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.

Puppies, not for Christmas

Was tweeted from someone who said she wasn’t happy her relative was planning to get a puppy for Christmas. I replied as long as she knows it’s not Just for Christmas. She replied it’s just not how you should get a pup.

Thought about it for a while and didn’t really understand what she meant; but then realised that it probably is too busy a time. Since I’m not very social at Christmas my first thought wasn’t about chaos in the home. After researching further, I found very compelling reasons not to do it.


3 key points are:

• New people and noise in the house can create unnecessary stress and anxiety.
• There is a general lack of time and attention for proper training.
• Lots of extra things for puppies to get into (ie. ribbons, tinsel, decorations, Christmas trees, poisonous mistletoe & poinsettias)

Now if you have already committed to a puppy; here are some suggestions to help with the transition:

• Don’t invite too many people over; or let the puppy be handled by guests

• Have a quiet place set aside for the puppy to sleep; buy a crate and put it in a room away from the noise.

• Make sure the puppy gets plenty of exercise and start training immediately. Some puppy training info

• Don’t feed the new addition any table scraps.

• Keep decorations to a minimum; or supervise the puppy when in the presence of dangerous items.

Remember to always make sure the puppy has proper vaccinations and a health check from the vet, when bringing a new animal into your home.


Thanks to 321Viv for making me aware of something I never really thought about before.

New Best Friend? / Dogs are not just for Christmas!

Getting a dog is a major decision and shouldn’t be made lightly. There are too many people who want a cute and cuddly pal but get a destructive petulant puppy. Or adopt a dog and find they are not perfect. I am not saying that this is always true and you should run and hide; there are ways to cope. Just make sure you have done your research!!!

First decision, buy or adopt; my personal preference is adopting. I want to save the world one dog at a time. In my mind, unless you want a specific breed for a specific reason (i.e. showing) adopting is the better choice. Even if you want a
specific breed, there are always ways to find a lost soul.

Tip:try contacting breeders to see if they have a dog they
aren’t going to sell; if they are decent people they will want to
find the dog a good home.

Second decision, puppy or adult dog; my
preference here is adult dog. Not all rescues will be house trained, but if you adopt an adult dog the chances are bigger and so is the bladder. If you do have to train an adult dog, it should be faster because they can usually hold it longer.

Third decision, what breed; there are so many breeds to choose from you need to narrow it down.

You could start by looking at the seven groups as they sometimes have similar characteristics.
Gundog Group - locate game
Hound Group - chase game
Pastoral Group - herd animals
Terrier Group - vermin hunters (larger breeds today don't fit underground)
Utility Group - non sporting (traits vary greatly)
Working Group - wide variety of jobs/personalities
Toy Group - miniature dogs (ancestry can be traced back to larger breeds)

Some other important questions to ask are:
What size dog fits my lifestyle? It’s obvious if you live in an apartment a Great Dane is the wrong choice. Also, bigger dogs eat more and medication sometimes costs more, so if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, stick with the smaller breeds.
How much exercise am I expecting? Breeds like Border Collies and Springer Spaniels need a lot of exercise and in the case of Border Collies, mental stimulation. Why else do you see so many Border Collies at Agility competitions?

Am I allergic? There are some breeds, like Poodles which are said to be better for people with allergies. If you do have allergies and a dog; vacuum frequently with a HEPA vacuum cleaner and get a HEPA room air cleaner.

Do I want to clean up hair 24/7? Some breeds shed very little (e.g., Schnauzer, Cairn Terrier) but you have to consider if the dog isn’t shedding it may need more grooming. Groomers can be very expensive if you can’t do it yourself.

How good am I at training or taking charge? There are breeds that train easily and ones that are a little tougher. If you are looking for a wilful breed the Cairn Terrier comes to mind. If you want a dog that trains easily,a Bernese Mountain Dog is a good choice. If you choose an aggressive breed you better make sure the dog is well trained!

Are children around? Temperament is probably one of the most important things to consider.  It’s not to say that a particular breed couldn’t turn if provoked, but the chances are slimmer. I know from experience that Samoyeds and Labradors are softies. If you have a child, are expecting to have a child, or will have children in your home...really do your research!!! This also applies if you have other animals or lots of guests over; there is nothing more stressful or embarrassing as having a pet attack someone.

How long will you have your pet? As a general rule of thumb the smaller the dog the longer it will live, but look into the breed you are interested in to be sure. Also, check to see if a particular breed is known for specific medical conditions; this way you can be prepared and possibly take preventative measures.

Fourth decision, where to look; there are so many websites with all kinds of information on rescue centres and breeders, you will be spoilt for choice. The first place I would look is a Pet Directory. I quickly found http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/, which was easy to navigate, but you don’t have to take my word for it. When you find a rescue or breeder you like... do some more research; make sure you can trust them.
Tip: The more reputable places will ask questions and may want to see where the dog will live. It’s o.k., because the more checking on everyone’s part, the more chance the dog will find their forever home.

There are lots of other things to do, like getting your home ready and having all the right bits and pieces, but I’m sure by now you have researched that too.

Finally, if you have problems with your new dog, don’t be shy... get help. There’s a lot of info out there, pet forums, training centres, vets and friends. The more you understand, the easier it will be to resolve.  Just be prepared and enjoy; animals can really make you a better person. I haven’t met an animal lover I didn’t like.

Illustrations by DJ Art: www.imageenvision.com/portfolio/djart