Lenny's Pet Toy Test

When the toys arrived Lenny nosed around and seemed most interested in the Kong but without the right size treats we would need to test it later.

With leftover steak in all four activity boxes of the Trixie toy, Lenny walked right past it. This was surprising because he usually has such a good sense of smell. After showing him what was inside he went for the easiest box first. He’s good at lifting things up with his nose (e.g. the rubbish bin) so he had no problem. The others proved more difficult and he really wasn’t bothered. Adding cheese to the meat gave him more incentive; he lifted the same box again, then knocked over the drawer box. The next two puzzles he couldn’t open so he dragged the game away laid down next to it and looked at me. Now a staring match and not about to let him get his way, I went inside knowing the video camera would catch the rest. When he could’t see me Lenny opened the third puzzle. Then he laid down for a while (8 mins) looking disinterested but all of a sudden got up pawed the knob a few times and opened the box. Don’t know why he waited so long; was he contemplating some evil plan or just resting…. only he knows. After lunch we played again with leftover ploughmen’s lunch, this time he got through all four puzzles a lot quicker.

This game was fun for me, but don't think Lenny saw it that way.

The second game we tried was the Karlie Shell Game. With cheese inside he found the right shell immediately but getting the cheese out was proving difficult, his tongue was too big. Washing the cheese out was tricky too, it melted into the wood. We tried the game with his hard food and he was able to find the shell right away. Later we played again with small treats bought at the pet store, but the smell seemed all over the place because he was picking all the shells up and licking them.

The slide game on the other side was tougher. Lenny tried the same tactic as with the shells and was biting all the sliders. This game is probably for a smaller dog and one that is more motivated by food. Or an owner willing to train their dog to use the toy, there is a small instruction manual we didn’t bother with. Lenny is lazy (me too) and apart from licking the shells and chewing on them I don’t think he or I got much from it. Also being made of wood and some kind of heavy cardboard didn’t seem sturdy enough for a medium sized dog. I was worried Lenny would swallow the shells.

For the Kong, we bought a bunch of small smelly treats from the pet store. An assistant suggested this semi hard food for it. When looking at the way you put the food inside something mushy didn’t seem to be right, so I just loaded it with lots of small treats. Lenny loved it, he spent a good half an hour licking and biting at it.

The Kong was the only toy that didn’t need my participation. It was fun to just watch him have a go. The mushy stuff would have been better because Lenny was not able to get the treats out and I felt bad. But the clean up would have been messy; anyway Lenny didn’t seem to notice. Between the Trixie game and the Kong, Lenny picked the Kong.

The true winner and Lenny’s pick is the Kong. The toy is sturdy and kept him occupied for a long time without my interaction. This gave me time to enjoy his antics and take lots of pictures. The Trixie Dog Activity set was sturdy, easy to clean and had lots of space for treats but Lenny liked the Kong better. The Karlie Doggy Brain Train wasn’t for us but would probably be fun for a smaller dog and a person who likes to teach their dog tricks.
Lenny’s order of approval:
1. Kong Genius
2. Trixie Dog Activity Strategiespiel Poker Box – Level 2
3. Karlie Doggy Brain Train (Shell Game then Slider Game)

Kong Genius is the WINNER!!!!

Petplan has provided me with these toys as part of their Pet Toy Test review programme. Visit the Petplan UK Facebook page for more information and a chance to win the winning toy!

Crufts Best In Show 2012

Best in Show at Crufts on More 4 last night was epic and proved that girls do rule the world. Elizabeth the 7 year old Lhasa Apso bitch won Best In Show. It would have been better if the Newfoundland, Brutus who won best reserve had won BIS. I loved all the dogs but the Newfie has never won at Crufts and they are such awesome dogs. All the Groups had powerful contenders, although I don't really know much about the Irish Water Dog. The Pomeranian had a wonderful ring presence and great personality that showed when he did circles and practically jumped into the judges arms. Did Dreamer know he was the smallest dog there? The Norwich Terrier, Paris was very cute and confident for such a young dog. We will definitely see Paris a lot more in the future. The Borzoi had it the toughest because it just won best Hound minutes earlier. Although showing takes alot out of the dog and handler, Luke still managed a gentle sloping gate around the ring. The Old English Sheepdog, Jimmy had to be the most talked about with a name like Bottom Shaker my Secret. This dog did not have a docked tail that he carried beautifully with a fabulous stride.  All in all, the show was excellent and the judge Frank Kane did a wonderful job.  I would love to know what he was thinking.

To recap the finalists were:
Utility Group, Elizabeth the Lhasa Apso bitch won Best In Show
Working Group, Brutus the Newfoundland dog won Reserve
Gundog Group, Merlin the Irish Water Dog
Pastoral Group, Jimmy the Old English Sheepdog
Hound Group, Luke the Borzoi dog
Terrier Group, Paris the Norwich Terrier dog
Toy Group, Dreamer the Pomeranian dog

Laughing Dog Food

Let me first say I apologise to Laughing Dog for taking so long to try their dog food.  I've been really busy with my cat's ear operation.  She's doing fine now and her hair has grown back so she looks better.

I offered Lenny Laughing Dog a week ago and he really liked it.  I can tell you that it smells better then Science Diet.  The food has no added Wheat, Soya, Dairy Products, Artificial Colours or Flavours so I suspect it helps with those dogs that have allergies.  My only problem with the food is that it crumbles easily and Lenny has a bad habit of taking his food into the living room to eat.

For those of you looking for a food alternative to what you give your dog today, I'd say check Laughing Dog out.  I think I'm going to try the Dental Oaties out next.

http://www.laughingdogfood.com/

Guy Fawkes Night and Your Pets

As my neighbour set off some very beautiful fireworks the other night I remembered the 5th of November is not far away. My dog and cat are scared of fireworks and so are approximately 80% of pets. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you through the upcoming weeks.

Do
- Walk your dog before dark to avoid firework displays.
- Provide a secure area in the house for pets to go if they are nervous.
- Close all windows, curtains and cat/dog flaps.
- Stay at home with your pets when you know there will be fireworks so you can monitor their behaviour.

Don’t
- Let your dog out in the garden alone after dark during firework season.
- Encourage fearful behaviour. Instead try to distract them with toys & chews or have either the radio or TV on to cover up firework noise.

Finally, if you know that your pet will be seriously distressed see your vet; there are various products that may alleviate the problem.

'Come Back Como' Book Review

Over the weekend I read an interesting book about a rescue terrier named Como. The book 'Come Back Como' by Steve Winn was an easy read and brought back memories of my dogs, which made me both laugh and cry. Dakota was a master escape artist and Lenny isn’t good at recall and I worry when he's off lead. Anyone reading this book will find one or two things they will identify with. It's not only the antics of Como that are entertaining, but also his interactions with family and friends. The book contains the author’s interpretation of other families’ relationships with dogs as well. It's a great read for anyone who loves dogs, has dogs, or is thinking about getting a dog.

The author was not ready for Como and it took quite some time, but both dog and owner have found peace. It would be interesting to know what the Dog Whisperer would have suggested, because I think some trouble stemmed from the owners feelings and actions. If you don’t like a dog, they know it. In Steve Winn’s case, fate and a very determined little girl intervened; now there is one less homeless dog in the world.

Top 10 UK Breeds for 2010

Top 10 UK Kennel Club 2010 registrations	Top 10 UK Kennel Club 2006 registrations
Labrador Retriever (44,099 reg.)	Labrador Retriever (45,700 reg.)
Cocker Spaniel	English Cocker Spaniel (20,459 reg.)
English Springer Spaniel	English Springer Spaniel (15,133 reg.)
German Shepherd	German Shepherd (12,857 reg.)
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	Staffordshire Bull Terrier (12,729 reg.)
Border Terrier	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel(11,411 reg.)
Cavalier King Charles	Golden Retriever (9,373 reg.)
Golden Retriever	Westie (9,300 reg.)
Pug (5,726 reg.)	Boxer (9,066 reg.)
Boxer	Border Terrier (8,916 reg.)

The 2010 data I obtained from PBW News magazine volume 13 Issue 3; the 2006 & 2008 data from Wikipedia.

The three most notable changes in breed registrations from 2006 to 2010 were the Border Terrier, Westie and the Pug.

The Border Terrier moved up 4 places from No. 10 in 2006 to No. 6 in 2010.  In 2008, it's registrations were 9,145 at No. 8.  The Border Terrier is a small dog with a dense topcoat and thick undercoat that needs moderate grooming.  It is good natured with a typical terrier character and is loyal but requires firm handling.  The breed can live from 12-16 years so be sure to recognise the commitment you will have to make when you own this type of dog.

In 2010, the West Highland White Terrier dropped out of the top 10, but still remains in the top 20.   Considered a medium sized dog the Westie should be 28 cm high and weigh 7-10 kgs.  This breed needs considerable grooming and should be trimmed 4 times a year. They are generally healthy, but look out for skin problems, dry eye and "lion jaw" in puppies 3-6 months of age.

According to 2010 registrations, Pugs are now No.9 and have come a long way from first being introduced in 2006 to the top 20. Pugs are small dogs with huge personalities; they are strong willed and not easy to train but make wonderful companions who need lots of human interaction. Like the Border Terrier, Pugs can live to 16 so be prepared for a long term commitment. Because of their small noses they snort & cannot stand the heat very well; their eyes also need to be checked regularly.

New to the top 20 in 2010 is the mini-smooth haired Dachshund with 2,802 registrations and close behind is the Chihuahua with 2,796 registrations. Are we trending towards smaller breeds to match our single family homes? If we are it will take a long time to catch up to the Labrador Retriever, whose registrations are twice that of the English Cocker Spaniel.

Kennel club registrations are only one indication of popular breeds,because not everyone registers their dog and not all dogs are Pedigree. I think the massive number of Stafforshire Bull Terriers in shelters must prove that registration numbers are not a true representation of breed population. Whatever breed you choose, make sure to do your research and be prepared for a serious commitment.

Ticks and Fleas

Yes it’s time already. I found a tick on my dog Lenny’s snout the other day. There is nothing worse than having to pull one of those out. Because it was on his face it made it that much harder. That’s why I got my husband to do it; I’m such a wimp. Lenny was better behaved than I thought he would be. I held him while my husband pulled the tick out. Now the area is all red and I’m just hoping it doesn’t get infected. I really don't want to take him to the vet. Why are vets so expensive? Aren't they supposed to do it for the love of animals? I blame insurance companies.

Back to the tick; I should have been proactive and put Frontline on him. I didn't and now I'm paying the price. Lenny has his dose and the cat is next. Just have to remember to re-apply all summer.

I asked around at the dog show yesterday and got some good tick removal advice:

• Take a tissue and grab the tick by the head then pull and twist. This way you get the whole tick out and avoid infection.
• Use a tick remover; they look like big tweezers.
• Cover it with Vaseline. Because the tick can’t survive without breathing, it will fall off your dog. But then you have to worry about where in the house it went. (yuck)

My dad’s advice was to heat up a spoon and put it on the tick’s back. This way you don’t burn the dog and the tick will get hot and pull out of the dog. (double yuck) However this requires a very docile dog that doesn't move around a lot, not Lenny!

My advice is to prevent the tick in the first place. I’ve found Frontline works for me (least yucky). Sorry I didn’t take my own advice. In my defence the nice weather just snuck up on me.

I also just read about a product in pbwnews magazine made by Johnson's 4fleas range that kills fleas if your home is infested.  Haven't tried it but think I might have to this year.