K-9 LifeSavers

Happy Responsible Pet Owners Month!

Three cheers for all Responsible Pet Owners! This month celebrates all of us who are responsible pet owners and all who take the care of animals seriously. During the month of February we celebrate our pets with love and kindness, not just for this month but for our whole lives. They love us unconditionally.

During this month you are encouraged to pass on to others the importance of being a responsible pet owner and join in teaching the public how to be responsible for the sake of our pets well-being. So during the month of February, help the world celebrate Responsible Pet Owners Month by support a happy life for all pets by spreading the word on how to be a responsible pet owner.

If you happen to need a party buddy, allow us to introduce Fritz! This gentleman is happy and full of energy, but a perfect example of the need for Responsible Pet Owners Month. He was adopted as a puppy, but returned because his family no longer had time for him. Fritz is house trained, great with kids and would thrive in an active family where he had a running partner. If you're ready to celebrate with Fritz, give us a call, we'll bring the party favors!

Spring has sprung! Many of us take actions to protect ourselves from allergies, prepare our lawns and gardens for the new season, and even take part in a classic Spring cleaning. Despite the fact that many of us love our K-9s more than anything else in this world, helping them transition into spring isn't always on our to do list.  Here are some tips and things to keep in mind to keep your K-9 safe and healthy this spring:

• Shedding: You may have been aware of more hair than usual in your home, as many dogs shed in spring.  Shedding is a natural transition through the seasons, but the dry winter coat can often cause mats and tangle as it falls out.  Gentle, regular brushing will help restore oils to the new coat, stimulate the skin and prevent the dreaded dreads of an unkempt coat. 
  * If your dog has an especially dry coat or abnormal amount of mats, you may want to discuss canine Omega 3 capsules with your vet to help this transitional period along.
• Exercise: Just like many of us, the warmer weather makes dogs a little frisky and they seem anxious to get outside and burn energy. However, just like humans that need to work up to an exercise routine, so do dogs, especially if the winter months created an a bit extra weight for them.  Enjoy walks in the sunshine and games of fetch in the park, but build up gradually.
• Allergies: Just like humans, dogs can suffer from allergies, which can also change from puppy to adulthood. Pollen from the flowering trees, dandelions and tulips, dust, mold and even insects can cause allergic reactions such as itching, coughing, sneezing, flaky skin or an oily-feeling coat.  If you see these systems, discuss with your vet to get a prescription for a canine allergy medicine - NEVER try to medicate your dog with human medicine.
• Plants & Mulch: Spring bulbs often attract curious dogs, but be aware of the plants in your yard.  Many spring bulbs fall into the allium (onion) family and are toxic to dogs. Also be aware of the mulch you are using, "cocoa mulch" is also highly toxic to dogs, but tends to attract their curiosity.  You best bet is to keep your dog out of your flower beds regardless of what's in them, but especially for those with extremely curious dogs, be aware of what you do have in your yard.
• Lawn Chemicals: Many people do a lot of lawn treatments in the spring as well as using herbicides and pesticides to kill insects and weeds.  Ideally this results in a lush lawn that your dog cannot wait to run on and roll around in as it's a refreshing change from the dead thatch of winter. Unfortunately pesticides, herbicides and dogs don't go together.  Be mindful of instructions when you treat your own lawn, of how long to keep your dog from playing in it, and be aware of signs that other people have recently treated their own yard and keep your dog clear.

By thinking ahead, dog owners can head off problems and help their dogs get the most out of getting out and about in spring.

The sun is shining and the weather is warming up outside which means many of us are choosing foods on the lighter side.  Though few K-9s will turn down a treat of any sort, sometimes they might needs something light and refreshing too so turn to these cookies.

Be My Babies

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 oz jar Beef or Chicken baby food
• 1/3 cup wheat germ
• 2/3 cup non-fat dry milk

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 F and lightly grease a cookie sheet.
• Mix all three ingredients together.  If the batter seems to thick, you can add just a bit of water.
• Use a tablespoon to drop cookies onto cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes, until starting to brown.
• Allow to cool before giving to your K-9.
• Store in the fridge in a tightly sealed container.

There's nothing like a joyful greeting from your dog after a long day of work.  Your dog is always excited to greet you at the dog, and sometimes when they jump up to give you a kiss, you feel like your world is right again. However, a jumping dog is not always so cute, and can even be dangerous, especially for children or older people.

In most cases, dogs jump up for two reasons - to show affection or to get attention. This is a fairly natural behavior that you can observe among dogs at play, and one they don't realize is wrong.  To correct your dog's jumping, you don't want to punish him, but rather show set boundaries (punishment will tell him you don't want his love and affection). 

It is of course easiest to set these boundaries during puppyhood, but an older dog can still get the message, it just may be a little harder, if you have been inadvertently encouraging him to jump for years.  

When you dog jumps up, do not pet him, smile, or show any kind of affection as this serve as a reward and encourage him to jump.  Instead, twist your body to the side so that he misses his target, or turn your back on him.  Do not smile or make eye contact while he's attempting to jump on you.  Once all four feet are on the ground, greet him affectionately. 

If this subtle correction doesn't work, redirect your dog by giving him the command "sit" when you're coming through the door, and he's about to greet you. 

The main trick to stopping jumping is consistency, not just on your part, but from everyone in your household - and even guests coming in the door.  Even if you're okay if your dog jumps up in certain situations, your dog doesn't understand "sometimes." It's all or nothing for him.

As your dog is getting the hang of things and greeting you nicely with all four feet on the ground, praise him effusively.  You may also want to call on some friends to help with practice, as some dogs are fairly calm when greeting their owners, but jump on visitors.  Practicing with new people will help to reinforce your desired behavior and allow your dog understand that it's never acceptable to jump.

If you thought you had heard of every strange holiday out there, we have a new one for you - International Pooper Scooper Week, April 1-7.

Though it is April Fool's day, aPaws says dog waste is no joke!  The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (aPaws) founded the holiday in 2002 as a group of pooper scoopers who believe every dog should have its day.  The week is aimed at educating pet owners on the importance of cleaning up after their dogs, the lack of which has created a growing problem pet waste in our communities, environment, and water tables.  They have even established a network of Professional Pooper Scoopers to help you clean up!  For information about aPaws, the Find-A-Scooper Directory, check out www.apaws.org.

Though Piglet will do her best to be neat, this little puppy is full puppy goodness and love.  This little girl has had a tough start, having to be rescued from a fire, but she would love a home filled with smiles & laughter.

American Bulldogs are typically confident, social and active dogs that are known to bond strongly with their owners.  Given their muscular stature, these dogs can appear intimating to some, and in truth they be protective of their homes, but a well socialized dog is generally happy to greet people their owners have endorsed, or in public when they are in "neutral" territory. These dogs actually do very well with children and can make a fantastic companion for a family.

Bulldogs date back to the 11th Century, and over the ages they were used largely on farms working with livestock, as guarding property, but also for gambling and bloody sports such as bull-baiting. Gradually the dogs evolved into being a common pet, and came to America with working class immigrants.  Their start in the States was largely on farms in the South, and the breeding was haphazard at best. The bulldog had divided into a number of strains, and was nearing extinction by the end of WWII when a returning war veteran, John D. Johnson took an interest in resurrecting the breed.

Johnson found the best specimens he could and began recording breeding records and family trees with the goal of producing a large farm guardian-type bulldog.  Over time other breeders joined in the effort and the breed was registered with the National Kennel club in the 1970s as the American Pit Bulldog.  To avoid confusion with the American Pit Bull Terrier, the name was later changed to the American Bulldog and was finally recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1999. 

Though most states have designated some kind of animal as their representative, only a handful have given the honor to a specific dog.

1. Alaska: Alaskan Malamute
2. Louisiana: Catahoula Leopard Dog
   
   
   Daisy
3. Maryland: Chesapeake Bay Retriever
4. Massachusetts: Boston Terrier
   
   
   Tootsie
5. New Hampshire: Chinook
6. North Carolina: Plott Hound
   
   
   Jessa
7. Pennsylvania: Great Dane
8. South Carolina: Boykin Spaniel
9. Texas: Blue Lacy
10. Virginia: American Foxhound
11. Wisconsin: American Water Spaniel

What dog doesn't love the taste of peanut butter? With these treats coming in at only 29 calories and 1.5 grams of fat you can afford to indulge your pooch a little!

Blaze is a great example of why labs are the most popular breed out there.  This little girl is playful, loyal, sweet, loveable and just a joy to have around.  She would love to find a home that would give her peanut butter treats, but right now she'd just settle for a foster home to hang out at for a little bit. If you think Blaze could make a trail to you house, give us a shout!

Chips, a German Shepard Mix, was the most decorated war dog from World War II. During the war citizens including Chip's owner Edward Wren donated their dogs for duty.  In 1942 Chips left his home in New York for training as a sentry dog. His human partner would be Pvt. John P. Rowell and together they traveled to North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany as part of the 3rd Infantry Division. 

In 1943 during the invasion of Sicily, Chips and his handler were pinned down on the beach by an Italian machine-gun team. Chips broke away and attacked the gunners, forcing the Italians to surrender to US troops. In the fight he sustained a scalp wound and powder burns, but later that day he still helped to take 10 more Italians prisoner.

For his actions during the war, Chips was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart; however, these awards were later revoked due to an Army policy preventing official commendation of animals. His unit unofficially awarded him a Theater Ribbon with an Arrowhead for an assault landing, and Battlestars for each of his eight campaigns. Chips was discharged in December 1945 and returned to the Wren family.

In 1990, Disney made a TV movie based on his life, entitled Chips, the War Dog, which some of us might have watched repeatedly as kids!

If you've been following along with our trick series we thought we'd take a different turn this week, and share a tip and a video from our friends over at LoveYourDog.com to teach you how to play dead.

1. Have your dog lay down on his stomach.
2. Gently roll him on his side and say "play dead" or "take a nap"
3. While he's lying on his side, keeping his down on the floor, repeat the cue "play dead" or "take a nap."
4. Encourage him to stay still on the floor for a few seconds, then say "ok" or "Wake up!"
5. Let him stand up and reward immediately.

Want to see it live? Watch their video here!

Sound fun, but need someone to practice with? Meet Foxie.