Responsible Pet Ownership Blog

How to Help Your Dog or Cat Lose Weight

2012-05-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

An overweight dog or cat can struggle with many of the same health concerns overweight people have to deal with. There's nothing wrong with giving your pet a few TidNips treats now and then, especially when training, but we need to understand the importance of exercise and maintaining a proper and healthy weight for our pets just as much as we do with our own weight. An obese pet is no laughing matter.

It's not as easy as you might think to help your dog or cat lose weight. Let's face it, cats spend a good deal of their time sleeping, which is normal for them. Trying to get a cat motivated to exercise will mean you need to play with her. You have to be careful, however, and not allow her to lose weight too quickly because cats can easily develop a very serious disease called Fatty Liver Disease that's hard to treat and can be life threatening. The cause is unknown, but obesity is suspected to play a role.

One out of every four dogs and cats are overweight. Here's a simple way to help you determine if your pet is too heavy. Rub your hand down along your pet's side, under the hair. If you can feel their ribs, they aren't overweight. However, if you can't feel their ribs it's time to consider a weight loss program, but only after your vet has had a chance to give them a checkup. Weight issues in dogs can be associated with Cushing's disease or hypothyroidism. A checkup is a must to make sure your pet is healthy enough for an increase in exercise and to discuss a proper feeding schedule.

Overweight dogs and cats don’t deserve lower quality ingredients to lose weight; they simply need your help in providing them with the proper amount of high quality food. If you're already feeding your pet CANIDAE or FELIDAE, you know the benefits of providing a well balanced, natural and healthy diet. Pets that eat a premium quality food like CANIDAE or FELIDAE don't have to eat as much in order to feel full. Along with proper exercise, a high quality food can help keep your pet at their recommended weight.

Veterinarians agree that being overweight can be a detriment to canine and feline health. If you have a pudgy pet, don't over-indulge in treats, and feed them a high quality premium food designed specifically for overweight and less active pets, like CANIDAE Platinum for dogs and FELIDAE Platinum for cats. These two formulas were designed to provide complete and balanced premium nutrition with less fat and fewer calories, so pets can achieve their recommended weight without sacrificing on nutrition or essential vitamins and minerals.

Exercise can also help your overweight pet slim down, and it’s a great way to spend quality time together. If your dog isn't used to a daily walk, start by going around one block and then slowly increase the distance. Playing fetch, tug of war, hide-and-seek or any favorite game can help work off extra pounds. However, make sure you don't overwork an obese pet.

Most cats love to play with their owner. If you aren't in the habit of playing, now would be a good time to start if your cat has put on extra pounds. It only takes about 10 to 15 minutes a day, and it can make a big difference. Another option is to fix up a ‘play box’ for your cat. Take a cardboard box or build one out of wood, then cut three or four holes in the top and on all four sides. The holes should be just large enough for your curious cat to stick her paws through. Put ping pong balls, catnip toys or any cat friendly toy in the enclosed box and stand back while she explores with her paws. Change the toys every so often to keep the box interesting. Make sure whatever you put in the box can't be pulled out by your cat's paws.

We are the ones who control how much food our pets eat. We are also responsible for making sure our pets get enough exercise each day to help keep them healthy. It's not always easy to do, but that is part of the responsibility we accepted when we brought them into our home. Obesity in pets is a serious problem, but we can help them lose weight with a quality food and enough exercise. As a bonus, the exercise is good for us too!

Dog photo by Jeremy Vandel
Cat photo by Dan Perry

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Tips for Creating a Social “People Friendly” Dog

2012-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Suzanne Alicie

While some people prefer their dogs to be protective and guard their home and family, most of us would like our family pets to be social and people friendly. It can be a hassle and even frightening to worry about what your dog may do when someone comes to visit. It’s easier to socialize younger dogs, but even older dogs with consistent training and stability can learn to be social.

The key to socializing your dog is of course to have the dog in social situations. When dealing with a puppy, it’s important to introduce them to many people and other dogs. Visit the dog park, have doggie play dates and let your dog get comfortable in crowds. If you have an older dog that isn’t socialized very well, make sure that you take precautions before you take him into a social setting. You may want to muzzle your dog so he isn’t able to bite anyone or any other dog, and introduce him socially a little bit at a time.

Talking to your dog, soothing him and easing him into social activities with people and dogs will go a long way toward calming the dog and making the social aspect easier for him to accept. If you’re nervous and anxious about all the ways that introducing your dog socially could go wrong, your dog will pick up on that too. Maintain a calm demeanor and let your dog know that it is okay.

If your dog cowers or behaves as if he’s frightened of other dogs or people, let him get used to them from a distance before approaching. Dogs are curious and once they’ve become accustomed to different smells they will want to check out the other dogs and people around them; let your dog socialize on his own terms.

No matter how well socialized your dog is, there is always the possibility of a child or person stepping on your dog, playing too rough or other situations where your dog may become frightened or get hurt and he may snap or bark at someone. When it comes to other dogs, it’s important to remember that dogs are territorial animals and if they feel threatened or feel that their family or home is threatened in any way they may become aggressive. Always supervise your dog in any sort of social situation.

Having a social dog outdoors is one thing, but having a dog who welcomes various people and even other dogs into your home takes a bit more work. Some dogs are friendly and outgoing to begin with, but others will need to learn to share their home turf, adjust to the fact that visitors may be loud and gregarious and may possibly have children. Evaluate your guests and your dog before allowing the dog to have the run of the house while you have company.

Our dog Bear wasn’t socialized as a puppy, and it took her quite a while to warm up to her family. These days she’s part of the family and wherever her people are she wants to be too, but she’s still nervous around strangers. With teenagers in the house, you can imagine that there are various people in and out all the time; she barks and races to the door each time. Sometimes she sounds quite vicious, but once a family member lets the person in and tells her it’s okay she gives them a good sniff and goes about her business. So she acts as guard dog and family member, but we know her well enough to know that social situations with a lot of people make her nervous. We also know that she’s not relaxed enough to handle being around other dogs, and that she sees cats as alien invaders when they walk across the yard. Knowing your dog and what your dog can handle is the best way to make sure that your dog is people friendly and social.

Photo by Herry Lawford

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie

Best Apps for Pet Owners

2012-05-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

“There’s an app for that” is a catchy phrase. In fact, the slogan plays an important role in Apple Computer’s promotion of their iPhone. The tagline has become so popular it’s now become a part of our culture, making its way into general conversations and even into pop music.

So it stands to reason that, when it comes to being a responsible pet owner, well… there’s an app for that.

There are apps to assist you in locating dog parks, finding pet-friendly hotels and comparing dog walkers and pet sitters. There are apps for tracking your pet’s health, practicing various training methods, illustrating grooming techniques and reminding you of feeding times or medication requirements. There are even apps that help you select the most nutritious and specific foods for your pets; foods like CANIDAE and FELIDAE.

There is a website called Mashable Tech that lists the most popular apps for pet owners. There are also helpful apps listed on Yappler. I’ve tried some of these apps, but not all. Here’s a rundown of some current recommendations.

Apps to keep your pet healthy and strong

Cat Doctor: Expert veterinarian advice for your cat, right at your fingertips. Cat Doctor is organized into critical topics so it’s easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. There’s also an informative video hosted by a cat-specific veterinarian with over 30 years of experience.

Pet First Aid: An app that keeps all of your pet’s important medical records in one place. It also provides illustrations and videos of what to do in case of a medical emergency. The cool thing about this app is you can reach the information when you’re offline so if you get into trouble while hiking the back roads with your four-legged pal, you can access advice immediately.

Pet Vet Records: Here’s a way to track your pet’s health and share their medical records and files with your vet. This app is good for someone who moves frequently, because you can easily transfer your pet’s health information from one vet to another.

Apps to help train your dog

Dog Whistler: This app teaches you to train your dog or teach him new tricks using their whistles. Within the app, you can customize the beeps and tones to a frequency and sound pattern that appeals to you and works for your pet.

Clicker Training: I’ve never used clickers when training my dogs, but I know people who swear by it. The basic of this training method is that when your pet does something right or demonstrates good behavior, he gets a click and a treat. This app not only helps you train your dog, but is also full of training tips and techniques. I’ve heard people say clicker training works for cats, horses, birds and guinea pigs.

iPottyTrain: Yep, the app does just what you think, it helps you housetrain your pup. Additionally, it will track your pet’s daily food and water intake as well as his elimination routines so you can schedule the times to take him out. This would work for pups and for senior dogs that need more frequent monitoring.

Dog Tricks: With the use of videos and photo tutorials, this app shows you how to teach your dog tricks. It also functions as a progress tracker so you know how far along you and your canine pal have come.

Apps to make life easier

Petometer: Like a pedometer, this app records how long you’ve walked with your pet and where you’ve gone. This is helpful if you’re trying to build up to longer walks, because you can check your dog-walking history and schedule walk reminders.

iLocate Pet Grooming: If you and your pet are active travelers and Fluffy likes a haircut now and then, there’s an app that locates pet groomers wherever you happen to be, anywhere in the country. Not only does the app find the pet grooming service for you, you can also contact them with one touch.

Fido Factor: This app lets you locate pet-friendly places across America. You can find hotels, restaurants, shops and boutiques that allow you to enjoy the company of your pet while visiting their establishment. This little app can be a big help when you’re planning a vacation with your dog. Petcentric is another app that does this.

These are just a few of the millions of apps available for pet owners; some are practical and some seem a bit far-fetched. There are apps that play soothing music specifically designed for your pet and his auditory needs, apps that help you become a better pet photographer, and apps that link a wide audience of animal lovers into a social network. Whatever you can imagine —‘there’s an app for that.’ Have I missed any good ones?

Photo by Sarah Jones

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

Why Do Dogs Circle Before Lying Down?

2012-05-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

My first dog, Jack, was an American Eskimo. When he started to get older, I adopted an American Eskimo puppy named Kirby. My mom had an American Eskimo named Heidi. When our dogs were together and we took them outside to do their business, we always enjoyed a ritual they all engaged in. They would spread out and Jack would circle one way, Kirby circled the other way and Heidi matched one of them. They always started to circle at the same time, circled for about a minute and then stopped at the exact same time to do what they needed to do. It was like watching a choreographed dance routine. They also circled before lying down.

Circling is a common practice most dogs do at one time or another. Going around and around before doing their business is one example; however, not all dogs do this. A curious or concerned dog will circle an area to check for the scent of another dog. A dog's nose is always on guard for scents he needs to pay attention to. Few dogs can resist checking out another dog's calling card.

No one knows for sure why dogs circle, but scientists believe it's a hard wired behavior that goes back to before we domesticated dogs. In the wild, there are no doggie beds with soft cushions. Wild dogs had to make their bed wherever they could find a suitable location, and sometimes it was in grassy/weedy areas. Most likely, circling is an instinctive behavior, and a dog circles to flatten the area where he intends to bed down to make it more comfortable.

Another behavior dogs do prior to circling or while in the process of going around and around is to stop every now and then and scratch at the floor or carpet. A couple of my dogs really get into pawing at the carpet, and at times they act like they're trying to dig through the floor. This is another instinctive behavior used to scrape away rocks, twigs, pebbles and other debris from a resting site. Scraping or digging at the ground was also a way to even it out, making the bed more comfortable. Even dogs in the wild appreciate a comfortable place to sleep. In colder climates when dogs had to deal with snow and wind, digging down into the snow and circling to pack it down made for a warmer bed. Digging a small impression in the ground to reach cooler dirt made a cooler bed in the summer.

Circling may have also been used by early dog packs to mark an area as theirs. If a wandering pack came across flattened patches of grass, it was a sign they had stumbled into another pack's territory. Sniffing the resting areas gave the intruding pack information about the dogs that had slept there.

Since no landscaper takes care of the wild lands and keeps the grasses cut short, wild dogs might encounter snakes, insects and other small creatures living in grass and weeds. Circling made it possible for them to check the area they wanted to make a bed in to make sure it was safe from biting insects and snakes. By walking around before settling down, they could catch and kill or chase away anything that could harm them as they slept.

Today, dogs that spend time outside will still dig into the dirt to find cooler soil when it's hot. Some dogs of the North that are used as sled dogs have been known to prefer sleeping in the snow rather than a shelter, and will dig into the snow and then circle to pack it down before curling up for a nap.

Circling isn't a problem for the most part, but if it becomes obsessive and your dog seems to be distressed or upset, his behavior could be a sign something is wrong. Pacing and circling may indicate he's feeling pain or stiffness. Slowness in getting up or lying down could be a sign of arthritis or a pulled muscle. If he has trouble getting comfortable, it's a good idea to have your vet examine him to make sure there isn't a medical problem causing him to circle more than normal.

We may have domesticated dogs thousands of years ago, but some instinctive behaviors from their earlier ancestors still resides in canines today. Your dog may have a nice comfy bed to sleep on, but as far as he's concerned, it's not soft enough until he's had a chance to give it some proper circles to make sure it's just right!

Photo by Outlier Dogs

Read more articles by Linda Cole

CANIDAE Sponsored Dog Performs on Canada’s Got Talent!

2012-05-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Photo by Kris Svela

By Julia Williams

It’s a given that all of the dogs and cats CANIDAE sponsors are talented; after all, they’re called Special Achievers for a reason. However, a 7-year old Pyrenean Shepherd named Rally is so good at freestyle flying disc that he (with his owner/handler Angela Ewtushik) recently got to show off his mad skills on Canada’s Got Talent, and made it to the Semi-Finals!

CANIDAE Sales Manager Caroline Pettersen said, “Although Angela and Rally didn't win a place in the finals, they won a place in the hearts of Canadians. Angela and Rally went on a journey that most of us just dream about. We are very proud of Angela for being as brave as she was and putting herself out there the way she did. With an original desire to show people how to have fun with their dog...I believe she certainly made that impact on many.”

Indeed she did. In her CGT blog, Angela wrote “Eight months ago Rally and I waited in a hallway in the Rogers Centre for our turn to showcase our talent. I never thought that hallway would lead to several appearances on national TV and a huge fan base of Rally supporters from across Canada. This hit me minutes before the show. As the cameras were taping the audience, I gasped at the number of ‘Rally’ signs and the people cheering for him, many of whom I didn’t know. I had to turn away to find a makeup person to wipe my tears!”

I caught up with Angela recently to ask her more about this fun experience.

How did your act come to be?
I was looking for an outlet for Rally’s energy. I saw some videos of canine freestyle disc and thought it would be something fun to try!

What made you decide you wanted to try out for the CGT show?
A friend mentioned to me that he was thinking of trying out with his son and their dog in freestyle disc. Before this, I hadn't even heard about the auditions. I told him that if he decided not to audition, then I would. He ended up not, so I figured I might as well give it a shot.

Photo by Peter Rauwerda

You perform with Rally all the time at competitions and events. How was this experience different?
The experience was different for several reasons. #1 it was a much smaller area to perform in, and #2 the music was a more important part of the routine, not just background sound. So it was tougher to choreograph moves to the music.

How did you prepare Rally for all the lights, cameras and activity of the televised show?
Rally is used to performing in front of large crowds and in those conditions, so that was not the problem. I was more concerned that his energy level would be sustained for our performance, with all the commotion and waiting that goes on. So I tried my best to keep him in good condition physically, without doing too much with him to lower his intensity... that was a fine line to achieve.

Were you allowed to do your own routine, or did the producers have a say in what your act involved?
I was allowed to do my own routine, but the producers did have some input in wardrobe and environmental theme (on the video screen behind us).

Photo by Shannon Duff

What was the best thing to come out of this experience?
Rally and I educated the entire country about the bond you can develop with your dog, and how much fun it can be doing so! I had the chance of a lifetime to share my passion with Canada, something others only dream of.

Does Rally compete in other events besides freestyle disc?
Yes. He has competed in agility, flyball and dock diving.

How does CANIDAE food help Rally the athlete?
CANIDAE provides Rally the proper nutrition he needs for his active lifestyle. And he works REALLY hard for the Snap-Bits Gourmet Treats!

If Rally could talk, what do you think he’d say about his experience on Canada’s Got Talent?
I think he loved all the attention and cheering, but was just as happy to get back home. This was a quote from a newspaper article a day after the results show that I think sums it up: “After getting a hug from Terry, the pooch trotted off without a care in the world.” To Rally, it was just another chance to play and enjoy life, and win or lose, he was still happy. :-)

Angela and her partner Rick have six dogs that compete in many different dog sports including disc dog, agility, flyball, rally-O, carting, dock diving, musical freestyle and herding. Angela and Rick operate R&R Pet Paradise, a 40 acre kennel and training facility in Ontario, Canada.

Read more articles by Julia Williams

How Close Do Pets Bond With Each Other?

2012-05-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

I already had a young dog when I bought my home. Jack was a fun loving American Eskimo. Shortly after moving in I adopted Puff, a fuzzy yellow kitten. Jack was just shy of his first birthday so he and Puff grew up together and became inseparable. I didn't understand how closely they had bonded until 17 years later when I lost Puff to natural causes. I found Jack lying beside him in the morning acting as if he was trying to get him to wake up. Jack and I grieved Puff's passing and Jack never really got over the loss of his friend.

Yes…pets can develop a close bond with one another.

Some people think humans are the only species with the capacity to love and bond closely with others. They argue that pets have no emotions and are therefore unable to care about each other or even their owner. However, there are plenty of documented stories about pets developing strong friendships and bonding with each other and even with wild animals.

In Japan, a farmer was shocked when his cat came home with a baby mouse in her mouth. Now that in itself isn't odd, but it's what the cat did with the mouse that is. Instead of attacking her prey, the cat befriended the mouse. They shared food, they played together, and the cat protected her little friend from dogs.

Two tabby cat siblings, Jesse and Jack, were separated when their family decided to move from their home in the southern part of Australia to a new home in the northern part of the country. Before the family could move, however, Jack disappeared. After several months the family feared the worst, and went ahead with their moving plans, taking Jesse with them. Losing Jack was hard on the entire family, including Jesse, as she and Jack had been inseparable. Shortly after moving, Jesse disappeared from her new home and the family once again grieved the loss of another pet. They were surprised to learn fifteen months later that Jesse had arrived back at her old home in the south. She had traveled 1,900 miles across the Australian Outback. In the meantime, Jack had returned home. When Jesse left her new home and headed south on her long and dangerous journey, it wasn't her old home she was seeking, it was her brother Jack. Their bond was closer with each other than it was with their human family. Jesse and Jack are now happy as can be living in their original home in the south.

Puma, a Labrador Retriever living in England, saw some boys throw a kitten into a lake. As the tiny kitten struggled to stay above water, Puma leapt into the water and rescued the kitten, returning him to the boys who promptly threw him back into the water. Puma once again jumped in to save the kitten, but instead of going back to the boys, he swam across to the other side of the lake and raced home with the kitten in his mouth. His owner opened the door as he came rushing up, and Puma ran over to a heat vent and laid the kitten next to it. He somehow knew another animal needed help and when his owner saw his devotion to the kitten, they decided to keep him and named the kitten Lucky. Puma and Lucky developed a close bond and had a long and happy friendship.

These are just a few of the many documented stories of animals bonding with their own kind or another species. I have seen how close pets can get with one another. Jack and Puff haven't been the only pets I've had over the years that developed a close relationship with each other. Having an opportunity to observe my pets and witness firsthand how they interact with each other, I believe our pets are just as capable as we are of developing a close bond with other animals.

I do think pets have the capacity to feel emotion, even if it's not the same way we do, and that is the definition of what it means to be a sentient being. We know pets can think, reason, feel pain, anger, happiness, depression and fear. If they have a range of emotions, then common sense would say they can also experience love and form a close bond. After all, pets have unconditional love down pretty good!

Dog and cat photo by Bryan Alexander
Two cats photo by Takashi Hososhima

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Why Do Cats Make Biscuits?

2012-05-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

Okay, I’ll come right out and admit it – my cat sleeps right on top of me. When I fall asleep on my back, he falls asleep on my stomach. If I roll over, he rolls with me and sleeps against my back or my front, depending on which way he flops when I roll.

My husband (relegated to the far other side of the bed) laughingly asks how it feels to have the equivalent of a watermelon balancing on me while I sleep. It’s true; our cat is a big guy. It took me a while to get used to our sleeping arrangements but he is so cuddly and loving that I persevered.

There’s one thing he does during our highly choreographed slumber, however, that I cannot get used to. There are times when he’ll wake up and start kneading on my back, and then he starts purring loud enough to wake the neighbors. This kneading or ‘making biscuits’ is a deal breaker. Once he begins, there is no way I can fall back to sleep. After a while, the kneading and purring starts to feel like water torture, especially if you’re starving for sleep.

Kneading is a common feline trait. Much like grooming after a meal or curling up in a tight ball for a nap, kneading is just one of those things that cats do. And while the act of kneading is the same—pushing their paws in and out while switching from the left to the right paw—cats knead in different ways. Some cats keep their claws retracted the whole time while other cats extend their claws on the push motion and retract them on the pull-back motion. Thankfully, my cat keeps his claws retracted the entire time so there’s no pain involved but still…could you sleep during a kneading and purring session?

According to the catster website, cats like to knead on soft, supple surfaces and the motion is usually accompanied by purring and/or cooing. My neighbor’s cat seems to hypnotize himself when he kneads. His eyes fall to half-mast and take on a glazed look. I’ve even seen him start to drool when he gets the perfect rhythm going. The complete state of relaxation he reaches makes me want to master the art of kneading.

I was hoping catster could explain why cats knead, but apparently there are a variety of theories. It’s certainly an instinctive behavior. Most cat lovers have seen baby kittens knead their mother’s stomach while they nurse. I assumed that motion allowed newborn kittens to ‘pump’ more milk into their mouths.

We rescued our cat at a very tender age; he didn’t have the opportunity to nurse long enough. He wasn’t properly weaned and used to try and suckle our dog, or anything else he could latch on to. A friend told me our cat kneaded a lot because he was separated from his mother when he was too young and, therefore, didn’t properly mature. The immature part could be true, our cat is a complete clown, but research indicates that’s an outdated notion. It seems that kneading has nothing to do with weaning age. It’s simply an instinctive characteristic that is comforting to cats.

Additionally, when a cat is kneading you (or an inanimate object) he’s marking. The soft pads on a cat’s paw have scent glands and when he kneads, he’s releasing his scent onto the surface of whatever it is that he’s kneading. This scent marks his possessions and his territory. Learning all of this makes me glad of two things: 1) that our cat loves me enough to claim me as his own and 2) that he’s not marking me another way.

Even though my cat’s kneading is distracting (sometimes aggravating) when I’m trying to sleep, I would never punish him for an instinctive behavior. I have tried to gently hold his front paws still until he falls back to sleep. I’ve also tried to maneuver out of his reach until he stops the motion. Sometimes one or a combination of those two activities will quell the biscuit making.

Do your cats knead on you?

Photo by Janet Morrell

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

How to Teach Your Dog Tricks

2012-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Suzanne Alicie

Dogs are highly intelligent creatures and they love to please their people. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but in fact a dog of any age can learn to do tricks; it’s just a matter of how you go about teaching them. Dogs are similar to children in that they all have different personalities and even different learning styles. Some dogs love to perform and eagerly soak up any new tricks the first few times you teach them, while some may take a little more time and effort. On the other hand, there are also dogs like my Bear – she knows exactly what is expected but seems to think she can make the humans do a few tricks of their own before she will deign to lift a paw!

Repetition is the key to teaching your dog tricks, the same as with training your dog. Essentially sitting, heeling and even walking on a leash are all tricks your dog has learned. When you want to teach them to shake, beg, dance or roll over, it’s just a matter of letting them know what you want them to do, offering them a CANIDAE TidNips treat when they do it successfully, and repeating the action over and over until your dog associates a certain word or gesture with the trick.

Keep in mind that while your dog may have certain qualities of a child it is not a person and it takes time and dedication to both train and teach your dog to do tricks. Yelling or becoming upset with your dog will not help him learn a trick. First you must teach the dog the action of the trick – yes, this means you may have to get down and roll on the floor! Then you have to work on the word or gesture to make him do the trick on command. Make sure you have plenty of treats on hand and are generous with praise.

Bear knows a few tricks and she knows quite a few human words as well, but she’s also stubborn and will often refuse to do her trick until she feels like it. Keep in mind that a dogs' personality may not change no matter how well trained they may be. For example, when it’s treat time Bear knows she is supposed to sit and give me her paw, but her excitement and hardheadedness makes it difficult for her to do this. She sits but her back side scoots across the floor as she trembles with anticipation. When I ask for her paw she will lift it and put it right back down on the floor. Not exactly what I’m looking for. So I repeat the command until she does it correctly. Sometimes it takes a full 5 minutes before she will realize she doesn’t get the treat until she does what she’s been trained to do. No, I take that back; she knows but she thinks she can get me to hand the treat over without doing it.

I’ve seen videos of dogs that will hold a treat on their nose or sit nicely while a treat is placed in front of them and not eat it until they are told. How I wish I had the patience to teach Bear those tricks, or rather the spare fingers I would need after trying to put a treat on her nose to begin with.

Your dog can learn any trick you wish to teach them, but it takes time, effort and consistency. To learn more about teaching your dog, whether it is basic commands or fun tricks, be sure to read some of the training articles we’ve featured here on the RPO blog over the years. You’ll pick up some great ideas and learn a bit more about the ways you can train your dog for safety and for fun. Here are just a few: How to Teach Your Dog to Roll Over, How to Train Your Dog to Ring a Bell, and How to Use a Clicker to Train Your Dog.

Photo by SuperFantastic

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie

Special Achiever Jay Harris Helps Chase Away K9 Cancer

2012-05-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

Canine cancer is a hard topic for me to write about. It has touched my canine family several times over the years. However, it's important to shed light on the disease to help dog owners understand how early detection can make a difference in a dog's survival. Jay Harris, a CANIDAE Special Achiever, is using the sport of dock diving to promote cancer awareness and to raise money for Chase Away K9 Cancer, an organization trying to find a cure for canine cancer. If you're into dock diving, you've heard of Jay Harris and his eight year old yellow Lab, Sir Harley, who is ranked 11th in the world as a Veteran. I had a chance to speak with Jay to find out more about both of his passions.

Chase Away K9 Cancer was founded in 2006 by Cera Reusser after losing her black Lab, Chase, to cancer. Chase was full of life and excelled at dock diving with an Elite Jumper status in Big Air and NW Challenge Championship in 2005 and had a designation of AKC Master. One day, Cera found a lump under Chase's chin. It was nasal carcinoma. Chase was just shy of her seventh birthday when she died. This grassroots organization raises money for grants to fund cancer research. So far, they’ve raised over $530,000.00 and funded twelve cancer studies with more studies planned for later this year. They also aim to give support, understanding, comfort and guidance to dog owners.

Detecting canine cancer early can make a difference in the prognosis and treatment. Chase Away recommends a nose to tail body check on the 14th of each month. Start at the head and look in their ears, eyes and inside the mouth, checking for tumors. Feel and look over your dog's entire body, searching for lumps or bumps. Know where to find the dog's lymph glands and how they feel. If you notice any changes, call your vet. Weight loss should be a red flag.

Jay brings awareness to this disease through his love of dock diving and helps raise money throughout the season for canine cancer. This year, one of Jay's fundraising events, the 2012 Sir Harley Veterans Tour Chase Away K9 Cancer kicks off the season in honor of his Lab, Sir Harley, who became a Veteran Competitor in DockDogs. Donations will be accepted all year and a check will be presented to Chase Away at the World Championships at Dubuque, Iowa in November. “To date, we are over $3,000 and the jumping season is only getting started.” Money is raised for Chase Away at all regional (club) events. If you attend an event, look for a dog wearing a K9 vest walking around in the crowd and if you are able to help, please donate.

Jay and his wife, Deb, have been raising Labs at their Indian Creek Labs kennel for 30 years, and competing in dock diving for seven years. For the last five years, Jay has been feeding CANIDAE All Life Stages formula to all of his dogs, including the ones in his kennel. “This formula works great for us when we have puppies. One food for all. I enjoy the comments from other competitors and spectators on how great they look. People always comment about their coats and their muscle build. Diet and conditioning is everything. Dogs don't enjoy this sport if they are overweight.”

Dock diving has three disciplines (jumps): Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve. Big Air is the one most people think about. I asked Jay which of the three disciplines is the hardest to teach, and if they compete in all three events. “Extreme Vertical. It's overwhelming for some dogs to go out 8' and up. My opinion is it's one of the most satisfying for the dog and they know when the bumper comes down. Yes, we have teams that compete in all three disciplines. They're called Iron Dogs. We have two classes of Iron Dogs: Warrior and Titans.”

It was Sir Harley who got Jay interested in dock diving. They have two other dogs currently in competition. “Deb handles Mercedes, a three year old black female Lab. Mercedes is a Senior Big Air, Cadet EV (extreme vertical), and a Turbo SR (speed retrieve) titled dog. I am very proud of Deb and Mercedes and they continue to progress each season. Mister Bentley, a big chocolate Lab, is the most exciting dog to handle. He loves this sport. MB makes sure that everyone watching knows he's on the dock and continually barks till I sit him, and then it's show time! MB doesn't put up large scores in any discipline, but to watch him is just so exciting. In the World rankings, MB is ranked 14th in EV and 10th in Iron Dog.”

Dock diving is all about the drive of the dog. “If the dog has a strong toy drive, then it's just natural for the dog to go get that toy. Lots of times, people make the mistake of not giving enough time for the dog to understand the expectation and strengthen up muscles used in this sport and they actually hurt the drive of the dog. When you remove the fun for you and the dog, it usually takes you out of the sport.”

For more information on Chase Away K9 Cancer, click here.

Top photo: Stephen Lankford
Middle and Bottom photos: Uniwolf Photography

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Are "Pet Moms" Really Mothers?

2012-05-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have been told that because I have no human children, I am not a Mom. I beg to differ, and my dictionary agrees with me. It mentions maternal affection and protective care; nowhere does it stipulate that this pertains exclusively to human beings. Whether we choose to act with motherly devotion to a cat, dog, horse, rabbit, hamster or human baby, the emotion is the same. Love is universal.

As a caretaker of cats, I have felt all of the emotions that other mothers feel – fear, tenderness, love, heartbreak, joy, anxiety, anger, impatience, exasperation, affection, protectiveness – the list is endless. I have an overwhelming desire to keep my cats safe and free from harm. When they are sick or injured, I fuss over them endlessly. When they are in pain, my heart aches for them. When they are happy and playful, my spirits soar too.

I'm not saying there aren't major differences between pets and human children. Of course there are. For starters, my cats never buy me a Mother’s Day gift or bring me breakfast in bed. They don’t send me a card or take me out to lunch on my birthday, and they don’t demand that I throw them a party on their own birthday. Heck, they don’t even acknowledge any of the days that humans have designated as special; to them, these days are just like all the others.

Yet when I hold my cats or pet them I never think, “If only you were human, you’d know how much I love you.” They do know. What’s more, the love I give to them is returned to me tenfold. They can’t tell me how they feel with human words, but they tell me by their countenance. They tell me by the way they lie on my chest and nuzzle me with their head when we go to bed at night. They tell me with kitty head butts and gentle licks on my nose. They tell me by the way they curl up in my arms. And I can see it in their eyes, can feel it in their purrs.

I’ve never understood why some people try so hard to convince others that loving a pet is somehow “less than” loving another human being. Maybe I am just not hard-wired like other humans, but I don’t see it that way, and I never have. How can one kind of love ever be better than another? How can love for any creature, be they two-legged or four-legged, be anything less than a wonderful, amazing thing? The world is a much kinder, gentler place when there is an abundance of love flowing freely, whether it’s to an animal or to a human being.

I know there are those who think a woman shouldn't call herself a Mother unless she has human children. That's okay...to each their own. I will always consider myself a Mom, even though my “kids” have four legs and fur. To all the Pet Moms in the world, I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Photo by Arkansas ShutterBug

Read more articles by Julia Williams

The Lovable Beagle Will Steal Your Heart

2012-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

I have a Beagle/Terrier mix named Alex. Since she is a mixed breed, she shows characteristics from both breeds, but it's her Beagle side that's more dominant. She has a stubborn streak a mile wide, would do a triple back flip for a TidNips treat, loves to bark just for the sheer joy of barking, and she’s very affectionate, especially when she wants something.

The Beagle is one of the most loving dogs you can bring into your family. They want to be with you wherever you are and enjoy sitting as close to you as they can get so they can cuddle. However, they are also an active dog that loves to play and run. This breed is sociable, easy to get along with and willing to do what is asked of them, if the price is right. Beagles can be stubborn, but are easily enticed with food. What gets a Beagle's attention is their CANIDAE food and treats, because eating is one of their favorite activities!

The breed dates back to the 1500's where the English elite took packs of Beagles on hunts to find rabbit, pheasant, quail and fox. Their distinctive baying directed hunters following behind a pack of dogs. They are still used today in hunting, but not as much as they once were. The Beagle's nose is second only to the Bloodhound, and some people argue their nose is more sophisticated than the Bloodhound's. The Beagle can pick up a scent on the ground and find their prey faster than any other dog breed. They are so smart they can tell the difference between scents, and remember them the next time they run across them. That ability is what makes the Beagle perfect at detecting termites and rooting out illegal fruits and vegetables people try to smuggle past customs. They are even being used to sniff out bed bugs.

Because of their smaller size, the Beagle makes an excellent search and rescue dog that can go into areas larger breeds can't get into. Law enforcement agencies have discovered this little dog has a knack for finding people who have wandered off a trail or gotten lost in remote areas. Because they are smaller, the Beagle is easier to transport to search areas and carry across rough terrain if it's necessary.

Beagles have a stubborn streak, and training them can be difficult if you don't get their attention. However, as long as you stay committed, use positive reinforcement and stay calm and patient, they will learn whatever you want to teach them. This is a good natured, happy, smart, gentle, brave and very sociable dog. Beagles make excellent family pets as long as you make sure they get plenty of exercise. This is not a dog you should let off leash. If he picks up a scent and follows his nose, you can yell at him until you're blue in the face and he won't pay attention to you. He's not being bad, that's just his nature and when he's focused on his prey, it's like yelling at a brick wall. Following a scent is what he was bred to do.

Beagles don't do well left alone in the backyard and need to be with their family. This is a breed that does well with other dogs and is happy sharing his home with another pet that can give him company when his owner is away from home. They can be a barker if something interesting catches their eye or ears. They have a distinctive howling bark and are very vocal when excited. There's no mistaking the voice of a Beagle if you have one in your neighborhood.

Alex would bark for hours if she had her way. She will sit and stare straight down into the grass and bark. On closer inspection, I can find the bug, spider or ant she's yapping at. She barks at grass blowing in the breeze, twigs, leaves on the trees, paper blowing down the street, birds and any animal she sees. If it moves or makes a sound, she barks. I can't help but laugh when I find what it is she's barking at and she gives me a look with her big brown eyes that says, “WHAT?” and there's always a smile on her face. How can you get mad at a smile?

Beagles are one of the most popular dogs in the United States. They are easy to get along with as long as you take the lead role and understand how to harness their stubbornness and turn it into the tenacity that makes them one of the best scent hounds around.

Photos by Alex Beattie

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Human Pacemakers Help Extend Pets’ Lives

2012-05-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

My mother recently got a pacemaker. She was experiencing shortness of breath and unusual fatigue but chalked it up to the normal aging process. When she started fainting, though, we knew we needed to get serious about seeking a solution.

The doctors determined she was suffering from arrhythmia, which means her heart was not able to pump enough blood through her body. They admitted her to the hospital and the doctors tried to treat her heart condition with medications, but nothing seemed to work. After 12 days of trying, the docs finally believed they couldn’t get her issues sorted out with meds and decided to put in the pacemaker.

Until that time, I didn’t know much about pacemakers – but when your mom is getting one, you learn a lot. The hospital staff was helpful and patient. They explained that a pacemaker is a small electrical device that’s surgically inserted in the chest or abdomen to help regulate abnormal heart rhythms. Her pacemaker not only controls her heart rhythms but also transmits back to a monitoring system where my mom’s cardiologist can see how her heart is doing at any given time. It’s fascinating, and this little device has helped my mother resume a fairly normal lifestyle.

Cats receiving human pacemakers

So when I read an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel about how the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine is putting human pacemakers in animals, I was intrigued. Apparently, a cat named Junco was experiencing symptoms similar to my mother’s. The cat went through a series of fainting spells and her vets couldn’t figure out why. Junco’s human parent said it really scared her when Junco would meow in a weird, eerie way, her eyes would get a strange look and then she’d fall down in a cold faint. She’d stay unconscious for about 10 seconds.

As a cat parent, I can imagine how excruciating those 10 seconds would be. Once the vet suspected Junco was experiencing heart problems, the cat was referred to a board-certified veterinary cardiologist at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine. The cardiologist found Junco to be a perfect candidate to receive a pacemaker, and the surgery was performed.

The cost of the procedure for animals is usually around $2,500 to $4,000. Junco’s owner says it was money well spent. It’s been three years since Junco got her pacemaker, and she’s back to normal and is expected to live a full life.

Dogs receiving human pacemakers

MedicineNet.com tells the story of an older dog named Guiedo that recently received a pacemaker in Brighton, Colorado. Guiedo suffered from a blockage that disrupted the electrical signals that make the heart contract and pump blood. This condition put the senior dog at risk of sudden death. The surgery went fine, and now the sweet old mutt has recovered nicely and is full of energy and vitality. Guiedo’s operation required an overnight veterinarian hospital stay, and the price tag for his procedure was almost $5,000. The dog’s guardian said Guiedo’s recovery was worth every penny.

Interesting facts about pacemakers for animals:

* The first pacemaker surgery on an animal took place in 1967. The procedure has since become more accepted in veterinary medicine.

* Pacemakers specifically developed and manufactured for animals have not yet been developed.

* Veterinarians depend on manufacturers to donate pacemakers that are past their shelf life and are no longer suitable for human use.

* There are only 230 veterinary cardiologists in the United States and Canada that are trained to do the intricate pacemaker implant surgery.

* Like Junco, there are cats that now undergo the procedure but most patients have been older dogs, around 6 to 10 years of age.

* Roughly 400 human pacemakers are implanted in dogs and cats in the United States each year.

What do you think about putting a human pacemaker in an animal?

Photo by Robert Neff

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

Dog Friendly Vacation Spots

2012-05-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Suzanne Alicie

Summer is fast approaching. We all like to take family vacations, but when it comes to our furry friends the choices may seem limited. If you feel that a family vacation should include your canine family as well, you’re likely searching for dog friendly vacation spots. Luckily, there are plenty of these to choose from, and they make great vacations for the entire family! While you could board your dog or skip vacation because it seems like a hassle to plan a vacay with your dog, once you check out the possibilities you’ll see that it’s not so difficult to find dog friendly vacation activities. Yes, there is some preparation and specific packing to do… but wouldn’t you rather have your dog on vacation with you? For some of us it’s not a question; it’s not a family vacation without the whole family – dogs included!

The Great Outdoors

If your dog is happy on a leash, there are many state and national parks across the country that allow and even welcome dogs. You can go hiking, swimming, kayaking and more with your four legged family member. Camping eliminates the need to worry about finding a pet friendly hotel too! Note: Some parks have pet limits, so be sure to check the rules before you plan your vacation.

Festivals and Events

You may be surprised at just how many dog friendly events and festivals are held across the country. From the Bark in the Park events to the Dog Bowl and pet expos, you’ll find many instances where dogs and humans alike can gather and have a great time! Check online and in the cities you’d like to visit to find out when dog friendly festivals and events will be held so that you can plan your vacation to include them. These events are lots of fun, and you might even snag some goodies for your pooch, like CANIDAE TidNips treats!

Vineyards

So, you may not think of a vineyard as a great place to take your dog – after all, Fido isn’t supposed to imbibe, but many wineries and vineyards are dog friendly! Some even offer wines that are named in honor of canine friends such as “Merlot Over and Play Dead.” Think outside the box and you may find that there are lots of place you can take your dog that you wouldn’t typically think of.

When you consider your dog a member of your family, you may also be surprised at how many vacations aren’t dog friendly. The costs of flying with your pet, lodging with family and of course tourist places where dogs aren’t allowed may be discouraging, but you do have options. This is a large country with so many things to see and do that you can surely find a great place to vacation with your dog.

No matter where your family decides to vacation, it is possible to find dog friendly lodging and activities that the whole family can enjoy. It may seem like a challenge to plan a vacation with your dog, but really all it takes is a little research and additional planning. Beaches, hotels, and even some amusement parks offer pet activities and welcome your dog to spend your vacation with you.

While you’re trying to decide the best place to vacation, be sure to check out Julia Williams’ article about dog friendly cities. You have to figure that if a whole city qualifies as being dog friendly, it would be a great place to vacation with your dog. If you take your dog on vacation and end up doing something that isn’t dog friendly, there are often ‘stay and play’ locations where your dog can hang out while you do something that is for humans only. Also, be sure to read our handy tips for traveling with dogs so that you’re prepared for anything!

Photo by Andrew Gillespie

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie

How Sensory Overload Stresses Out Pets

2012-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

Let's face it. Today's world is a noisy place for us and our pets. Unfortunately, the sensory input our pets experience on a day-to-day basis can be causing them stress. All of the noises, smells and sights we encounter are usually taken in stride by us, but can be a bit much for our furry friends.

A cat's sense of smell is fourteen times stronger than ours, and a dog surpasses our sense of smell by 1,000 to 10,000 times, depending on the dog's breed. When it comes to hearing, dogs can hear sounds at around 80 feet while our ears only hear effectively at 20 feet. Dogs can pinpoint direction in just six-hundredths of a second and calculate the distance of sounds much better than we can.

Dogs and cats hear more frequencies, with cats capable of hearing high frequency sounds dogs can't hear. A cat's hearing is so precise they can hear a mouse three feet away and knows where it's at just by sound. Felines hear sounds about five times farther away than we can. In short, pets are more aware of all of the sounds around them and their nose also keeps them well informed. It's no wonder they can hear you opening that bag of CANIDAE treats!

Too Much Noise

We don't think about the everyday sounds we encounter. We're so used to hearing them that we don't notice how noisy the world is until we shut everything down for the night. If our pets had their way, they would ask us to tone it down a couple of notches. We tune out a lot of noise, but pets can't do that.

Most homes have at least one TV on when someone is home. Radios, stereos, videos on the computer, video games and cellphone ringtones all produce noise pollution inside the home. The dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and microwave seem innocent enough to us, but it's what we can't hear that can be annoying to pets. To them, the lower the volume, the easier it is on their sensitive ears. Pets are listening to outside sounds as well. That's a lot of noise for them to contend with. If your pet gets up and leaves the room, it could be because they need to find a quiet place where they can relax and unwind.

Too Many Odors

Think about all of the smells we sniff each day in and around the home. A pleasant and relaxing smell to us may not be received as well by our pets. The fragrances used in air fresheners, household cleaners, deodorant, cologne, perfume, hairspray, carpet fresheners, incense, fabric softeners, potpourri, cigarette smoke and scented cat litter can irritate a pet's nose, sometimes to the point of making them sick. And it's not just irritating scents that can get to them. Imagine how good a skillet of frying bacon must smell to a dog or cat!

Too Much TV

One of my cats loves to sit beside me while I'm working at the computer. She likes to watch the pet videos I find on different websites. Her eyes dart back and forth as if she's trying to watch all of the movements on the screen at the same time and sometimes, she seems captivated by what she's watching. Pets that watch TV or videos on the computer are stimulated by what they see. However, they don't see what we see and too much stimulation can cause their visual cortex to go into overdrive.

Our world can be noisy for pets and all of the noises, scents and visual stimuli can cause them to become stressed out by everything their senses are picking up. We don't notice that the blaring TV is bothering a pet because we're usually wrapped up in the storyline and action. Because cats and dogs have better hearing than we do, loud noises hurt their ears. Pets can be allergic to the same kind of allergens that bother people, and we can have a host of different smells in the home that can upset our pets. We should take a cue from pets and be more careful with products we use in the home because some are unhealthy for us to inhale.

Even though pets have an amazing ability to adjust to our world, sensory overload can be stressful to them. Sometimes we just need to turn everything off and cuddle with them in peace and quiet.

Photo by Greg Loesch

Read more articles by Linda Cole

The Sphynx, a Hairless Cat with a Charming Purrsonality

2012-05-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Julia Williams

I vividly remember the first time I ever came face to face with a Sphynx cat. My friend and I were making the rounds at a cat show, oohing and aahing at all the beautiful kitties with their luxurious, fluffy coats brushed to perfection. We turned a corner and there they were, these peculiar hairless creatures with giant ears, wrinkled bodies and an alien-like appearance. I must admit my first thought was something like “What the heck are those things?” I saw them again recently on Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell and had a similar reaction. I guess I’m just so used to seeing cats with fur that the Sphynx, by comparison, looks unnatural to me. However, the Sphynx reminds me of that old saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The Sphynx may look odd to people who are used to furry felines, but many other cat lovers call the Sphynx ‘pure enchantment’ and value the breed for its affectionate nature and lively demeanor. I decided to research this interesting rare breed to find out more about it.

Appearance

Though the appearance of the breed is one of hairlessness (and some truly are) many actually have a light covering of soft, peach-like fuzz. Some Sphynx also have short, fine hair on their feet, tail or outer edges of the ears. The lack of fur makes the cat’s skin warm to the touch, described as feeling like a heated chamois or a suede-covered hot water bottle. The lack of fur also creates a feeling of resistance when petting the cat.

The breed’s lack of hair is governed by a recessive gene. It takes two copies of the gene for the hairless trait to express itself, so if both parents have only one copy, the number of hairless kittens in their litters will be approximately one in four.

The breed standard states that wrinkled skin is a desirable trait, particularly around the muzzle, between the ears, and around the shoulders. The Sphynx skin can be any color found in other felines, as well as any pattern (solid, point, van, tabby, etc.). Most Sphynx have no whiskers, but of those that do, the whiskers are short and sparse.

The Sphynx is a medium boned cat with a strong, muscular body, broad rounded chest and full round belly. The head is a modified wedge, slightly longer than it is wide, with big ears and prominent rounded cheekbones that define the lemon-shaped eyes. Their legs are sturdy and muscular, and their tail is long, slender and whip-like, tapering to a fine point.

Personality

The Sphynx are said to be friendly, sweet-tempered, devoted, mischievous, playful and active. Sphynx like to be the center of attention and have been known to ‘show off’ and do silly things seemingly for the amusement of their humans. They love to snuggle with people and other family pets, in part to keep warm but also because of their loving nature. Some Sphynx owners say their cat exhibits ‘dog like’ qualities such as following them around the house and greeting them at the door when they come home.

Grooming and Care

Although regular bathing is not usually necessary for most felines, it is important for the Sphynx. This is because a cat’s fur normally absorbs their body oils, so the hairless Sphynx needs regular bathing in order to remove the collection of oily secretions on their skin. How often they need a bath depends on the amount of oil an individual cat produces, but it’s typically about once a week. Thankfully, the breed becomes accustomed to the bathing routine at an early age and doesn’t seem to mind. Some actually seem to love it! (Oh, how I wish some of that would rub off on my cats).

Are Sphynx Good for People Allergic to Cats?

You might think that a hairless breed would be perfect for someone who is allergic to cats, but that’s not necessarily true. The Sphynx may not shed fur everywhere, but they can still cause problems for the allergic, because it’s not the hair itself that causes a reaction. All cats produce an allergenic protein that’s secreted via their saliva and sebaceous glands. The Sphynx doesn’t leave allergen-laced hair everywhere, so some people who suffer from cat allergies may be able to live with this breed; however, it really depends on the severity and type of an individual’s allergies.

The Sphynx is a delightful cat breed, but it’s not for everyone. Many just can’t get past the cat’s unusual appearance to discover their true inner beauty. Personally, I still prefer my cats to have fur, but I can certainly see why this breed has won the hearts of many.

Top photo: Sunny Ripert
Bottom photo: Tomi Tapio K.

Read more articles by Julia Williams

Pet Sitter Wins Six Months of Free CANIDAE Dog Food

2012-05-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

The sponsor of this blog, CANIDAE Natural Pet Foods, selects one reader every three months to receive a FREE six month supply of their premium quality pet food. The winner is chosen at random from every new reader who subscribed via email during the past quarter. The lucky winner gets to pick any formula of CANIDAE dog food or FELIDAE cat food.

The most recent winner is Toni G. of Orange, California. Toni is already a CANIDAE fan – she’s been feeding it to her rescue dog Roxy for a few years, and now she’ll get to chow down on a free six-month supply of the food she loves! Toni chose to receive the CANIDAE Chicken & Rice formula.

Here’s what Toni said about herself and her four-legged family members:

“We have one dog and two cats in our family. Our rescue dog, Roxy, is a sweet Aussie-Border Collie mix and she is 6 years old. Roxy has been eating CANIDAE for a few years now and loves it! She gets both dry and canned. I find it keeps her in great health and her coat shiny and thick.

Our dog Bo, a very handsome yellow lab, passed away this past January. Bo, in his golden years, ate CANIDAE Platinum. After trying numerous other brands (and desperately wanting to get him off of prescription food!), I came across CANIDAE and gave it a try. This was the only food he could eat that didn't mess up his delicate system. It was wonderful! Since I saw how well he did on CANIDAE, I transitioned Roxy over too, and she has been on it ever since.

Our cats are Luna, a 6 year old brown tabby and Raya, a 4 month old ginger colored tabby.

Me? Well, I'm the mom who fusses over, spoils, and talks about my babies to anyone who will listen. I've been an animal lover all of my life - heck, I've had them in my life since the day I was born. Maybe that is why I am now a pet sitter. After working in the corporate world and getting laid off 10 years ago, I started a pet sitting service, Happy Tails Pet-Sitting.

I love what I do, and I love all the animals that I care for. I care for them like I care for my own.

I have included some pictures of my “kids.” One is of my kitten Raya trying to eat Roxy's food – she does this every day! She likes to take the kibble out and play with all over the kitchen floor! Bet ya' didn't know that CANIDAE is an excellent cat toy, too!”

***
Congratulations Toni and Roxy on winning all that dog food!

Want to win some free food for your canine or feline best friend? Be sure to subscribe to the Responsible Pet Ownership blog – you could be the next big winner!

Are You Prepared if Your Pet Gets Lost?

2012-05-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

No matter how careful you are as a pet owner, sometimes the unexpected happens. I've had my share of frantic moments racing around the house searching for a pet I feared had gotten outside and was lost. And I have also had those fears come true. Finding a lost pet can be difficult, but if you're prepared before it happens, you won't have to waste valuable time searching for what you need before you can start looking for them.

The first thing to remember is, don't panic. There's a good chance your pet will be found by someone else or wander back home on their own. However, you don't want lose valuable searching time by sitting back and waiting to see if your cat or dog can find their way home. One of the best tools you have is knowing your pet's personality. That makes a big difference in where to start your search, especially for a lost cat.

The more people friendly your cat is, the better chance they have of being found by someone else and taken to a shelter or local vet clinic. A friendly or curious personality, though, can also cause them to wander farther from home than a more fearful cat. The scared/timid feline is more likely to hole up in a place where she feels safe and that's where she will stay until hunger, thirst or another animal scares her away from the area. She may even ignore your calls and could be hiding somewhere in your yard or anywhere within a block of home.

Dogs can be gone in a flash, especially if they see a rabbit or something else that gets their prey drive in high gear, and they can cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. Both cats and dogs have traveled very long distances, at times, to find their way home after becoming lost, but there’s no guarantee yours can do the same.

The time to microchip your pet or attach a tag with your name and phone number is before something happens. Even inside cats that are never allowed to go outside should have a microchip or a collar with tags, just in case they slip outside unnoticed. Make sure pertinent information associated with a microchip or tag is kept up to date.

It doesn't take long to make up fliers, but you do need a recent picture of your pet. One of my dogs is a black Lab mix and his look has changed a bit as he's gotten older. Some of the black hairs on his muzzle have started to turn white. Pets don't show age like we do, but a younger picture that doesn't show his white hairs could be misleading to someone who doesn't know him and it could make them think they found the wrong dog.

Because I've spent time rescuing stray pets and feeding feral cat colonies over the years, I carry extra leashes, a small bag of CANIDAE pet food, some TidNips treats and a pet carrier in my car. That way, I have some basic items if I run across a pet that needs some help. It's handy to have them already in the car if you have to drive around looking for a lost pet. Your pet may recognize your voice when you call out, but if a pet is scared, they may not come to you without some coaxing and the treats and leash can be a big help. Everything fits neatly in a small box and can be stored in the truck or backseat. Just remember to rotate the pet food and treats to keep them fresh.

Know in advance the address of local shelters and phone numbers to area vets, rescue organizations, the police, animal control and anyone else who might be able to help you locate your lost pet. Time is critical, and the sooner you can get the word out, the sooner a lost pet can hopefully be found and returned home.

When walking your dog, take different routes around the neighborhood so he has a chance to become familiar with the area. Dogs and cats can make mental images in their mind of landmarks, smells and sounds that helps them be familiar with the area around where they live.

You never know when something could happen that gives your pet an escape route. If you're prepared with photos and phone numbers you won't have to waste valuable time searching for what you need, and having a microchip or tags can help you be reunited faster with your lost pet. Registering with Lost Pet Network can also help you find them.

Photo by Eugene Peretz

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What is Exercise Induced Collapse?

2012-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

My one-time canine companion was a black Labrador. She was the sweetest, most willing-to-please pet I’ve probably ever had. This good gal would look at me for assurance or confirmation before doing almost anything; we were completely bonded and inseparable for 17 years.

This dog had an incredibly high energy level and was excellent at the job she was bred to do, which was interesting because I rescued her from a horrible situation when she was just a few weeks old. It took drastic medical help and a great deal of veterinarian attention to nurse her back to health, but with love, care and good nutrition like CANIDAE, she grew up to be an awesome dog. I say all this to let you know that she was never officially trained on how to retrieve. I certainly never trained her to do it and she had no previous owners. Still, her desire to please me made her so easy to work with. She was a champion.

At the time, I hadn’t heard of Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) but I did know that Labrador Retrievers (and quite a few other breeds) were tireless when they were playing fetch or seriously retrieving, and they didn’t have a good monitoring system that alerted them when it was time to slow down. Since we live in the very hot and humid south, I had to be especially careful with my Lab during the summer. The newspapers and local pet bloggers did an excellent job issuing warnings to dog owners about the dangers of the extreme heat. Still, I heard too many stories about dogs collapsing and/or suffering from a heat stroke.

Since that time, a friend of mine has adopted a Golden Retriever. The shelter where she got her pet said the dog was an ‘owner surrender.’ Apparently, the dog had a good pedigree and was field trial trained but tested positive for Exercise Induced Collapse. She dug into the condition and wanted me to research it too.

For years, a veterinarian thought when a dog collapsed it was due to heat intolerance, a heart issue or low blood sugar. Exercise Induced Collapse wasn’t on the radar. Understanding the condition seems to be a fairly new discovery. The gene responsible for Exercise Induced Collapse was recently identified at the University of Minnesota’s Veterinarian Diagnosis Laboratory. It’s now been accepted and validated; the scientific basis for the DNA test to detect the EIC gene was peer-reviewed and has been published in scientific journals including Nature Genetics.

What is Exercise Induced Collapse?

According to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, Exercise Induced Collapse is a genetic condition that is most commonly found in Labrador Retrievers. As the name indicates, if a dog has this affliction they can endure moderate levels of light exercise but after just a few minutes of serious activity or high levels of excitement or stress, they experience weakness or even serious collapse.

What should I look for?

Any signs of muscle weakness can indicate an upcoming EIC episode. Take notice if your dog seems to lose his coordination, if he starts to drag his hind legs or if you hear his toenails scrape when he’s walking on concrete. His eyes may take on a dazed, confused look and he may start to stagger. These behaviors signal an upcoming collapse.

What breeds are most susceptible?

Sadly, most dogs that suffer from Exercise Induced Collapse have been from dogs bred for field trials, especially black, yellow and chocolate Labradors (black males most commonly carry the gene). Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Curly Coated Retrievers can also carry the EIC gene.

What activities should I avoid if the EIC gene is present in my dog?

Extreme heat: the actual temperature may not matter but if it is hotter and more humid than the dog is accustomed to, it may bring on a collapse.

High levels of excitement: a dog's excitement level can play a role in bringing on a collapse. There are some EIC affected dogs that, if very excited, can collapse with even the lightest form of exercise. If a dog finds any activity exciting or stressful, an episode may occur.

Type of exercise: routine exercise you and the dog engage in together such as jogging or hiking are not likely to induce a collapse. It’s the activities that require continuous intense exercise that most commonly causes a collapse, particularly if the activity causes a high level of excitement or anxiety in the dog.

How should I treat my dog with EIC?

Dogs that carry the EIC gene must find a life with less anxiety and stress. If they’ve been trained as a hunting dog or for field trials, they must retire from those activities – which were likely the cause of their collapses. As with my friend’s Golden, numerous affected field trial dogs have been adopted out as wonderful household pets. When the trigger activities of intense exercise, and the excitement and training stressors are eliminated, a dog with EIC typically never experiences another collapse and can live a long, happy, normal life.

Photo by Sini Merikallio

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

Every Dog Has Potential for Greatness

2012-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

Inside every dog, there's a potential for greatness, and all it takes to let your dog shine is to find what he loves to do, what his passion is. Dogs are a reflection of us and when you take the time to learn who your pet is, you might be surprised by what you find in his heart and yours.

‘Great’ has different meanings in the dictionary, according to how the word is used in a sentence. In this case, great (greatness) means outstanding, superior in character, important, noble or distinguished. Each of those words, in my view, aptly describes our canine friends. All dogs have a potential to achieve greatness when they are shown respect and given guidance to find their true calling.

My dogs will never star in a movie or win Best in Show. None of them will ever take first place in dock diving or fly through the air to catch a Frisbee in front of an adoring crowd. However, each one has achieved greatness simply by being. They aren't perfect, and they try my patience at times. They love to join in and howl with the neighbor's dogs when a siren is wailing. They bark at neighborhood cats and go crazy when a squirrel is in sight. But they're all exceptional, in my eyes, and when one snuggles next to me and rests their head on my lap or against my chest and looks at me with loving eyes – that is greatness to me.

Not every dog is cut out to be a show dog or excel in agility. Not every dog has the drive or intensity to herd sheep or sniff out someone lost in the wilderness. A potential for greatness has nothing to do with competing in dog sports, being a therapy dog, or any other job we give to dogs. However, when you teach a dog how to weave through poles or catch a flying disc, you give him an opportunity to discover and learn something he could excel in.

Maybe you aren't the type of person who enjoys competing. That's alright. Finding what your dog loves to do doesn't mean you have to go out on the dog show circuit or compete in dog sports. Your dog won't care if he's racing around an agility course in his backyard or in front of an excited crowd watching from the stands. Yes, some dogs do enjoy being in the limelight, but if you can't get him there, he's happy performing just for you.

Animal trainers scour local shelters because they know it's possible to find talent hiding in one or more of the dogs waiting to be adopted. But greatness can also be found in a broken down, abused and forlorn dog as well. It takes a kind heart to recognize another one that needs mending and see the potential of a sad dog curled up alone in a cage. Ara Gureghian found his dog, Spirit, in a shelter and knew when their eyes met that the dog needed him just as much as he needed a friend. While Ara was helping a dog everyone else had given up on, Spirit was helping Ara by giving him unconditional love. And love has a way of helping to heal scars in both humans and animals.

When Sue Cohen's dog Zip was severely injured by a hit-and-run driver, she never gave up. As Zip slowly recovered, it was discovered her back legs were paralyzed. Before the accident, Zip was a top competitor in agility and running a course was what she lived for. But dogs can't jump over bars or weave through poles in a wheelchair. Now, Zip's potential for greatness comes not from her ability to race around an agility course, but in her ability to inspire those who witness a brave dog with a dogged determination to never give up her passion. For Zip, just being out on the course is good enough for her and she can still run, even if it is in a wheelchair.

A dog’s potential for greatness isn't about stardom or winning. It is about determination and never giving up. It's about unconditional love and building a bond. It's about taking each day as a new beginning and forgetting about yesterday. Every dog has a potential for greatness and when you see the smile in his eyes, you know that is what he was born to do – even if it's just walking by your side.

Photo by Hanna Gustafsson

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Why Do We Love Our Pets?

2012-04-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Julia Williams

Anyone who shares their life with a pet could fill a book with reasons why they love them. There’s nothing quite like the magical relationships we have with our pets, and each one is akin to the ‘no two are alike’ snowflake. The pet-human bond is such a beautiful thing, really, and I’m so grateful for my furry friends. Not a day goes by that I don’t stop to think about how blessed I am to have these precious souls in my life. What follows are just a few of the many wonderful things that being a pet parent offers.

We love our pets because they...
…Show us how to live in the moment.
…Inspire us to be better human beings.
…Help us to appreciate the simple pleasures.
… Do something funny or silly every day.
…See us at our worst and love us anyway.
…Are the best listeners in the whole world.
…Give us a reason to get up in the morning.
…Are great best friends and surrogate children.
…Teach us that it’s okay to ask for what we want.
…Relieve us of the need to own an alarm clock.
…Encourage our nurturing and protective sides.
…Turn a house into a home, just by being in it.
…Eat every CANIDAE meal with unbridled enthusiasm.
…Don’t care what we look like or how much money we have.
…Teach us about forgiveness, patience, devotion and trust.
…Do mysterious things that always keep us guessing.
…Enjoy our company no matter what we’re doing.
…Help us to feel better when we’re sick.
…Have such beautiful souls.
…Crave our touch.
…Are always happy to see us.
…Bring meaning to our lives.
…Live in our hearts forever.
…Give us an outlet for our love.
…Make us proud to be their friend.
…Keep our floors free of spilled food.
…Never complain, criticize or judge.
…Help us to not feel alone in the world.
…Turn a bad day around with a wag or a purr.
…Show us the meaning of unconditional love.
…Relieve our stress and help us to relax.
…Accept us in spite of our flaws and faults.
…Teach us how to play with enthusiasm.
…Help us to feel needed and appreciated.
…Fill our hearts and homes with happiness.

Photo by Flickr User Jeffreyw

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The True Story of a Wild Crow That Saved a Kitten

2012-04-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

We don't usually think of wild animals as having the capacity to know when another species needs help to survive, and then doing what they can to help. But that's exactly what happened when an abandoned kitten was left to fend for herself. A wild crow swooped down, not to hurt the kitten but to protect her, and he is credited with saving the kitten's life.

Ann and Wally Collito have always been animal lovers. Living on the outskirts of town in North Attleboro, Massachusetts they would sit on their porch and watch the wildlife. One peaceful day in 1999, they noticed a small kitten about three months old walking around the edge of their yard. A couple of days later, they saw her again and noticed a wild crow hanging around the kitten. At first, they thought the crow was trying to hurt the young cat, but they were walking beside each other down the street.

When they kept seeing the kitten, Ann was afraid she hadn't eaten in a while, so Ann decided to set out some food for her. However, Ann and Wally quickly discovered the kitten wasn't as hungry as they had feared. They watched in amazement as the crow walked around their yard and gathered up bugs and worms. He then went over to the kitten and poked his beak into her mouth, feeding her what he had gathered. There was no doubt in their mind, the crow was taking care of the kitten in the only way he knew how. He even showed her where to find water.

Ann named the kitten Cassie, and the wild crow was given the name Moses. No one really knows why or how the two became friends. Crows are intelligent birds, but to see natural enemies acting like friends is definitely not an everyday occurrence. Ann called her vet to see if they could give her any advice on what to do. They were as amazed as Ann and Wally, and suggested they get the kitten and crow on videotape to prove their story, otherwise no one would believe them. So that's exactly what they did. You can see their video here.

For the next eight months, Ann videotaped a unique and unlikely friendship between a cat and a wild crow. She documented the day-to-day antics of Cassie and Moses as they interacted with each other like any friends would do. There was no question Moses had taken Cassie in under his wing and was caring for her as if she was his own. When the kitten wandered out into the street, Moses would squawk and complain until Cassie returned to the sidewalk. Sometimes, he would walk up to her and push her out of the road. The vet figured they met when both of them were young and somehow Moses knew Cassie needed help. Everyone agreed that he saved Cassie's life by feeding her.

The friends spent their days playing and teasing each other. The kitten had kept her distance from Ann and Wally when she and Moses first started hanging out in their yard, but over time she learned to trust them and started spending her evenings inside the couple's home. In the mornings, Moses knocked on the door with his beak and Ann let Cassie out so she could spend the day with her friend. Even Moses learned to trust the Collitos.

Their friendship lasted for almost five years. One day, Moses flew off and never returned. One could speculate something must have happened to him. But he could have left on his own, knowing Cassie was in good hands and safe. We've all had friends come into our lives at a time when we needed them the most and then fade away over time. I prefer to think Moses found a mate and knew it was time for him to move on with his life.

Cassie and Moses shared everything, including meals. Even we can't explain why a friendship begins, it just happens. Trust is universal and crosses over to other species, as Julia Williams discovered in her article, A Lion, a Tiger and a Bear.

These amazing animal friends who should have been enemies can teach us all how special and important the power of trust is. Cassie is now around 12 years old and living with Wally. Sadly, Ann passed away in 2006. “Cat and Crow,” a children's book written by Lisa Fleming, was released in October, 2011 in conjunction with National Feral Cat Day. The book was written to honor these two unlikely friends.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Can Dogs and Cats Have OCD?

2012-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

Who knew that when we rescued our dog three years ago she would give me so much material to write about? Granted, she was in pretty bad shape when she came to live with us – but the physical ailments were relatively easy to fix. What’s been more of a challenge is helping her get over her emotional wounds. If you regularly read this blog you know that we’re making tremendous progress with her social skills. In fact, I’ve recently taken on a new job outside of the home and I’m able to take her along with me. That’s right, I get to take my dog to work! That alone has been a fantastic opportunity for her (and for me; it’s great having her at the office all day). The stimulation of being in a new place and interacting with new people is helping her grow.

We’re delighted that she’s getting less skittish. There was a time when she’d either cower in the corner or lunge and bark aggressively when a stranger approached. Now, as long as people don’t focus their attention directly on her, she’s okay. One day I hope to say she’s fully relaxed in a variety of environments, but we’re not quite there yet. Something about a stranger looking at her in the eyes makes her uncomfortable. And if the person speaks to her in a sing-song voice she becomes completely unhinged. The guys in the office have gotten used to her behavior; they’ve learned you have to let her come to you. They basically go about their business and if she approaches one of them they understand that’s their cue to give her a scratch behind the ears. That’s a huge step in the right direction.

Our dog has another issue that we didn’t understand until lately. There’s this one specific spot on her backside, on the left of the base of her tail, that she licks constantly. She has to contort into an unnatural position to reach the exact spot, which is no larger than the size of a half-dollar. It can’t be comfortable to assume that position but she licks the area for long periods of time. She’s gone after that spot since she first came to live with us and she licks it so frequently that it’s discolored. We thought it was because of a skin allergy, fleas, a hot spot, a mosquito bite or some other medical reason.

We’ve taken her to two veterinarians and all of those things have been ruled out. Recently, a new vet joined the clinic where we go. After she conducted a thorough examination and pronounced our dog healthy, we started talking about some of her ‘odd’ behaviors. Since there is no medical reason our dog hyper-focuses on licking this small spot, the vet said it might just be a quirk or nervous habit. She likened it to a human biting their fingernails and that the act of repetitive licking soothed and comforted our dog. That made sense and seemed to fit with some of her other proclivities.

I’ve always known our dog was anxious, but I’m beginning to think she has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. According to Dr. Karen Becker at healthypets.mercola.com, obsessive compulsive behaviors arise in a variety of animals including domestic animals, farm animals and even zoo animals. Further, the two most common OCD behaviors in dogs are obsessive licking and tail chasing. There’s no tail chasing going on at our house, but there’s plenty of obsessive licking.

Dr. Becker offers a list of suggestions to help pets with OCD tendencies, the first of which is to ensure they are getting a nutritious and well-balanced diet. Premium quality CANIDAE dog food and FELIDAE cat food fits that bill. Another important component in helping your dog overcome compulsions is to provide regular and consistent exercise as well as daily mental stimulation.

I have noticed that when our dog and I have a day full of exercise and activity she licks less; when we’ve been busy what was once a comforting activity becomes more of a boredom-buster. And when she’s dog tired (groan), she isn’t interested in licking at all. Because of that, I’ve ramped up our exercise – which is good for both of us.

For cats that display OCD behaviors, the suggestions are a bit different. A regular routine is important for cats, and even more so for anxious cats. Eliminate or drastically reduce the number of unusual external events in your household so your feline friend feels like he is in full control of his environment. Keep the food and water bowls, litter boxes and cat beds in the same location. Make sure the litter box is clean. Furthermore, it’s important to spend interactive time with your cat every day. If your cat is particularly troubled, soothing music and feline stress remedies may help.

With love and empathy, there are ways to help a dog or cat with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder live a full, healthy and reasonably balanced life.

Photo by David Poe

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

Why Do Dogs Like to Lean on Us?

2012-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

By Linda Cole

One of my dogs, Max, is a big guy. When we're outside in the dog pen, he likes to come over and sit beside me. However, he doesn't just sit, he leans and if I'm standing up and not paying attention, he knocks me sideways because his lean is more of a flop against my legs. All of my dogs like to lean on me at times, but why do they snuggle up next to our legs or beside us on the couch?

Kelly, the matriarch of my dog family, will either sit beside me on the couch or climb onto my lap and lean against me. Then she lays her head on my arm or chest and melts my heart with her eyes as she gazes into mine. Some of the time, I know she's trying to butter me up for some CANIDAE Tidnips treats, but usually it's because she likes to cuddle whenever she gets the chance. Keikei and Riley are fond of sitting on my feet when I'm standing or sitting, which keeps my feet warm on a cold night.

Cuddling is one reason dogs lean against us, but think about how dogs, especially small dogs, see our world. It can be a pretty intimidating place for some canines. A dog that feels unsure of himself or is shy will press up next to your legs for security. A scared dog may move behind you and seek comfort knowing you are there to protect him. It's his way of saying you make him feel safe.

Dogs communicate with us on all levels and there's a reason for what they do. We are the ones that have trouble understanding what they are trying to tell us. But when you think about how we communicate with someone we care about, we respond in similar ways as dogs. How many times have you seen a small child hugging his mom's leg or leaning against her while she's chatting with someone. A shy child might peek out from behind his mom as he leans against her for safety. What parent hasn't had their child sit next to them on the couch or in their lap and lean up against them? Whether it’s for security or just to cuddle, it's the same reason why dogs lean on us – because we make them feel secure, and because they love us.

If your pet leans against your leg or sits in your lap because he's insecure or fearful, it's important not to give him attention that can reinforce his behavior, especially small dogs. As a pet parent, my job is to give my dogs a chance to be who they are as an individual and provide them with a sense of security when it's needed. But I also want them to be confident and able to deal with anything that comes their way and not look to me as a security crutch. Sometimes, they need to be allowed to work through their insecurities in order to learn nothing bad is going to happen to them. If I constantly reassured my small dogs it's OK if they act out in an aggressive way towards someone else or other dogs when they were scared or insecure, I'm giving them feedback that says I'm alright with their aggression, which I'm not. I expect my small dogs to behave just like the bigger ones and I want them to be independent.

Some dogs find dog parks intimidating and lean on their owners legs while checking the other dogs out. Some canines just don't like being around a bunch of other dogs; it depends on their personality. As owners, we think dogs want to be around their own kind. If yours is hesitant at the park, encourage him to play, but don't beat yourself up if he doesn't want to. Keeping a dog socialized is important and going to the dog park is a good way to give him exposure to other pets. As long as he's not showing signs of fear or aggression, there's nothing wrong with a shy dog leaning against your legs for security. Be patient and give him time to work out his shyness on his own. Don't reassure him everything will be fine. Just let him watch as you move around the park and walk away if he becomes stressed. Try again later or when the park isn't as full.

For most dogs, a lean is just their way of telling us how safe they feel when we're around. It's a relaxed gesture of satisfaction. And it's never a bad thing when your dog shows you how much he loves you by snuggling up next to you.

Photo by Sleepyneko

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Could your Pet be the Next Facebook Sensation?

2012-04-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

By Julia Williams

One cannot help but notice the growing popularity of pets on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Given the number of pet lovers in the world, it shouldn’t be shocking to discover that some pets have more fans than many celebrities. But did you know some pets are even more popular on Facebook than prominent media organizations? Last year, social media news blog Mashable compared the fan bases of some popular internet pets to major media outlets, and the pets trumped CNN, FOX News, ESPN, the New York Times, Current and People Magazine!

Some of the most popular pets on Facebook gained notoriety first, and their large Facebook following came later. However, many were unknowns who somehow managed to captivate the masses. Perhaps most telling of all, the popular pet pages on Facebook are purported to be managed by the pets themselves. According to the Daily Telegraph online newspaper, “One in ten of all UK pets have their own Facebook page, Twitter profile or YouTube channel…” Some pets even have all three!

Further, legions of people seemingly buy into the notion that cats and dogs are capable of using a computer and thus, are managing their own Facebook pages and interacting with their fans. Ok, seriously…they know pets can’t type but prefer to look the other way for the sake of the fantasy. At least, I hope that’s what’s happening here. LOL.

As a pet lover, I understand. So many times, I’ve been caught up in the ‘voice’ of a particular Facebook pet that I find myself believing that what they said actually came from them and not their human servant. Well, not really…but almost. I liken it to that thing in the movie industry called the suspension of disbelief. A moviegoer knows certain things are just not possible, but they suspend disbelief for the sake of the story. Certainly, many tales become far more interesting told from the point of view of a pet, so we play along.

Given that ordinary housecats and unassuming canines have managed to amass large numbers of fans on Facebook, I’d venture to guess that any pet owner with the desire and the time could achieve the same with their own furry friend. Until then, here is a look at some of the pets who are Facebook superstars.

Popular Cats on Facebook:

Cooper the Photographer Cat (88,560 fans) strolls the neighborhood wearing a cat-cam and returns with stunning photos.

Maru (51,300 fans) rocketed to stardom because of the adorable way he slides into boxes. I’m not positive, but I think Maru may have been the inspiration for the term “boxhab,” as in, a cat that needs rehab for its addiction to boxes.

Joey the Garden Cat (17,500 fans) is a once-feral kitty who made the THV Weather Garden in Little Rock, Arkansas his home and subsequently adopted the entire News staff and viewers as his family.

Luna the Fashion Kitty (11,500 fans) is a Himalayan/Persian with a large wardrobe. Luna is billed as “the ultimate top kitty model.”

Sockington (9,200 fans) aka Socks, is a witty feline who lives in Massachusetts. Though he doesn’t have a ginormous fan base on Facebook, Sockington is probably the most popular cat on Twitter.

Homer the Blind Wonder Cat (7,530 fans) has a bestselling book about what life is like as a blind cat.

Nora the Piano Playing Cat (4,065 fans) became a Celebricat as a result of her uncanny ability to tickle the ivories.

Popular Dogs on Facebook:

Boo: when I wrote about this impossibly cute Pomeranian less than a year ago, he had about one million Facebook fans. Now he has more than 4 million fans! Whoa. It’s highly unlikely Boo will ever be usurped as the most popular dog on the planet. But what I find especially interesting about Boo is that his popularity comes from just one thing: he’s cute. Unlike many other dogs and cats on Facebook who “work the crowd” to increase their popularity, Boo doesn’t even interact with his fans. I’ve never seen Boo respond to any of the gazillion posts on his page or answer any of their questions. In fact, I even emailed him a polite request for an interview last year and was completely ignored (sniff).

Beast (525,700 fans) is a Hungarian Puli owned by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Giant George (118,000 fans) is the World’s Tallest Dog according to Guinness.

Surf Dog Ricochet (100,000 fans) inspired millions with her touching YouTube video, and is now a successful canine fundraiser for various charities.

Stacey Mae (16,460) is a Greater Swiss Mountain Therapy Dog who started the Teddy Bear Project to collect stuffed animals for kids in hospitals and seniors in nursing homes.

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog (5,000) was the first canine to help teach fire safety to children.

I’m sure there are tons more popular pets on Facebook. Who have I missed?

Cat photo by Paul Sapiano
Dog photo by Alan Levine

Read more articles by Julia Williams

How to Give Your Cat a Pill

2012-04-19T08:00:00.001-07:00

By Langley Cornwell

My neighbor has a cat with asthma. She travels for work, and when she’s gone I cat-sit for her. The cat is generally easy to care for but recently she needed oral meds and I had to give her a pill every day. We have a cat but fortunately our little guy has never had to take a pill so I had absolutely no experience in this area. I consulted a few cat-loving friends and got loads of good advice.

One friend used to give her cat a daily thyroid pill. She was able to hide the pill inside a tiny bit of something the cat liked, such as cream cheese, butter, turkey, or a bite of FELIDAE wet cat food. She would cover the pill with the ‘good stuff’ and roll it into a bite-sized ball. The cat looked forward to this and would gulp the whole thing down. My friend doesn’t know if her cat knew the pill was in there or not. Maybe she knew but just didn't care because the ‘treat’ was so good. Whatever the case, this method worked well and she never had the stress of worrying about how to get her cat to take a pill. This probably works best with very small pills. The asthma pills for my neighbor’s cat were a bit large but it was worth a try.

No luck. It didn’t matter what I wrapped the pill in, that cat would devour the delicious outer coating and spit out the whole pill. My neighbor laughed at me via text; she had warned me that the ‘hide the pill’ method was going to be unsuccessful but I needed to prove it to myself because the alternative seemed so difficult.

If you’ve ever had to give a cat a pill, you already know how hard it is. Maybe I’m wrong here but I think even the most seasoned cat-people would rather not have to do it the manual way. In fact, Animal Planet says cats enjoy taking a pill as well as they enjoy taking a bubble bath – and I honestly think giving my neighbor’s cat a bath would have been easier.

Here’s a combination of what the experts at Animal Planet recommend and what worked for me:

Have the pill within arm’s reach before you even think about starting the process. Some people recommend lubricating the pill with butter to make it easier to swallow.

Confine your cat to one room; preferably a room the cat is familiar with. Equip the room with the pill and a blanket or large towel. Check to see if the pill can be taken with food. If so, have a high-value treat like FELIDAE TidNips on hand.

Hang out in the room with your cat, breathe deeply or do whatever makes you calm. A cat can easily sense if you’re nervous or apprehensive and that will likely agitate him. In a relaxed way, pet him and talk soothingly.

As you pet your cat, wrap him in the blanket with his head sticking out. Gently tuck the cat under one arm and hold him snugly against your body. Grab the pill with your free hand.

Gently pry his mouth open from the hinge of his jaws using your thumb and middle finger. Slightly tilt his head backwards and drop the pill in the back of his mouth, where the tongue begins.

Let the cat close his mouth, keeping him nestled under your arm. Place a hand under the cat's chin to prevent him from spitting out the pill (speaking from experience).

Stroke your cat’s throat to encourage swallowing. Most cats lick their lips when they swallow something so watch for that sign. I’ve also heard that blowing into a cat’s nostrils encourages swallowing but I didn’t try that.

Some experts recommend giving your cat a drink of water from a needleless syringe so the pill dissolves easily but I didn’t try that either.

After it’s all done, give the cat a treat or a bite of his favorite canned food. This will help the pill go down so the cat can’t hack it back up (again, experience). Praise the cat too, so the process is a positive one. It also makes sense to give the treats to your cat every now and then without the pill.

If all this seems impossible, some companies make pills that taste good to pets. See if that option exists for the meds your cat requires. I’ve also heard of a pill shooter type device that makes the process easier, but I don’t have any experience with those.

Do any of you have tips or tricks to share?

Photo by Raymond Johnston

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