blood in 5 quarts of water!!! Amazing!!!! So when your dog is sniffing and those nostrils are moving all over the place, it is because those sniffs detect whiffs and those whiffs can tell him who, what and where things are around him and not so close as well.

We have put this magnificent scent of smell to good use. Dogs detect all types of things for us, using this superior sense. They can locate smuggled drugs, lost or missing persons, dead bodies and some dogs are being trained and used to detect pirated dvds.

So never take your dog’s sense of smell for granted. Watch him/her as they take in all of the odors around them. You’ll see that they enjoy each and every one!!!! I wish we could too.

See more about dogs and their detection abilities at:
http://www.myfriendlypets.com/sniff-sniff-sniffpirated-dvds-i-will-find/

What you call your dog today tends to mean a great deal more than ever before. Dogs names have become a popular conversation piece. It becomes a major family decision today when a dog is brought into the home and a name needs to be given to that new family member.

When deciding upon names for our children it is very common for people to come up with names that “mean” something or a name that we believe our children will grow into. A name like Leo, connotates a lion and we associate that with strength. The same type of thought is now being put into the name of our pooch. In the past, for the most part, names of dogs represented a physical characteristic of the dog, such as Spot or Hairy (lol!) Now names are given to dogs that either are closely related to human names, indicating the bond we now express to our canine family member or a name that represents something that we hope our dog aspires to.

According to the ASPCA’s list of top dog names, are Max and Sam or close sounding names to thoses like Maxie, Maxwell or Maxine and Sammie or Samantha. Max means “the greatest” in Latin and Sam derives from “the listener” These are both wonderful traits that we want in our dog. Many names are chosen by people who relate their dogs to other more famous canines, like Lassie or Benji. In fact famous characters who are not dogs, supply people with a large choice of names, such as Rocky or Elvis. In fact, a coworker who only has cats (poor guy) names them after characters from a popular television show and related series. (Cordelia and Wesley). I’m not going to tell you which show; you can guess or try to figure that out.

The names we have had for our dogs came about by strangely. I had never had a dog growing up and my Mom had always said, “When you have your own home, you can have whatever pets you want.” I thought long and hard about pet names and I loved the name Ziggy, not for the cartoon character, I just thought it was a cool name. So the day after my return from our honeymoon, I went to a shelter and adopted a german shepard mix puppy and dubbed him ZIggy. He grew into his name quite well and whenever I hear the name, I think fondly of the dog who became the first official member of our new family. Our next dog was named by my husband. He was a pitbull and my husband named him Geo. That’s not short for George, its just Geo. (like the car). Again, the name fit him well and we will always keep that name in a special place for he was a very special dog.

So think carefully what you name your dog. He/She will respond to that name and like anything else will come to represent what you call him/her. Make sure the name comes with love, praise and appreciation for the family member that you have so generously welcomed into your home.

We thought when Michael Vick pleaded guilty to federal dog-fighting charges that would be the end of it, but it hasn’t been. For some reason, the media and the public are intrigued by this case. There are some who say there is too much of a media frenzy surrounding Michael Vick and we should all leave him alone. But then there are others, who feel that Michael Vick, a famous promising athlete with a $130,000,000 NFL football contract should be held to a standard where his character and his crime should not go away quietly. The cruelty and disregard for life (many dogs’ lives) should not be forgotten and he should not be allowed to shrink into the darkness simply because of his guilty plea and potential prison time.

It is amazing to see the people who come to his side and the comments that they make. Probably, one of the most disturbing comments were recently made by Whoppi Goldberg on The View, discussing how dog fighting is a common practice in the south and he shouldn’t be chastized and held in the public eye to such a degree when this “sport” goes on in the south all of the time. Are you kidding me? Jennifer Springer, a blog writer also, wrote on her blog about Whoppi and her comments. These can be seen on www.about-sacramentoca.com. Jennifer and I have similar views and cannot ignore the barbaric nature of the crimes committed against these dogs.

In Atlanta, ESPN recently held a “town meeting” about Michael Vick and his supporters came in droves, but not in the numbers expected, not even enough to fill the parts of the Georgia World Conference Center that weren’t closed off. John Goodwin of the Humane Society of the United States was heckled for his defense of the dogs killed from this sport. Can you imagine people heckling a man speaking for the animals that can’t speak for themselves? That is indicative of the pro-Vick supporters. These are people who worship the image of a man who they think “made it” because he can throw a leather bound ball and run far and fast. In reality, that’s what football is. Does his skill in any way let us know of his true character and the values he places on life? Of course not, but those who look up to such a man, live in the same shallow existence. If you can defend someone who values the lives of other creatures so little and advocate for that same person who engages in a sport that mames and kills then maybe you get what you deserve from your hero worship. Nothing!!!

More astounding was the final comment that this was a racial issue. It was stated that if Michael Vick was a white man who engaged in this behavior, it woudn’t have been such a big deal and that person wouldn’t be facing the same charges and or prison term. Again, are you kidding me? It is an insult to the people who fight for animal rights to be accused of racism. Race is not and has never been the issue. Michael Vick’s character and illegal behavior is the issue in question, not the color of his skin.

I truly hope this issue doesn’t go away. I hope it stays far enough in the public eye, so that something is done to rid the country of this hideous display of inhumane behavior. Enough said about Michael Vick for the evening…but it won’t be the last word.

There is nothing more loving than getting close and comfortable with your pup, until he/she opens their mouth and you get a whiff of……whoa…what is that smell? Could our pooch, whom we so dearly love, truly be the carrier of that awful odor? You know you want a hug or cuddle from your dog, but the thought of getting close to that stench again is just too much to handle.

Your dog has halitosis, commonly known as dog breath. This is a fairly common condition among dogs and one that should not be ignored as the cause of the smell from your pup could be something as common as plaque buildup on your dogs teeth to a condition with more serious health implications, such as diabetes or uremia. What ever the cause, it is important to find out the source of the problem and treat it promptly.

If plaque is building on your dog’s teeth, it could eventually develop into gingivitis and then periodontitis. The bacterial build up could lead to bone loss which produces a sulfury smell in your dog’s mouth. If you dog begins experiencing oral pain, which you can tell by their reluctance to eat or chew, you may have noticed the mouth odor in your dog for a while.

It is very important to find the source of the halitosis as soon as possible. It is unhealthy for your dog to let this condition continue. There are many products on the market to help keep your dog’s teeth clean and prevent the buildup of bacteria. I would recommend a trip to the vet if you notice “doggie breath” Its important to insure that there are not more critical health issues that need treatment. If the cause of the halitosis is directly related to the condition of the mouth of your dog, your vet will be able to recommend the best products to keep your dog’s mouth clean and smelling fresh. It may be necessary to brush your dogs teeth, which in most dogs should be done about twice a week. Doggie tooth brushes and some other items including chew toys can help alleviate the build up of plaque. Your dog will enjoy them and they will help to insure continued good oral health of your best buddy!!! Are you ready for that hug or doggie kiss now???!!!

More and more families today are choosing to include their dogs in their vacation and travel plans. There are many reasons for including your pet when you leave home. Bringing your dog with you will solidify the dog’s role in the family in all types of situations. Exposing your dog to various travel situations will help to socialize the dog and allow him/her to accompany you almost anywhere he/she is allowed. More and more hotels/motels are now considered pet friendly and will accomodate your pooch for a nominal fee. As with any member of the family, leaving your dog at home can cause a void in the total enjoyment of the trip, especially if you are concerned about the care your dog is receiving in your absence.

If for some reason you can’t bring your dog with you when you go away or choose not to because of the travel plans, a local kennel or doggie motel is probably available in your area. However, thanks to a new website called www.care.com, you can hire a pet sitter to walk your dog, groom him/her or hire an in-home caretaker of your pooch while your away. This is a great option for dogs who have difficulty adjusting to the kennel environment and truly enjoy being in their own comfortable surroundings.

For a $15.00 registration fee and a monthly subscription fee, you can access all of the benefits. The payment of actual fees for the services you require are set up between you and the service provider on an individual basis. If you are concerned about the quality of the person you are hiring, Care.com has background checks, references and contact information necessary for individual interviews on all of their providers.

The website is very inclusive and does not only serve clients in the US, but all over the world. Its definitely an option to consider when you can’t always have your dog by your side.

I don’t know how many of you are politically active or even if that kind of thing appeals to you, but I recently became aware of an organization called Pet Defenders. This is an organization that was started in 2004 and its purpose is to be committed to candidates who support pet-friendly legislation at all levels of government. Since our dogs and pets can’t speak for themselves, Pet Defenders sees its organization as their voice.

Marty Stone, the founder of Pet Defenders says that there are wonderful organizations that help injured, abused and homeless pets. However, there wasn’t an organization that spoke politically for the pets and their families. When there are political issues that involve dogs, it appears Marty and his organization are right there. The organization became very verbal regarding the pet food recall and in April of this year called on Congress to take a stand on pet food food manufacturing processes in China. The Chinese government refuses to allow the Food and Drug Administration to inspect their manufacturing plants.

Pet Defenders is strongly supporting the Human and Pet Food Safety Act which would give the FDA mandatory recall authority and allow for overseas food inspections. The passage of this bill has not occurred yet, but if Marty Stone’s determination and belief in the rights of our animals is any indication of his political strength, he is a force to be reckoned with.

Two of the public officials applauded by Stone for their efforts to investigate the pet food recall recent deaths of many pets due to tainted food are Congresswoman DeLauro and Senator Durbin. These two political officials are trying, but they need more support. It appears that the Pet Defenders is just the organization our dogs (and cats) need on all levels of government. Their voices as well as the voices of their owners need to be heard. I think that with people like Marty Stone, they will be heard - loud and clear.

Some of the most common issues with dogs are seldom discussed, because we think that it might just be “our dog” that smells bad, and we don’t want to bring that kind of attention to our beloved pooch. But like most anything else, one of the most “smelly” problems with our dogs is common to most.

O.K., I’ll ask; why on earth do they have to roll in anything that stinks sooooo much? I’m sure many of you who have dogs have watched with horror as your dog laid down and rolled in dead animal remains, other animal excrement, or just plain old garbage. To us it is DISGUSTING, because we have to smell it and clean it off our dog if we are going to have them come in the house again, but to our dogs, there might be a different reason for this repulsive (only to us, not to the dogs) behavior. According to Healthypet.com, this is perfectly normal behavior for a well adjusted dog. In fact it might be part of their instinct to do so, as covering themselves with a horrid odor may disguise their own scent and make it easier for them to sneak up on prey. While are dogs are so very domesticated today and for the most part, don’t have to hunt their prey, there are things that dogs are genetically predisposed to that might guide more of their behavior than we would like to admit.

There are ways to minimize the chance that you will need to de-oderize your dog. Try and keep him/her in a large fenced in area, where other animals have limited entry. Pick up any “poop” regularly, whether it is your dog’s or another animal’s and dispose of it properly. When walking with your dog, keep him/her on a leash and keep your eyes open for any odorous item that may intrigue your pooch. Also, keep the lids to garbage cans on tightly, because in addition to getting and the smelly garbage and rolling in it might seem fun for your dog, there is the chance they might get into something that could be deadly or dangerous, like bad food or chicken bones.

If some unfortunate bad luck does happen and your pup takes a roll into something less than desirable, then keep some sweet smelling healthy dog shampoo on hand to clean them up — just in case!!!

The culture of pet ownership in our country today is that the dogs we have as “pets” are really so much more. They are truly part of our family and as treating them as family, many people take the health care of their dogs extremely seriously, including preventive practices, well-care check ups and even care for chronic conditions that your dog may have. The cost of this care can be expensive and if there is a critical and chronic medical condition, it can become prohibitive for the dog owners because of the cost. Many people have had to make choices regarding the life of their dog because of the very expensive cost of this care.

However, while dog insurance is not a new concept, more and more people are building the premium costs into their family budgets, because their dog is truly a member of their family. The cost of coverage varies by the insurance provider and the degree of coverage that is chosen. One of the best sources of information that I found regarding pet insurance for your dog is the website www.yourpethealthinsurance.com. They illustrate the various insurance providers available, the different types of coverage as well as the premium cost per month. Many of the plans are quite affordable and would definately be used even if it were just for well-care visits.

So, check out the plans and make sure you have the best care for your dog. It is a horrible choice to have to make if your dog requires extensive care, but you just can’t afford it. Health insurance for your dog could make caring for your dog affordable when you need it the most.

I received quite a few e-mails when I posted the entry about people looking like their dogs. Since we all need a little pick-me-up laugh in the middle of the week, I found some more pictures I thought you all would enjoy.

They are crazy, aren’t they? If you have pics of your own pooches that you think resemble you or members of your family, feel free to e-mail them to me and I’d be happy to feature you and your best buddy on the blog.

Almost everyone has seen the pictures of the pool and poker playing pups complete with drinks and smokes. As far fetched as it seems, our dogs could be considered smokers if they are unfortunate enough to live with an owner who smokes in the house. Our pets are as subject to second hand smoke as we are and the effects could be just as devastating.

A study by Colorado State University found that dogs exposed to ETS (Environmental Tabacco Smoke) led to a higher rate of sinus and nasal cavity cancerous tumors than for dogs in nonsmoking households. The incidence was found to be higher in long nosed dogs such as collies rather than small or medium sized snout canines. Second hand smoke is usually inhaled through the nose by dogs, and with long nosed dogs, there is more of an opportunity for carcinogens that are inhaled to be deposited in the nasal and sinus passages. It appears that short and medium nosed dogs that are subject to ETS have a higher rate of lung cancer, because the second hand smoke makes it way to the lungs before it can be deposited long term in the nasal system.

It is unfair to burden our dogs with the effects of second hand smoke. If it is a habit that a dog owner has, please be dog and people sensitive and smoke outside away from your family and your pets!!! Better yet, quit, save some money and give your dog and your family a wonderful gift…more time with a healthier you!!!!

Now does this look like a “doggie” marriage made in heaven?

O.K., now this baby is getting her first kiss, or she had something really good for dinner which her pooch just had to share!!!

and finally:

The moral of the picture above is that you can never judge strength by size alone!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. See you tomorrow!!!

On a Friday evening in Queens, New York, what is one of the best things you could be doing? Well, it would be to be at Shea Stadium for a baseball game cheering on one of your favorite New York teams- the Mets! Can anything top that? Believe or not, yes. That would be being at a Met game with your dog!!!!

Last night, that’s just what happened because it was Dog Day at Shea!!! This is an event hosted by the New York Mets to benefit the North Shore Animal League. The North Shore Animal League is the largest no kill pet rescue and adoption center in the world. Since 1944, they have saved the lives of about 1,000,000 abandoned animals and have strived to find each and every one a loving and nurturing home.

The game against the Philadelphia Phillies began at 7:10 pm, with dogs and their owners arriving at 5:15 pm and parading around the track at Shea. Tickets for the game were $34.00 for adult and $5.00 for your dog. Monies raised from this event went to benefit the North Shore Animal League America. Representatives from the League were on hand for fans interested in adopting a homeless animal. It was obvious that the event was a success!!! The game was sold out!!!

A great time was had by all, fans and pooches alike, even though the Mets took a tough loss of 3 to 2 to the Phillies in the 10th inning. Last year a friend of mine had her dog at the game and said it was great to see all of the support for the League and truly a sight to see all those great Met fans!!(that includes the four legged ones as well!!)

There are a lot of dog behaviors that are troublesome to not only the owner of the pet, but also guests who arrive the home of the pet. One way dogs show how happy and excited they are to have company is to jump on the guest, or whomever new is coming into the house as a welcome gesture. However, this can be scary, intimidating and even dangerous if the dog is large enough, as small children and the elderly could be easily overpowered by the jumping dog.

Very often when a dog jumps, people will pet the dog, push it away or even in a kind voice tell the dog to get down. Believe it or not, in a subtle way, this is reward behavior to a dog as the dog is getting a reaction. These types of “rewards” will reinforce the jumping behavior in a dog.

The best type of training to eliminate jumping behavior according to the writers at petplace.com is to give no reaction to the bad behavior including silence and no recognition of the dog’s effort to get your attention.

Anyone coming to your home should be informed about your nonjumping policy and help by showing no reaction to the dog when he/she exhibits bad jumping behavior. Also, it helps in training consistency to get the help of a friend or neighbor to come to the house repeatedly and work with your dog to reward nonjumping behavior when the lessons are learned.

We know how wonderful it is for our dogs to greet our guests with excitement and pleasure. However, it is important that our dogs realize that not everyone wants a dog to jump on them and as mentioned in some cases it can be dangerous. This is the type of behavior training that can be done at home as you will most likely be the one with your dog when guests arrive. Remember, our dogs truly want to please us, so showing them no reaction to their bad jumping behavior may be the best training mechanism your dog needs.

As mentioned, we are a culture that loves our dogs!!! We are also a culture that can’t live without our gadgets, whether they have a purpose or not. So it wasn’t a surprise when I read an article about new gadgets for pups that was sent to me by a friend. She thought it would be great to let you all know what great new “toys” are available for you and your pooch.

What you see above is known as the PetCell and yes, it is a cell phone for your pup, equipped for you to speak to him/her and if they are so inclined, your dog(s)can reply!!! This device is waterproof and also serves as a gps locator, with similarities to the device discussed in an entry last month.

If this gadget isn’t enough to entertain both your love for “stuff” and your love for your dog, there are some others to check out. How about a glow leash for walking your dog at night? Maybe a talking dog dish that will speak to your dog when you’re not home? Too many to mention here, but take a look at petgadgets.com…I’ll be sure to list it on my blog roll.

Just because a dog has wrinkles, they shouldn’t be considered old!!! In fact, the breeds that we are most familiar with that have wrinkles are loved because of those wrinkles. However, wrinkles are caused by an excess of skin, which if not cared for properly, can cause significant health problems for the dogs.

St. Bernards are known for their size and good nature, but they are subject to wrinkles around the eyes which cause the lids to droop and can cause visual problems. The eyes of this breed tend to water and should be cleaned periodically, so they don’t crust which could lead to clogged ducts around the eyes.

The entry from August 10th reflected the breed of the week, which was the pug. The pug also has wrinkles in their skin due to the excess of skin they carry, mostly located around the face. One of the special care requirements of this wrinkly breed is to clean between the wrinkles and creases of skin often as irritations and infections can result if proper cleaning is not done consistently. I know I’ve shown pictures of the pugs, but I can’t resist showing another.

The dog that is the most famous for its wrinkles is the Chinese Shar-pei. This is a dog that originated from China and is known for little else except their appearance because of their wrinkles. Many shy away from the Shar-pei because they believe their skin (wrinkles) will lead to excessive skin and health problems. However, the skin conditions of Shar-peis are usually not caused by their wrinkles, but rather a hereditary skin condition. Proper brushing of these dogs and a weekly bath should minimize the skin conditions and Shar-peis should be obtained from a good qualified breeder. This will minimize the risk of any hereditary skin condition. And now for some wrinkly pictures!!!