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My Favorite Dog

joan — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:55:41 +0000

In all my years of dog ownership (or should I say companionship?) there is one pup who stands out among all the others. Her name was Bella, and she really was a beautiful little pooch. Not just physically, although she was that for sure. We got her from a shelter, so we never could verify her lineage, but I believe she was some type of Yorkie/ Pomeranian mix.

When my little sister became very ill one year with pneumonia and we almost lost her, Bella was by her side both day and night. The only time she left Andrea was to use the potty or for meals. Even then she went reluctantly, with backward glances that seemed almost apologetic.

When Andrea recovered, only then would Bella sleep with other family members, or take part once again in a lively game of rubber ball toss.

Bella lived for many years, and when we finally lost her at the ripe old age of sixteen, our whole family mourned her for the longest time. I happen to believe she moved on to a better place, but every once in a while I still think about my Bella.

Getting Rid of Puppy Mills

joan — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:20:18 +0000

A cousin of mine adopted a little female pug mix that was rescued from a puppy mill. What a terrible life this little dog had before, and how lucky she is that Jessica found her and opened up her heart. These poor dogs are used only as puppy making machines, and are often kept in cages their entire lives. She is a little neurotic, but who wouldn’t be after being treated like nothing but a breeding machine. I’m surprised that she still has licks and love to distribute (in abundance!) to Jessica and her husband.

One way to shut down this inhumane practice is by refusing to purchase puppies from pet stores. This is where many of the puppy mill pups are sold, and you can simply vote with your dollars. Eventually, the profit will disappear and along with it, the purpose for the puppy mill.

The Heroic Pit Bull

joan — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:36:38 +0000

Pit Bulls are dangerous, so it is said. Well, in this story that may be true, but only for the bad guy. In fact this little female got the 2008 Hero Dog award from saving her owner from a male attacker! Think of the fearlessness a dog would have to have to go after a human being at least seven times her weight and size.

Maya is her name, and she jumped to her human companion’s defense as the young woman was being strangled in her own home. Maya’s fearlessness led to some of the attacker’s blood on her muzzle, which was swabbed by the police in order to get a DNA match. This eventually led to his arrest, and hopefully his conviction. He was a repeat offender.

Hurrah for the pit bull!

Dog Park Fun

joan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:13:02 +0000

Well, the weather should be warming up soon, and time to head for the dog park again! No matter where you live, there is probably a place nearby for you and your pup to romp.

Just be sure you keep your puppy etiquette intact. Pick up the poo, and deposit it properly. Now you can get biodegradable baggies, which I highly recommend. Just google the term and you can shop online. Good idea? I think it’s brilliant. It always bothered me to think of all those plastic bags full of dog business.

Then you can enjoy your romp guilt-free, and set a good example for all the other dog moms and dads out there having fun, too. The pooch and I can hardly wait for those spring outings!

Rufus the Dog; The Best Gift of All

joan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:32:46 +0000

When I was a child, my mother promised she would give me a puppy for Christmas if I prepared in advance. I had to study all about puppy care, do the research on the best food to feed it, arrange a schedule that included daily walks and play time with my dog and I had to have a savings account with money earned from chores to provide veterinary care when needed. She also informed me that if I didn’t carry out all the duties necessary to care for my dog, that she would give it away.

My mom was a smart lady! I never took dog ownership for granted. In fact, I wouldn’t even let anyone else in the family feed, water or walk Rufus. He was a mongrel puppy, but in my eyes he was a champion of intelligence and beauty. My mother came to love him as much as I did, and I know she would never have the heart to give him away even if I had failed in my care. But her stern rules set down at the beginning made me feel like an adult, especially when I was able to fulfill them all!

Smart Dogs

joan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:57:15 +0000

Are some dog breeds smarter than others? I would guess that to be true. Like humans, the more you have to use your noggin, the better you can think. Take the Australian Cattle dog, for instance. They are considered very intelligent, and they have to be! They have to have understanding of the big mammals they are responsible for herding, and must respond to signals from their owners. If they mess up, they could lose their lives.

How about a sheltie? Similar requirements, only the sheltie is even more diminutive. This little guy was bred to herd cattle and sheep, and from all indications does a wonderful job of it. My cousin owned a sheltie, and she swore he was as smart as her husband! (I never mentioned that to Al.)

A Dog May Extend Your Life

joan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:07:00 +0000

Not too long ago I read that married couples (happily married, that is) tend to live longer, healthier lives. I don’t know why you need to study this; isn’t it obvious? But the interesting thing is that similar studies have been done on owning pets, and similar results have been found with people who have dogs and cats as a part of their family.

I can’t imagine not sharing my life with a dog. There have been times when my canine companion was able to put a smile on my face in the darkest of days. And to share a gorgeous day with your dog, romping and playing on the beach can be the height of enjoyment.

It is a two-way street. Our dogs really need us for companionship, food and shelter. But I think what they give back to us is infinitely more important.

Bo the Presidential Dog

joan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:12:07 +0000

I just read something interesting about the First Family’s dog, Bo. Apparently since his name is so similar to the word “No,” the family has to be very careful about their use of the negative. It was suggested that they come up with a hand signal, or some other way to remind him of his manners.

That would be a challenge for a new dog owner. I think avoiding that word would be hard for even an experienced dog trainer. For me, “No” is such an automatic response to a misbehaving puppy, I’m afraid the word would be uttered before I had a chance to stop myself. It’d be interesting to see what they’ve come up with as a way to handle this dilemma. One thing for sure, he is one adorable dog, and I’m especially happy they chose a puppy cut for him.

Dogs and Height

joan — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:37:33 +0000

Dogs are very attuned to the size of animals and people. We are taller than dogs, so we may inadvertently intimidate them. Even among dogs, the bigger ones tend to be the dominant ones. If a dog wants to appear larger than he is (I’ve seen this in tough little Chihuahuas) he will stiffen the legs, raise the fur on the back of the neck and hold up his tail and ears.

Conversely, if a dog is trying not to be picked on, he will crouch down, put his tail between his legs or roll over. He’s saying “Don’t hurt me, I’m no threat.”

Whenever possible, interact with your dog at his level. When you crouch down, you seem friendlier and they feel a greater reality with you and are more willing to play!

Telepathy and Dogs

joan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:10:31 +0000

Is it possible? I think dogs are pretty tuned into their human companions, so some people might think that what passes for telepathy is just a dog picking up on non-verbal cues. On the other hand…

I have a friend who swore she could get her dog to do many different tricks just by giving Bowzer the image in her mind of him doing the trick. There are some that say that dogs do understand mental pictures, and I’m inclined to believe it. And this may be true of other animals besides dogs. I have a friend who once got a hummingbird to sit calmly on the brush end of a broom (the bird had gotten into her living room) while she took it carefully to the window and let it fly away. This she did by giving the bird an image of it sitting on the broom brush as she lifted the broom towards it, and then being taken to the window to be let go.

A hummingbird! Not only a wild animal, but an animal that most people never see NOT flying, let along passively perching on the brush end of a broom, an object the bird had probably never seen before.

So you may think I’m gullible, but neither of my friends lie, and besides, I’ve had my own experiences in this area. You could try it yourself sometime, just to test out the theory.