Coming up tomorrow is America's Independence day celebration. They'll be parades, bar-b-ques, beers, kids, dogs and fireworks ranging from sparklers to bottle rockets. Lots of laughter, food and fun increasing the regular sound decibels in the neighborhood.
Some dogs don't mind the noise while others get buggy eyed, hide under the bed, run away, cry, jump through sliding glass doors, loose bladder control and generally freak out. These sound sensitive dogs need extra care for the upcoming super noisy 3-day holiday.
You know your pooch. You know if they'll go bananas with all the noise. If you suspect a doggie panic attack coming on, talk with your Veterinarian about mild sedatives or an anti-anxiety for the weekend.
If you just got your dog or have a puppy, please don't leave them all alone when the fireworks begin to fly. Your dog will need reassurance that it's all going to be o.k. Be careful not to reinforce panic attacks by lathering on to much attention. Just act normally like the bombs bursting in air is an everyday thing and nothing to be concerned about.
There's also the doggie music alternative. It's been shown to calm even the most anxious of dogs and may be the best few bucks you've ever spent to keep "Fido" from loosing it. For about $15 you can calm your canine. Interested? Then fetch it here!
Whatever you decide to do with your furry family member, keep them safe, make sure they have plenty of cool, clean water and love them. The rewards are endless.
Monday
Dogs and 4th of July Celebration
Dogs With CCL Have A New Leash On Life
This year more than 1 million dogs will suffer from cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) deficiency and their humans will pay more than $1.3 billion to help out their best pal. The typical surgery for the dogs involved cutting the tibia bone in hopes of stabilizing the area. Now, a new technique called "Tightrope CCL" is available for canines.
The brilliant Veterinarians who trailblazed this technique in dogs say that not all poochers are ideal candidates. For our furry friends that do undergo this surgery, the post-operative rehab is crucial to long-term success.
This is excellent. Doctors taking what we already know works and transferring it to our loving furry friends. Thank you. For the whole story, click here
Wednesday
Dog Sociology-The Pack
Dogs are highly social animals and need a constant leader. Being the leader means the human is the Alpha at all times. Severe aggression isn't required and will not create a happy pooch. Instead be a gentle, consistent and confident presence in your dog's life. They will show you daily their gratitude.
If you have 3 or more dogs at home you have a pack and have already experienced pack behavior including snapping, snarling, growling and the like. The dogs will have their canine alpha which is typically the senior member of the pack. Keep an eye and hear out for overly aggressive behavior that needs modification from a trainer. Generally, the scuffles are a simply reminder from the Alpha that they are indeed still Alpha.
Just like humans, dogs have a specific pecking order and the baton is handed off from time to time. For further information on pack behavior Click here.
Tuesday
Dogs and Kids Stay Fit Together
"Kids and K-9's for Healthy Choices" is yet another brilliant idea created to help heal ourselves and our best pal the dog.
Kathy Wright came up with the program by first jotting down ideas on a napkin. Initially she wanted to create something to help with weight loss and soon thereafter she's getting dog's out of shelters into good homes and teaching our youth some responsibility. The bonus is it gets the kids off their backsides for a bit of outdoor activity.
Kids are losing weight, self-esteem is increasing and the dogs, well, just look at the smile in the picture. This program is working such miracles that it was featured on the "Rachel Ray" television program last month. Let's get a program like this one wherever there are shelter dogs and kids--basically everywhere.
Fetch the whole story by clicking here.
Monday
Dog Beating State Trooper May Get Job Back
I don't usually post stories that are sad or make me angry but this one really gets under my skin. A North Carolina State Trooper, who was video taped by another Officer kicking a dog after he'd suspended the poor creature from a railing, may get his job back because of a technicality.
First of all, a person who tortures an innocent animal should not be allowed to carry a gun, not to mention have the kind of power an officer of the law possesses. If this disturbed individual demonstrates such blatant disregard with a canine, what else is Trooper Jones capable of doing on the street unsupervised? I thought State Troopers and Police Officers were to protect and serve not beat and abuse. Distressing only begins to scratch the surface of this story.
Training a dog is easy because they want to please their human. It takes effort, research, time, consistency and most of all benevolence. Resorting to abuse is the cowards way of handling things. Anyone who behaves this way clearly needs assistance, psychotherapy, a near death experience or shock treatment. Something to snap them out of the thought process that violence gets them what is ultimately desired.
Please take this cop off the street. He's obviously violent. Next time he may string up a human and beat them. What would be done then? You can fetch the whole story by clicking here.
Thursday
Dog's Helping With Literacy
Dogs are once again encouraging, healing and helping us out. In Orchards, WA a reading program is bringing out even the children who would never open a book.
Several tutors bring their loveable canines to school providing a nourishing and unconditional audience for a child. The "Read to Rover" program is a hit and the children are making leaps and bounds in their literacy skills. Simply brilliant!
To fetch the whole story, click here.
Tuesday
Puppies Have A Squirrel In The Pack
"Finnegan" the baby squirrel has found a place to flourish. Ms. Debby Cantlon plans to release the furry tailed gatherer once he's had a chance to grow up a bit. This little guy is smaller than the new born pups he nuzzling up to and looks quite cozy.
Ms. Debby is bottle feeding "Finnegan" while her female Papillon, "Mademoiselle Giselle", who was very pregnant when "Finnegan" came on the scene, has accepted him as part of her puppy pack. In fact, "Mademoiselle Giselle" insisted "Finnegan" be right next to her while she gave birth demonstrated by her tugging the squirrel cage next to her bed.
Yet another story of how our pal the dog is truly a benevolent creature and that animals will nourish and care for another living being even if they don't look anything like their babies. True unconditional acceptance. We all have a lesson to learn from this one.
Sunday
Dog's Going To Work
If your dog is a superstar, then June 20, 2008 is a date to remember. Celebrated since 1999, national "Take Your Dog To Work Day" was born to remind us and our employers that dog's make fantastic companions at work.
Imagine sitting at your desk with your hands covering your face after a truly horrible phone call and your beloved pooch comes over and places their trusting head in your lap with that special smile only they can deliver. The worries melt away and your blood pressure drops. You look at your pooch and are reminded that this moment is the one that counts. You rub their head or give the coveted belly scratch and feel so much better. Thank you my furry friend, I needed that.
"Take your dog to work day" is also to encourage folks to adopt from shelters, humane societies and rescue clubs. I rescued a lab/border collie/chow mix pooch from the shelter. He was 5 months old at the time and had lived in a kennel since he was 8 weeks old. We've had him now for 14 months and I can't imagine life without him. Our "Beau" is thrilled to be part of a family and shows us his love by grinning when he's happy; which is pretty much all the time. I'm blessed to have this little guy in my life. For more information on "Take Your Dog To Work Day", Fetch it here.
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