4pawsblog

NEWFOUNDLAND DOG SCREENSAVER

2009-03-08T12:37:00.001-05:00

JUST FINISHED A GREAT NEWFOUNDLAND DOG SCREENSAVER, I am offering this for sale for only $12.00 and $2.00 of each sale will go to the Newf Club for Rescue...If you're interested, I've had a LOT of comments ..everyone LOVES this screensaver...here's the website to go to to get it: http://www.newfnet.com/purchasescreen.htm

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Every dog Has It's Day

2009-01-26T08:32:00.001-06:00

Both Jenna and Phoenix are having their "days" right now. Every time they stick their noses outside, they come back in with those same noses all covered with snow...they LOVE the snow. They eat it, roll in it, pounce into the snow for pretend mice...whatever. i just love to watch them, (from inside the house..where it's warm) I used to be an "outdoor" person but not any more, not in the winter. My son keeps wanting me to go ice fishing and I tell him nah...it's just too beastly cold. I will sure love it when winter goes away...probably only have to wait about 8 more weeks. Well, groundhog day is coming soon. Maybe we'll find out that winter is ending sooner than expected. Sure hope so!

Just finished a new video of he NEWFOUNDLAND products at Dogdaze Designs. Here it is, for your enjoyment:

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Winter!!!

2009-01-17T05:27:00.001-06:00

Winter is finally losing its grip, after more than 90 hours of sub zero temps we are creeping above the zero mark. mind you I said above zero, not above freezing.
In the midst of all this I saw my neighbor's bichon running loose, from the front door o the house to the backdoor of the house, begging to be let in. FINALLY after about a half hour of this, someone let the poor dog in. Just when i was ready to call the county sheriff (I live in a very tiny town, no police department)... So this is just a reminder: WATCH YOUR PETS IN THIS SEVERE WEATHER!! Even big hairy dogs need to be brought indoors or given extra bedding and extra attention, more food for energy and FRESH unfrozen water daily. And a shelter, of course! PLEASE spread the word, PLEASE keep dogs warm (and yes, cats too ) in this bitter bitter cold. (and tHey say we're having GLOBAL WARMING??

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Dog Lovers Gifts for Valentine's Day

2009-01-16T06:27:00.001-06:00

The time is drawing near: Surprise your best friend with a Valentine gift of apparel with his favorite dog breed. Check out The outstanding Kerry Blue Terrier or the loveable German Shepherd dog: featured on teeshirts, coffee mugs, even wall clocks. Both of these designs have beautful heart backgrounds and the dogs have an "airbrushed" look that is soft and feminine. When shopping for apparel that has designs which are "transferred" the look of a black or dark colored dog can make a HUGE difference, and the expertise of the artist comes into play...Transfers of dark colored dogs can very often come out "muddy" and indistinct. The two designs pictured here are going to be truly beautiful as transfers, since the darker shades are muted and balanced with lighter colors. Both designs are available on dark shirts as well as lighter colors.

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Christmas puppies at Dogdaze

2008-12-06T07:02:00.001-06:00

For the "true believer" in Santa Claus, and for the dog lover who absolutely does "everything dog" and collects "everything dog" here are the latest productions from Dogdaze Designs

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newfy "butts"

2008-10-13T17:39:00.002-05:00

GREAT NEW NEWFY ADDITION TO MY NEWF DESIGNS:

having a ton of fun, I LOVE to do new designs! On a rainy day, what better way to spend the time!

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neopolitan mastiff slobber Dark T-Shirt

2008-10-06T06:25:00.001-05:00

Warning: SLOBBER ZONE!!

GREAT IDEA : CHRISTMAS IS COMING, DON'T FORGET!!

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HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FOR DOGGIES!!

2008-09-26T17:15:00.001-05:00

Pet Halloween Costumes at PetNutritionProducts.com

Pet Halloween Costumes at PetNutritionProducts.com

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foxy fox terier design

2008-09-22T19:55:00.001-05:00

putting up a favorite of the fox terrier shoppers:
The group of fox terriers in a nicely balanced design available on light or dark apparel: Fox terriers" you can't have just one" is the slogan. you can find this at http://www.cafepress.com/dogdaze/884127

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wonderful new image of a baby AMERICAN BULLDOG

2008-08-31T17:05:00.001-05:00

THIS ADORABLE bulldog puppy was a shot taken by a friend of mine who is a professional photographer. She has a bunch of stuff over at her cafepress shop:
Friskybiz Pets

Perfect Angels

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Rainbow bridge Sympathy card

2008-08-23T05:56:00.001-05:00

When pet owners face the loss of their dog, often it is doubly traumatic. Not only have they lost a member of their family, they have often been part of the loss by taking the dog to the vet to be put down. This decision only comes after long hard thinking and the certain knowledge that they are giving their dog freedom from a painful existence. But this doesnt make it any easier when the dog is gone. Pet loss is devastating.
Rainbow bridge sympathy cards can help. You can find a large selection
here

Another 'VOTE" design

2008-08-22T05:56:00.001-05:00

Really cute: A vote for my dog is a vote for sanity

You can find this design at Cafepress/dogdaze

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building two new blogs

2008-08-21T18:48:00.001-05:00

am in the process of buiding two new blogs. One is specifically dedicated to dog lvoer's gifts and products: htpp://doglover.dogdazedesigns.com

The other is dedicated to dog health : http://doghealth.doghealthtoday.com

VISIT AND ENJOY :-)

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Mastiff vote Baseball Jersey

2008-08-03T19:29:00.001-05:00

J

Just created a new design that will blow you socks off, especially if you want to make a CUTE political statement....cool new anti Obama shirt in several different breeds and more to come, and also a "vote for my dog" shirt....

you can of course see these and more at my Dogdaze Shop at Cafepress

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Working on Dogdaze Stuff

2008-07-25T00:21:00.002-05:00

Just finished...

This is new dog portrait I just did tonight, this is a portrait of a red and white setter, also known as a "red setter", known as a superior hunting dog by many hunting enthusiasts...You can view the products by visiting my Cafepress Shop

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sheddin' time

2008-07-22T19:00:00.001-05:00

ah yes...the time has arrived for gettin' out the sheddin' rakes and combs. Feeny's hair is rolling around in great soft curls all over the house the fans are both on, and as they blow, strings of dog hair attached to the fans blow like little pieces of crepe paper.....looks quite festive until you realize that hair all accumulates every single day, not counting the dozens of different fuzz balls residing under chairs and in corners....

In this photo Jenna is lying in the wind from her "hair stream" fan, personally decorated with "Feeny hair" Obviously, I NEED TO GET OUT MY UNDERCOAT RAKE!! (SEE BELOW!!)

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Another hot day

2008-07-16T06:33:00.001-05:00

I am NOT complaining either! After such a cold wet spring it is nice to have flowers blooming and green grass and the smell of newly mowed alfafa hay! But it brings to mind the warning to make sure that your dogs have access to always fresh water and shade!

Just finished working on a PBGV design that I am really happy about. Love to do 'shaggy dogs" on account of their hair, it is so much fun to paint!

going to write more doggy articles today for my other website:

BREEDING: "A responsible breeder raises the puppies in an environment with plenty of stimulation (especially in the form of human contact) as they grow and develop. " read more

having a good day.....wag, wag....

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Stormy weather again

2008-07-02T17:46:00.001-05:00

yup...stormin' again! Right in the middle of redesigning my web site, (dogdaze online) and had to start all over again because of the rain, hail, etc. My electricity clicked of once, and then i got scared and thought I might blow up my cable connection so just plain shut everything down for awhile.

However I think it's finally over. so anyhow, here is what I did. i wanted to put up this really great video that I found about a slow motion newf, on my website. ....Just got it done, you can find it HERE

It is sooooo koool! ya gotta go take a look!!

When I learn how to do this blogging thin with FLOCK (wow this is a great browser!!) I might publish a video right on the blog. Just gotta figure out how!

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greatest American dog

2008-07-01T19:47:00.001-05:00

There is a new series, (I think it will be a series) starting up soon on CBS (?) that will feature the "greatest American dog" Well, here is my "entry" , a new shirt featuring the newfy as the "greatest American Dog"...( I will be doing other images soon, with other breeds)

click on the pic and it will take you to the new products at the shop with this image!

Cheers....

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The Four Types of Dog Barf

2008-06-27T16:56:00.001-05:00

The Four Types of Dog Barf
Author Unknown

Yellow Urka-Gurkas
Dog runs around the house and hides under furniture while making a prolonged “uuuuuuurka-guuuuuuurka, uuuuuuurka-guuuuuuurka” noise. (This noise is the only thing guaranteed to wake up a true dog lover who is hungover from a post dog show celebration at 3:30 a.m.). After mad scrambling to capture the dog and drag him outside, the episode ends with an indelible ten-yard line of slimy yellow froth from the living room rug to the back door.

Blap Disease
Dog exercises hard and (a) eats large mouthfuls of snow (Winter Blap Disease) or (b) drinks a bucket of water (Summer Blap Disease). Within two minutes of returning inside, the dog spews out large amounts of clear, slimy liquid while making a distinctive “blap” sound and sharp percussive noises as it hits the linoleum.

Garks
Dog suddenly clears his throat with loud and dramatic “gggaaark, gggarrk” noises generally followed by prolonged “iiiksss” and then loud satisfied
smacking noises. There is nothing on the rug. Don’t investigate, you don’t want to know.

Ralfs
Apropos of nothing, the dog strolls into the dining room and waits until the dinner guests are all watching him. Then, with a single, deep, gut-wrenching “raaalllf,” disgorges the entire week’s contents of his stomach on the dining room rug.
Variation: Then he eats it.

In all the above events, the dog is entirely healthy and indeed, deeply pleased with himself.

First appeared in Puli News, April 1997.

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The Newf and the boat

2008-06-26T09:03:00.001-05:00

Just finished getting this put up in place at the Section called Newfoundland Dogs and Lighthouses at my NEW cafepress shop that will be strictly devoted to Newfoundlands. I really do like this one, spent a lot of time on it. Sometimes I get going on making my designs and just don't get anything else done!

It stormed all night last night. Kept getting waked up by the NOAA weather alert. EVERYONE should have one of these! It really lets you know when there is sever weather and it can be programmed for just your area.

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Water Search Practice

2008-06-23T13:40:00.001-05:00

Phoenix (aka stinker) had her first practice on the water on Saturday for cadaver. The object is to see if/how the dog will alert on cadaver below the surface, and reward the dog for said alert, or encourage an alert. Phoenix's actions sort of negated the possibility of really checking it out....we were coming up on the scent, (and of course, not being a dog, I couldn't tell for sure if she was beginning to scent..) when she put her feet up on the edge and her nose down to the water. I began to say "good girl" when she went in. With a great splash!! So then there was the problem of getting her back in the boat, (we were a ways off the shore....) and she had a harness on that was a bit too big, and she had her leash on, so the first thing to do was to undo the leash, so that she wouldn't become tangled in the leash. Then we basically just took the boat to shore, stopping any time she got near the trolling motor....and she followed, by swimming around and around the boat and having the time of her life! When we got to where she could touch bottom, we gave her a hefty lift over the edge of the boat and back into the boat! Where she proudly shook all over and looked smug. So then we continued, I am pretty certain she was scenting, and I encouraged an alert..pushing at me with her paw.....and she got her cookie....and then we went on to the shore practice. The shore practice consisted of three hides, each one about a foot off shore. She was on leash...and I walked her along the shore, and she went down right off the bat on the first one, bit at the water, then proceeded to ROLL in the water, right at the edge...OMG did she STINK!!!!

My team members tell me she has invented a new alert: the drop and roll.

When I drove home I carried some "dead stuff" back with me in the van, in a tightly closed container. I thought perhaps the awful smell was the dead stuff....but oh, no, it was Feeny, the STINKER!

Our Search dog team had our meeting before the practice. We are starting a new fund raising shop, at Zazzle.com. will let you know the details when i get it going..

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new doggy get well card

2008-06-20T22:23:00.001-05:00

guess it could probably be used for humans too, in certain conditions, such as getting your tubes tied or getting a vasectomy! anyhow here it is:

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Fox terrier stuff at Dogdaze (Cafepress.com/dogdaze)

2008-06-16T08:05:00.001-05:00

All of these "foxy" images are now freshly updated and available at my Cafepress dogdaze shop!The Fox Terrier sitting in the snow is featured on a Rainbow Bridge Poem Sympathy card. These cards are really so nice to keep, just for those times when your friends have lost a pet. It is so difficult for the family, since the majority of the time, that pet is another member of the family!

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Big Bad Floods

2008-06-14T07:24:00.001-05:00

The girls, (Phoenix aka Feeny, and Jenna, and Zoey the rat terrier) spent most of the day and evening yesterday watching the updates on all the floods around iowa...waaaay too many and waay too sad....so many homes lost, it's really tragic. Still on today, and more flooding still expected even though the rains have stopped, now the "upstream" water is coming on down to some communities that have not been hit as yet. I want to go help but cant get to the communities because of so many road closings, even parts of interstates are closed.

someone sent me a pic of the tornado that hit the boy scout camp:

Just glad that we are safe, not flooded, and happy to be alive....

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"Comfort Food" for my doggies

2008-06-12T08:27:00.002-05:00

The weather has been terribly stormy. This morning Jenna went and hid in the closet, she is getting a bit nervous in her old age when it comes to thunderstorms. Zoey the rat terrier followed me around trying to hide in corners in every room I went to, wouldn't let me out of her sight. Phoenix didn't care one way or the other, she even asked to go out in the middle of the lightning and thunder, but she turned around and came right back in.
I of course am hungry when I get up....and decided it was time to go about fixing breakfast. This is the only thing that brings Jenna out of the closet ... when I start to cook she forgets about the storm. And today I cooked one of my favorites, I had left over creamed asparagus from supper last night, so I toasted a couple pieces of toast and poured the re-heated creamed asparagus over the top of the toast and heartily munched down my breakfast. Jenna and Phoenix and Zoey watched, the thunderstorm forgotten.
As soon as they could hear the fork scraping up the last of the food on the plate, they all stood up and anxiously waited, eying me to see what my next move would be. I made a big deal of it...folding my napkin, taking a last sip of juice, slowly getting pushed back from the table. The dogs "stood to attention" and watched every move. As I stood up they jostled for position.
Jenna is the oldest. She gets to lick the plate first. It helps to put Phoenix in her place, she has to wait while Jenna gets the first lick. Jenna licks slowly and carefully. I only let her lick a small area of the plate. Then it is "Feeny's" turn. She practically gulps the whole plate! But I only let her have a "bit" also. Then Zoey, the little rat terrier. I have to hold the plate clear down close to the floor for her. She savors the taste and delicately licks the plate, then just as delicately licks her chops.
And the ritual is over, and the dogs have forgotten the thunderstorm, they have had their "comfort food"..a lick off the plate after mom is done eating. (the photo shows Phoenix awaiting her turn at the table) Click on the title to this blog and you can go see how to make "Creamed Asparagus on Toast"

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floods

2008-06-11T06:38:00.001-05:00

Can't go anywhere, (you can't get there from here) today in a lot of places in Iowa, lots of roads are closed due to flooding, and there is still more rain coming. DesMoines appears to be much better prepared than it was in the last floods of 1993, it kind of looks like this is going to be an even bigger "event" than 1993, which we all remember as a great event back then. Still, haven't heard of any injuries or fatalities, thank goodness.

Just finished working on the new field spaniel designs.

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more rain???

2008-06-10T06:34:00.001-05:00

I have been seeing the terrible floods in Indiana and Wisconsin.. We're comparatively lucky here in Iowa, although we have a LOT of flooding I don't thinkk the consequences 9so far0 have been quite as bad. there are an awful lot of farm fields however that just aren't going to make it. I had to run my granddaughter jenny back to her apt. in Iowa City two nights ago and we had to go around and take quite a detour to get there because there are a lot of streets in Iowa City that are closed due to the river...

here's a new photo of "Feeny" ( i LOVE this new Flock browser, wow it is fun and EASY to include a picture in your blog!)

and here's the latest couple of rainbow bridge poem cards that I have been working on:

ah well....

maybe today there will be a little break from the rains. EVERY night for the past three weeks (it seems like) we have had rain, rain, and more rain! I know at least it's been every other night!!

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jennas better!

2008-06-09T13:23:00.001-05:00

went out on a practice yesterday and Jenna did fine, she is feeling much better.today will tell...this is the last day for her pain meds. I did have a thought. since we never could figure out what was wrong, except that something about her mouth hurt her...does anyone know if stinging nettles could bother a dog?? there are stinging nettles out where we practice at.

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Stormy weather

2008-06-05T12:51:00.001-05:00

I just went to the only store in this little town, the hardware store, and bought extra batteries and refreshed my flashlights. Look like stormy weather (again!!) moving in. So tonight if I have to go to the baement I have two nice flashlights ready to roll. Just wish I could get my dogs in the basement but they won't fit.

Have been working on a puzzle design....It will be for sale (of course) as soon as I get another new web page up and running. Meanwhile it is already for sale on shirts and mugs and such at Cafepress.
Looks like this:

The adorable puppy photo was given to me by a good friend, Lisa martens of Lighthouse newfoundlands.

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Jenna looks like maybe she's coming around

2008-06-04T04:39:00.001-05:00

wouldnt eat regular food last night but did eat six hot dogs and three pieces of cheese, fed by hadn, and went to the outside water bucket and drank and drank and drank, I think it must have just tasted fresher than the inside house one. wagged her tail also . My dear Jenna, .... I know some day of course she must go but it is to soon yet so i sure hope this is just some passing infection and not more serious. Phoenix is not "hovering" over her like she was yesterday during the day...

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Jenna is back from the vet

2008-06-03T18:17:00.002-05:00

So far it appears that she may have a torn muscle ?? or perhaps some other sort of problem with the jaw which might involve a middle ear infection...or an abscess that has not become full blown yet,for now she is on antibiotics and rimadyl and if she is not better by Thursday she is to go back for x-rays and blood work. But so much of her is normal except for this excessive drooling, laying around, lethargic, not wanting to eat (although she does drink)

so we'll see what she does...
on Sunday, just two days ago, she did a terrific cadaver search in waist high grass and thick brush for a small still partially frozen human cadaver scent in a little bottle..and she did an absolutely fantastic job. So whatever is bothering her, I think it came on pretty fast, which makes me think she tore a muscle or ligament somehow..I have had newfs in the past who have had a cervical problem in the top of the neck at the base of the spine but she is not exhibiting those kinds of symptoms. Vet actually thinks she temporary mandible problem ??? something to do with the jaw and biting down wrong (she and Phoenix regularly have rawhide bones. At least her vital signs, heart, respiration, etc are all good. She had a physical and her shots two weeks ago and everything was fine then.

I spent the morning helping my daughter Robin clean out the basement....
funny how one can always have more fun cleaning someone else's house...sure hate to clean my own!

I am practicing my skills when it comes to adding a photo, here is Jenna....taken a few days ago with raindrops on her coat after she came inside...she has her favorite stuffy "Elmo" laying next to her...

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made a mistake on my last post

2008-06-03T10:45:00.001-05:00

the last blog post I added images from my MEMBERS page at Cafepress, so of course if anyone clicks on them they will be taken to the members page. Sooo...here is the correction, these images are added from my Cafepress store

These are a few of the new SYMPATHY CARDS for dog breeds that I have added to my Cafepres Store.

I have an appointment for Jenna today at 3:30 at the vets. Cant find my thermometer but I think she has a temp, she has a light cough, she is drooling, doesn't want to eat, doesnt really want to even move at all. will post later how it goes.

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Learning to use a new browser..and Jenna isn't so hot right now.....

2008-06-03T08:17:00.001-05:00

From here on out I will probably be much busier on this blog, since I just discovered the new browser FLOCK, which allows me to post right from my web page while I'm doing other stuff so to speak.

a Couple of things. Jenna had a serious and ongoing eye problem, tons of slime and gunk oozing from her eyes. Vet told me it was dry eye. So I got artificial tears and started to add that to her daily routing. Unfortunately not enough times per day...and it continued to worsen. Turned out she had an eye infection, so got her on meds for hat, also started a new kind of eye med which is supposed to "reactivate" her tear glands and it does appear o be working! HURRAH!! But I am taking her back in to vet again today, she appears to be sick with something. It just came on because today is Tuesday, and on SUNDAY she did a great blind search for cadaver in very very tall grass..and made her find, tail wagging etc. so she was ok on Sunday. Anyhow got an appointment today at 3:30.

Meanwhile I have been working on a whole new section of stuff at Cafepress...dog and pet sympathy cards. here is an example of a couple (tryin out my new browser, supposedly you can drag and drop so we'll see..)
Wow that really works!!

How about that? Just dragged my image right off the web page onto the blogger ! WAY COOL!

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The latest vidsOF CAFEPRESS PRODUCTS

2008-03-19T17:53:00.005-05:00

Ah yes...still plugging away making designs for the Cafepress products. You will love em! Here's another one of the vids....These are the latest DOG CLOCKS I'm watching the clock tick away...Spring is just around the corner!!

Time to spring clean, clean the van, clean the lawn, (all the old winter garbage that landed on the parking and in the bushes and fencerows...what a mess) and the DOG POOP!!!! What a job! There's a lot of "left over" from the heavy snows and thick ice that just built up over the winter....

So...everyone, all you dog people out there, don't feel alone, we all are doing it :-)

bye now till next time!

the LONG COLD WINTER IS ALMOST OVER!!

2008-03-03T14:40:00.004-06:00

It's too cold and too icy to get the dogs out for a walk. Even with my ice grippers...and here it is already the MIDDLE of March! When is winter going to end?? Today we finally had a warm day...and I had to take a oad trip so didnt get a lot of outdoor wok done. At least the driving was nice. I took the puppy AMY back to her first mama and brought back another newf to go and live with a good friend in this part of the world. Both dogs are happy, that is what counts. But I will miss the little squirt Amy.

Meanwhile, I have been making videos of some of the products My Cafepress shop here is the latest one:

Winter Blues

2008-02-21T07:40:00.005-06:00

Well It's been quite awhile since I posted anything but I havent forgotten about it! It's been bitter cold, icy, blizzardy, and all that goes along with an Iowa winter. I have been really really busy updating my cafepress pages. I have also been setting up web sites for a couple friends of mine. You might want to check them out: Pandaga newfoundlands and Soulmate Newfoundlands

I have also been putting up videos of all my newest designs!! Here's one now!

Handler Training Tips

2007-12-08T05:25:00.000-06:00

Training an Air Scenting dog is mostly a matter of training yourself. Most Search Dog handlers seem to believe they are training their dog. In actuality, YOU are the one that needs to learn! In the process of training, you should know 80% of the time where your "victim" is hidden. Once your dog is focused on finding a human, he is going to "make the find". That's not the problem, the problem is the handler. The dog learns what to do right off the bat. The handler needs way more "nose time" than the dog! Why? Because the handler needs to learn what happens in certain types of wind, on various types of terrain, in all kinds of weather, and with all kinds of hidden people and/or articles. He needs to learn how to watch the cues or signs of travel, what the dog does when it first hits, what happens when the scent hits a "barrier" ... so many many variables enter into the picture.

This type of learning is for YOU, not your dog, and can be done on a short search as well as a long one. Furthermore, "short and sweet" searches will build up the dog's desisre and drive. Finding people is FUN for the dog, and keeps up the interest. "Nose time" can be built up gradually, interspersing your short searches with a longer one every fourth or fifth search works well, and gradually build up the acreage you are searching until you hit the 80 acre mark and at least a six hour scenario.This can be accomplished without so much strain on your "victim" if you simply begin your search farther away, and radio your "victim" to enter the wind pattern two or three hours after you are into the search.

Trusting your dog is important. Even more important is trusting the person you are hiding out. Kids can be real bad for this activity as far as your training goes. They think it is fun to "fool" you and hide somewhere else. This is NOT GOOD unless you do indeed trust your dog, for you might have the tendency to disbelieve what your dog is telling you and try to call him off scent because you believe your victim is hidden in a different location. So it is important that you tell your "victim" to go exactly where you say, since you are training yourself and you need to watch what the dog does when he hits and you need to learn what is happening with the wind conditions etc. Dogs know what they are doing. Dogs DO find, so in the end, trust your dog!

Watch a great video here about training obedience. It makes you want to get out there and TRAIN, doesn't it?

Great Dogs in History

2007-11-30T05:49:00.000-06:00

Did you know Napoleon Bonaparte was saved by a Newfoundland Dog? Sure enough...he was trying to escape his exile from the Island of Elbe when he fell overboard. The Ship's dog, a newfoundland, leaped after him and brought him safely back, as he was drowning, or so the story goes.
All of the folks who own Alaskan Malamutes or Huskies know the story of Baldo, the great sledding dog who made the famous trip in 1925, when what later became known as the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum had to be brought in; and Baldo palyed a heroic part in this life saving trek.

And then there is the Russian dog known as "Laika" who travelled to the stars and back....in 1957.

And of course the name "Lassie" brings to mind the famous collie star of the book, movie, and various animated editions thereof...The original book "Lassie Come Home" was first published in 1940 by Eric Knight.

Lord Byron is famous for his "Tribute to a Newfoundland Dog". Inscribed on the tombstone where his dog was laid to rest and where Lord Byron himself asked to be buried with his dog are the following words:

"Near this spot
Are deposited the Remains of one
Who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery
If inscribed over human ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the Memory of
BOATSWAIN, a Dog,
Who was born at Newfoundland, May, 1803,
And died at Newstead Abbey, Nov. 18, 1808."

Stay tuned to this blog for more "historic dog" posts in the coming months!

Tips on Training a Search Dog for Air Scenting

2007-11-10T04:14:00.000-06:00

Just wanted everyone to know that I just finished the "long haul". Phoenix is now a certified wilderness air scent dog, type IV. Just the beginning of course, and will continue to train, and train, and train. Am on a constant hunt for new people to hide for me , living in a small town (I should say TINY town) doesnt help any! I speak from long experience, this is the fourth Newfoundland I have certified. I am also involved in writing about all my experiences too, you can check out my new dog book plus my doggy products for dog lovers at this site.

It is not successful to take a "class" for search dog handling. Because "classes" usually need to be set up with a group of people in the ordinary classroom setting scenario. It is much better to go to a seminar or training session. Many search groups across the country do offer seminars. If nothing else, train with small groups of people in your own area, or find a "victim" and hide them out yourself.

Keeping a log is vital. It allows you to look back over what occurred and analyze the "why" of what went on during your search. Furthermore, it does protect you down the road should your training ever be called into question.

These are just a few tips...You can find a good deal more about training a dog and socializing a dog for search and rescue work in the new book I just published: DOGSHOWS101.

NEW puppy potty training tips from the "crazy dog lady"

2007-11-02T18:58:00.000-05:00

Hot off the presses in e-book format the new DOGSHOWS 101 tells it like it is when it comes to training a puppy to go potty when you're on the road. It is highly important for the new puppy to be trained ON LEASH whenever possible, even if you are not going to be traveling to dog shows, it is awfully nice to be able to take you dog with you when you visit relatives or whatever and know that he will go potty for you in a strange place. All too often owners who have fenced in yards just "let the dog out" (and unfortunately for many dogs, even when they are NOT in a fenced in yard!) and consequently the dog never learns to go potty on leash or in a strange place. If you do have a dog that has been trained to do this, and also to go potty on command, your life will be much easier should you ever have to travel. Furthermore, if you ever need to leave your dog at a vet or in a boarding kennel, it will certainly be easier for the persons in charge of the dog !
To purchase the e-book for the new low introductory price of only $20.00 just click on the link!
DOGSHOWS 101..
and if you would like to sell the book and earn affiliate money yourself just CLICK HERE
The book is also available in print. However none of the pictures are in color, as they are in the e-book. For a print copy of the version just click here.

Dog Aggression Problems

2007-10-30T08:25:00.000-05:00

There is nothing more disconcerting at a dog show or at any dog gathering than to have an encounter with an aggressive dog. Whether that dog is crated or not, it still can be a frightful experience for yourself, or for your dog, or for your children that may be accompanying you.
When dogs are crated and display aggression, leaping and lunging and shaking the whole crate, along with loud growling, snarling, and lunging, it is completely unacceptable behavior. Handlers will try to excuse this behavior by saying that "the dog is territorial" in nature. Sorry, there is NO EXCUSE for this behavior, and it can be trained out.
What is even worse is the aggressive dog that is loose. This is more than unacceptable, it can be criminal. The aggressive dog that bites or threatens to bite can be placed in quarantine or worse yet, put down.
Aggression can range from dog/dog aggression to dog/food aggression to dog/human aggression. Regardless, this is a problem that is best approached during the early puppy training stages. Trying to straighten out this sort of behavior later on can be a real difficult problem for the novice dog trainer.
As for dog/dog aggression, puppy kindergarten classes are super because they expose the puppy to strange dogs AND strange people. A puppy that is under six months of age is automatically a "submissive" dog and learns how to interact in dog language to other dogs at this stage of it's life. Lacking a puppy kindergarten class, the new owner should attempt to find other neighborhood dogs and/or a dog park. Allowing the puppy to be off leash when being introduced to other dogs is a good idea. If the puppy is off leash, you will not be sending "distress" signals down the leash to your dog, if you are nervous yourself about these encounters.
Dog food aggression problems also are best approached during early puppy training. Putting your hand into your puppy's food while it is eating, allowing ti to eat with other dogs in the household, teaching it to take treats nicely from your hand without lunging, all of these are behaviors best taught when the puppy is young and impressionable. Simply putting your hand into your puppy's dish, picking the dish up while it is eating, and adding treats to the dish while it is eating will soon teach it that it is acceptable for people to handle it's food dish. Setting the dish down in an area where other dogs are eating will teach the puppy how to deal with other dog's trying to eat it's food, for if it becomes too out of hand, the other dogs will teach it to behave. Don't worry about the puppy actually getting hurt by another dog, since nearly all adult dogs will not tolerate a puppy stealing from their dish, and they will teach it in "dog language" not to interfere. This is something your puppy needs to understand from the beginning.
Dog/people aggression, here again, is NOT a problem a novice trainer should deal with if it is occurring with an adult dog. However, if the puppy is under six months and is exhibiting dog/people aggression, this will often be simply a fear reaction. Fearfulness is best overcome by allowing the puppy to investigate the stranger on his own terms. Do not force the puppy to accept a stranger, rather ignore his behavior and allow him to approach the stranger in his own time.
First and foremost your puppy needs to learn to trust in you. Exposing him to everything you can think of from other dogs to loud noises to lots of people will gradually build up his trust in you and that is the best solution to avoiding other problems later on. There are training tips for all of these possibilities and more in the new manual DOGSHOWS101, a great training resource for novice puppy owners.

Just finished writing my training manual

2007-10-25T05:13:00.000-05:00

Spent the last MONTH finishing up my book that I have been working on and off for about three years now. Finally decided to sit down and just get the job done. Now it's for sale at my tee shirt shop and also for sale at my own Show Dog Shop and soon will be for sale in down-loadable format from the web too! both of my doggies have been patient with me through this trying time of staying up late at night, getting up early in the maorning, and generally being somewhat stressed. Never realized how complicated it would be to "format" pages and documents. but I finally got the job done, (big sigh of relief!) Getting up and away from the computer every day for a good long walk with the "girls" was a treat. And that is something they wouldn't let me forget, either! I fished out old photos of my dearly beloved and sorely missed newfs of the past and put a lot of them into my book. It was such fun to do this and remember the fun times we had during our travels.

And going over the actual steps of training makes one realize just exactly how much IS involved in training a well balanced dog that can face the stress of travel, showing, searching, therapy, or whatever you pursue with your dog. I am sure this book will be useful to ANYONE who owns a dog. Writing it made me realize how much growth I have experienced in so many ways throughout the years and how much I have learned since my beginning days as a "newbie". I am hopeful that people who get this book won't have to learn the hard way, like I did.

Choosing a puppy: Tips

2007-10-09T08:57:00.000-05:00

Recently I was asked the question : What breed of puppy should I choose for my daughter?
Here are some tips that I gave to this woman:
Choose a puppy that is medium sized ( there are a lot of toddlers in this household, she babysits) and toddlers who are not closely supervised can HURT a toy breed)
A breed that is easy to groom is important for this household. This woman does not have money to pay a groomer and has no expertise when it comes to to grooming a dog, nor will she carry through with grooming.
Choose an older dog if possible from a breeder, not a shelter. (With so many children to supervise, she doesnt need to deal with shyness, biting problems, or other things that might "surface" with a shelter dog.) Also, an older dog often is already housetrained.

I answered her question in this way because all too often people do not consider their life style when selecting a dog. Nor do they consider how big the dog might be when it is grown. Or how much time and knowledge they need to have to train a dog. Nor where or how they will keep such a dog. Let alone care for it. A choice of a puppy should not be an impulse decision. It is a member of the family that you are choosing. As an experienced breeder of large dogs that simply are not for everyone, I have found that it is very very important to always consider the unique and individual considerations of the family that will eventually own the dog.

Puppy Biting

2007-09-26T06:25:00.000-05:00

Puppy biting can be real problem in families who have young children. Firstly, most puppies consider children to be just like "other puppies". Because of this, puppies play with children just they way they would play with other puppies, and using their tiny needle sharp teeth is part of their playing. The puppy in the photo is still a PUPPY, just six months old. It is especially important that big dog puppies be trained early.

When a new puppy arrives in a household with children, it is the responsibility of the adult human to supervise. Certain rules should be set. Children should not be wandering around with cookies and food. Teaching them to sit down at the table when they eat is the best solution to this problem. Older children should be taught not hold their hands up in the air in front of the puppies noses or above the head of the dog, this often will only cause the puppy to jump up and this compounds the problem even further. Older children can be taught the "scruff of the neck" technique discussed in this article. Younger children should be supervised. the puppy can be taught NOT to bother the clothing and nip at the legs and feet of small children but this can only happen if you are there to supervise. When puppies do go after toddlers, it is your responsibility to discipline the puppy.

Many people put the puppy into a crate. This is not a form of discipline and is completely ineffective, except for the fact that it does remove the puppy from the tempation. Puppies are not children. "Time out" is not a concept in their canine world. You should simply give them a firm NO! and a scruff grab. Using a distractor is a good idea also. By far the best discipline to use with a puppy is the same discipline that the dog mother would use. This requires that you do set yourself up as the leader of the dog when it enters your household. I will continue to discuss more about this in my next post.

Meanwhile, it would be a great idea to check out PUPPY WISHES and seriously consider using these services. They are a wonderful resource. Often obedience classes are simply not feasible what with the constraints of time and the cost of gas and distances to travel to get to a class. Having your own personal in home training is the key and is an excellent solution.

training retrievers

2007-09-21T16:49:00.000-05:00

My son is turning his attention to professional retriever training and I have been busy working on his webpages for him. I have also been updating my daughters web site.
Plus I am getting over the humongous cold which lasted about three weeks and haven't had a chance to put up any of my dog's searching practice pictures or even to practice very much. However I did write a lenz just the other day about the training for Feeny , to "stop and wait" on command. Took her out in the street a couple of days ago and worked with her for a brief time and she did very well, actually. You can read all about this type of training, (clicker training) at my Home site web pages, All Things Dog
But anyhooo....my friend Rita (actually my sister in law) took some great photos of Feeny and Jenna the olast time they were here so here they are: The one carrying her bell collar is Jenna, she carries her collar before the search starts..
You can read the latest "Search Dog Log" (which is the journal one should keep when training search dogs) . Meanwhile, I am going to get out real quick and do a quick walk with the "girls since there is a storm moving in later this evening.
Kiss your four legged friends for me!

Learning the GOTO for the REFIND

2007-08-23T18:05:00.000-05:00

Phoenix has been learning the "GOTO" so she can do the "REFIND". Along with this she has also been learning the "TELL ME LOUD" so she will bark when she alerts on cadaver. And it is (pardon the pun) clicking right along. She will go to someone else, sit in front of them, bark, get a treat, then go (still on command) back to me, sit in front, and bark for a treat.....all in preparation for her (eventually) doing the REFIND.

For those of you unschooled in the REFIND, what it is ....the search dog, upon finding the subject, will return to the handler, give an indication that he/she has made the find, and take the handler back to the subject. All of this must be done, at a certification, without any "commands" from the handler. The "TELL ME LOUD" is what I am saying to Phoenix to get her to bark....I want her to bark for me , in the boat, when she smells the cadaver scent...this is in particular for an alert from a boat on a drowned victim.Actually I don't really care if she barks or not on a living find,I just want her to take me in for a refind....but I absolutely am going to insist on a bark alert on cadaver.

AS you probably guessed from the first paragraph, I am training this with the aid of a clicker. A clicker, in her mind, tells her that she is doing something right. For example, the other day, when she did her FIRST EXCERCISE on hidden cadaver, out in the grass, I could see that she was casting around for the scent. I could clearly see when she "hit" on the scent. Since this was her first experience at finding cadaver in the grass, (rather than her previous training, where she was to touch it with her nose as I held a salt shaker with cadaver in my hand) ...I immediately CLICKED when I saw that she was beginning an indication on the cadaver hidden in the grass. This immediately reinforced her, much quicker than my voice would have done, and she honed right in on the cadaver and touched her nose to it. Immediately, another "CLICK" and she got her reward, ...I then encouraged her to touch it AGAIN, and this time immediately asked for a "tell me loud" and she obliged, getting another click and reward.....soon , by the time she "hit" on the third hidden cadaver, she was sitting,and barking immediately on finding the cadaver...she got her treat AFTER she touched it with her nose.

She is a quick study. She learns fast. ALL in all, she is a joy to train. She is so full of energy and curiosity and such a goobery hairy bundle of love....I relly get a kick out of my Phoenix!

just one of those Summer Viruses??

2007-08-17T08:39:00.000-05:00

Just came back from a weekend camping trip with our search group..did a lot of training. It was horribly hot, but managges to keep fairly cool...got to use a whole shelter house for camping, kept the dogs in the shade...in the shelter, tethered...had great wind up on top of the hill so that part was great but boy there were times you sure didnt want to step out into the sun!

Jenna came home with terrible diarchea which quickly turned very bloody. Scared the h*** out of me...turns out it was "colitis". Has been on a round of keratate and antibiotics and she is bouncing around, her old self. I am wondering if it wasnt coming on for several weeks....she had seemed rather "logey" but I just figured it was the heat this summer, which has been deadly....

Got started on the Thirty day challenge...this is great stuff folks...the challenge has been exciting, fun, and man oh man am I learning about stuff I never knew existed when it comes to the world of the internet and the computer!

More later...gotta get to town now and get my groceries, (more yogurt for Jenna!)

OOOPs... almmost forgot...check out this great new book (it's downloadable) on potty training puppies!

Training dogs and training myself too!

2007-08-09T20:21:00.000-05:00

I have spent the last three days training MYSELF for online improvement and web site visibility, since I am participating in the famous THIRTY DAY CHALLENGEplus getting packed up and ready to roll for a three day search and rescue training weekend with the dogs. I can't wait! We always have such good times at night, even though it is going to be hot! During the day we will work in and around the water, doing water cadaver searching, and at night we will be doing night searches. The dogs have been getting more and more excited as they have been watching me pack and they know I hardly ever go anywhere without them, so I think they suspect they will be going along! I am also looking forward to seeing some of the folks that I haven't seen for quite awhile....

Meanwhile I am spending a bit of time each day listening to the podcasts from
the great folks who are putting on this tremendous thirty day challenge, a great opportunity for learning about the web and especially for a "newbie" like me! and to think that it is all free!

More Search Dog Stuff..Cadaver and Alerting

2007-07-31T10:01:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I lived up to my promise to write daily about Phoenix and her training. We have been progressing and I have been remiss in detailing the accounts of some of her successes and failures along the way. So I will start with a SUCCESS story.

To begin with, it has become apparent that she MUST do a strong alert in the boat. Preparatory to this effort, I have been working with her to get her to "talk to me", and I use the words "tell me LOUD" to get her to bark. This is easy to accomplish because she lovers for me to throw her stuffy for her, especially at that time of day just before we all go to bed, when I am sitting back and watching tv, she will go get her stuffy and push it into my lap, then wait for me to throw it. If I hold her stuffy up and "start" to throw it, she gets excited and she will "woof" impatiently. thus began the training for the bark alert. This is how the training began. Now she will "tell me loud" before she eats, before she goes outside, actually most any time I aske her. and once she "tells me" then she gets whatever it is that she is wanting.

From that point, we progressed to the search for cadaver and getting a treat when she finds. Before she gets her treat, she must "tell me loud". Consequently, she is BEGINNING to make an automatic alert, a sit, face me, and "woof" when she finds the cadaver!! We are getting there!!

Now for a "failure". Her desire to come to me in the field is not as great as her desire to continue investigating whatever it is that sh is interested in at the time. And she has a pretty short attention span. Especially when it comes to water, and swimming in it. The only good thing there is to say is that at least, after she is done with her swim, she will at least continue searching. So I need to do two things...pump up her focus on the search to the point that she will not bother with a swim along the way, and make sure that if she DOES get distracted, she will go back to the searching in the end.

We have just begun her THIRD obedience class. One of the big things we are going to be working on this week, well, actually two things: looking at me when I say her name, and coming to me when I encourage her to come, but WITHOUT using the actual word "come". So I am off, to the training.

Keep your nose in the wind, and your tail wagging....

Training days of summer

2007-07-25T09:50:00.000-05:00

Just take a look at the great new "widget" I installed! On the left....the "DAILY PUPPY"!! Isn't it great?? Every time you come back to this blog you can see DIFFERENT PUPPIES (different ones each day!!)

I'm going to add this "widget" to my own website at DOGINFO and also on my KAYLAR homepage!

I have been going out once weekly with two-three other members of my team (IOWA SEARCH AND RESCUE)and training the dogs. Each time: different place, different people hiding, different time of day, etc. It is for sure always fun but always challenging. Of course, the more you do this, the more you find out, and my Phoenix isn't NEARLY ready to certify yet. I am hoping to get her "into shape" by fall but it is doubtful at this point! The one problem I seem to be running into is her willingness to STOP once she finds her person, she wants to just keep on going....oh well..I am just going to keep on training!

Till next time....
cheers, and keep your nose in the wind!

'tis the season for HEATSTROKE

2007-06-16T06:52:00.000-05:00

yes, dogs, as well as people can suffer heatstroke! symptoms are:
# Rapid breathing
# Dry mouth and nose
# Rapid heart rate
# Dull, greyish-pink, or red gums
HIGH TEMPERATURE OVER 104
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY

Immediate priority is to lower the dogs body temperature. Use ice water, ice from the freezer, bags of frozen veggies, get the water/ice/frozen stuff under the arms, on the groin, pads of feet,etc. immersing the dog in a cool body of water, tolling him over and dumping buckets of water on him......anything to get that temperature down FAST.

Check the temperature every couple of minutes. If you do not have the dogs temperature lowered within 15 minutes, it may be too late, and the dog will have suffered permanent damage to major organs or to the brain.

Rainbow Bridge

2007-03-13T14:37:00.000-05:00

Kaylar's Christmas Angel: certified Search Dog
Dec. 13 1992-----March 13-2007

I found myself again, this morning, kissing another newfy good-bye. I just lost my Tasha less than three weeks ago and today it was time for my Angel, nearly 14 and a half years old, to leave. It is always such a hard thing to do....with Tasha, she took the decision from me and died peacefully in her sleep after a brief illness. Angel however needed to let me help her, she had reached a point where the quality of her life was not so good, I knew that she was suffering and I guess when all is said and done I am glad that when the time came I was able to help her. I have published some words about her on my other blog and also there is a lot of other stuff like poetry and memorial poems at my NEWF homepages.
More reading can be found also at my SQUIDOO LENZ on pet loss.

I have written more about Tasha in particular at my Newf blog.

Spring is springing??

2007-03-09T11:41:00.000-06:00

Yup, it sure is, woke up this am to the sound of robins and raindrops...the Newfies went out to do their morning business...all of them lined up in a row and did their thing while the "raindrops kept raining on their heads" ...and then they came wet and bedraggled, back into the house and slopped their muddy footprints on the linoleum kitchen floor and across into the living room, (of course walking over the top of Angel's "bed" of quilts and old rugs, which is a fixture on the living room floor)...sigh...
I guess it is just one of those things you have to live with and expect when the spring rains come but omg I will be glad when the ground dries out!

St. Pat's Day is coming...Won't be long!

Visit My DogDaze Designs store and check out the St. Pat's day doggy designs

This design was made from a photo I took of Phoenix as a baby...she is growing up now, nearly 16 months old...read about her trip to the bet yesterday and her dog obedience class at my

New blog which is about (you guess it!) living with my newfs and the terrier Zoey!

Rainbow Bridge

2007-03-01T22:54:00.000-06:00

I have lost my beautiful Tasha...she was my last remaining living Champion in my home....She arrived in a winter storm, Jan 8 1995 and she left me in a winter storm Feb 25 2007. She gradually faded in my arms...in a cold house, no heat...by the flickering light of a candle since I had lost power in the storm...I sat with her head in my lap and finally just go so cold I had to leave her and go curl up under the blankets..Did she wait for that time? I woke suddenly to hear the sound of the two newfs Jenna and Phoenix rushing to the dining room, where Tasha lay.. by the time I got there, she was gone. My beautiful Tasha..Now my life is different and there are only the three dogs to feed, to let out, to care for...to love. You can read more about her by clicking on the Title...I just cant write any more, I cant bear it right now.

The Dogshop

2007-02-28T07:25:00.000-06:00

I have started a new DOGSHOP for all folks who love their breed, and have never been able to find enough stuff with that breed! It's just beginning, but there is already a lot of stuff up and published. furthermore, you can FINALLY get that perfect gift for that dog handler who shows your dogs for you! Check out the DOGGIE NECKTIES!!

Landseer Newfoundland Tie
by
knewfy

Get this custom at Zazzle

Is It Cold or what??

2007-02-06T07:20:00.000-06:00

The snow is coming down today even though the temp should be TOO COLD to produce snow!This am the dogs went out and came back in 10 minutes later covered with snow and looking like polar bears...I didnt want to touch them, but they snuffled into me and of course wanted their morning pats...in the process getting me all wet and cold!

Got some new pictures in the mail of "Topper", the littermate to King Arthur, from way back when...hopefully I will have time soon to get back to my Newfoundland pages and update them. they are quite disorganized and need LOTS of work! My apoloigies to all those folks out there (who are surely CLAMORING) to see my Newf pages, just need to take the time to sit down and update. This changeover that I have done to the MAC OS TEN has left me feeling confused and disoriented most of the time when it comes to my webpages! Then I wanted to add some web rings, but when I went to the web ring pages all of my old links were outdated and I had to methodically go through the whole list and get everything updated or else just delete and start over. Which I couldn't do until I had gotten rid of everything that wasn't working! wow what a JOB! But you wiull see, if you take the time to visit my pages, that there are now some very nicely functioning web rings, from which you can navigate to many pages in the whole WORLD! so I am finally getting a start!

Spent all day yesterday updating my pages instead of working with my dogs. They didnt seem to care, they curled up and snoozed all around me, in great piles which made it difficult to maneuver around them. Their snoozing continued well into the night and then at around 11 PM they all decided it was time to play. Looks like their days and nights are mixed up. Mine will be too if I keep arising at 4 am, can't seem to get out of the habit of waking up wide awake and energetic at that ungodly hour....

Give your furry ones a hug today and do NOT leave them out in the cold!

Snow Dogs

2007-01-24T05:56:00.000-06:00

The last week has seen a lot of snowfall, and since this is really the first time Phoenix has been exposed to a LOT of snow it has been interesting to watch her reactions. The first day she bounced (literally!) in the snow for hours, stuffing her face deep into the drifts, and rolling about making doggy "angels" , then bounciing back up, shaking off and doing it again. The neighbor children were delighted to discover that Jenna could actually pull them along the street on the sled!

I travclled to Wisconsin the other day with my granddaughter, soon to be 18 years old. She needed to transport one of their dogs (golden retrievers) to a breeder and she asked if I could help out by going along. As it turned out, I drove the whole way and we used my little van since it has electronic 4 wheel drive and the snow was coming down at a good clip. It was a long drive and a bit "hairy" as far as the driving skill needed. There were quite a few vehicles along the way that had slid into the ditches and medians. I asked my Stacie afterwards if she could have done it by herself...the answer was "no, Gramma, I would have freaked out!"

Gotta go, school just called and asked me to sub....till next time...have a great wintery day!

Search and Rescue Learning

2007-01-17T10:26:00.000-06:00

Just lately I have been settling down in my big easy chair, all snuggled up and keeping warm with my big dogs at my feet (and the llittle one in my lap) while wiinter rages outside. It's the perfect time for some good winter reading. And of course, what better choice for me than taking a look at some of the new books in the field of Search and Rescue. The only trouble is that it's REALLY cold outside and sometimes I just don't have the ambition, (or the willing people who will get "lost") to go outside and practice. Still it is a great time of year to learn something new and review old education. If you are of the same mind, you will want to look at this link:
http://astore.amazon.com/dogdazedesign-20

HAPPY READING!

"tis the season (the WINTER TIME , THAT IS!)

2007-01-16T19:08:00.000-06:00

Hey y'all...had a GREAT TIME yesterday in the first real decent snow of the season...Jenna faithfully pulled all the neighbor kids on their sleds down the slick and snowy streets of this little town, while Phoenix frolicked and sniffed and snorted in the snowdrifts and we all got cold hands, red cheeks, and windblown hairdos. It was great fun. And I knew that I was doing OK by my dogs, cuz they've been out for their daily walking and exercise nearly every day....so there is no question that they can't take a bit of cold and a bit of playing in the snow without harm to their health.

This is just a reminder to all of you who enjoy the winter time outdoors with your dogs that you also need to be aware that the extra stress on their bodies if THEY ARE NOT USED TO THE COLD WEATHER will be damaging to them !! So take care and make sure that they have not been sitting inside all winter long and curled up on the couch...give them plenty of exercise. Besides, it's better for you, too!

For some extra healthful ideas, you mioght want to check out this link:

and HAVE SOME FUN ALREADY!

SARDOG cadaver training

2006-11-21T08:57:00.000-06:00

Hello all...

spent all day last Sunday practicing with another handler for shore seach on three different bodies of water. She would "set" the stuff for me, then I would "set" the stuff for her. It worked great. We had two excellent articles of scent...both were in glass salt shakers with handles. Each salt shaker had a couple of rocks inside for weighting and then the "dead stuff" Each was tied to a cord that is rather a camoflage color. One cord was 5 feet long for a close to shore dropo, the other was 15 feet long for a drop farther from shore. The length of the shorelines we used was about 100 feet. We would go out and place the drops and then the other handler with dog would go out and find the drops. It was a great day, we had a great time, also did a few air scents ...it was a beautfiul day last Sunday here in the midwest.

for Search dog stuff and items for ALL BREEDS for Christmas gifts for your dog loving friends just click on the link in the title It will take you right to dogdaze Designs. Or if you are in a hurry just click here:

Visit My Dogdaze on the web for links to my Newfoundland pages and other great dog stuff

Visit DOGDAZE DESIGNS to go straight to dogdaze Designs

There are lots of search dogs designs on these pages also!

Have a good day!

Old dogs and Cold dogs

2006-11-01T19:19:00.000-06:00

It’s cold outside...are you taking care of the problem right?

I came across a really great idea for that LITTLE dog that just can’t stand the cold. Or the apartment dog that lives six stories up and can’t wait to go down the elevator. It’s rather like a litterbox but it is intended for dogs. You can see one here:

Wizdog

Meanwhile, for the bigger dogs, it is time to consider that as they age they really CAN’T stay outside. Please, even if they are “outdoor” dogs and have been out most of their lives, it is time to bring the oldsters in, to enjoy life next to the hearth on those cold winter nights. You would be surprised how easily they adjust and since most of them have always gone potty outside, they will let you know and willingly go outside to do their business...seldom if ever unless they are just too old to handle holding it..will they go in a house. It is foreign to their concept of going potty !

Another thing to remember is that older dogs often get arthritic. You can check out the aupplements that are available at several different places. One of the most effective may be the nutritional supplement The Missing Link Canine Plus Joint Support Formula which can be found at 1-800-PetMeds

I have a back yard fence connected right to my back door so that I can let my dogs in or out right through the back door. It is dark at night. I have found that the Christmas lighting decorations are awfully handy for lighting up the area for my older dogs, who have more difficulty seeing at night...This year I got 30 star shaped lights, the little lights on a string, for (believe it or not! ) 5o cents at a garage sale! Soon I will be putting them up with zip ties all over the fence....like lighted snowflakes. I think I will like them so well I may keep em up all year!

f

For more information on protecting your dogs against the cold weather check out the Dogdigs

Talk to ya again soon....

Heading into cold weather

2006-10-31T16:01:00.000-06:00

Halloween has arrived...Thanksgiving is next. Won't be long till the snows are flyiing....is your dog in bed? Comfortable? Warm? Well fed? (but be sure he's not OBESE!)For Better Pet Healthcheck out Pet Nutrition.com

To make sure you are up to date on all the specifics of cold weather care, you should also take a look at for responisble ownership rules

I am in the process of getting ready for another SAR training and now is the time of year when I switch over to more "urban searches" ...yes that's right. Hunting season is also here! To protect myself, and my dogs, I just DON'T take the risk of traiining out in rurual areas. Too many pheasan hunters and deer hunters out there...not that I'm against it...I LOVE to eat both pheasant and deer...just don't care to involve myself in this sport, nor risk my dogs! I wish good luck to all who DO go hunting. and be sure to STAYT SAFE!

Till next time....Happy hunting, and Happy searching....

Planning for Disasters With Your dogs

2006-09-15T13:01:00.000-05:00

Most people overlook the three most important things they should have done to prepare for the possibility of a disaster when they might have to evacuate with their dogs:

1.prepare an emergency notification card for your vehicle. On the card (which you can put in the glove compartment and carry in your bags or even stick on your vehicle interior, after it has been LAMINATED) you should have the following information:

call name(s) of your dog(s)
name of your vet and addressed and phone number
your personal wishes should your pet be beyond help
name and phone number of contact persons
your own name, address, and phone
dog's registered name if applicable
dog's registration number if applicable
dog's ID chip or tattoo if applicable
dog's status ( in reference to service dogs, etc.)
copy of vet records (immunizations and booster shots and rabies tags)

2. Put a buckle collar with identification on the dog.

3. Make sure you have a proper crate or containment for your pet in your vehicle

LEARN THE STEPS TO BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY TRAVEL WITH YOUR PETS

VISIT THE DOGDAZE LENZ ON SQUIDOO

VISIT MY DISASTER LENS

VISIT DOGDAZE FOR GREAT DOG LOVER'S GIFTS

BLUE POWER EAR TREATMENT

2006-09-11T16:46:00.000-05:00

you can find the recipe for the famous blue power ear treatment if you just

go here

I had the need to use it just recently on my dear Jenna, Search dog Extraordinaire...

She has contionued to have a nasty ear problem and yes, it is a fungus....yeast type. This blue power stuff is an old treatment but a good one.

The Dog's Den

2006-09-05T14:07:00.000-05:00

Today is finally a cool day but the dogs don't care any more about the fresh smells of the outside. They want the comforts of the house. Of course the older dogs have been in all summer anyhow...they are much too frail for me to take the risk of leaving them outside in the heat of the day. For one thing, what if they should not be able to get up and move to the shade?? But Phoenix (aka Feeny) the youngster who is full of piss and vinegar, and Jenna, the Search Dog Exrtraordinaire, have been both inside and outside dogs all summer long. They just PREFER the inside. Especially Jenna, who hates to let me out of her sight. Feeny on the other hand always LOVED the outside until yesterday. Yesterday a friend gave her a wonderful marvelous noisey squeaky toy that makes great sounds, rather like a baby crying. (it is especially funny when she has the squeaker end inside her cavernous mouth and it changes to the sound of a baby gurgling under the water....) Anyhow that very special toy is (by mom's decree) NOT to go outdoors. So Feeny wants in all the time. She wants to play with her Squeaker. By the way, this toy can be found at

Even as I type I can hear the gurgling noises in the next room. Punctuated with an occasional thump and roll, since it also bounces unpredictably when you toss it.
Click on the picture of the toy (called a Dino-Cuz) to orderone just like Feeny's!

Feeny has been learninig more and more about searching. She is totally great and awesome at that. But her obedience skills leave a great deal to be desired. She is trying, bless her heart, but the world is much too exciting to heel politely at my side and besides all of that, she is headstrong enough to believe that if she takes a sudden lunge there is absolutely nothing I can do it. Since the tendonitis in my right hand is flaring up....(too long a bout with the caulking gun, getting ready for winter....) she is right on when it comes to those sudden lunges. Looks like maybe she needs a few sessions with the clicker and a treat or two to remind her of what fun it is to heel right beside me!

For Search dog products,with your favorite breed, be sure to visit DogDaze Designs

10 reasons not to BREED

2006-08-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

10 reasons NOT TO BREED your dogs
(a.k.a. "10 REASONS TO SPAY OR NEUTER")

1.DON'T BREED your dogs if you do not have the best interests of the breed at heart. If you are doing this for money (or any reason other than the passion of producing a better animal than you started with...... *this is called good animal husbandry, by the way) then DON'T BREED. There are far too many litters brought into the world because "the neighbors liked my dog and wanted to have one just like it" or "we thought she wasn't in heat yet but we were wrong..." and there are far too many breeds in this world that have literally been destroyed by over breeding because "everyone wants one and I will make big bucks selling this litter".What happens to puppies from these breeding? All too often they end up in the pet shelters of the world....which is why a breeder should be willing to always take responsibility for every puppy they breed and should be able to be involved in "rescue" of their breed if they are a breeder.

2.DON'T BREED if you do not have the financial wherewithal to keep the puppies, whether there be 2 or 22, if you do not get them placed into appropriate homes. Remember that what YOU bring into this world, is your responsibility. Be prepared to grow those puppies up if you don't find homes!

3.DON'T BREED just becasuse the neighbor likes YOUR dog and wants a puppy from him/her. Chances are that once the pupies arrive, your neighbor will have changed his mind. and can't take a puppy. And if he wants you to breed your dog to his dog, then you are usually in even deeper trouble because often the dogs dont turn out like HIS dog and you are the one to catch the flak!

4.DON'T BREED if you do not have health checks done on the prospective parents. There are enough diseases to go around in the dog world without deliberately propagating dogs who have a good chance of being born with inheritable conditions that could have been avoided. Furthermore if you are responsible for producing an animal that is going to have a painful or debilitating condition just consider how devastating this can be to the future owners of that dog and what you yourself have done by producing an animal that will be in pain.

5.DON'T BREED if you are not going to be able to spend at least four hours daily (at a minimum) cleaning the whelping box, taking the dam out for walks (on leash in her own area so she won't bring back extra "unknown" germs into the household, washing the dirty towels and rugs the puppies need to have (a non skid surface for them so they can learn to walk is a MUST) ....these things that I have mentioned are just a few considerations when it comes to raising up the litter....

6.DON'T BREED if you aren't able to bring the puppies up so they will be socialized. There is nothing WORSE to have in a household than a puppy that has never been introduced to house hold noises, children, and so on......a puppy that quivers and quakes in fear is , contrary to what most people believe, often NOT a puppy that has been "abused", it is a puppy that has never been socialized. There is more to the care of the litter than just keeping the area clean , there is a lot of time that must be given to handling and socializing those furry little babies. (if you are already working a 12 hour day, don't expect to be able to come home and then take time to clean the puppy area PLUS get them out for socialization.)

7.DON'T BREED dogs with poor temperament just because they are "a good example of the breed". Temperament is definitely inherited. A good boxer who is "crazy" will produce "crazy" puppies, a good Saint Bernard who is "mean" will produce "mean" puppies.

8.DON'T BREED if you do not realize that YOU are putting the life of your dog at risk. Yes my friend, there are bitches who die in the process of whelping puppies, to say nothing of the fact that the puppies often die too!

9.DONT BREED if you think it would be good "sex education" for your children. How will it help them if the bitch does go into eclampsia and she dies in horrible pain? Because of something YOU made happen?? children can get good education from watching animal planet and at least it is not their own beloved pet that is at risk.

10.DON'T BREED if you are willing to let those pups go to just any home without consideration of the place they are going. In other words, you need to know whether the family knows what they are getting into...will the puppy fit into their life style, will they have the financial means to care for the dog?? Lots of these questions need to be taken into consideration when placing the puppies into homes. You should have a contract which guarantees the health of the puppy, DON'T BREED if you are not willing to stand behind your litter. And your contract should require a spay or neuter agreement (are you beginning to see why??)

find BREEDER'S RESCUE BUMPER STICKERS at "Dogdaze Designs"
Select the Product of your choice, from tee shirts to throw
pillows....with the design of your choice and with your favorite
breed.

Summer Bummer

2006-07-16T16:50:00.000-05:00

The Dog Days of summer
The flea and tick season is in full force. Many of my friends use that chemical, I will not mention the name......that is advertised widely...........that horribly smelly stuff that goes on the back of the dog....
I always wonder when something that I put on the skin of my dog is SUPPOSED to migrate to its bloodstream........
I on the other hand am suspicious of such man made chemicals. And I use another kind of "smelly stuff" that is "natural" ?? (one can always question this, too) ....and very very stinky, smelling strongly of citronella ...but every other day I rub it into the heads of my black furry friends. They slobber and goober and affectionately sling their slime on me while I do this so even if there is no benefit resulting in dead bugs, there is always the joy of the moment.......... And I also use the good old-fashioned flea collar. don't know if the chemicals are just as nasty or not. But it doesn't smell so strong. And seems to work! I went out in the woods with my dog, came back with 15 ticks on me and none on my dog!

we shall see......

if I find too many of the little ticks I shall have to switch to even stronger remedies such as diatom dust rubbed into the fur...but I shall refrain for awhile . I still will stay away as long as I can from the widely advertised "stuff" that costs a fortune and builds new labratories for the pharmaceutical industries.

I have already contributed enough to my vet to build a new wing.

***for further information about healthy flea and tick products visit:
http://www.kaylar.com/dogdigs

FOR CHRISTMAS IN JULY.....CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS BLOG AND SEE THE SWEATSHIRTS ON SALE NOW AT DOGDAZE

Man's Best friend

2006-07-06T08:23:00.000-05:00

Summer time ..... and the livin' is easy.....

Early morning now is the only cool time of the day. Took Phoenix and her grandma Jenna out today for the walkabout they always love to go on....every other day to keep Jenna in condition and to teach Phoenix how to behave on the end of the leash. That will take all summer!! Keeping dogs fit is important and lying around all day in front of the fan is all Jenna wants to do these days. And she needs to stay in shape. for that matter so do I. And Phoenix of course is still a puppy but of course a puppy can get obese if they're not watched...
so anyhow we go for out walk every other day, a good long one. The air is crisp and cool in the early morning and the birds are out and the neighborhood is quiet and still asleep a lot of times at 5:30 AM.

But today suddenly Jenna, who is usually off leash in this tiny little town because she always stays with me..today she went veering right into someone's back yard and stood, looking straight up. Here she had smelled a man up on the roof of his house, doing some work. He was so quiet that I hadnt noticed he was there. Jenna had smelled him but couldnt see him.....

Her search dog instincts had kicked in! Phoenix...well, I honestly dont know or remember if she noticed, she was pulling on her leash at the time and I am working with her on these walks to get her behavior settled down, she is very strong and very strong willed! I expect I really need to take her out by herself for these walks but we enjoy the time spent together with the three of us...me, and Jenna, and Phoenix.

Well, the 4th of July is over now. Our little town here won't have its fireworks till this coming Saturday. Will find out then if Phoenix will go through the noise without a fuss! It might be a good idea to be out in the yard with her. The fireworks will only be a block or two from my house!

gotta go now...time to get the dogs fed....

Still searchin'

2006-06-29T16:52:00.000-05:00

Mom got real upset the other day when she let me out into a lot of tall grass to go to a pond to go swimmin' with Jenna. Even with Jenna there, (she's my grandma) I figured there was something I ought to go find so I went running off into the tall grass and kept looking for someone to find. there wasn't anyone so I finally came back. Mom told me she was mad at me. She kept calling and I heard her, but I didn't feel lilke coming back. So Mom figured I needed to start to learn to come when she called me, she haddn't really paid attention before.

Hello everyone: One of the most important things which face ALL owners of dogs is that sooner or later you absolutely MUST teach the dog to stay with you, to not run off, and to come when called. A good idea to do this training is to capitalize on what the dog already knows and to re train or train with that in mind. Phoenix already knew that there wasn't always someone hiding for her in the grasses. She learned that by herself the day she ran off looking. The next thing for her to find out was that it was pleasurable when I called her, that there would be a SURE reward if she came. Something that was totally awesome. So...I cooked up nuked hot dogs. RESERVE these treats for something special. Yes they are cheap but they are an extremely motivating treat. Anyhow...here's what I did:

"Mom took me walking the next day in the woods. She had my leash on. The neighbor kid came along. I really loved that cuz I love all the neighbor kids. When we got into the woods Mom took off my leash. I heard her telling the neighbor kid that even if I ran away I couldnt go anywhere far cuz there would be a fence. Anyhow when she took off my leash I didnt want to go anywhere cuz just before she took it off she had the neighbor kid give me the very best treat I had ever had!! So I stayed with them for a little while. But pretty soon I thought maybe I should run on ahead into the woods. I did, but in just a minute the neighbor kid called me and gave me one more of those neat treats. So I kind of watched for awhile and walked with them for awhile. Then I went on ahead to check things out. Next time when the neighbor kid called I ran back to see if I would get another treat. But that time the neighbor kid just gave me a really big kiss and a belly rub. I didnt care about the treat then cuz that belly rub felt really good. So anyhow we walked for a long time. Every time I went away after while mom or the neighbor kid would call me and I would get either a treat or a nice kiss and hug. It was great. Besides I found out that if I stayed close enolugh to mom she really liked it if I went a little ways ahead and then just looked bak at her every so often. Every time I did that she told me what a good girls I was...."

BYE NOW AND GOOD SEARCHIN'

MOM got the Newf page back up again!!

2006-06-27T19:46:00.000-05:00

it's me again...Phoenix. Mom has been working on the Newf web pages and finally is starting to get 'em back up again...you can check 'em out by clicking on the title. Anyhoo.....I got to go for a "blind search" the other day, at least that's what mom calls it. She put me in the car, (actually I jumped in) and we went somewhere where there was a road. I got out with mom and walked down the road with her. she stopped me after awhile and put on my collar. The one that makes a noise, she calls it the bell collar. Right after that I smelled someone. I ran through the grass and I found a kid in the grass!! boy this searching thing is really fun!The only thing though is that when I can't find the person sometimes I have to run BESIDE the wind and lift my head up and smell, usujally I can find 'em again.

If you want to learn about all kinds of dog stuff you can learn it here: "PETS" and you can learn other stuff too!

this is a really cool place

Some information about the noses of dogs and their sense of smell:

The Canine olfactory sense (sense of smell) is without doubt so far superior to that of man as to be beyond imagination. It could be like comparing a bunaglow to a skyscraper, there simply is no comparison.

Depending on the dog and the size of the dog’s muzzle, there can be more than 200 milliion olfactory cells. Mankind has only 5 million. So the first thing that determines the precision of a dog’s sense of smell is the numbers of olfactory cells that the particular dog has. Some researrch has been done which has led to the discovery that not all dog’s noses are the same. It is now known that dogs with smaller noses do not have the same numbers of receptive cells as dogs with longer noses.

Although it is of course impossible for mere human beings to understand exactly what dog is thinking or smelling, another factor which probably is equally important is the dog’s ability to discern between smells. In the sazme way that we humans use our eyes combined with our brains to tell us about the world around us, dogs use their noses combined with what their brains have discovered about the sense of smell. It comes with practice and learning about the world, the same way humanbabies learn about the world with their eyes and their sense of touch...dog babies learn from the beginning what different smells in the world mean..they "read" the world with their sense of smell.

by Kathy Reed

to learn more about general information about dogs

you can also click here

Searching Practice with Phoenix

2006-06-15T08:59:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone, there is more news from the training logs with Phoenix:

"it's me again, phoenix (feeny) is what mom calls me. we got to go to a big place that had very tall grass. I was surprised when mom got me out of the car and there wasnt enyone who ran away from me at all. i knew i had to look for someone cuz mom put on my harness and that means i am going to look for someone. this time there was a thing that makes a noise when i move. mom calls it a bell. anyhow we got out of the car and she put on my harness and even while she was putting it on me i got excited cuz i could smell that the person who had been in the car when we went to that place was out in the tall waving grass somewhere. so i got real excited.
anyhow as soon as my harness was on mom told me to search and i ran right into the tall grass. i had to jump up to see where i was going. i could smell her but i couldnt find her. i turned back when i couldnt smell her any more and i held my nose up in the air and then i smelled her again. when i found her i got my belly rubbed and i got to kiss her and boy that was really fun.

after that when we came home mom took me for a walk in a big woods. at first i though that it was really fun cuz she let me go without a leash in the big woods and i went running all over but there wasnt anyone there i could find, and also she hadnt put on my harness first and i thought that was funny. she called me but i thought no i am FREE and i am going to run and run and run. so i did. BUT in the end i ran back to make sure mom was still there and when i ran back i got a cookie. a eally yujmmy thiing i had never eaten before. mom calls it a nuked hotdog. after i got that to eat she told me i could run and play some more. but next time when she called to me i went back and i got another one of those hot dog things. and we did this for awhile. she would let me run away and when she called me she would give me a treat and the she would let me run off again. it was fun but i got tired and then i just walked with mom instead of running away and she told me i was a really good girl.

mom says next week we get to a "flea market". gee i dont want fleas!! they itch. i hope she doesnt buy any!!

this is feeny signing off............"

if you click on the title to this you will be taken to a wonderful place called "Dogdaze" where you can buy all kinds of neat stuff with dog designs in all breeds.

A Word From Phoenix

2006-06-02T06:36:00.000-05:00

Well I suddenly realized that I haven't "Blogged" for a long time. The reason is obvious, it's summer and there is a LOT to do. The thing that has been taking up the most time is Phoenix....I will let her tell you!

"We have been really busy. Mom has been teaching me a lot of things. First she started taking me outside for a lot of walks. And she won't let me pull on the collar. I had to learn to walk beside her, but she gives me a lot of treats and that helps. I have to sit when she tells me and stay when she tells me. Yesterday I started to learn to jump up and put my front feet on mom when she tells me to, and only do it when she tells me to.

The we went to a place that has a big thing that you can follow the little children on to it when they go up on this stair kind of thing, and they walk across this bridge that swings and is up in the air. Mom calls it the "playground slide" I thought it was SCARY but I like to be where little kids are, I know it is okay if they are on it too.

Then she has also been taking me outside and holding on to me and not letting me go when the little kids run away from me. Then all of a sudden she will let me go and I get to go and find the little kids and where they ran to!! it is FUN!!! And one time, ...no, twice...we were just out walking and I smelled my favorite little kid, and mom put on my harness and I got to go and find her right where I smelled her!!!

One of the most fun things we did was to get in the car and go to this place that has this funny strange place where you can get ALL WET instead of just getting your head wet when you get a drink. It is like when I have my bowl of water and I put my feet in it and dig the water out, only at this place there is so much water that you can't possibly dig it all out! Mom calls it "the lake".When I go in there my feet are "swimming" she says.

Now we do these things every day and I am very very busy! So is mom,"

I promise that I won't let my blog go so long any more :-)

Besides training Phoenix I have been trying to get in a lot of search practice with Jenna....and yes unfortunately our team has been called for a couple of drownings already! so folks out there who go on the water: WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS!!!!!

Memorial poetry

2006-04-01T07:59:00.000-06:00

I found a wonderful poem which maybe will help me with my Angel...I am sure her time is coming before too long.....

It talks about the need to put your dog to sleep when she reaches that point when there is too much pain..too much for her to bear any more. It is such an awful thing to contemplate...

In these modern times of medical miracles..one always hopes to find that perfect solution. Unfortunately we are all mortal, as are our pets. How ironic it is that when those pets whom we love so deeply, as part of our families, can be put out of their paiin, and oftentimes our own human loved ones must suffer till the very end.

Anyhow....this poem is really helpful. It begins like this:

If it should be that I grow frail and weak

And pain should keep me from my sleep Then you must do what must be done

For this, the last battle can't be won....

click on the title of this article to read the rest of it..

Phoenix update

2006-03-29T07:15:00.000-06:00

EASTER is nearly here. If you are looking for a fresh spring look and love your dog... and looking for quality stuff to wear or buy for the house then ccheck out the breeds and all the designs at http://www.cafepress.com/dogdaze

As for the Phoenix and Bingo saga:

Nowadays. our returnee, Bingo, the rat terrier, is curling his lip less frequently, and even going so far as to chase Phoenix around the yard, and play bow and invite HER to chase him! So things are going their natural course and it wont be long until they are fast friends. Bingo still does “nail”Phoenix is she tries to eat anywhere near him..[picking up crumbs off the floors for example] and that is one thing that he has to continue to be disciplined for...by me. But things definitely ARE improving.

And thank goodness for little girls (and little boys too) since they are stopping by daily now the weather is nice so they can “play with Feenie”. Nothing is so great for growing puppies as children and plenty of exposure to children. If you are bringing up a puppy and don't have kids around.... go find them. Make sure your puppy gets handled, chased, rolled on the ground....dressed up...all the things little kids do with puppies. Only caution: supervise! Kids can get “mean” without realizing it, so it is always best to be there as a supervising adult when kids play with puppies...

***

for dozens of products with this Easter newfy design or to find a design in ANY breed, be sure to click on the link!!

****

TGIF FRIDAY?

2006-03-24T06:06:00.000-06:00

TGIF Friday?

Well. I just broke up a “fight” or perhaps it was a “lesson” early this morning. Nothing like getting rousted out of bed at 5 AM by a feisty rat terrier and a Newf puppy. Phoenix (the newf puppy) has had the household to herself for 6 weeks. While she was growing up a bit I sent Bingo the rat terrrier to live with his other “dad” because he was terrorizing the pup. so yesterday he came back.

And he is still being a total a---. I guess he does have to establish who is boss in the pack. But I swear if he doesnt settle his differences soon, ......!@!

Every time Phoenix walks near, he curls his lip. Every time she attempts to advance a playful move, he yaps and feints a snap at her. And then this morning he actually rolled her and went after in the living room. I yanked him off and put him into a down for a bit. After that episode, at least for the time being, he is studiously ignoring her. Meanwhile I need to review for myself the lessons I have learned through the years on dominance and pack behavior!

Dogs are pack animals. Every pack has a pecking order, and every animal in the pack has duties, responsibilities, and expectations. Bingo the rat terrier obviously thinks of himself as pack leader over and above me and this has got to change. He has to come down a peg or two. I am his alpha. THEN below me he can be ALPHA. Even being the littlest dog here, he can be alpha. But I have to re-establish who is had honcho and it isn’t him! So here are the “new rules”

1. When I feed the dogs, Bingo must eat in his crate but he will NOT eat first.The newfs will eat first and THEN Bingo.

2. Bingo will sleep in his crate and not in my bed from now on. (Phoenix has always slept in her crate)

3. When I am at the computer the gate will be up and Bingo will NOT disturb my work.

Bingo got a harsh lesson this morning when he went after the puppy and I immediately put him in his place. Now he is lying on the floor outside the computer room door and he is ignoring the attentions of Phoenix the puppy and she will probably get another “lesson” from Bingo soon if she keeps it up. I will let him show her (but not quite so nasty) that he is HER boss. But he WILL have to learn that I am HIS boss! And I will hope that within a week or two they will both be “best friends”.

It is just too much to try to deal with the first thing in the morning on a Friday!!

check out te articles at DogDigs for more information on establishing Pack Dominance

UPDATE ON VACCINATION PROTOCOLS

2006-02-20T07:19:00.000-06:00

In February 2003, the Board adopted AN OPEN LETTER TO VETERINARIANS RE: VACCINATION PROTOCOLS. In the LETTER, the Board noted that many aspects of veterinary practice were evolving quickly, including the area of vaccination protocols – vaccination intervals, duration of immunity, risks of vaccination, and the efficacy of certain vaccines that are routinely used by many Veterinarians. Recent studies have cast new light on these issues, prompting organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Feline Practitioners, and American Animal Hospital Association, to issue reports suggesting a need to revise some commonly accepted practices.

for further information and a review of the entire article just click on the title of this article!

Dog shows 101

2006-02-16T09:44:00.000-06:00

This short but very informative review of what exactly is a conformation dog show will prove very helpful to the amateur "newby" attending or exhibiting at a dog show. Encompasses what IS a conformation dog show, what are the "classes" and the wins, and what is the "group ring".

Included in the "groups section" is a complete up to date listing of which dogs belong in which groups...easy to copy and paste this one for your own listing!

Welcome to Phoenix

2006-02-10T05:41:00.000-06:00

Phoenix has arrived! A great grand-daughter to my Angel (still with us as we speak, laying on the rug in the dining room and sound asleep) , the new puppy "feenie" is also in the dining room, chewing on her grandmother's legs and ears...(her grandmother is Jenna.)
Feenie is destined to become my next search dog. She is quite intelligent and becoming very bonded to me. Also very laid back. And a "barker" (at least she barks at Jenna in play. She sits and waits to get her dinner! She cuddles. She goes to get a toy when thrown. She is becoming a bit more house trainedd but not all there yet.
The symbolism of her name....a new beginning. After all the "upset"of last year, a move, and the downsizing of my kennel, it is now the time to start my new Search Dog and also to continue the excellence of my bloodline, first begun way back iin 1987 with "Bear" my first Newfy. Cheers to the FUTURE! I will keep you posted on updates as Feenie grows up!

MORE CLICKER TRAINING BASICS

2006-01-20T08:04:00.000-06:00

NOTE: to find the famous "my dog is smarter than your honor student" bumper stickers...jog on over to Dogdaze Designs by clicking on the title!!

THE "BASICS" of clicker training

Clicker training basics: the whole key to clicker training is to get the dog to a stage in his training where you can quickly reinforce a behavior that he does in order to tell him that he is "doing something right". The clicker is a substitute for "good dog" and has more meaning because it is very specific to the dog. for example there are dozens of times every day and many situations where you use the words "good dog" (or at least there should be) but when you use a clicker you are working towards the end result of putting the dog into a "learning mode" and in the end he will understand, when you are "clicking" that he has performed a behavior which was correct and he will be rewarded.

Start clicker training with a pile of hot dog treats, beggin strips, cheerios, whatever you think will really turn the dog on. I have seen people use an open jar of cheese whiz and the the handle of a spoon for a scoop......whatever works to "turn your dog on". It may not be food but most of the time food is the most successful thing to use in beginner clicker training. Keep in mind that this is only for the BEGINNING stages of clicker training and in the end is often not at all necessary.

Put your treats or food in a place that is easily accessible, not a pocket that is hard to get into. Find a location that is fairly free of distractions and with no other animals especially dogs, present... your kitchen or living room is fine. begin by clicking the clicker. quickly give the dog a treat. click the clicker again. give another treat. continue for at least five minutes. during this process vary the method in which you give the treat. throw it to the dog. offer it with one hand, then the other....move your body physically to a slightly different place, so that the dog is not sitting still in one spot while this is happening.

Soon the dog will be looking for a treat immediately after he hears the sound of the clicker. When you see that he is beginning to move toward you to receive a treat when he hears the clicker...you are on the right track.

STOP clicking if the dog loses interest and start again later in the day.

Once you have a good interest going and the dog is actually LOOKING AND FOCUSING on the sound of the clicker.....stop clicking and just look at the dog, right in the eyes....he will look back at you like "huh???" "where's the treat??"

At that point you will immediately click when he performs a behavior for you..(that behavior may be one he already knows, such as sitting down and looking up at you) It is a good idea to have in your mind what he will most likely do, and be ready to click immediately when that behavior is performed. then give the treat.

don't worry if it is something he already knows how to do..

What he has done is unique and different for him. He has offered a behavior that he thinks may get him what he is looking for, the CLICK and the ensuing treat. You have not pushed, pulled, or jerked him into performing this behavior. You have also not TOLD him to do this behavior. He has offered this to you....It is like he is saying : "If I do this, will I get the treat??"

You will continue from this point on clicking him for that particular behavior and ignoring all other behaviors....only for a few minutes more, then end the session and put the clicker away for awhile....

Next time start with a few "click/treats" to get him into the learning mode, and then progress to clicking the dog for the behavior he first performed for you (such as sitting down) and THEN having the dog perform a different behavior for you....something perhaps that he does not already know, for example, backing up, or spinning around or pawing with one foot at your leg....anything. Remember you will STOP clicking and only click when he performs this different behavior. what you are doing is showing the dog that he is only going to be rewarded for CERTAIN behaviors....Remember that the way to get him to perform a behavior (at first, in the beginning stages of training) is to simply STOP clicking until he performs the behavior you are looking for. Don't shoot for something complicated. just a simple behavior. all you are doing right now at the beginning is training the dog to 'LEARN' and not really teaching a specific behavior.

that is the basics of the clicker training in a nutshell. Once your dog "connects" to the idea that if he offers certain behaviors, the clicker will tell him if it is the right behavior, and it will be rewarded with a treat..then you are set to go on to all sorts of training. More about this later.....

NOTE: CLICKER TRAINING DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REINFORCED WITH VERBAL REWARD AND AS A MATTER OF FACT VERBAL REINFORCEMENT USUALLY INTERFERES WITH ACTUAL CLICKER BASICS...SAVE THE WORDS, JUST USE THE CLICKER AND THE TREATS FOR THE BEGINNIING STAGES OF CLICKER TRAINING!!

The Sunset of her life....

2005-12-28T10:36:00.001-06:00

My Newf Angel has entered her sunset years. She turned 13 years old on the 13th of December.
She whispers now when she barks.
She shakes her ears to tell me when she needs to go out.
After she gets outside she often forgets why she went there.
When she comes back in she sometimes remembers and she wants to go outside again.
Sometimes she gets her job done outside and other times she finishes it up inside.
But she is the love of my life and I will gladly put up with the inconveniences of it.
She sleeps a lot.
It is her favorite pasttime next to eating.
When I eat, she manages to hear me every time, and she comes and wais beside me so she can lick the crumbs when I am done.
I know the time will come sometime.
I hope it is a long time from now.

Dog lovers know what I mean.
The time when I have to hold her in my arms at the vet's office.
The time when I will have to say good bye.

She means the world to me.
for niine of her thirteen years she was my number one search dog.
She is probably the best search dog I will ever have.

Her daughter Jenna is a close second.
And soon her great granddaughter will go into training.

Her name will be "Phoenix"

Because she will "rise from the ashes" so to speak....and carry on the tradition.

But no one will ever replace my Angel.

I just hope that I can have another year with her...

Click on this link to order products in all breeds with images such as the Newf Sunset pictured, and many others!

AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOGS

2005-12-23T18:50:00.000-06:00

FIND THIS AND OTHER DESIGNS for the dog lovers in your life at the link (just click on the title)

The Australian Cattledog actually was developed from the Australian Wild dog, or Dingo. It is an extremely effective and efficient herding dog, using its body stance and eye contact and nipping at the heels to control large herds of cattle. The Australians developed this breed to help to drive herds of cattle through the long arduous treks to market. The breed is small and hardy and extremely tough, and is noted for it’s endurance over long distances.

The Australian cattle dog is also known as the “Australian Queensland heeler” or the “blue heeler” or simply a “heeler” because of the tendency to nip at the heels of the cattle. Cattledogs are well suited to the hard work of a drover, being strong, compact, and quick on its feet, a trait which survived from the original Dingo, and this trait protects the dogs from injury in the milling herds of cattle. It is a silent breed when doing its work, controlling catle with a minimum of effort and precise body lanquage rather than vocalizing.

The cattledog does not necessarily make a good “household pet”. Simply put, this is a dog that needs a job. Farm life suits it best, and preferably farm life which involves herding. Dogs without a “herd” will often transfer their “herding” tendency to the children. Cattledogs also share a trait most common with other herding breeds, they do give chase to moving objects. Consequently if they are not trained well or are not enclosed, they often become the victims of automobiles. However, the “heeler” , when allowed to have an active and productive life, can settle in to family life very well, and is a loving and gentle breed. Cattledog enthusiasts who do not have the luxury of cattle to herd have used this breed in the sports of flyball and agility with great success. Furthermore, these sports give the dog a sense of purpose and are fun for both the owner and the dog.

This breed, by the way, holds the canine longevity record....29 years.

submitted by Kathy Reed

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A NEW PRODUCT FOR DOG GROOMING!

2005-11-26T17:29:00.000-06:00

this is the best thing to come on the market since the rake....remeember how you used to have to RAKE up the hair off the lawn when you were done "blowing out" the dog (This product is strictly for those who DO use a blow dryer and blow out the hair on the dog..) Can be used on WET dogs or DRY dogs! and Guess what? No hair on your on clothes when you get done!

If you have ever made an emergency trip to the hospital to have dog hair removed from your eyes you will know what I am talking about. Take a look at it, you won't regret it!

THE DOG HAIRNET for desperate dog owners when the dog is shedding... use this when you “blow out” your dog after his bath

Beginning training for a Search dog

2005-11-09T16:17:00.000-06:00

It is best to know the parentage of the puppy since temperament is definitely inherited. good temperament is the basis for a good search dog! If you are fortunate you will be able to meet both parents but meeting the stud dog or sire is not always possible. The parents should be calm, affectionate with people, and active. If you have the good fortune to be able to pick your puppy out of a litter, you will want to look for one that shows those characteristics. For a search dog you will also want a puppy that has a high “play” drive...wants to investigate everything, shows courage and outgoing attitude, and is physically active (doesn't’ appear to be too “laid back” and “lazy”)

The importance of socializing in a Search dog for civilian work cannot be emphasized enough. I always advise people to start with a young puppy, preferably NOT from a rescue or shelter since you do not know what their previous experiences are.

The puppy should be warm and welcoming to all humans and non dog aggressive. Exposure to other animals, such as cats, chickens, and domesticated farm animals will help to adjust the dog to future encounters while on a search without a problem. Exposure to lots of people...people wearing funny outfits, people who laugh loudly, people who act silly or different...this is an important part of your puppy’s socialization. Deliberately “setting up” situations with friends and relatives in wheelchairs, carrying bags, wearing floppy hats...and so on is not only entertaining but exposes your dog to unusual or different encounters in a “controlled” situation so that he will not be aggressive or timid later on when he does encounter such things.

Take your puppy with you everywhere. Riding in vehicles so that it will not become car sick is VERY necesary..going to flea markets, parades, festivals and community events such as softball games and so on will also allow the puppy to be comfortable in noisy situations such as crowds. Such simple noises as flags fluttering, semis going by, bicycles whizzing along, roller skates and skateboards..all these things are important to expose your puppy to.

What to do when your puppy acts timid:

The biggest mistake you can make is to reward your puppy for acting afraid or timid! Do not always be picking the dog up and/or petting it when it appears to be afraid. It is better to let the dog investigate new or strange situations or people on its own, if you praise or pet the dog or reward the dog for being “afraid” or timid then it is going to repeat this behavior. Allowing him to “come to terms” with unusual situations will get him over his fear and he will not be relying on you for support.

Of course obedience and control must also be developed. Taking your dog to one obedience class such as a puppy kindergarten class is a good beginning, and should be followed through with an occasional class all his life, as a refresher course for you and for him! Obedience classes do more than just “train” your dog to be under your control. They provide a lot of the above elements of socialization!

To read about the actual "first steps" in training, stay tuned to this blog! I will write more information in the next few weeks about the actual "first steps" of training a Searchdog puppy.

As you begin to start this training, keep in mind that short sessions, several different times a day, are better than long boring training sessions which will not only tire your puppy out, but burn you out as well. Training should be fun.

The final focus that you will be working towards with your future search dog is that the puppy should have an absolute need to find humans and to WANT to please you. Keep this in mind all the way through your puppy's training. Searching for the dog is not “WORK”. IT SHOULD BE THE THING HE WANTS TO DO more than anything else. This means that no matter what, being WITH PEOPLE should be where he wants to be, and FINDING PEOPLE should be the thing that he wants to do more than anything else in the world! Always keep this final goal in mind as you are socializing your new “future search dog” and you will be on your way!

By Kathy Reed, trainer for ISAR Iowa Search and Rescue

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living with a JACK RUSSELL

2005-11-01T05:15:00.000-06:00

Several years ago my husband decided the one thing his life lacked was a canine companion, and so he proceeded to locate and purchase the single most incompatible pet for a family with children and upholstered furniture. We became a Jack Russell Terrier family, and as it turns out the only animal more irritable, bossy and down right ill-tempered on the face of the earth would probably have to be a rattlesnake when it's molting......
read entire article at
Dogdaze Designs

LET THE DOG IN THIS WINTER!!

2005-10-31T17:31:00.000-06:00

WINTER AND HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR PET

Older dogs and puppies both have special needs, especially during stressful times when there is more activity in the family, such as the Holiday season. Provide a comfortable resting place for BOTH of these age groups. If you have not kept a crate in your home before for your pet please consider it during the Holiday season. Older dogs need to rest and often prefer to be away from the noise and confusion and in a “safe place”, especially since they are not always clear in their eyesight or hearing. Younger dogs tend to investigate everything and need to be protected from hazards such as tasting the Christmas ornaments or eating the turkey.

Keep in mind that puppies need 14 hours of sleep a day. Do not allow family members to keep the young puppy too active as they must have their sleep in order to grow and develop. Watch out for outdoor hazards such as icy surfaces and do not allow your dogs, if you have a multi dog family, to romp and play on the ice as you might end up with an unexpected vet bill due to a ligament tear! Often times wood chips sprinkled on the ice help to make a better surface for your dog to walk on. The typical treatments involving salt are NOT SAFE for your dog’s feet and should not be used in your “dog yard”.

If your dog is outdoors a lot, he/she needs a doghouse or enclosure which is just slightly bigger than the dog, an enclosure which will allow the dog to curl up and have only a small amount of space left over, as this type of enclosure will provide more heat than a large roomy dog house (even if it is an insulated dog house. Dogs need access to FRESH water in the winter also, frozen water is not effective in providing enough liquid for him! If you don't have a heated water element and your dog is outside full time it is absolutely essential that you provide a supply of fresh water twice a day.

Outdoor dogs also need a DAILY DOSE of love and attention. It is easy in the summer to take your outdoor dog walking and to play fetch with him out in the yard. It requires more sacrifice on your part to go out in the cold and provide some quality time with your pet. But please do not abandon your dog just because it is cold. Ask yourself why did you get the dog in the first place? Be good to your dog and give him the attention and affection that he craves, and hopefully you will BRING THE DOG INSIDE to be a part of your family this season if you have not done so yet.

When it comes to gift giving, dont forget your dog also!! dog t-shirts are available in all designs at
Dogdaze Designs

GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES TO SELECTED HOMES ONLY AT
ROYALAIR SHEPHERDS

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Dog-Sitter or Baby-Sitter?

2005-10-20T23:23:00.000-05:00

Finding the right “sitter” for your dogs

Having dogs is a lot like having kids. Sometimes the need arises to have a “baby sitter.” If you live alone and do not have the luxury of a spouse or one of your human kids close by, or even a neighbor that you know well enough or trust to have them deal with these emergencies...then you need to start making a set of plans if your dogs have to be left for a length of time without you... NOW. Things can come up suddenly in this day and age.

Of course, there are places scattered all over this country that specialize in a form of dog sitting known as “boarding kennels” and I will touch on these institutional settings another time. Dog kennels are not always available in an unplanned emergency situation.

What I want to focus on in this article are the possible instances when things come up that may require you to have an unexpectedly prolonged absence. Perhaps you are normally gone for only 8 hours a day and you end up in an “on the road” emergency which is going to drag into 12 hours or more. Perhaps you suddenly get sick and end up going to a hospital in the middle of the night. In these cases It is wise to have some contingency plans.

Do you live in a large city or an isolated country setting? This will make a difference in your plans. Large cities have a much larger population base to choose from and travel to your home may not be as difficult. On the other hand, an isolated country setting can provide just as ideal arrangements for you if you take the time to really look into your possibilities.

One of the best places to find a dog sitter who can be “on call” for emergencies is to check with your local high school guidance counselor. She or he can steer you in the direction of responsible young adults who may have an interest in animals and be willing and hard working kids to boot. High schoolers can get busy however, and their time may be devoted to other things that will impinge on their ability to suddenly run to your home to “do dogs”.

High schools that run Farm or agriculture programs might be able to provide you with a couple of names of farm kids who would be willing to chore for you and are already living near you if you are in a rural area.

Another place to find a possible dog emergency care taker is a local retired citizens center. Folks who are not living in “assisted living arrangements” and are still physically active often have a lot of time on their hands and usually enough life long experience to be able to adequately jump into a situation and care for your dogs in an emergency. Keep in mind that a frail physical being can NOT care for and walk an unruly animal, even if it is a LITTLE dog, so you do need to consider the physical strength of the person you are looking for.

Once you have located one or two persons who might fill the bill for you, you need to set up an interview situation. One of the most important things to consider is whether or not your dog is going to be comfortable with the person you have chosen. Have the person come to your home for the interview and meet your animals. It is imperative that your dog (s) or cat(s) like the person who may have to care for them in an emergency! Check out background checks by asking for personal and church or community references. Both of these things are absolutely necessary. Then be sure to inquire what the person you are interviewing will expect to receive as wages. If you live on a fixed income or have very little to spare you might want to consider a barter arrangement, you may have skills that you can trade for sitting services.

Once you have found someone you and your animals feel is suitable, then it is necessary that you go through the entire process of feeding and doing the chores with that person. Do this once, then the next time have them come over and do everything while YOU are watching. Before they come, that second time, go through all the necessary arrangements, such as written instructions posted in a prominent location, storage of ood, dishes, water, and so on in an accessible area, and clear and concise posted instructions for everything! and DON’T forget to include emergency contact numbers including the vet and poison center.

Now go back to the beginning of this article...remember that I said “baby - sitting”?? Think back to your days of parenting and go through the dog sitting steps with the person you have selected much as you would if you were again hiring a baby-sitter! Once you have adequately prepared for the possibility of sudden absence ot time away from your pets by hiring a sitter, you will be able to face every day from the perspective of the boy scouts and “be prepared!”

check out Dogaze Designs for your favorite breed on your favorite products!

check out Isark9 for information on search dogs

check out my DogGone Digs for up to date articles on general doggy stuff

this article written by Kath Reed, owner/manager of Dogdaze Designs

A dog form of Avian flu??

2005-10-09T07:27:00.000-05:00

"The course of the dog diseaseappears to be about four weeks. There are two forms, milder and very extreme. Two weeks into the viral disease the dog looks like he is getting over the cough and then bacterial infections become an acute problem" ...Click on the headline to read the rest of this article.

Dog Training Made EASY

2005-09-25T11:13:00.000-05:00

Here is just one example of some of the GOOD INFORMATION found on the website:
"To keep your dog from charging the front door each time it opens, try putting up a door or gate that he can't see through or hop over. Have him wait until people enter and come up the stairs. Then give him a treat for waiting." (from an article by Amy Howells)

To add to this :

This "gate system" can also be used to teach the dog not to jump up. What I do is have the dog wait on one side of the gate. The minute he jumps and puts his feet on the gate I loudly use the "no" term:"unh unh!!" in a disapproving tone. The second the dog puts his feet back on the floor, he gets a treat. It is no time at all to teach him that jumpiing is a "no no"

Thje information on dog training and lots of good stuff on dogs can be found on the website "Dog Information" by clicking on the HEADLINE.

thanks for visiting the Dog blog!

HURRICANE KATRINA: A lesson in Emergency preparedness...

2005-09-18T06:26:00.000-05:00

A MUST READ ARTICLE FOR DOG OWNERS. CLICK ON THE TITLE TO READ THIS ARTICLE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE ONE THING YOU MUST DO TODAY!(written by Kimberly Zlatin .. a freelance copywriter and entrepreneur. She owns and runs www.barkslope.com, an online dog boutique)

Donate to Katrina!

2005-09-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

Reflections on Katrina

So here I sit,
The house is quiet,
My beloved dogs lie at my feet...
I have a full stomach.

My clothes are piled on the antique bed...
My books are piled around my computer,
My dishes are waiting to be washed..
My life is all of a piece, whole and good.

Life for me is sweet and full.
I drink from a full cup.

And yet in the next room
the television shows those awful sights
of pain and loss and total despair..

And I swear to myself that never again
will I go through a day and take this life
for granted.

***all profits from the purchases of any of the SEARCH AND RESCUE CANINE designs on Dogdaze will be donated to the Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Katrina for an indefinite period of time, as noted on the front page of

DogDaze Designs

My Dog Keeps Me Sane!

2005-09-09T20:42:00.000-05:00

Check out the newest dog poem : Staying Sane in an Insane world

MY DOG IS MY FRIEND, HE DOES NOT BOTHER ME WITH DEMANDS...
HE ASKS NOTHING EXCEPT AN OCCASIONAL PAT ON HIS HEAD...
HE IS ALWAYS THERE REGARDLESS OF HOW FICKLE MY HUMAN FRIENDS ARE
HE IS NOT JEALOUS
HE IS NOT DISHONEST
HE IS ALWAYS TRUSTWORTHY
HE WILL USUALLY DO WHAT I TELL HIM
HE DOES NOT NAG ME NOR INTERFERE WITH MY DAILY LIFE....

EVEN IF HE IS NOT TRAINED TO DO OTHER THINGS THERE
ARE CERTAIN THINGS HE FEELS IT HIS DUTY TO DO REGARDLESS.....

HE MAKES CERTAIN MY LIFE IS ORGANIZED;
HE NEVER FORGETS WHAT TIME IT IS
WHEN IT IS DINNER TIME HE LETS ME KNOW
WHEN IT IS POTTY TIME HE WILL ALSO TELL ME (USUALLY)
WHEN THERE ARE STRANGERS AT THE DOOR HE WILL LET ME KNOW TOO!
HE ALSO HAS TO WARN AWAY STRANGE ANIMALS FROM THE YARD
AND BARK AT THE UPS GUY
AND WAG AT THE NEIGHBOR KIDS
AND MAKE SURE THE BONES HE BURIED LAST YEAR ARE STILL IN THEIR PROPER PLACE....
HE BRINGS ME HIS STICK SO I CAN THROW IT FOR HIM..
HE CARRIES HIS LEASH FOR ME WHEN I AM TOO TIRED TO HOLD IT AND EVEN WHEN I AM NOT......
HE CLEANS OFF MY DISHES FOR ME IF I SET THEM DOWN FOR HIM .....
(IF HE COULD HE WOULD PUT THEM IN THE CUPBOARD TOO!)
HE TIDIES UP THE HOUSE FOR ME
AND PUTS THINGS AWAY WHERE HE THINKS THEY SHOULD GO
HE HELPS TO HOLD ME UP WHEN I AM STANDING
BY LEANING ON ME
HE CLEANS MY FACE WHEN IT IS DIRTY
AND OTHER PARTS OF MY BODY TOO!!

MOST OF ALL.....
HE HELPS ME TO STAY SANE IN AN INSANE WORLD.

.....By Kathy Reed Sept 2005

EMERGENCY PLANS FOR YOUR PETS

2005-09-08T09:08:00.000-05:00

As is always the case, for yourself and your pets, it is important to remember to keep an emergency situation as stress free as possible....THIS EXCELLENT ARTICLE reminds you of the importance of planning ahead so as to be prepared for emergency situations or even just for general traveling advice with your pet...

Included here is the example of what to pack in your first aid kit in the vehicle for your pets:

vet wraps, one roll,
ascriptin (coated aspirin), benadryl (for bee stings or bites or allergies), antibiotic ointment,
scissors (for cutting out mats, etc.)
grooming equipment such as a comb or a brush,
two small towels or washcloths,
an ice pack ,
a thermometer (normal temp is 102 degrees, taken rectally)
a muzzle (if a dog is in extreme pain it may bite without warning)
for large dogs, a sling
tweezers

There is more advice in the article. I highly recommend you visit the page!

BASICS OF CLICKER TRAINING

2005-07-25T23:49:00.000-05:00

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST!! a down to earth beginning guide to starting clicker training! And more to come in the weeks ahead! Quoting diretly from the first paragraph:
"the whole key to clicker training is to get the dog to a stage in his training where you can quickly reinforce a behavior that he does in order to tell him that he is "doing something right". The clicker is a substitute for "good dog" and has more meaning because it is very specific to the dog. for example there are dozens of times every day and many situations where you use the words "good dog" (or at least there should be) but when you use a clicker you are working towards the end result of putting the dog into a "learning mode" and in the end he will understand, when you are "clicking" that he has performed a behavior which was correct and he will be rewarded."

Click on the title to read all of this article!

PUPPY CHEWING AND HOW TO STOP IT

2005-07-24T22:39:00.000-05:00

Chewing, and generally destroying stuff is as normal for dogs as tail-wagging and sniffing ... If you have a dog, expect chewing. Provide him with his own toys and teach him to chew them and to play with them or he will destructively chew anything available, such as your furniture, carpet, clothing or shoes. If you leave stuff around that he CAN chew, expect that he will. Puppy proof your house the same as if you had a two year old toddller....

Dont believe the old wives tale that dogs destroy your house because they are angry, jealous or spiteful. They do it because they are dogs. They may be lonely, bored, frustrated or anxious, but they are not spiteful. If something is there for them to chew,, and they are in the mood, they will chew. . Active dogs can become restless when left alone for long periods. If for example you always come home at a certain time and you are late, your dog may become anxious. Your dog does not punish you for being late by chewing. The dogs' chewing just helps to relieve stress and release energy. If you come home and find that your dog has destroyed something, do not punish the dog. Be matter of fact and clean up the mess. He is not going to understand punishement AFTER the fact, no matter what you might think...dogs live in the moment.

Preventing Chewing problems before they start
Until your dog can be trusted not to destroy your home and yard, do not give him free, unsupervised run of your house. Give him a room of his own or a crate...where he can enjoy himself and relax when you are not home or are unable to supervise him. Give him a rawhide chew in the crate. Stuff a kong toy with peanut butter. give him rope toys, stufed toys, safe toys made for dogs. When he tries to pick up something else, remove it from his mouth and offer him one of his toys. some examples of cheap toys that dogs love: empty toilet tissue cardboard rolls or paper towel rolls .....empty boxes (not food boxes such as cereal boxes) .....paper bags........woven rope toys.....It helps to keep all of his toys in his "toy box" (usully a nice big flat sort of basket works very well......)
Teach your dog to play with those toys. play fetch.... praise the dog when you see that is has a toy..hide a toy and have him go find it ..put the toy in the dogs mouth when it is attempting to chew on your clothes or your hands... it works very well to put a toy in the dogs mouth when you first return home, it relieves the "anxiety" of the greeting and gives the dog something to "mouth" rather than you....An added benefit is that this will ALSO stop jumping up on people and overly excited greetings at the door when people (or you) arrive home. I have a dog that deliberately goes and looks for s toy to pick up and carry when people come to the door !

Chewing Deterrents
If you catch your dog in the act of chewing something it should not chew there are things you can try. of course the first thing is to correct verbally. Be loudly disapproving. saying NO forcefully never hurt a thing! If a dog perssts in chewing the leg of your antique table.....(which you CANT pick up and put away!!) then try tabasco sauce, red pepper, or some of the commerical products made for a dog to prevent chewing.

Common Sense and Chewing
By far the simplest way to keep your dog from chewing on forbidden items is to prevent access to them. Put your shoes in the closet and shut the door. Place the trash outside. Keep doors closed; keep valuables out of reach. Praise and reward your dog profusely for chewing her own toys.

BEING A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER: 12 GOLDEN RULES

2005-07-11T23:12:00.000-05:00

Check out these easy to follow and most important 12 rules for responsibledog ownership! Developed by mary Ann Spencer of Thunderpaws Newfoundlands,and suitable for all breeds of dogs (and owners!!)

Using Genetics for breeding better dogs

2005-07-09T23:44:00.000-05:00

"Great & consistent bloodlines have been built on good, consistent dogs bred by knowledgeable breeders. Purebred domestic species are based on concentrating family traits, so like dogs must somehow be bred together. Knowledge is the key here; knowing in depth what you are breeding. Buyers shouldn't reward those who breed casually, indifferently, or for superficial traits. And please don't condemn breeders who have the courage to acknowledge the faults in their dogs & their bloodlines (or who try to elicit information & public discussion of the same). All bloodlines carry along faults, not just the ones where the faults are seen & reported. Again, the situation now is too often one where people breed without knowledge, producing affecters and carriers & just not knowing it, as they don't keep adequate records, do enough homework, etc. Just ask yourself how this can be preferable to accumulating information than can only benefit the breed? Who exactly benefits from all this ignorance? Surely not the dogs, the potential breeding partners left in ignorance, or the potential puppy buyers. For the breeds to benefit from the control of genetic disease we need to do what most Code of Ethics demand: keep up with news in genetics & have an in-depth knowledge of the dogs we are using. This means understanding the basics of inheritance & knowing how to apply them for good results in your breeding practices. This means marking pedigrees with more than color and titles. This means accepting that most diseases we now struggle with have a genetic component & treating such situations conservatively AND rationally. We need to educate ourselves, to stop reacting violently to the notion of genetic disease & start treating it with a more sophisticated and realistic view. We need to not just learn as we go, but read before we breed, & bone up on the basics before we start creating lives."
The above quote is only a small portion of the article.You can read the rest of it be visiting The Royalair german shepherd pages at http://www.royalair.org/purebreed_vs_mixedbreed.html
Learn why and what a good breeder strives for....An excellent and well written in-depth article of the problems breeders face today and why it is important to strive for perfection yet realize also that perfection is very seldom achieved when it come to breeding dogs....(This message was written & prepared by JP Yousha for educational purposes & may be reproduced to further that end. All copyrights remain with the author:)

FINDING AND ENTERING A DOG SHOW

2005-06-28T23:45:00.000-05:00

"Almost all BREED CLUBS hold "Specialty shows" on a regular basis, either fun matches or regular shows sponsored by the AKC or the UKC. A BREED CLUB is a regional or national club which is specific to a certain breed. To find information about your Breed clubs and when they hold their shows, check out, again, the pages at AKC.org or even conduct a general search on the web...You might be surprised to find how many states have Specialty clubs with your breed. Specialty shows are especially enjoyable to the dog fancier since they have ONLY the Specialty breed entered at the Specialty show...." This is only a small portion of an extensive article written by a long time breeder and dog show enthusiast. It describes in great detail how to go about finding dog shows to enter. Not only that, it leads you to a wonderful link to purchase tee shirts and articles of clothing with wonderful images such as the one shown above (especially at this time of year!!)

AVOIDIING HIP DYSPLASIA IN DOGS

2005-06-25T07:06:00.000-05:00

KSU VETS: CANINE HIP PROBLEMS CAN BE AVOIDED

MANHATTAN -- Many pet owners may be setting their dogs up for hip problems by feeding them too much, said James Hoskinson, associate professor at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and board certified radiologist. He said canine hip problems are not uncommon and can often be avoided.

The two most common types of hip problems in dogs are hip dysplasia, which is caused by a combination of genetic and biological factors, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head, which is caused by purely genetic factors.

Hip dysplasia most often occurs in middle to large breed dogs, such as German shepherds, great Danes, St. Bernards and Labrador retrievers. It occurs when the head of the femur and the socket of the hip fail to develop properly, which can lead to degenerative hip disease and symptoms of arthritis. Hip dysplasia can be treated by either managing it medically, such as through prescribing aspirin or other anti-inflammatories, or by performing surgery. The surgery can range from making minor changes in the shape of the femur or by a hip replacement.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head most often occurs in smaller or toy breeds of dogs, such as poodles, Pomeranians and Pekingese. When this occurs, the dogs lose blood supply to the head of the femur, which can lead to degenerative hip disease as well. Treatment often involves having the head of the dog's femur removed. Because of the dog's small size, most often it can still walk normally after surgery.

The severity of the problem may also influence the decision of what treatment to use. A mild case will usually be treated with medication and the more severe cases will usually be treated using surgery.

One of the most important factors in determining whether a dog will develop hip problems later in life has to do with nutritional factors. According to Hoskinson, keeping a dog on the proper diet and minimizing feeding can reduce the risk of developing hip problems.

James Roush, associate professor and section head of small animal surgery at K-State, said that a dog should not be obese, should have a visible waist, and its ribs should be felt but not seen. Owners should watch the caloric intake of their dog and make sure it is receiving the proper percentage of calcium in its diet. He says that most puppy foods contain 0.5 to 1.5 percent calcium, and that this is the ideal amount. Dog foods containing more than 3 percent calcium are more likely to lead to hip dysplasia or other skeletal problems. Roush says that the best way to insure that a dog is receiving the correct nutrition and quantity of food is to consult a veterinarian.........

Roush says that when buying a dog, the most important point to look at to increase your chances of having a dog free of hip problems is the parentage. If both parents are free of hip dysplasia, there is a better chance of their offspring not having hip problems.

If you see your dog limping after exercise; if it has a waddling gait (bunny hop); is having pain when getting up or down; is reluctant to move; or is protecting one side or is lame, contact your veterinarian.

Information provided by K-State Media Relations and Marketing may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected Trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university. CONTACT media@k-state.edu.

10 reasons NOT TO BREED your dog

2005-06-17T23:53:00.000-05:00

A.K.A. "10 reasons to SPAY or NEUTER" is an excellent and informative article for those who jump into breeding without thinking it out first....click on the link in the title to read the full article....Folks who are truly concerned about breeding CORRECTLY will not sell their pups except on a spay or neuter contract. A buyer should question the responisiblities of a breeder who does not involve himself in "breed rescue". Are they williing to take care of the pups they have produced as a lifelong committment?? You can find items with the logo (pictured) on tee shirts, coffee mugs, and the like by visiting Dogdaze Designs (visit http://www.kaylar.com/dogdaze)