Responsible Pet Ownership Blog

Introducing Your Dog to a Cat

2013-05-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Suzanne Alicie

Some people are “cat people” while others are “dog people,” but what about those who love both? It’s always been a common belief that dogs and cats do not get along. In fact, many dogs and cats can be great friends. Ideally, puppies and kittens are introduced when young and grow up together. However, if that isn’t the situation and you want to introduce your dog to a cat in the hopes of adding a feline presence to your home, there are certain steps to take.

The first thing to understand is that both dogs and cats are territorial, and a dog that lives in your home will see the cat as an intruder. If the cat runs, then it is prey; this could get really messy if you don’t take precautions and introduce both animals slowly. Keep in mind that the cat is not only meeting a larger, louder animal with teeth and claws who doesn’t want her there, but she is also being introduced into a new place and will be nervous and skittish.

To assist you with this introduction and prevent injury to the dog, cat and people, there are a few things you’ll need to have. The first is a secure cat carrier, preferably with holes too small for the cat to get a paw out. You will also need a harness, leash and muzzle for your dog as well as a second person to help with the introductions. Don’t forget to have some CANIDAE TidNips™ treats on hand. Reward the animals throughout the process for their good behavior and be sure to praise them both. Your voice will be calming and help both animals deal with the introduction.

Place the cat in the carrier and harness your dog before attaching the muzzle. Keep in mind you are dealing with nature: dogs bite, cats scratch…so do as much as possible to prevent any injury to either animal.

Once both animals are situated, choose an area to place the cat carrier and slowly allow your dog to sniff and inspect the carrier. Scent is very important to dogs, so introducing the scent of the cat to your dog first is a good idea. The cat may hiss and puff up its fur. This is a defensive measure, and by having the cat inside the carrier you’re saving your dog’s nose from those dangerous claws. Allow both animals to smell and get used to one another. When your dog settles down and is willing to lie down or wander away from the carrier and when the cat stops hissing, that is an indicator they are accustomed to the scent and presence of one another.

However, this doesn’t mean they are ready to be friends! Close the doors to the room you are in so both animals are contained. Make sure someone has a very tight hold on the dog’s leash and that the muzzle is secure before you open the door to the cat carrier. Step several feet away from the carrier and allow the cat to come out on her own. Your dog may lunge toward the cat, but it is important to keep him back and allow the cat to wander around the room without the dog getting close enough to get swatted. This enables both the dog and cat to realize that there is another animal in the room, and the cat can explore the new area without anyone getting hurt.

The more trained your dog is and the better he follows commands, the better the introduction will go. Learn more about dog training in this article on 11 Basic Commands by Linda Cole.

Sadly, there is a time when your dog will probably come into contact with claws and hissing. It’s almost unavoidable because as soon as the dog gets close enough to sniff and explore the cat, the cat will defend its personal space. Be patient and allow the animals to get accustomed to one another in a controlled environment.

It can take several days before you feel comfortable having the cat and dog in the same room without the dog being harnessed and even longer before you feel comfortable taking off the muzzle. When you do take off the muzzle, be sure to have someone ready to grab the cat and get it to safety in case the dog attacks. Before you plan to bring a cat into your home with a dog, make sure you have a way to keep them separated until they become used to each other.

While most dogs and cats will adapt, there are cases where a dog just can’t get over the urge to chase the cat, and there are cats whose nerves just can’t handle being around a dog. Observe your pets and make sure they are both happy, feel safe and are comfortable in their home. In cases where the animals just can’t adapt, it is important to find a safe home for one of the pets. Being a responsible pet owner means preventing injury and unhappiness in your pets at all costs. A proper introduction is imperative if you wish to have a multi-species home.

Top photo by fazen
Bottom photo by Michelle Tribe

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie

Smoky – The Tiniest War Dog of WW II

2013-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

Smoky was a stray Yorkshire Terrier who found herself lost in the jungles of New Guinea during WW II. This bright eyed, brave little Yorkie would go down in military history as a “champion mascot of the Southwest Pacific,” war hero and therapy dog. Smoky garnered so much positive attention that she is credited with giving new life to her breed, which was on the brink of obscurity, and making the Yorkshire Terrier one of the most popular breeds today.

An American soldier found the scruffy looking Terrier in 1944 in an abandoned foxhole deep in the jungle. How she got there was anyone's guess. The soldier wasn't a dog lover, but he rescued Smoky and gave her to a sergeant who worked in the motor pool. The sergeant needed cash to get back into a poker game, so he sold the cold, wet and half starved little dog to Corporal Bill Wynne for $6.44.

Wynne and Smoky bonded almost immediately, and for the next two years she rode in Wynne's backpack around the South Pacific, and spent the rest of the war going on combat flights with him. Wynne was attached to the 5th Air Force, 26th Photo Recon Squadron. Smoky wasn't an official war dog, and didn't have access to a proper diet or medical care. She slept with Wynne in his tent, and shared his rations. She was a hardy little dog, however, and despite her living conditions she never got sick or injured.

Smoky was so small – no more than four pounds, and seven inches tall – she could fit inside Wynne's helmet. He didn't know it at the time, but her small size is how she would earn her war dog reputation. American troops landed at an airfield in February 1945. Afraid the Japanese were planning a counter attack, Wynne's recon unit needed to set up communications with headquarters to call for reinforcements, if they were needed. The problem was that cables had to be strung underneath the runway without tearing it up. Digging up the runway would mean 40 war planes would have to be moved, exposing them to enemy fire. It would take 3 days to accomplish their task.

A plan was hatched to send Smoky through an eight inch pipe underneath the runway with a string attached to her collar that would then be used to pull the cables through. She would have to crawl 70 feet through the pipe that had sand falling through it at four foot sections. Wynne was afraid Smoky wouldn't be able to deal with the sand and could become trapped, but there wasn't any other option. So he tied the string to her collar, ran to the other side of the runway, knelt down to the pipe, and called Smoky.

She was 10 feet in when the string got snagged, but the courageous Yorkie didn't give up, and kept pulling until the string came loose. Wynne listened to her faint whimpers and continued to encourage her. Suddenly, he saw her eyes appear in the darkness, and she raced out into the open, the string still attached to her collar. In just a matter of minutes, Smoky accomplished a task that would have taken a crew of men 3 days. She is credited with saving the lives of her unit that day.

On his off time, Wynne taught Smoky basic commands and tricks, and was surprised how quickly she learned. She walked a tightrope blindfolded, spelled her name, played dead, sang, and parachuted out of a tree. The dog entertained troops throughout the South Pacific with her endless bag of tricks.

In July 1944, Wynne was recuperating in the 233rd Station Hospital in New Guinea after coming down with dengue fever. His friends brought Smoky to see him, and she snuggled on his bed to wait for him to recover. The nurses loved Smoky and began taking her with them on rounds to help cheer up soldiers under their care. This is where Smoky found her true calling as the first documented therapy dog, a role she continued after the war for 12 years.

Smoky was awarded eight battle stars, and is credited with flying 12 combat missions, air/sea rescue, and photo reconnaissance missions. Throughout the course of the war, the little Yorkie endured 150 air raids and a typhoon. While on a transport ship, Smoky warned Wynne of incoming fire, saving his life just before a shell hit the deck exactly where he had been standing. Smoky, the tiniest war dog, died at her home in Parma Heights, Ohio in 1957. She was 14 years old.

Bill Wynne has written a memoir about Smoky titled Yorkie Doodle Dandie, which you can buy online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can also learn more about Smoky on her Facebook page.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Say Cheese! Your Dog’s Smile Could Win FREE CANIDAE!

2013-05-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Does your dog’s beautiful smile melt your heart? Does your pooch grin wide enough to eat a banana sideways? And do they like to eat paw-licking-good dog food? Well then, fetch your camera and get ready to capture those dazzling doggie smiles!

Why? So you can enter your fabulous photo(s) in our new contest for a chance to win some FREE dog food! Is that BOL (bark-out-loud) awesome, or what?

The Grand Prize Winner will receive 6 months of premium quality CANIDAE pet food and a chance to be featured on the CANIDAE website or Facebook page! Ten runners-up receive a 5lb bag of their dog’s favorite CANIDAE Life Stages formula.

Could Your Dog Be the Next CANIDAE Star?

Wanted: Dogs with winning smiles, happy expressions or gloriously goofy grins. Must be willing to work for pet food. Amateurs encouraged to apply.

Your Assignment

Take your best shot that showcases your dog’s sweet face and sunny disposition. Next, submit your high quality photos by visiting the CANIDAE photo contest page on Facebook. Large file sizes preferred with 5MB as the maximum size.

You can submit as many photos as you like before the contest closes on May 31, 2013. Then you and everyone else can vote for your favorite entries. CANIDAE staff will pick the final grand prize winner and the 10 runners up. Your votes will be factored into the final decision, though, so be sure to vote often and get your friends to vote for their favorite photos as well!

The Rules

No purchase or payment is necessary to win. To enter, you must be at least 21 years of age and a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident (green card), or a legal resident of Canada. CANIDAE Natural Pet Food Company employees, vendors and their immediate family members are not eligible. Immediate family includes only spouses, parents and children.

Terms and conditions apply. All photos submitted become property of CANIDAE and may be used for commercial purposes including packaging, websites and any type of marketing or advertising material.

By entering the contest, entrants agree to have their submitted name and photographs displayed on the CANIDAE website and used by CANIDAE for any purpose, at any time, without any fee or other form of compensation. CANIDAE reserves the right to disqualify users, without notice, for any reason.

Prize Information

The Grand Prize Winner is limited to one bag of pet food per month (any CANIDAE formula) to be determined by pet's size, age and breed at the discretion of CANIDAE Natural Pet Food Company.

The 10 runners-up will receive a 5lb bag of their preferred Life Stages Formula. Final decision on selecting the winners is at the sole discretion of CANIDAE Natural Pet Food Company.

Winners will be notified via the email account used to enter the contest and will have 48 hours to respond before an alternate winner is selected. CANIDAE reserves the right to modify or withdraw this offer at any time without notice and is not responsible for email delivery failures or other technical issues.

Time to get clicking! Submit your best photo(s) today via the CANIDAE photo contest page on Facebook.

Top photo: Sally9258
Middle photo: Rennet Stowe
Bottom photo: Umberto Rotundo

The Strong Willed and Loyal Giant Schnauzer

2013-05-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

The Schnauzer comes in three sizes: miniature, standard and giant. They may look alike, but each size is a distinct breed. The Standard Schnauzer is the oldest of the three Schnauzer breeds, and the Giant Schnauzer is the youngest. The one thing to keep in mind with any breed is that they were developed because of man's need for a partner to help perform a job or task. In other words, a new breed was created because of the occupations of man. The Giant Schnauzer was developed to be a drover dog for cattlemen.

In the early years, the breed was known as the Wirehaired Pinscher, but that changed in 1879 when a dog named Schnauzer won first place in a dog show held in Hanover, Germany. People began referring to the breed as Schnauzer because of the dog's bearded muzzle (German translation for muzzle is schnauze) and because of Schnauzer's win at the dog show. In their native country of Germany, the Giant Schnauzer is known as Riesenschnauzer, which means “the giant.” This breed, however, is not one of the giant dog breeds; it's simply the largest of the three Schnauzer sizes.

The breed originated in two neighboring agricultural areas of Germany: Wurttemberg and Bavaria. Shepherds were impressed with the Standard Schnauzer for the dog's sheep herding abilities, but the standard was too small for working with cattle. At the time, there were no railroads. A larger, more powerful version of the standard was needed by cattlemen as a livestock guardian and drover dog. Giant Schnauzers were also used as draft dogs to pull produce carts to market and then guard them. The Standard Schnauzer, which is the foundation stock for the two other sizes, was most likely crossed with the Great Dane, Bouvier des Flanders, rough coated sheepdogs, black poodle and wolf spitz to create the Giant Schnauzer.

The Giant Schnauzer became common as a guard dog around stockyards, butchers and breweries. Because of their strength, drive and courage, the Giant Schnauzer was used as a messenger dog in WW I and remains popular in Germany as a livestock guardian, all around farm dog, guard dog, military and police dog. On the American Kennel Club’s 2011 most popular dog breeds list, the Miniature Schnauzer is #12, the Standard is #91 and the Giant is #95.

I'm sure people who’ve always had dogs get tired of hearing “It's important to do your homework before adding a specific dog breed to your home.” Or “This dog breed isn't for the average owner.” However, there's a good reason why both phrases need to be repeated often. People don't listen to responsible breeders, dog trainers or experts who know the characteristics and temperament of a specific breed. Thousands of dogs end up in shelters every year when expert advice is ignored. The consideration of a dog shouldn't be just because the potential owner wants him. It should be “can you give the dog a proper home that keeps everyone safe, including other pets and the dog?”

The Giant Schnauzer requires an owner who understands their specific needs and temperament and can be a strong leader. Giant Schnauzers are extremely strong, with demanding energy levels. They can be very vocal and require a lot of attention. This breed has a low shedding, but high maintenance coat that needs daily care. The breed is good with older children and other pets, as long as he knows them, but cats could be at risk because of this dog's high prey drive. He can be dog aggressive with canines he doesn't know, especially with the same sex. The Giant takes his guard duties of protecting his family seriously, and is wary of strangers.

A versatile working dog, the Giant Schnauzer needs a job to do to stay out of trouble. They excel in police and protection work, search and rescue, as therapy dogs, guide and hearing dogs, obedience, agility, Schutzhund trials and tracking. This is a dog that also enjoys winter activities like sled pulling and skijoring, and is skilled at cart pulling. He loves to be with his owner, but can become clingy.

Though not classified as a “giant” breed, Giant Schnauzers are a fairly large dog. As with any canine, they require a quality dog food to keep them healthy for their lifetime, around 12-15 years. CANIDAE recently introduced a Large Breed formula to its line of premium quality dog food, which would be a good choice for this breed.

The Giant Schnauzer is an intelligent dog that can become bored, frustrated and destructive if he’s not given lots of quality time. For the right owner, this is a good dog. Know what you're getting into before bringing a Giant Schnauzer home.

Photos by Christopher Macsurak

Read more articles by Linda Cole

A Cat’s Mother's Day Letter to “Mom”

2013-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Rocky Williams, feline guest blogger

Dear Mom,

I’ve heard people talking about a special day that was created to honor all Moms. What a great idea! But Momma, I’ve also heard that many human beans don’t think you should be honored on Mother’s Day because you “only” have cats which means “you’re not a real Mom.” Rubbish, I say!

When you rescued me and took me home, I was just a wee lad who fit into the palm of your hand. I don’t remember my other mother, but I do remember the loving care I got from you. Without your “mothering,” I daresay I wouldn’t have survived. You nurtured me and helped me grow into the beautiful cat I am today.

You’ve been my only mother for ten years, and you would never abandon me. Ever. And I know you’d move heaven and earth to make sure I am healthy and happy, for all of my life. Momma, isn’t that the heart and soul of what it means to be a mother?

There are so many things I love and appreciate about you, Momma. For starters, I love that you will sit on half a chair (or less) so as not to disturb me. Some beans would chase their kitty off the chair in order to sit in comfort, but that’s not how you roll! You let your legs fall asleep if I’m curled up on them, and you let me stay on your lap long after you really, really want – or need – to get up. (Sometimes I laugh when I see you frantically racing to your litterbox because, not wanting to disturb me, you’ve waited too long).

Momma, I know I am a lot naughtier than most felines, but I love that you never say “Why can’t you be like other cats?” You accept that being mischievous is who I am, and you don’t try to change me. It’s like that fable of the scorpion who convinces the frog to carry him across the river, promising not to sting him because then they’d both drown. But midway across, the scorpion does sting the frog, who cries “Why’d you sting me?” and the scorpion says “It’s my nature.” You know I can’t help being naughty any more than that scorpion could help stinging the frog, and it doesn’t make you love me any less.

Despite my naughty nature, I’ve only seen you get really mad at me a handful of times. Most of the time you just laugh. Like that time you caught me standing on my hind legs on your coffee machine to reach the bag of FELIDAE cat food on the top shelf of the cupboard. I thought you were going to have a coronary that day!

When you’ve removed me from the kitchen counter for the thousandth time in one day, I can tell that your patience is wearing thin. But you know it doesn’t do any good to punish me or scold me. I’m going to keep doing it no matter what, because I’m on the Seafood Diet – I see food and I need to try to eat it.

When you caught me stealing your piece of bacon, you just shrugged. I swear I heard you say “It’s only bacon.” You didn’t yell at me like other bean’s might. I think it’s because as much as you love your bacon (a whole lot!), you love me even more. And you know that when it comes to food, I just can’t help myself.

Momma, I love you because the one time you got scorching mad at me and yelled awful words, you came back later and apologized. Some would say that was a silly thing to do. It’s just a cat, they’d say. It doesn’t matter, they’d say; he doesn’t understand you anyway. But Momma, I do understand. I may not know every word you use, but I know by your tender tone. I know by the gentle caress of your hand on my back. A lesser bean would think it wasn’t necessary to say you’re sorry to a cat.

I think I am the luckiest cat alive.

Happy Mother’s Day with love,

Rocky

Read more articles by Rocky Williams

Is a Smiling Dog Showing Aggression?

2013-05-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

One of my dogs, a Terrier mix named Sophie, was a smiler. She would curl up one side of her lip and wiggle all over, grinning if we asked her to do something she didn't really want to do or when we talked to her in our “You're such a good girl” voice. I called it her “Elvis” smile because that's what it reminded me of. It was so cute and always made me laugh. If she was in trouble, which was rare, I quickly forgave her transgression. As it turned out, Sophie knew exactly what she was doing, and it worked. A smiling dog might be showing aggression, but not always. Sometimes, a smile is just a smile; it’s a way some dogs convey they are not a threat.

When it comes to understanding a dog's body language, everyone recognizes that a snarl with teeth bared means to back off and leave that dog alone. When Sophie smiled, she was showing deference to us with a submissive grin. The difference between a snarl and a submissive grin is broadcast loud and clear in a dog’s body language.

When a dog submits, he lowers his body closer to the ground, and may cower. His tail is tucked to one side, but never between his legs like with a fearful dog. His ears are held out, resembling airplane wings. He holds his front paws up, avoids eye contact, might roll over on his back, and may urinate to signal his compliance to you or another dog. When a submissive grin is added, you see excited body movements and squinting eyes. An aggressive dog isn't going to roll over and expose his belly to someone or another dog he views as a rival. Everything about his body language says he's on alert and ready to fight, if necessary. A growl usually accompanies his snarl, but not always.

There's a difference between a dog submitting and one showing fear. A submitting dog isn't a threat, but a scared dog could attack out of fear. One clue is the position of his tail and ears. The submitting dog pulls his tail to the side, and holds his ears out to the side. The fearful dog tucks his tail between his legs and he has “whale eyes,” meaning you can see the whites of his eyes, and his ears will be pulled back against his head. His overall body language says he's scared. All he wants is to be left alone. Never turn your back on a fearful or aggressive dog. Watch them without making direct eye contact.

Sophie gave us her submissive smile if she thought she was in trouble, but she also flashed it when she was greeted by other people. However, when she realized she received positive attention for smiling, she began to do it at other times, as well. In the beginning, she smiled if she felt stressed to show she wasn't a threat, but learned to use it to her advantage. Because it was cute, I admit we helped her along with some tasty CANIDAE TidNips™ treats when she gave us a smile.

If you like seeing your dog smile, there's no harm in encouraging the behavior and adding it to his repertoire of cute tricks. When your dog starts to smile, give him a command such as “Smile” or “Cheese” and reward him immediately after he smiles.

Some people and children mistake a submissive grin as a snarl, so if you have a dog that greets visitors with a smile, it's a good idea to let them know before meeting your pet so they won't misinterpret his intentions. His smile is part of who he is as an individual. You can't stop him from grinning in situations where he feels threatened, but you can redirect his attention if he's uncomfortable when greeting people. Engage him in a game of fetch or tug of war, give a command like sit, or ask him to perform a trick. Using play or a treat to refocus his mind takes him out of a stressful situation to one where he feels more comfortable.

A submissive grin has nothing to do with aggression. It's one way some dogs show their friendship to the people they love. According to Texas A&M University professor of Veterinary Medicine, Bonnie V. Beaver, DVM, and author of “Canine Behavior,” a submissive grin is most likely an inherited behavior, common in certain purebred and mixed breed bloodlines. So if you have a grinning dog, enjoy his cute and beautiful smile!

Top photo by Susan E. Adams
Bottom photo by Ginfox

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Frank Inn, Hollywood Animal Trainer Extraordinaire

2013-05-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

This guy is such an inspiration to me! I’d love to have a chat with him, but since he died in 2002 at the age of 86, I’ll have to settle for reading and writing about him. To catch you up, here are a few facts about Frank Inn:

He was a pioneering animal trainer who turned shelter pets into movie stars.

The animals that Frank Inn trained won 40 PATSY Awards, which is the animal kingdom's equivalent of the Oscar. Three of the animals he trained won the award multiple times.

This legendary animal trainer was the first inductee into the International Association of Canine Professionals' Hall of Fame.

One of the most recognized 4-legged movie stars that Inn created was Higgins, of Petticoat Junction and Benji fame. Other animals he trained included:

• Francis the Talking Mule

• Orangey the Cat (Rhubarb in Rhubarb, and Cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's

• Bernadette the Dog (Cleopatra on Jackie Cooper's TV series The People's Choice

• Arnold Ziffel, the pig on Green Acres

• All of Elly Mae Clampett's animals on The Beverly Hillbillies

• The chimpanzees that starred in the children's TV show Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp

Frank Inn was known to visit animal shelters and take home healthy pets to keep them from being euthanized. There was a time when Inn and his assistants had over 1,000 animals in their care. The feeding bills alone came to more than $400 per day.

Although Inn is most known for the amazing things he could train animals to do, his own life story is incredible in itself. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be involved in show business. When he was just a teenager, he hitchhiked from his hometown of Mooresville, Indiana to Los Angeles. He quickly found a job at MGM studios as a maintenance man but soon after he started working, Inn was hit by a drunk driver. He was pronounced dead and transported to the morgue.

It just so happens that students were at the morgue learning embalming techniques. Fortunately, one of the students noticed that Frank Inn’s “corpse” was still warm. He was not dead!

Inn was seriously injured and had a long recovery time. To help him pass the time, a friend gave him a puppy named Jeep. Because Inn was in a wheelchair, he trained Jeep to do everyday chores for him like get the newspaper and find his slippers. Dog training came naturally to Inn, and his friends believed that Inn could talk to the dog and Jeep literally understood.

When he was fully recovered, Inn went back to his job as a maintenance man. Like all good Hollywood scripts, one day Inn was sweeping the floors of the MGM studio when he noticed a dog trainer who couldn't get a dog to perform a trick. So the next day he brought Jeep to work with him and showed how easily it was to teach a dog to do tricks. The story goes that Inn held up a ball and said “speak” and when Jeep barked, the trainer asked Inn if he wanted a job.

According to a story NPR ran about Frank Inn, Joe Camp (writer and director of the 1974 film Benji) recollects that Jeep was the first animal Frank Inn ever trained. That one incident led to an animal-training career that lasted over 50 years. During that time, Inn trained not only domesticated animals but also pigs, snakes, camels, monkeys and more. He had a way of getting animals to do things that most people couldn’t believe – like training a pig to play the piano or a dog to climb a ladder. His daughter believed he had a telepathic communication with animals and could get them to do things just by talking to them.

Throughout his long and successful career, Frank Inn knew how to forge remarkable connections with animals. He also taught his assistants how to empathetically communicate with animals instead of just making them perform stunts. Most of the working animal trainers today either worked for Inn himself or were trained by people who worked for him. What a legacy!

Photo courtesy of Kathleen Copson

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

Is Your Dog’s Collar on Securely?

2013-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Tamara McRill

Putting on a dog collar should be an easy task, right? Pick one that fits your dog’s unique personality, slip it around his neck (not too tight), fasten, give your woofer an affectionate head rub and you’re good to go. At least that’s what I always thought, but it turns out there’s more that goes into making sure your dog’s collar is on nice and secure.

I found this out the hard and heart-stopping way, with my chocolate Labrador, Wuppy. We were all geared up to take a walk in our new neighborhood, which is super exciting when you’re a dog that loves the adventure of new locations. When Wuppy and I set off, he bounced right out of his collar!

See, Wuppy has a generous waddle – the loose skin around a dog’s neck – which, combined with his bouncy behavior makes keeping him in his dog collar a little tricky. Luckily for me, our older dog, Cody, was also in the yard with Mike. So Wuppy bolted straight to the two objects of his hero worship.

Go By Feel, Not Sight

The first thing I learned when I started researching how to properly make sure my dog’s collar was secure was that I was doing it wrong. No shocker there – he did escape. I was looking at Wuppy’s collar to see if it looked like it was loose enough, when I should have been feeling it.

A good rule of thumb for flat collars, which are the most common, is to make sure you can get two fingers underneath it. You simply slide your fingers in between the collar and your dog’s neck. If there is more space than that, try tightening it up a notch until it is tight enough to comfortably allow your fingers underneath. If you can’t get two fingers under the collar, then loosen it up because you could be accidentally hurting your dog’s throat.

Check the Buckle

This is something we are in the habit of doing with all of our pets, since our dog Cody is older and has some health issues that prevent his collar from being tightened securely. His buckle comes loose a lot, and even at his slower pace the collar could come undone if we don’t make sure the buckle is properly fastened. The most common thing we have to adjust is the prong, which comes up a lot, with his collar being so loose. It’s also what we have to occasionally adjust on our other dogs.

If your dog’s collar has a plastic fastener, such as a side release or breakaway buckle, you’ll want to make sure it comes together like it should, before taking your dog on a walk.

Be Vigilant for Secureness

Of course, ensuring the collar has a great fit isn’t a “one time and you’re done” activity. You have to keep periodically checking that it is on your pet securely, since neither the collar nor your dog will always stay in the same condition as when you first placed it around their furry neck. Besides buckle wear, the collar fabric can also get worn out or stretch just enough for your pooch to slide his head through. Collars can also become fragile over time and get rips.

Puppies and young dogs can grow out of their collars, sometimes quicker than you think; be sure to frequently check that the collar isn’t too tight. Older dogs also can gain and lose weight, which will affect the fit of their collar.

It’s also good to work on mastering sit and stay commands, as well as keeping CANIDAE dog treats in your pocket when you take your pooch for a walk. Sometimes, even with the most vigilant of checking, dogs still manage to wiggle out of their collars. For your dog’s safety, it’s good to have some backup training and an enticingly tasty bribe if this happens.

What kind of collar does your dog wear? Has it ever slipped off before?

Top photo by jespahjoy
Middle photo by lindyi
Bottom photo by Tony Alter

Read more articles by Tamara McRill

Terrier Dog Breeds: Big Attitudes in Small Bodies

2013-05-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Airedale Terrier

By Linda Cole

The terrier group of dog breeds is an interesting mix of canines, bred to do a variety of jobs from hunting prey to keeping rats at bay. They are feisty, energetic and small enough to fit into any home. This is a group with a variety of distinct personalities, but all have a “big attitude in a small body.” Digging is common in terriers because they were bred to go underground after their prey. Terra is the Latin word for “earth,” and terriers are certainly “earth dogs.” The American Kennel Club recognizes 29 different terrier breeds. Here is brief information on nine of them:

The Airedale Terrier holds the “King of Terriers” crown; they are the largest and most robust of the group. The Airedale is considered an all purpose dog, and was used during wartime as a guard dog, to run messages, control rodents, and as a hunting dog. Hypoallergenic; they stand 22-24 inches and weigh 40-64 pounds.

The Australian Terrier was the first breed recognized in 1868 as native to Australia. His job was to work alongside his owner in the Australian Outback to keep vermin and snakes in check. He was also a watchdog, and helped with livestock. Hypoallergenic; they stand 9-11 inches and weigh 12-16 pounds.

Bedlington Terrier

The Bedlington Terrier could easily be mistaken for a lamb because of his woolly, curly coat. The breed was developed in a mining shire in Northumberland, England, and that's where its name comes from. The miners used the Bedlington to control vermin, and because they had excellent speed and endurance, miners also raced them. Hypoallergenic; they stand 15-18 inches and weigh 17-23 pounds.

The Border Terrier can get into most any size hole, and can race across different types of terrain after his main prey, the fox. The Border was bred as a working dog and protector of his owner's livestock. In the old days living on a farm, this little dog had to be a good hunter because he had to hunt down his own supper. Hypoallergenic; they stand 11-16 inches and weigh 11-16 pounds.

Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terrier takes its name from rock dens called “cairn” where fox and badger live in the Scottish Highlands. The breed originated in the highlands and the Isle of Skye. Toto, Dorothy's little dog in “The Wizard of Oz” was a Cairn Terrier. One of the oldest of the terrier breeds, the Cairn was bred to control vermin. Hypoallergenic; they stand 9-13 inches and weigh 13-18 pounds.

The Cesky Terrier originated in the Czech Republic, and is considered one of the country's national breeds. The Cesky (pronounced chess - key) was bred to work in packs to hunt fox, ducks, pheasants, rabbits and wild boar. This breed is so revered in its native homeland that it has been featured on postage stamps, TV, in books and in a movie. Hypoallergenic; they stand 10-13 inches and weigh 16-22 pounds.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier definitely has a big dog attitude packed inside his low and long body. This breed was recorded as a distinct breed as far back as 1700, and made his home with rich people and gypsies. Bred to hunt otter and badger, he has a reputation as a skilled hunter, able to go to ground after his prey. The breed was named after a character in a Sir Walter Scott 1814 novel, “Guy Mannering.” Hypoallergenic; they stand 8-11 inches and weigh 18-24 pounds.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is native to Ireland, bred to control vermin on farms, and hunt fox and badger. This breed has remained pretty much the same today as it was 100 years ago. This dog was also designed to do a rather unique job: they were used to turn a large wheel called a turnspit. As the dog paddled the wheel, it turned a spit over a fire, earning them the nickname of “turnspit dogs.” They stand 12 ½ inches and weigh around 35 pounds.

Kerry Blue Terrier

The Kerry Blue Terrier is an all purpose working dog, bred in County Kerry, Ireland in the 1700s. Their name comes from the area they were bred in, and their coat color. They were used to hunt small game and birds and retrieve them from water and land. The dog also herded cattle and sheep, guarded homes and did police work. Peasants used the Kerry to hunt silently within a nobleman's hunting grounds. The Kerry Blue is born black, and his blue coat doesn't appear until he's between 9 months to 2 years old. Hypoallergenic; they stand 17-20 inches and weigh 33-40 pounds.

The rest of the terrier group includes the American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Irish Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Russell Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Welsh Terrier, West Highland White Terrier and Wire Fox Terrier.

Airedale Terrier by Lulu Hoeller
Bedlington Terrier by Pets Adviser
Cairn Terrier by Living in Monrovia
Kerry Blue Terrier by pw95

Read more articles by Linda Cole

5 Ways I Want to Be More Like My Cats

2013-05-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Julia Williams

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t see my cats basking in a sun puddle and think, “Why can’t I be a cat for just one day?” I would get caught up on my sleep, that’s for sure. I’d have zero stress because I would not stir all day long, except to follow that warm sun puddle when it moves. I wouldn’t worry about where my next meal is coming from or if it's going to taste good. Everything I could possibly need would be provided for me by my human servant. Which means, of course, that I wouldn’t have a care in the world…unless you count making sure the servant got out of bed when I said it was time for breakfast and not when the clock said.

Yes, my cats have a great life. And I admit … I am jealous! I want to experience catdom for myself because frankly, I don’t think my kitties appreciate just how good they have it! Being human, I know they have it good, and I want some of what they’re having. It seems only fair. But alas, all I can do is dream.

Here are 5 ways I want to be more like my cats:

1. Embrace every opportunity, even those that turn out differently than expected.

Cats go with the flow, and they don’t get upset when things don’t happen the way they thought they would. They just adapt. Take Mickey, for example: he loves Cheetos, so I’ll share one with him occasionally. One day I left an open bag of Jalapeno Cheddar Cheetos on the couch while I went to get something from the kitchen. Now, if you’ve ever had those, you know they have quite a “kick.” He didn’t know; he stole one out of the bag, and ate the whole thing! Sure, it wasn’t the mild, cheesy Cheeto he was expecting, but Mickey didn’t let a little Jalapeno spice keep him from enjoying his stolen snack. (He did, however, drink a lot of water afterwards!).

2. Enjoy the simple things life offers.

Cats have a unique ability to find joy in everything, no matter how mundane it might seem. If it moves, chase it. That feather’s not a real bird? No problem! If a paper bag magically appears on the floor, turn it into a mancat cave/tactile toy. A cardboard box or a wicker basket is an open invitation for a nap. Pens become projectiles, magazines become chew toys, and every little thing lying around becomes something fun to play with.

3. Eat every meal with unbridled enthusiasm.

To say that my kitties enjoy their FELIDAE cat food immensely would be quite an understatement. Mealtime here turns into a three-ring circus; as I’m dishing out the food into their bowls on the counter, I have to dodge cats trying to trip me, remove cats from the counter and ignore the ear-splitting chorus of meows. Every day, twice a day without fail, my cats act like it’s been weeks not hours since their last meal. And when the bowls hit the floor, they gobble up the food faster than competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi in a hotdog eating contest.

4. Be persistent!

Whoever coined the term “dogged determination” has obviously never experienced the tenacity of a cat. At the very least, we need a companion term to describe the relentless way a cat will pursue something he wants. Case in point: nothing deters Rocky from trying to steal food off my plate when I eat in the living room while watching TV. He laughs at my sharp “NO!” and scoffs at the squirt bottle and the whistle (plus, just try to blow a whistle while you’re eating). Short of placing him in a room with the door shut, nothing stops him from trying every trick in the book to snag some of my food.

5. Accept imperfections.

Cats just don’t give a lick about personal appearances, and they certainly don’t strive for perfection. Flaws, it would seem, are things to be celebrated! Cats don’t care when their fur is sticking straight up or matted, when a dingleberry is dangling from their behind or when they accidentally tumble off their cat tree. They just carry on, never once wavering from the belief that they are fabulous just the way they are.

These are just five traits my cats have that I admire. There are a gazillion more, because cats rule and humans drool. What are some of the ways you would be more like cats if you could?

Top photo by Simone Tagliaferri
Bottom photo Takashi Hososhima

Read more articles by Julia Williams

Meet the 2013 PAWS Petchitecture Dog Idols

2013-05-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) is a San Francisco based non-profit organization dedicated to giving support and aid to seniors and people with disabling illnesses that make it difficult for them to feed and care for their pets. The PAWS-sponsored Petchitecture is an annual fundraiser to benefit PAWS clients and their pets. Last year's event brought in $225,000. Jason Izmirian and Michael Jennings, pet parents to the 2013 Petchitecture Dog Idols, Carmela and Chloe, had the winning bid of $7,800 on a prize package donated by CANIDAE for the auction. Part of the prize includes being featured on CANIDAE marketing materials. I spoke with Jason to find out more about the “girls” and his determination to win the CANIDAE prize package.

“We thought a prize package that would showcase just how adorable our Ladies are made sense to us. We are fans of all natural, USA made food for animals and the CANIDAE prize package was a no brainer from our perspective. We also love PAWS and what they do for the San Francisco community.” Jason and Michael are San Francisco residents; Jason leads the Talent division of a software startup company and Michael runs Global Information Technology for a business networking company.

Their dogs, Carmela and Chloe, are Tweenie Dachshunds, a size in between miniature and standard. Carmela (dapple) and Chloe (black and tan) are also sisters. When Jason first saw them at a Denver breeder’s they were three months old, racing around and playing with each other. Jason explained, “Initially, we were only going to adopt one, but when I heard there were two available, I figured if we were going to clean up poop for one pup, we might as well clean up poop for two.”

About five years ago, Carmela became a special needs dog when a Lake Tahoe vacation turned into a scary and frantic trip home for emergency surgery after Carmela jumped off a chair and ruptured a disc in her back. Not knowing what to expect or how it would affect her future, Jason and Michael did everything possible to help her through rehabilitation. Jason was in between jobs and concentrated on Carmela's needs. For six months he chauffeured her to water treadmill therapy and an acupuncturist, and worked with a therapist on her motor skills. “Our hope was she wasn't going to need wheels to help her get around, so we are grateful her determination and ours got her to where she is today. She walks a little like a ‘drunken sailor,’ but she gets around,” said Jason.

Ramps give Carmela easier access to furniture and stairs, but she needs help to go to the bathroom. Expressing her bladder has become a necessary daily routine, but Jason and Michael don’t mind. A dog sitter experienced in special needs animals takes over when the dogs can't go on trips with them, but they usually travel as a family.

Chloe and Carmela share an amazing bond and sisterly love. Chloe patiently looks after her sibling, and when they settle into a sun puddle on their special chair, Chloe allows Carmela to walk on top of her. She seems to understand that Carmela can't feel when she has her hind quarters resting on her. On walks, if Chloe gets too far ahead, she slows down, stops, turns around, and waits for Carmela to catch up. If she goes around a corner and doesn't see Carmela, she stops and waits for her so they can walk together.

Recently, Jason was faced with one of his biggest fears – the dentist. A cracked tooth required major surgery before an implant could be put in. “This was not something I was looking forward to because of my fear of dentists. On the day of my big ‘appointment’ I said to myself, Carmela has been through so much. She never cried, she was always a trooper and she always had faith in us when we were taking her to rehabilitation appointments. I thought about everything she had been through when I sat in that dental chair. I knew if she could do it, so could I…and I did thanks to her.”

Carmela and Chloe were chosen as Petchitecture Dog Idols for 2013, an honor that's brought them lots of attention. They've gone to photo shoots, are recognized on Petchitecture fliers and at PAWS events. “When we take them places, everyone calls out, ‘Hey, aren't they the PAWS puppies in that photo?’ They are getting more special attention than they are used to, but they love attention.”

I asked Jason what being dog idols meant for the girls. “It's been quite a fun year for the entire family. At the end of the day, this is about supporting a charity that Michael and I both believe in. We helped Carmela in her time of need without blinking an eye. We feel the same sort of passion about PAWS and what they are doing in the community. It's been a very special year for us all, and one we will treasure and remember for many years to come.”

The dogs love belly rubs, lying in the sun and going to the beach where Carmela runs across the sand as if she had no disability. Her back legs hop like a bunny, but she does run, and it makes Jason and Michael smile to see her enjoying herself. The girls’ Dachshund instincts come out at the park where they search for gopher holes to stick their nose into. The dog’s also love chewy bones, squeaker toys, car rides, walks and hanging out with Jason's mom in Palm Springs.

Jason, Michael, Carmela and Chloe will be attending this year’s PAWS fundraising event since the girls are the stars for 2013. If you’re in the San Francisco area and want to attend, the PAWS Petchitecture event is this Sunday, May 5, from 3-7 pm at the St. Regis. Click here for details.

Photos by Mark Rogers

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Do You Live in a Cat-Friendly City?

2013-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

I know, I know. Not many of us actually travel with our cats. Still, we read so much about dog-friendly cities, restaurants and parks, etc., that I thought it was time to study up on cat-friendly cities. And besides, I’m not really writing about cat-friendly cities to visit with your feline friend; I’m writing about cities that have a high-quality level of veterinary care and have strong local, cat-friendly laws and regulations.

Because as omnipresent as dogs may be, my cat never misses an opportunity to remind me that cats rule the world. If sheer numbers were the deciding factor, then my cat would be right: in America, cats outnumber dogs by over 10 million. That’s nearly 89 million cats sharing our homes and hearts in the United States.

The CATalyst Council is a newly-formed coalition that is singly focused on feline issues. In fact, their vision and mission, as stated on their website, is to ensure all cats are valued and cared for as pets. They go on to say: This will be accomplished by raising the level of care and welfare of cats, supported by the highest quality veterinary care, preventative medicine and cat specific products. That’s a noble and cat-approved undertaking.

This council is made up of academics, nonprofits, doctors from the veterinary community, and industry and animal welfare organizations. In an effort to shine a light on cat healthcare and establish a higher level of standardized feline care nationwide, the CATalyst Council assembled a list of cat-friendly cities.

Dan Kramer, senior marketing manager of industry relations for Pfizer Animal Health and chair of the CATalyst Council says “Cats really are America’s number one companion. Our goal is to recognize and celebrate why cats are such popular companions. We applaud the efforts of these major metropolitan areas for providing a wealth of resources for cats and their owners along with their earned accolade of being one of America’s Top Cat-Friendly Cities.”

The council studied the top 25 standard metropolitan areas carefully. Even though they were seriously looking for the best cat-friendly cities, they kept a light-hearted attitude about the analysis. For instance, they based their measures for the contest on the following: cities that had the largest cat population, the number of veterinarians that are members of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the percentage of the cities’ felines that have been micro-chipped, and the number of subscribers to a popular cat magazine. Extra points were given to cities with cat-friendly laws and if the city’s mayor owned a cat. They should have given bonus points if a majority of the cities’ cats are fed a healthy and nutritious cat food like FELIDAE.

Out of these 25 areas, they selected the top 10 cities for America’s (most?) popular and beloved pet companion.

The highest honor went to Tampa, Florida, and the city was recognized in a ceremony at the American Animal Hospital Association. The other top cities, listed in order, are: Phoenix, San Francisco, Portland (Oregon), Denver, Boston, Seattle, San Diego, Atlanta and Minneapolis. An honorable mention award was also given to Ithaca, NY because of their commitment to cat education.

Steve Dale, a journalist and board member for the Council said, “Cats outnumber dogs by nearly 10 million among the pet-owning public. However, in my work as a journalist, I’ve spoken with animal control officials, welfare organizations and veterinarians across the country and often hear that cats are more likely to be neglected than dogs, more likely to wind up in shelters and less likely to be seen by veterinarians.”

The CATalyst Council hopes the contest will educate the general public and animal shelters about cat welfare, and help raise awareness of cat healthcare so our felines are properly protected and cared for.

Top photo by Jay Greinsky
Bottom photo by William J. Sisti

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

CANIDAE Life Stages: New Look, Same Great Food!

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

New Packaging Highlights HealthPLUS Solutions™ – a Powerful Trio of Nutrition that CANIDAE Applies to Every Kibble After Cooking

The next time you purchase CANIDAE Life Stages dog food, you will notice something different. CANIDAE is introducing exciting, redesigned bags for its line of Life Stages dog food, and very soon the fresh new packaging will hit retail shelves. While the outside of the bag may be different, rest assured that what’s inside remains 100% the same. These snappy new bags are still full of the same carefully selected natural ingredients, the same trio of micronutrients applied on every piece of kibble, and the same formulations. And of course these foods continue to come with the same commitment to quality that has always gone into every product CANIDAE Natural Pet Foods makes.

HealthPLUS Solutions in Every Bite™

Part of this packaging change is to make pet owners aware of the powerful trio of nutrition that CANIDAE applies on every piece of kibble after it is cooked. CANIDAE has always added these micronutrients but has only now given this unique process a name – HealthPLUS Solutions.

This precise trio includes Probiotic ForLife Cultures to support healthy digestion, Powerful Antioxidants to help maintain a healthy immune system, and Omega 6 & 3 Fatty Acids to help provide a beautiful skin and coat.

Since that's a lot of healthy benefits in every bite, you can see why CANIDAE chose to give all three micronutrients a simple, easy to remember name!

Because all of these healthy nutrients are applied to every piece of kibble only after cooking, your pet gets healthy benefits in every single bite. It’s all part of the CANIDAE commitment to A Healthier Today for a Longer Tomorrow™.

Why did the packaging change?

In addition to communicating HealthPLUS Solutions, CANIDAE listened to suggestions from you, our customers, for their new packaging. If you’ve ever interacted with CANIDAE customer service, you know how easy they are to communicate with. They make themselves available through their sponsorship of this blog, where you are encouraged to leave comments. They are also available via their lively Facebook Page, a virtual Suggestion Box and a contact form on their main webpage.

Through these avenues, CANIDAE picked up helpful recommendations which resulted in new consumer-friendly, informative packaging that offers eye-catching shelf appeal in the store, along with easy-to-read product features and benefits for consumers.

What makes CANIDAE Life Stages dog food so nutritious?

* Protein rich recipes comprised of carefully selected, high quality natural ingredients, without the cheap fillers found in lesser quality food.

* A special blend of ten skin and coat conditioners proven to produce a healthy, luxurious coat.

* Guaranteed levels of two of nature’s most powerful antioxidants – Vitamins E and C – help support a strong immune system and protect healthy cells.

* Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and herbs provide a nutritious blend of natural ingredients.

* A powerful trio of micronutrients at guaranteed levels.

* Guaranteed levels of probiotics (1 million CFU).

* Highest levels of Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids and digestive enzymes.

* Essential vitamins and chelated minerals.

* Brown rice provides whole grain goodness packed with B vitamins and minerals.

* Flax seed provides Omega 3 fatty acids for skin and coat health, and it soothes the stomach, too.

Highest standards of quality and safety

CANIDAE is a family-owned and operated business with its own research and development center and manufacturing facility. All CANIDAE products are made in the U.S.A. with only the highest quality natural ingredients. What you won’t ever find in CANIDAE pet food is corn, soy, wheat, fillers, antibiotics, hormones, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

So while the CANIDAE Life Stages packaging has a fresh new look, rest assured that the kibble inside the bag remains the very same nutritious, premium-quality pet food it's always been.

How to Tell if You're a Hopeless Pet Lover

2013-04-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

I don't remember a time when I didn't have a pet around. Not even when I went to college. Yep, I snuck my kitten in to be my dorm roommate. I admit to being a hopeless pet lover; it’s a label I'm happy to wear since I can’t seem to get all of the dog and cat hair brushed off my clothes. When a pet has captured our heart, the only thing we can do is look for those telltale signs that show how hopeless of a pet lover we've become. Take this fun quiz to see just how hopeless!

1. The color coded pie chart you made for household expenses (red), entertainment (blue), food (yellow) and pet expenses (green)...
A. Has way more green on it than any other color.
B. Was eaten by the dog, who mistook it for homework.
C. Has become the cat's favorite place to sit since you canceled the newspaper to cut back on household expenses.

2. After you've met the new neighbors, you...
A. Can remember the names of their pets, but not the names of their kids.
B. Joke after they leave about their dog's fancy collar and coat while adjusting your dog's biker vest and Doggles.
C. Wonder if their pie chart looks like yours.

3. People know you have a dog just by looking inside your vehicle because...
A. All of the windows are “decorated” with nose prints and paw prints.
B. Chew toys, tennis balls, dog treats, leashes, water bowls and “dog doody pick up bags” litter the backseat.
C. You have to remove the blanket covering the passenger seat before allowing someone to sit there.

4. In the morning when you wake up, you don't mind that your pet is...
A. Draped over your head with their tail tickling your nose.
B. Sleeping where you started out the night before and you're now clinging to the side of the mattress.
C. Sitting on top of you staring (and you know she wants fed, even if it is just half past dawn).

5. You've learned to think outside the box to...
A. Position the garbage can so your pet hopefully can't get into it while you're at work.
B. Find decorative ways to cover up stains on the carpet or furniture.
C. Remove pet hair quickly from furniture when unexpected company shows up at your door.

6. You don't have any small children at home, but you still have...
A. A kiddie pool in your backyard for the dog to play in.
B. Baby gates attached to doors.
C. Childproof locks on your kitchen cabinets.

7. When you put your hand in your pocket, you find...
A. Your pet's favorite CANIDAE or FELIDAE treat.
B. A squeaky toy that's seen better days.
C. A cheap lint roller with pet hair, loose change or other items stuck on it.

8. After a fresh snow has fallen, you...
A. Shovel an area in the yard so your dog has a snow-free patch to stand where his feet won't get so cold.
B. Wrap your winter coat tighter around you and hop from foot to foot to keep your feet warm while your dog takes his sweet time finding the perfect spot to do his business.
C. Spend your time between watching a movie and mopping up paw prints on the kitchen floor.

9. You are entertaining dinner guests, and before serving you...
A. Check the ice cubes to make sure there’s no pet hair frozen in them.
B. Check to make sure the cat isn't lying in the middle of the table.
C. Stuff cloves in the pot roast to hide suspicious bite marks.

10. You write up a shopping list and...
A. Suddenly realize that your pet eats better than you do.
B. Decide that making a pie chart for expenses is way too complicated.
C. Know exactly where to find pet related stuff at the store, but have to search for yogurt.

11. Every year at Christmas time, you...
A. Accept the challenge of wrapping gifts without getting pet hair stuck to the tape.
B. Search the pet stores for the newest toys and clothes.
C. Dress your pet up for the family photo that goes with each Christmas card.

If you answered yes, been there done that, or gave any kind of an affirmative answer to all or most of the questions, then you are a hopeless pet owner. But not to worry – you have a lot of company! We don't need to take a quiz to know how important our pets are to us, and I have a feeling we wouldn't change a thing.

Top photo by Josh Henderson
Bottom photo by Jeffrey Beall

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Cats in Commercials

2013-04-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Julia Williams

It used to be that the only time you’d ever see a cat in a TV commercial was when they were advertising some cat food or other. One finicky cat even became a household name as a result of those ads, but felines doing things on cue besides eating? That was rare back in the day.

Dogs on the other hand, were seen in television ads a lot more frequently. I’m guessing this was partly because dogs are typically easier to train than cats and therefore easier to “direct” in the commercials, and also to portray the “man’s best friend” motto.

Nowadays, cats in commercials are just as prevalent as dogs. Yay for the kitties! It’s about time cats got equal ad time on the boob tube.

Here are a few of my favorite TV commercials featuring cats.

Cats in TV Commercials

The Cat’s Pride Fresh and Light kitty litter commercial elicits a giggle every time I watch the “kitty masseuse” karate chop the girl’s back, and when they both relax after the massage with cucumber slices over their eyes, I just lose it.

Fresh and Light also has another hilarious commercial featuring a cat who keels over from the smell of the litter box. A feline friend administers CPR, and all ends well in kitty litter land.

The kitty known as Keyboard Cat became an internet sensation in 2007 when he “played” an upbeat rhythym on an electric keyboard. Now, Keyboard Cat can be seen in a TV commercial for Wonderful Pistachios. It’s a short but catchy ad, featuring the slogan “Keyboard Cat Does it Purrfectly.”

The Cowboy Herding Cats commercial debuted during the 2000 Super Bowl. It was said that while the herds of cats and the funny cowboys herding them made for a very memorable ad – considered one of the best Super Bowl ads of all time – many people couldn’t recall what company it was for (EDS, an HP company).

Cats skydiving to the tune of “I Believe I Can Fly” are featured in an ad for Folksam, a Swedish insurance company. Yeah, having nine lives probably does make the act of hurtling toward the ground at warp speed more fun! The video went viral as a result of animal lovers who thought the cats were actually skydiving. They weren’t – it’s called special effects, people! – but it’s still a cute commercial. The insurance company wrote: “Note that we love cats and that this movie is obviously the trick shot. We have of course followed the Animal Welfare Act and not thrown out a few cuties from an airplane.”

The “Cats with Thumbs” commercial for Cravendale Milk is one of the funniest I’ve ever seen. Cats with opposable thumbs are shown bouncing a ball, filing their nails, doing needlepoint and reading a book. The voiceover says “Imagine that. Cats with thumbs. And what if they got together? Gangs of cats with thumbs!” Hilarious stuff, that.

Another commercial with cats that will cause you to LOL (and maybe even spew your coffee) is the Cat Fish commercial for Avista Language School. A goldfish is swimming in a bowl on the table while a cat stealthily sneaks up, while Jaws-like music adds drama. Just when you think the little fishy is going to be called “lunch,” he barks and scares the cat away! The tagline: Learn Another Language.

If you want to see more memorable cat ads, just search “funny cat commercials” on YouTube. You could ~~waste an entire day~~ enjoy yourself immensely watching all of the cute cat commercials. Just don’t do that at work, unless you work from home like I do!

Photo by Cloudzilla

Read more articles by Julia Williams

Adventures in Aging: Living with a Senior Dog

2013-04-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

"Bear"

By Suzanne Alicie

The past year has opened my eyes to the joys (?) of living with an aging/elderly dog. Bear is almost 11, and she is showing her age.

As a fairly large dog, she is experiencing some arthritis and hip dysplasia symptoms. We’ve had to get her a thick comfy therapeutic bed, which she loves. The hard part is convincing her that she is too old and stiff to still go under our bed. It’s always been her favorite place. When she gets under there, I find myself having to pick up the bed enough for her to stand up and limp out.

When her hip locks up on her, I sit in the floor and massage her leg while she whimpers. This is a very emotional thing for me, because I can’t stand when she cries. Fortunately this is not a daily thing, and if I can keep her from going under the bed or jumping around and acting like a much younger dog, then she doesn’t hurt too much. So far we’ve been pretty lucky that Bear hasn’t developed more health problems like the ones Ruthie Bently discussed in Common Health Issues for Older Dogs.

With her old age, Bear has begun to be quite moody. If you’ve read some of my other posts about Bear you know that she is not a very social dog. She loves her family and is tolerant of our guests, but lately she makes it clear that she doesn’t like people visiting. When someone comes to the door she has always barked until we let them in. Once she saw us let them in and she was able to sniff them she’d be quiet and go lay down somewhere. These days when anyone comes over she barks and barks. They go into another room and she quiets down until she hears one of them laugh or talk and she barks some more. It’s almost like she forgets someone is here until she hears their voice, then she has to warn them that it’s her house.

She’s also become much more stubborn and demanding, as if she thinks that her age entitles her to whatever she wants. Rather than waiting for me to call her and have her sit and shake for a CANIDAE TidNips treat, she “yells” at me. She usually chooses while I’m in the middle of work to decide that I need to get up and give her a treat, and she won’t be quiet until I do. Needless to say, I feel as if I’m the one who is trained lately. I’m taking notes though, because when I get older I will need to remember these tricks to get my kids to wait on me hand and foot too!

Being finicky has never been an issue with Bear. She loves food and doesn’t care where or who it comes from, but she recently seems to have a serious problem with anyone but me feeding her. She was yelling at me a few weeks ago while I was watching television, and I knew it wasn’t a treat she wanted – her food bowl was empty. So I asked her Daddy to feed her. He went in and put the food in her bowl, petted her and came back to sit down. She didn’t eat; instead she ran to me and continued barking. I had to get up and go touch her food bowl before she would eat.

I thought parenting a child was difficult, but having an old dog is like having a toddler who is clingy, demanding, grouchy and in need of a nap. However, Bear is family so as she becomes a grouchy old lady we’ll just love her anyway. We know our time with her is limited, so we try to make sure every day is a good one for her and continue to fill her life with love and comfort no matter how moody and demanding she is. That’s all part of responsible pet ownership; dogs are a lifetime commitment, from the cuddly puppy to the destructive “toddler phase” to the joyous mature dog days and yes, even the old, aching and moody days of aging.

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie

Fascinating Dog Facts

2013-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lundehund

By Linda Cole

Dogs are such interesting creatures. We’ve had an association with them for centuries, but scientists have only recently begun to understand how unique and special they are. Because of selective breeding over the years, we've been able to tame the wild beast, so to speak, but there are still mysteries we need to unravel. Most of our modern day breeds were created just a short time ago in relation to how long man and dogs have been working together as a team. We are still discovering interesting dog facts about our canine friends dog lovers may not know.

Research has shown that children who grow up with pets in the home have 31% fewer respiratory tract infections and 44% fewer ear infections, and are 29% less likely to need antibiotics. A dog in the home can even help protect kids from the common cold and reduce the chance of your child developing asthma.

The Norwegian Lundehund, native to Norway, has some rather unique characteristics not found in any other dog breed. The dog has six toes on each foot, erect ears that can be folded closed at will – forwards or backwards – and they can bend their head backwards so far it touches their backbone. The breed is also called the Norwegian Puffin Dog; Lunde means puffin, and hund means dog.

Greyhounds can reach a top speed of 45 mph, making them the fastest dog on earth, but the Siberian Husky has endurance to outlast most other breeds. A team of Huskies can travel 100 or more miles per day at an average speed of 11 mph.

We know dogs were the first animals domesticated by us, but it's still not known exactly when that took place. The belief by researchers is that domestication took place around 15,000 years ago, but a 50,000 year old cave painting in Spain shows what experts believe is a dog-like figure in the painting.

A dog's nose print is as unique and individual as our fingerprints, and can be used to correctly identify a specific dog. Adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth, and their heart beats 70 - 120 times a minute. Their normal body temperature is 101.2 degrees F, and it's estimated some dogs can out smell us by 1 million times.

Because a dog's ears rotate like tiny radars, they are able to pick up and locate where a sound is coming from in only 6/100ths of a second. Dogs also have around 100 different facial expressions, and the majority of them are made with their ears.

Saluki

The Saluki is believed to be the oldest dog breed known to man, and was considered a royal dog in Egypt. These dogs were held in such high esteem that when they died their bodies were mummified, just like the great Pharaohs.

The dog on a box of Cracker Jacks is named Bingo, and the boy is called Sailor Jack. A German immigrant, Frederick William Rueckheim, invented the tasty snack in 1893. The registered trademark is modeled after Rueckheim's grandson, Robert, and his dog.

The myth that dogs are color blind is not true. They can see some colors, just not the same way we do. Dogs can see yellow, blue, and gray. A green, yellow or orange toy has a yellowish hue to dogs. Violet looks blue, and blue-green appears gray to our canine friends. Red is very difficult for dogs to see.

Dogs and cats can suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in the same way it affects us. If your usually active pet appears to have the winter blues, get him engaged in some fun inside/outside games or a walk around the block to stretch his legs and stimulate his mind.

In 1990, a German Shepherd guide dog named Orient led his blind owner, Bill Irwin, the entire 2,144 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Irwin, with Orient's help, is the first blind hiker to walk the entire distance of the trail.

Jerome Napoleon Charles Bonaparte, Napoleon's youngest brother, was walking his wife's dog in Central Park when he tripped over the dog's leash. He broke his neck, and died in 1945 from his injury.

It was the German government who first trained guide dogs after WWI to help the country's blind war veterans have a better quality of life.

The Canary Islands wasn't named after a little yellow bird. The island belongs to Spain, and when it was first settled, large dogs called Canes were living on the island. It became known as the “Island of the Dogs,” and is named after the large canines.

The only dog breed that doesn't bark is the Basenji. However, he does make a yodel sound.

The number one health problem in dogs is obesity. The best way to keep your pet at a healthy weight is to make sure he gets plenty of exercise, and feed him a premium quality dog food like CANIDAE Life Stages.

Top photo by Scarlett2308
Bottom photo by Cayenne2006

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The PATSY Awards for Animal Actors

2013-04-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

Actors who give an especially great performance in a movie or television series are usually awarded with an Oscar or an Emmy. That's all well and good, but what about those actors from the animal world? Animal actors are just as deserving of awards for exceptional performance so in 1939, the PATSY Awards were created to do just that.

What are the PATSY Awards?

Created by the Hollywood office of the American Humane Association, PATSY was originally an acronym for Picture Animal Top Star of the Year. In 1958, the PATSY Awards were expanded to include television performers and the acronym Performing Animal Television Star of the Year was added.

The PATSY Awards were originally created with the intent to honor animal performers after a horse was killed during the filming of the movie “Jessie James,” starring Tyrone Powers.

The first actual recipient of a PATSY came in 1951 when Francis the Talking Mule was honored. Who presented Francis with the first PATSY? None other than Ronald Reagan himself, the actor-turned-President who was known for his work with a chimpanzee in the Bonzo movies.

The PATSY Awards were given in four categories: Canine, equine, wild and special. Since there are so many Famous Cat Actors, I wondered why cats didn’t get a category all to themselves. It turns out that cats were thrown into the “special” category along with pigs, goats and everything in between.

The PATSY Awards were given annually until 1986 when the awards ended due to lack of funding.

Who were some of the PATSY winners?

Francis the Talking Mule won several PATSY Awards. Other movie and television performance winners in the equine and canine categories include Shaggy the dog, from “The Shaggy Dog,” Lassie the dog, from “Lassie,” Spike the dog, from “Old Yeller” and Flicka the horse, from “My Friend Flicka.”

While the majority of PATSY winners come from the equine and canine categories, there are plenty of winners from the wild and special categories.

Remember Arnold the pig from the television series “Green Acres?” Arnold won two PATSY Awards. Orangey the cat won two PATSY Awards, one for “Breakfast at Tiffany's” and one for “Rhubarb.” Pyewacket the cat won a PATSY in 1959 for the motion picture “Bell, Book and Candle.”

Some wild animal winners of PATSY Awards include Jackie the lion, who won several PATSY Awards during the early 1950s. Other unusual wild animals earning PATSY's include Esmerelda the seal (1955 – “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”), Samantha the goose (1957 – “Friendly Persuasion”), Henry the rabbit (1959 – “The Geisha Boy”), Herman the pigeon (1960 – “The Gazebo”), Sydney the elephant (1963 – “Billy Rose's Jumbo”), Raunchy the jaguar (1964 – “Rampage”), Flipper the dolphin (1966 and 1967 – “Flipper”) and Vindicator the steer (1967 – “The Rare Breed”).

Even though the PATSY Awards ended in 1986, the idea behind the awards hasn't been forgotten. Broadway actress and animal advocate Gretchen Wyler founded the Genesis Awards in 1986 as a means of recognizing individuals in the news and entertainment media who raise awareness about animal issues. Even though the Genesis Awards did not replace the PATSY Awards, this awards ceremony became a new means of keeping animals in the entertainment industry in the spotlight.

In 2011, the American Humane Society created a new award to honor animal performers. Dubbed the “Pawscars” as a play on the Oscars, this award was described as an animal version of an Oscar-like awards ceremony. The American Humane Society is responsible for overseeing and disclaiming that animals were not harmed during the making of a film or television show.

Although the PATSY Awards are no longer given, the glamorous years of Hollywood and the PATSY Awards were a special time. PATSY Award winners may have passed on, but their legacy in the entertainment industry continues to be remembered.

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

Why Do Small Dogs Pick Fights with Big Dogs?

2013-04-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

I wasn't expecting to adopt another dog until one day my neighbor came over with a tiny puppy tucked under her arm. As she explained why she was there, the pup stared at me, her bright eyes sparkling with personality that would have melted any dog lover's heart. Before I knew it, the pup was nestled in my arms, giving me kisses. Riley is a Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix, and she's the smallest one in my pack of much larger dogs, but her attitude is definitely “Don't mess with me.” One would think a small dog would show a little respect to a dog towering over her, but that would be ignoring the tenacity of most little dogs. So why do some small dogs pick fights with larger dogs?

One theory posed by vets is that a lot of small dogs tend to spend more time in their owners arms, giving them a higher position where they can view a larger dog from above. We have a tendency to be more protective of a small dog, especially if there are larger dogs in the family. To prevent small dog syndrome, I treat Riley just like my other dogs, and I don’t let her get away with doing things I wouldn't allow the bigger dogs to do. We don't pick her up and carry her around, and we let the dogs resolve minor disagreements themselves. The alpha dog in a pack isn't always the biggest dog; sometimes it is the smallest one.

Like larger dog breeds, small breeds were bred to do a specific job. Some were developed to be companion dogs, happy to lounge away their days in the lap of the one they love. But most small breeds were created to hunt vermin or prey. These little canines had to be feisty, tenacious, brave and independent. They needed a fierce attitude to stand up to sometimes larger prey, with an equal amount of attitude. As far as the little dog goes, his size has nothing to do with it. It's his super sized willingness to fight that's important.

Some small dogs were bred to be watchdogs and warn their owner of strangers or wild animals. Tibetan Spaniels, tipping the scale at 15 pounds, would lounge around on top of monastery walls where they could see vast distances with their keen eyesight. If they saw someone approaching or wild animals roaming about, they sent out an alarm to the monks below. Regardless of their size, all dogs take their job seriously.

Smaller dogs can also be a bit more nervous, and may feel scared around much larger dogs, which causes them to overreact in a defensive manner. After all, a dog is still a dog no matter how big or small he is. If we found ourselves around giants capable of pushing us around or trampling on our toes, we'd be nervous and defensive, too.

Poor socialization skills add to a defensive attitude. When any size dog doesn't know how to greet another dog in a calm and respectful way, it can quickly escalate into a fight. If the dog is little, he's more likely to be the one that ends up needing to see the vet. It's important to make sure your small dog is introduced to all kinds of environments, people and other dogs or cats, so they can learn how to properly deal with situations that may arise.

A canine with small dog syndrome is sending a signal to his owner that he's nervous, scared, not sure how to react and not sure who his leader is. He does what's natural to him and lashes out with aggression, thinking he's on his own and has to take care of himself. The best solution for avoiding problems with small dog syndrome is to treat a little dog as if he's the size of a Great Dane.

It's important to understand what small dog syndrome is – it has nothing to do with being jealous or protective. If your small dog sits on your lap snapping at other people or pets, is constantly jumping up on your legs, or whines and barks to get your attention, those are signs of small dog syndrome.

One of the best ways to protect your small dog and keep him from picking fights with larger dogs is to make sure he sees you as his leader, and follows your commands. Teaching your dog basic commands, and rewarding him with his favorite CANIDAE treat, will strengthen the bond between you. Positive reinforcement also builds trust and respect. Most dogs, regardless of size, just want to be a dog, without the responsibility of leadership.

Photos by Out.of.Focus

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Can Dogs and Cats Cry?

2013-04-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Julia Williams

Have you ever seen your pet cry? And by “cry,” I mean actual tears from their eyes as an emotional response. Most people would say no; the general consensus is that animals lack the capacity for such a thing. We know that animals can “tear up” as a result of allergies, dust, upper respiratory infections, pollutants and such, but crying as an emotional response is believed impossible by most.

I don’t really like that word “impossible,” though. It would imply that we humans think we know everything there is to know about the emotional lives of animals. But how can we? Unless we are a dog, we can’t know what is in a dog’s mind or heart. We can form an opinion based on science and personal experience, but I think it would be arrogant for any human to say they know with certainty what emotions a dog or cat is capable of feeling.

Many scientists definitely have their own rigid thinking about the emotional capacity of animals. They base their opinion on carefully controlled research rather than the one-on-one bonding that takes place between people and their beloved pets. But here’s the thing: a recent study proved that people could tell what emotion a dog was experiencing by looking at photographs of the dog’s face. The photos were taken after introducing stimuli designed to elicit a specific reaction from the dog.

Happiness was correctly identified by 88% of the study participants; anger was correctly identified by 70%. So if we can tell by a dog’s face whether he is happy, angry, sad, surprised or afraid, is it farfetched to believe we’ve only scratched the surface in terms of the emotional capacity of animals? I don’t think so.

Jeffrey Masson, author of the bestselling book When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals, believes that animals do lead complex emotional lives. To support his theory, Masson found hundreds of anecdotes from the published works and field studies of noted behaviorists, including Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Cynthia Moss.

Few scientists have acknowledged or researched animal emotions. Yet “most people who work closely with animals, such as animal trainers, take it as a matter of fact that animals have emotions,” wrote Masson. “Training an animal will meet with little success if the trainer has no insight into the animal’s feelings.”

Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman also believes that animals lead complex emotional lives. “Science can't prove it, but there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that dogs and cats have real feelings, just as powerful as our own. It's just that I have never heard of a case of a dog or cat getting upset or depressed, and then crying real tears as a response,” said Dodman.

Searching online, I found a site that discussed the idea of animals crying tears as an emotional response. The writer asked for stories from people who had seen their animal cry, and the responses poured in. Nearly 100 people recounted tales of their pet crying; they spoke of tears of sadness, heartache, loneliness, frustration, tears of missing another animal or a person…even tears of joy. Could they all be wrong? Could each of those stories have a medical explanation for the tears?

Sure. But I like to think it’s equally possible that the anecdotes are in fact, proof that cats and dogs can cry. I’ve never seen it with my own eyes, but does that mean it’s not possible? I can’t see the air, electricity or Mars, but I believe these things exist. We can’t see our emotions either, but there’s no doubt we all have them.

Have you ever seen a dog or cat cry real tears as an emotional response? Please share your story in the comments!

Top photo by kitty.green66
Bottom photo by Colin Davis

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Top 10 Poison Dangers for Dogs

2013-04-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

It’s that time again. Spring is upon us, and my neighbors are fertilizing their lawns and spraying all kinds of insecticides to kill bugs. It always makes me nervous when they’re poisoning up their adjacent yard; I’m sure some of the toxic chemicals migrate over into our space. To educate myself, I consulted the Pet Poison Helpline and saw that they have an updated list of potential poisons in our homes and yards.

The Pet Poison Helpline is a valuable resource for pet people. They log every call they get, and each year they examine their records to determine what type of poisons garnered the most calls. So even though we’ve written other articles here on the CANIDAE RPO blog about the plants, foods or chemicals that can be hazardous to your pet, as a responsible pet owner it’s good to stay updated on the subject. With that in mind, here are the most common dangers for dogs, listed in order of the frequency of calls into the helpline. Interestingly, the list starts with food items because food accounted for the highest number of poisoning calls.

1. Foods, especially xylitol, chocolate and grapes/raisins

Xylitol is getting a lot of attention lately because of claims that tout its health benefits, including reducing the risk of tooth decay. Many sugarless gums and candies now contain xylitol, and this sweetener is dangerous to dogs. Even a small amount ingested by your pup can result in a potentially fatal drop in blood sugar or even liver failure.

Most of us know that chocolate is toxic to dogs. The chemical in chocolate that makes it dangerous for dogs is theobromine, which is a relative of caffeine. The darker, bitter chocolates are the most dangerous. The fact that raisins and grapes are toxic foods for dogs isn’t as widely known. Be cautious; if a dog eats raisins or grapes it can result in kidney failure.

2. Insecticides

If it can kill insects, it can kill other things. Ingestion of insecticides and pesticides were the second most common call to the helpline. What I didn’t know is that one of the most dangerous ingredients is organophosphate (e.g., disulfoton) which is often found in rose-care products. This toxic chemical can be fatal to dogs, even when ingested in small amounts, so rose gardeners please take note.

Even though spot-applied flea and tick treatments work well for dogs, you have to be extremely careful if you are a mixed-species household because they can be very toxic to cats. Read the labels carefully and look out for products that contain pyrethrins or pyrethroids, which are a derivative of the Chrysanthemum flower. These chemicals are severely toxic if directly applied or ingested by cats.

3. Mouse and rat poisons

Another case of the obvious; if it kills rodents it can kill other things. There are a variety of chemicals in mouse and rat poisons, all with diverse active ingredients and different types of action. Therefore all of them, regardless of what the packaging claims, are potentially poisonous to dogs. They can cause severe vomiting, internal bleeding, brain swelling or kidney failure. Furthermore, if your pets eat a mouse or rat that was poisoned by rodenticides, it can cause what’s called relay toxicity, meaning they can be poisoned via the dead animal.

4. Human ibuprofen and naproxen pain relief drugs

Common NSAID pain relief drugs, which include Advil, Aleve and Motrin, can cause severe problems to dogs when ingested. These pain relievers can cause your pet stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as potential kidney failure. You should never treat your pet with human drugs of any sort without consulting your veterinarian.

5. Common household cleaners

Powerful cleaning products carry the highest risk to animals due to their corrosive properties. These household cleaners include rust removers, toilet bowel cleaners, calcium/lime removers and drain cleaners. And remember, just because a cleaner claims to be “natural,” it’s not necessarily safe. With all household cleaners, it’s better to err on the side of caution and keep them all out of your pet’s reach.

6. Human antidepressant drugs

Of all the prescription drugs, antidepressants account for the highest number of emergency calls into the helpline. When ingested, these drugs can cause neurological problems in dogs like high levels of agitation, sedation, tremors and seizures. Please keep all human medications away from your pets.

7. Fertilizers

The Pet Poison Helpline says that some fertilizers are fairly safe, but I still keep my dogs away from them. Apparently, certain organic fertilizers that contain iron, blood meal, bone meal and feather meal may be especially appealing to dogs. Consuming large quantities can cause severe pancreatitis or even bind together in the stomach and obstruct the gastrointestinal tract.

8. Human acetaminophen drugs and cough/cold medications

Considerable amounts of acetaminophen (Tylenol) can lead to severe liver failure in dogs. Cat people should be doubly cautions about acetaminophen because it poses a more significant threat – one Tylenol can be fatal to felines.

9. Human amphetamine drugs

Drugs that are used to treat ADD and ADHD, like Adderall and Concerta, contain strong stimulants. The smallest amount ingested by a dog can cause life-threatening heart problems, tremors, seizures and elevated body temperatures and heart problems.

10. Veterinary pain relievers

Rimadyl is a veterinary-specific, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is often prescribed by veterinarians for inflammation, osteoarthritis and pain management for dogs. Be careful, though. Over ingestion can result in severe gastric ulceration and acute kidney failure in dogs.

Top photo by Crystal Rolfe
Bottom photo by Tony Alter

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Give Your “Fur Baby” a Hug for National Pet Month

2013-04-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

National Pet Month is a perfect time to celebrate how special our furry best friends are! This month dedicated to pets was started twenty years ago in England as a way to promote the love of pets with five specific goals.

1. Responsible Pet Ownership

Bringing a pet into your home is a serious decision. Pets aren't bookends or accessories, and it's important to get a pet for the right reasons, as well as to find one that fits your lifestyle. There are many considerations to think about before adopting a pet, because you are making a commitment to be a responsible pet owner for their lifetime.

We want to make sure our pets are up to date on their vaccinations, get enough exercise, have a safe and comfortable place to sleep at night, and eat nutritious food like CANIDAE All Life Stages dog food or FELIDAE cat food to help them maintain a proper weight and stay healthy. It's our job to worry about our furry friends and make sure we have a plan in place for emergencies and a pet first aid kit for unexpected needs.

2. Benefits of Owning a Pet

Children who grow up in homes with a pet are less likely to develop allergies, and being exposed to a pet in the first year of their life may have a positive impact on their developing immune system. Studies have shown that pets help kids with social, emotional, cognitive and physical development, and help teach a child responsibility and empathy. Having a pet at home helps us recover faster from an illness or surgery and they help lower stress levels, which reduces the heart rate and blood pressure.

Pets are even good therapists for us. Only a pet will give us unconditional love and listen to us without judging or being critical. The act of petting a dog or cat calms the person stroking them. Researchers are still trying to figure out why cat owners have fewer strokes than non cat owners. Science may not have all of the answers, but they do know that owning a pet is good for the body and soul.

3. Raise Awareness to Services from Pet Professionals

One aspect of being a responsible pet owner is finding a qualified veterinarian you trust. We depend on our vet to help us keep our animals healthy, and it's comforting to know they are only a phone call away. You can turn to your vet for advice, recommendations and proper health care when it's needed. Dog trainers teach us how to educate our dogs. Animal behaviorists and veterinary behaviorists help us learn how to deal with behavior issues in pets and help correct behavioral problems. And animal researchers dig into the mind and soul of pets, reminding us how amazing and special our pets are.

4. Raise Awareness to the Role of Service Animals

Service animals help people with disabilities live as normal of a life as they can. With the help of a well trained dog, someone living with a disability can have an independent and full life. When it comes to aiding people, it seems like there's almost nothing we can't teach a dog to do. And canines are more than willing to assist us. Whether it's detecting low blood sugar in a diabetic, helping a child with autism cope, or alerting their owner of an impending seizure, the loyalty and dedication of service animals is second to none.

5. Raise Awareness for Pet Adoptions

Adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue group truly does save a life. You never know where you will find your best four legged friend. Hollywood animal trainers have long known that their next pet movie star is waiting in a shelter somewhere. The vast majority of shelter pets are well behaved, smart and eager for “their” human to walk through the door.

National Pet Month is a time to celebrate the love our pets give us. A common goal should be to improve the lives of pets no matter where they live. Our pets are there by our side and would happily follow us no matter where we go. When you have a strong bond and the trust of a pet, you can see their unconditional love shining out from their eyes. Once a pet gets into your heart, their love will remain with you for your entire lifetime, because it's impossible to forget the love they gave you.

Top photo by coda.allegra
Bottom photo by Melissa Jonas

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Choosing the Right Toys for Your Dog

2013-04-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Lisa Mason

Your dog will become bored playing with the same old toy day after day. The toy will lay there untouched and he will look at you mournfully. This means he has lost interest in that toy and needs another one. Multiple toys of different shapes, materials and textures will allow your dog to choose the right toy for his mood.

Every Dog Needs a Chew Toy

Chew toys are a must for your dog. Sometimes a dog just wants to chew, and if he doesn’t have a toy, your furniture and shoes may be in trouble. Chew toys will satisfy the need to chew, and it will also exercise your dog’s jaws and help clean his teeth.

Make sure to pick a chew toy that is appropriate for your dog’s size. If the chew toy is too large for your dog to get a good grip on, he will get frustrated and find something else to chew on. If the chew toy is small, a large dog could choke on it.

Other Great Choices for Dog Toys

Balls and Frisbees should be next on your dog’s toy list. Even a small dog will enjoy chasing a ball or a Frisbee, and its great exercise for them. Small dogs that don’t play outside a lot will enjoy rolling the ball around the house and trying to capture it. Give the dog several balls in varying sizes. A ball should just barely fit in the dog’s mouth for him to carry it, or it should be larger for rolling games. Never let a large dog play with a tiny ball as he may choke on it.

Also choose a few comfort toys for cuddling. At times a dog just wants something soft and cozy when he takes a nap. Rope toys and soft plush toys are great for this. They also serve double duty as toss and fetch toys in the house. When your dog gets tired, he will grab one of his soft, cuddly toys and take it to his bed to lie down with.

Training Your Dog to Choose Toys

Dogs learn by word association, so you can easily teach him to fetch the right toy. Teach the dog the word “ball” by playing a game of fetch and repeating the word ball. Switch the toys and teach him “rope” or “bunny.” Now line up all of the toys and tell him to get a specific one. It may take a while for him to figure out which toy is which. Don’t give up. It is a fun game that will stimulate your dog’s brain.

If you are concerned about so many dog toys lying around the house, provide him with his own toy box. You can make a game of teaching him to pick up all the toys and put them away. Make sure to reward a job well done by giving your dog his favorite CANIDAE treat. Offering a variety of safe dog toys will keep your dog from becoming bored and unhappy. In the end, a few extra toys may save your table legs or shoes!

Top photo by Oakley Originals
Bottom photo by M. Anima

Read more articles by Lisa Mason

Common Misconceptions about Dog Behavior

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

The dictionary defines a misconception as “A false or mistaken view, opinion or attitude.” When someone believes something about dog behavior that isn't true, it can put the dog at risk, and possibly damage a relationship with a pet. Unfounded misconceptions can even jeopardize the life of some dog breeds. Dog behavior isn't always easy to figure out, though, and misconceptions are common. Here are six of them:

1. Aggression runs in some breeds

Dog breeds were developed to do specific jobs for us. For some breeds, toughness, determination and a fighting spirit was essential for them to do their jobs. Dalmatians, for example, were used for centuries as guard dogs, war dogs, border security and sentinels. They ran with horse drawn carriages, protecting wealthy riders from robbers. When necessary, a Dalmatian can stand up to a foe with a determined defiance. Nevertherless, a well socialized and trained Dalmatian is a wonderful family pet and has a unique ability to calm horses.

At one time, Pit Bulls were used to bait bulls. When that was outlawed, irresponsible owners threw them into illegal dog fighting rings. Pit Bulls were once “America's Nanny Dog.” In the care of a responsible pet owner who understands the needs of a particular breed and the importance of proper training, socializing and respect, no breed is more aggressive than others. However, there are harder to control breeds that should never be in the hands of someone who isn't an expert in the breed and doesn't know how to take the lead role. Dog experts harp about finding the right dog for your lifestyle for a good reason.

2. You can't fix an aggressive or anti-social dog

Many dogs rescued from dog fighting operations have been successfully rehabilitated and placed in new homes, including ones with kids. Dogs live in the now, leave the past behind, and don't hold grudges. Any bad behavior can be corrected, but it takes time, commitment, patience, understanding and leadership. Depending on the type of aggression, a professional may be needed. Aggression could be indicating an underlying medical issue, and pain can cause a dog to be aggressive. It's important to recognize and take immediate steps to change unwanted behavior.

3. Small dogs don't need exercise and are easier to care for

This misconception can threaten any household when a Terrier or Chihuahua goes off his proverbial rocker, barking, snapping and growling his displeasure. A small dog needs to be treated just like a larger dog and given proper exercise, discipline and training. Regardless of how large or small a dog is, they all need stimulation both in mind and body to keep them well adjusted and happy. Small dog syndrome is a common behavior problem when owners don't take the lead role in their dog's life. It's up to you to teach your pet limitations and rules you expect him to follow.

4. A dog needs love more than anything else

You can shower a dog with all the love you have, but if you don't have his trust and respect, he won't return your affection. Dogs understand the social rules of a pack and naturally look to their owner to lead them. Bonding won't happen until you've earned your dog's trust and respect. Love should always guide your actions when interacting with your dog, but he also needs proper training, fair discipline and a compassionate leader he can look up to. That's how you earn his trust, respect and love.

5. Dogs are fine sharing one food bowl

How would you like it if every time you sat down to a meal, someone sat beside you eating from your plate? Dogs should have their own food bowl. This helps prevent food aggression and makes it easier for you to know if your dogs are eating enough food or overeating. A premium quality dog food like CANIDAE All Life Stages can help your pet feel satisfied and keep him at a proper weight.

6. All dogs want and need to be around other dogs

Proper socialization with other dogs is important, but dogs don't necessarily like another canine just because they're the same species. We have all met people we aren't comfortable around, and it's the same for our canine friends. If your pet seems anxious or uncomfortable with certain dogs at a dog park, don't force them to interact. We can't expect dogs to like every canine any more than we like all people we meet. There's nothing wrong with encouraging your dog to interact with another dog, but it's not worth a possible fight if you see uncomfortable or anxious body language from one of the dogs.

Top photo by Ricky Au
Bottom photo by dani0010

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Paintings of Animal Heroes

2013-04-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Freddy

By Sue Hains

In the winter of 2009 - 2010, I was commissioned to paint a picture of Freddy, an FBI dog who had been killed in service. In preparation for working on the portrait, I was sent a photo of Freddy but required other pictures of Belgian Malinois, Freddy’s breed, since some details in his photo were unclear. Searching online, I began to learn about service animals and discovered that Belgian Malinois are often chosen to become Military Working Dogs and police dogs. As I painted, I received emails about Freddy’s life, death and memorial service, and thought more and more about the life of this heroic animal.

Freddy was born in 2007, and served with the FBI from September 8, 2008 to October 28, 2009. The FBI had raided a warehouse being used as a mosque in Dearborn, Michigan, looking for several of its members who were wanted for a number of crimes. The Imam, who had a criminal record and refused to surrender, shot the FBI dog, Freddy, before the Imam himself was fatally shot by agents. Freddy was helicoptered to a veterinary hospital in Detroit, and although the doctors did everything they could to save his life, the wounds were fatal.

At his memorial service in Virginia, local police motorcycle officers escorted Freddy’s flag-draped casket to the FBI Academy, where the FBI Chaplain gave a moving invocation and where K-9 Police Officers and their dogs stood at attention behind a large crowd which included the veterinarians who tried to save his life. Other speakers followed and it was said that Freddy not only fit in with his team but also saw the humans as his pack!

The brass plaque added to the portrait I painted of Freddy reads:

FREDDY

February 17, 2007 - October 28, 2009
Then I heard the voice of the Lord
saying, "Whom shall I send? And
who will go for us?" And I said,
"Here am I. Send me!"
Isaiah 6:8

I love all animals and Freddy’s story made me cry, but later it made me take action. I decided to paint the portraits of animals that had saved human lives and to then give the paintings to the animal’s companion for free. I looked online for reports of animal heroism and wrote perhaps a dozen letters or emails to reporters
who had written stories of animal heroism or to people who told of owing their lives to an animal. I got no responses. In time, I read an account of a blind cat who – in the middle of the night – had chased an intruder out of his human’s home! I wrote, stating my mission, my belief that this tiny cat qualified as a hero, and asked for permission to paint its portrait. Gwen Cooper emailed in return, saying she would be delighted to have her cat Homer’s portrait painted. (Read her book “Homer, the Blind Wonder Cat”).

Homer

As I worked on Homer’s painting, I continued my online search for hero animals and began to focus on Military Working Dogs, since I was learning about their history in the US. Beginning in 1942, some 10,000 dogs, many donated by their patriotic owners, spent eight to twelve weeks being trained as sentry, scout, messenger or mine detection animals. Several dogs were recognized for their outstanding service and received medals, which were later revoked when it was decided animals should not receive medals.

During the Vietnam War, there were approximately 4000 MWDs, who saved an estimated 10,000 human lives. Estimates of the number of MWDs killed in action range from 232 - 281. When Americans left Vietnam, the war dogs were considered “expendable equipment” and either turned over to the South Vietnamese as war surplus or euthanized, making this war the only one fought by the US in which the surviving MWDs did not come home. Eventually, veteran dog handlers, who shared a strong bond with their working companions, successfully lobbied Congress to approve a bill allowing MWDs to be adopted after service, and President Clinton signed it into law in 2000.

Anax

The online searches put me in touch with Kevin Hanrahan, a writer, soldier and dog advocate who blogs about today’s MWDs. Of some 600 dogs who trained for months to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2011, 116 died in service. Kevin introduced me to the handler of one, Anax, who lost a leg during a firefight – but not his life, thanks to his handler, Marc. (Please read Kevin’s blog for the amazing and touching story of Marc and Anax). I asked Marc for permission to paint the dog he has now adopted, and am pleased to show you my portrait of Anax.

I continue to look for hero animals and am presently painting another MWD which will be followed by a portrait of another FBI dog killed in the line of duty.

***
Self-taught artist Sue Hains began painting at the age of seven, with a gift of paints from her grandfather. Inspired by the surfaces and forms she observes in nature (she received her BA in Natural History), she creates illusions of stone, animals and plant life which range from highly stylized geometric patterns to photo realism.

Sue is currently concentrating on commissioned portraits of pets and other animals and on her mission to paint hero animals. Her work has been featured on KLRU's "Central Texas Gardener," in the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin 2007 "Parade of Homes," as a contributor to the Georgetown, Texas mural on the square, and has won recognition in online art competitions in 2012 and 2013.