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| Do dogs go to Heaven? | | May 30,2007 |  | | | | Do Dogs go to Heaven?
Losing a beloved pet is an unfortunate part of life. When our animals pass away it seems so soon, so unfair and why can’t they live longer? For many people, myself included, our pets are part of our family. I can’t imagine a house without my pets. When you lose a pet, that emptiness surrounds you and even though you are sure you will never want another one, when you least expect it sometimes, another pet finds you, and you start all over again.
It’s never easy losing a pet. Facing the thought of euthanasia is daunting to most people. The guilt of playing executioner looms over us. Yet, it is humane and kind and ends suffering. I recently had the honor; yes, it was an honor, to help a friend who just could not take her dog on that last trip to the vet. I took him and stayed with him until the end. He was held gently and loved. He was kissed and spoken to softly, and told how much his family and I loved him. He passed quietly and peacefully. I know the pain of losing pets, and I know how hard it is to make that final trip. It was an act of love for him and for my friend. I gave her a card with “The Rainbow Bridge” poem on it. Rainbow Bridge is a place pets go to wait for their owners when they pass away. When the owner passes away, they are reunited with their beloved pets so long from our memory but never long from our hearts and they cross the bridge together into Heaven.
Do pets go to Heaven? There is no definitive answer in the Bible to say for sure, that is really up to us to decide. This is what I choose to believe:
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years.
He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white, stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like Mother of Pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.
He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"
"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.
"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I´ll have some ice water brought right up."
The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.
"I´m sorry sir, but we don´t accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road, which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.
There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. "Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there´s a pump over there." The man pointed to a place that couldn´t be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in."
"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.
"There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, and then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.
"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked. "This is Heaven," was the answer.
"Well, that´s confusing,” the traveler said, "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too!"
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That´s Hell."
"Well, doesn´t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?” the traveler asked.
"No. I can see how you might think so, but we´re just happy that they screen out the folks who´ll leave their best friends behind."
Author Unknown
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| | Dog Walking 101 | | May 30,2007 |  | | | | Dog Walking 101
While taking my son to 4H dog obedience this year which is his second year in it, I was quietly observing the kids in the class and noticing some things about how they handled their dogs. At the end of the class a little girl was struggling with her large chow mix dog that was dragging her all over the place. Her mother told me how softly she speaks and she doesn’t want to hurt the dog, yet I couldn’t help myself and just had to jump in and show her a few tricks to help make her a better handler.
I began by placing the dog’s choke collar very high on his neck directly under his jaw so she would have more control and the dog wouldn’t choke himself literally by pulling so hard on the chain across his trachea. Next I didn’t say a word to the dog; I did all my speaking through the leash. We walked around the ring, the instructor gave commands and I simply followed along not having any problem whatsoever with this dog. When I halted, he sat as he was supposed to do. He didn’t whine and whimper and carry on with me like he did with her. He didn’t drag me. I gave a little tug on the leash to encourage him to sit, stay, heel or down and he listened immediately.
The little girl’s mother was in awe. Then I gave the little girl the lead and showed her where to put her hands. As she was walking along, I saw her hands riding up higher next to her waist. I told her to relax her arm and only give him a tug to correct him if he pulls ahead, otherwise relax. She did as I told her and she was surprised to get the very same results that I did with her dog. Her dog quit making noise as well. This was a two minute lesson! The trick I told her was do not talk to the dog with your voice, but only through the leash. When she saw how he responded she instantly gained confidence and I gave her some other hints that I swear by such as you go in and out of doors first, the dog must sit and stay until you say “ok” and then he is to come out. That little bit of body language puts you in the leadership role in your dog’s eyes. Her dog wasn’t a disobedient dog; he just did not view the little girl as a leader so he didn’t respect her. After she gained a bit more confidence, her attitude changed, and so did her dogs! She thanked me as if a miracle happened before her eyes.
It was really nothing more than being assertive and demanding respect. Learning how to properly walk any dog will change their attitude and behavior at home immensely! I have groomed some really large and obnoxious dogs that outweigh me and can definitely out muscle me and ended up soaking in a hot tub that night and waking up very sore the next day. Recently I decided that the next time I have an unruly dog that we would be teaching walking 101 for dogs before I groom them to save my aging body. Well I had the pleasure of doing some training for some really big dogs lately and it was a huge success! Within five minutes of walking the dog decided, “Oh, so you are the leader I get it now”. When we got back from our walk the dog calmly walked into my shop, I was leading of course, and the groom went off without any fight at all. Suddenly the dog respected me and realized that I was the leader and they couldn’t lead me and they became so cooperative! I wish I had time to do that with all the dogs that I groom! I may institute this new rule with new clients or old clients with unruly dogs. It sure made my life easier and of course when the owner came to pick up their dog they got a mini lesson in dog walking 101 so they could get the same results. You may have heard Cesar Millan, “The Dog Whisperer” refer to learning the walk on his show. I can honestly say that the walk is the foundation of everything you teach your dog. Walking your dog is leadership and once your dog understands that you are the leader, the rest is easy. So now that the weather is nicer, get your dog out of the house and take him for a nice long walk, with him by your side and not ahead of you. Lock those flexi-leads into a fixed position so they can’t keep pulling on them. Make sure your dogs collar is up high on his neck just under his jaw and take off with your head held high, chest out, looking ahead, don’t watch the dog, just look ahead and your four-legged companion will soon turn into the best walking buddy you have ever had!
P.S. Don’t forget the baggies to clean up after him just in case . . . be a good neighbor and a good walker!
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| | SHELTIE GROOMING | | May 04,2007 |  | | | | SHELTIE GROOMING
Let’s face it . . . when you’re dealing with Shelties, you’re dealing with grooming! While caring for your Sheltie’s coat does take some time and effort, grooming offers benefits beyond the obvious look-better-smell-better-etc. Grooming allows you to examine and evaluate every square inch of your dog. Does he/she have eye, ear or nose discharge? Does the coat shine or do the hairs break off? Is the skin flaky or oily? How does the rear end look? Any problems? Any abrasions, swelling, lumps or other situations of concern?
Grooming is also an excellent opportunity to continue the bonding process with your dog. Since it is a “hands-on” process, it allows direct contact between you and your Sheltie and can be a pleasant experience for both.
Paws Cause staff recently met with Sandy Blackburn, owner/operator of The Groom Room Pet Grooming and Photography studio in Attica, Indiana for some tips on basic grooming of Shelties. Following are excerpts from the interview.
PC: Tell us about basic shampooing/cleaning of Shelties.
SB: Always shampoo two times. The first time gets rid of the dirt and the second cleaning gets rid of the oil. Rinse, rinse, rinse! Use warm water to get all the soap out and then condition the coat. My conditioner of choice is Pantene, but any good conditioner will do. You may want to dilute the shampoo for ease of distribution over the coat, and using a slicker brush to work the lather in can also help lift out loose undercoat.
PC: What kind of shampoo should be used?
SB: Any shampoo – whether canine or human – can be used, but be attentive to special skin and coat issues, and get the appropriate shampoo. Use tearless baby shampoo on the face and rinse thoroughly.
PC: What next?
SB: Be sure the coat is completely dried – blow drying is best. If an undercoat is not present, this is not as critical, but since most Collies and Shelties have a LOT of undercoat, it is imperative that the coat be dried. Otherwise, the undercoat “shrinks” and mats to the skin. Then you’ve really got a job ahead of you!
PC: After our Sheltie is dry, how do we brush them out?
SB: The best way to begin the comb- and brush-out is to use a wide-toothed comb and “line brush” the coat. Hold the upper layers of coat up, like you are backcombing it. Then, starting at the part, low on the dog’s side, comb from the part, or skin, to the end of the fur. You will be able to use progressively narrower-toothed combs until the comb will go from the skin to the end of the fur without snags. Let some of the upper fur down and start again. Do this in one-inch sections over the complete body until every inch of coat is free of mats and snags. Be willing to invest in good grooming tools and find out what works with your dog’s coat. If you have questions, a groomer should be able to steer you the right direction. Be cautious using matbreakers and slicker brushes, as overuse of these can cause “brush burn,” where too much of the coat is pulled out. If you are having trouble with a mat, and scissors are too risky, try using one of those plastic envelope openers. You can zip it through the mat to split it and make comb-out easier.
PC: How about special areas, like the ears and rear end?
SB: Spray or syringe warm water into the ears. It won’t hurt them – they will shake it out. Wrap a clean paper towel around your finger and dig down into the ear to dry it and pull out any “junk.” You won’t damage the eardrum, believe me! If there is dark matter or any discharge coming out on the towel, you need to see a veterinarian to see what the material is. If the dog acts like there is still water in his ears, you can put alcohol in the ear to help dry it out. But don’t do this if there is any abrasion or infection because it will hurt.
Around the rectum, trim the fur with scissors, and extend the trim down between the legs to make a “potty path.” On male dogs, shave an area up the tummy a few inches. It will never show and can greatly enhance the cleanliness of the dog and your furniture. If you like the appearance of “britches,” then trim very lightly, or trim shorter for hygiene, temperature, or personal preference. Be sure to trim the hair between the pads of the feet with scissors, and the back of the paw pad. If the hair between the pads is matted, clean and dry the feet and then use a clipper – not scissors – to remove the hair. A man’s beard trimmer works well. Use thinning shears behind the ears. If mats are already present, see if you can slide a comb under the mat to cut it out. If not, SHAVE IT! The hair will grow back! Be sure to pay special attention to the ruff – it is very thick and mats easily. Comb out the arm pits or shave them, as desired. And don’t forget to trim the nails!
PC: Wow – that sounds like a lot to do!
SB: Well, Shelties’ coats don’t just automatically look full and gorgeous – they take work. Obviously, the more conscientious you are about bathing and grooming, the easier it will be for both of you and the nicer your Sheltie will look and smell. If you are hesitant to do your own grooming, you can take your dog to a professional on a regular basis. But it isn’t difficult – it just takes time and a little effort.
If you have any specific grooming questions, please submit them to the Paws Cause editor or Ask Edison. And enjoy your beautiful, fluffy, well-groomed Shelties!
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| | It’s SPRINGTIME! | | May 04,2007 |  | | | |
Yes it’s that wonderful time of year, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, everything is green and beautiful and we have our lovely spring rains. Our dogs are eager to play outside and go after all the new little bunnies, squirrels, and other creatures and some dogs love to DIG in the ground for them!
Well this means only ONE thing; you open your door to a dirty, wet, smelly dog! Most people can manage to wipe off Fido’s paws as he comes in the door or towel him off after his romp in the wet grass. In extreme cases Fido may need a bath, no problem, pop him into the tub and scrub him down. Unfortunately if Fido has a longer coat you may then discover something you hadn’t notice before this bath; matted hair.
You dig out your grooming tools, find the dog brush and brush away but you notice that those matts are not coming out or you have managed to brush the entire top coat OVER the matts so they are now less noticeable. Hmmm, better call the groomer you say to yourself. You dial your groomer and you get her answering machine, so you leave her a message. She calls you back but you aren’t home so she leaves you a message to call her back. This scenario goes on for a few days. Meanwhile, Fido continues to go outside and play in the mud and comes back inside and after toweling him off you notice something else. Tiny little ticks embedded in Fido’s skin! Uh oh! Well what did you expect? It IS mushroom season in Indiana now.
You head for your vet and pick up some Frontline Plus for fleas and ticks, you figured it was so cold out last week you wouldn’t need it before now. Au contraire! Haven’t you learned yet that there is one thing you can count on in Indiana that is the weather changing all year long, balmy and sunny one day, rainy and cold the next, snowing the next day, 74 degrees the next. When you do your laundry you discover shorts and tanks, sweaters, coveralls, mittens, hats and bathing suits.
Your groomer finally manages to reach you but she’s booked up for the next month! Wow! You didn’t have that much trouble getting an appointment in the winter, why is she so busy now? Why? She is busy because it is spring and all the dogs are shedding their winter coats, getting filthy and hot! You asked to be put on her cancellation list just in case she gets some time to squeeze you in. So you apply your Frontline Plus to Fido and a week later the phone rings and it’s your groomer calling to tell you that she had a cancellation for TODAY and she can get you in. Whew! What a relief, Fido’s odor was really beginning to get to you and all that hair to wipe off day after day was wearing you out washing all those towels. You look outside and it’s raining. If you get Fido all cleaned up today he’ll just go outside and mess himself all up again. You briefly consider not taking that open appointment, but then look at poor Fido and his long matted hair and decide that it’s the best thing for him, besides can you stand him another 3 weeks?
Fido gets groomed, looks great, smells great, and now thanks to you getting Frontline Plus he has no more ticks. The moral of this story is, we live in Indiana. If there is anything consistent about Indiana it’s the weathers inconsistency. So what’s a person to do? My advice is this: stay on a schedule all year round for grooming appointments, flea and tick control, (yes even in the winter!) and heartworm medication then you won’t be caught off guard by the sudden emergence of long matted hair, fleas and ticks, and groomers who are too busy to squeeze you in. If you pretend it’s spring all year round you’ll always have a clean, parasite-free pet, and it’s really time to put your New Year’s resolution into effect about getting organized. Get out your calendar now, make your appointments, stock up on your pets’ flea and tick control, and take Fido for a walk in the woods and start looking for mushrooms!
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| | Time to inspect your dog. | | May 04,2007 |  | | | | Time to inspect your dog.
Ideally, you should be doing this monthly or more often.
Eyes...Some dogs have tear stains. The first thing you MUST do is figure out why the dogs eyes are tearing. Is there a lot of hair around the eyes? If so, it could be hair irritating the eye and causing it to tear. A little trim around the eye area is usually all that is needed. Sometimes dogs have eyelashes that are on the inside of the eyelids. These must be removed by a vet. It’s a common occurrence in many breeds especially breeds with wrinkles such as shar-peis and bulldogs. If there are no eyelashes rubbing the eye there are products to bleach out the tear stains, but it has to be done several times a day. I’ve recently discovered a product that you sprinkle on your pets food that works wonders on tear stains called “Angels Eyes” and it’s available online or at my shop.
Ears... Are the ears clean? Is there an odor or discharge? Does it look like coffee grounds? Is the ear puffy, itchy, raw? Ear infections are fairly common in dogs but when I see a dog that has had ear infections that are routinely treated but keep occurring the first thing I suspect is a food allergy. When I adopted my dog Jasmine, she had black discharge in her ears and itchy skin. I immediately switched her food to one with no wheat, no corn and cleaned her ears...I’ve never had a problem since. Ear mites usually cause a black coffee ground like discharge. Your vet can treat ear mites. Your vet or groomer can show you how to properly clean out your pets ears.
Mouth... If your dog has bad breath, red gums or tartar, all the teeth cleaning snacks in the world won’t fix it. He needs to see the vet and see if he has a gum infection, gingivitis or a bad tooth. This area is easily overlooked on pets. Many times the dogs teeth look fine, but look deeper. Lift up the lips and pull back and look at the molars, are the gums red? Is there tartar on the teeth? Sometimes a dog could have a bad tooth and it needs to see a vet for a dental cleaning and possibly a tooth extraction. Bad teeth or infections can cause excess drooling, difficulty eating that can be perceived as being “picky”. Check those teeth!
Nails. If you have hard floors in your house and you can hear your dogs nails tapping as he walks that’s a good indication of needing a nail trim. Some dogs wear their nails down naturally when they walk on concrete or dig outside but most dogs don’t and they need a “pawdicure” from time to time. Don’t forget the dew -claws, those are the “thumbs” on a dog and some dogs have dew- claws on the rear legs as well. If you have a hairy breed be sure to feel around and if your dog has dew claws those need clipped more often than the regular nails because they don’t touch the ground and never get wore down. Some dew claws can be a problem to some dogs due to having long hair and being hidden they are often missed when clipping nails and sometimes get snagged by clippers when being groomed. Ask your vet to remove any dew-claws that are a problem. I’ve seen dogs jump around in crates and break the dew-claws, it’s painful and easily re-injured by excitable dogs. It’s best to have them removed and eliminate the problem.
Belly...Who doesn’t rub their dogs belly? If you feel any lumps be sure and mention them to your vet as soon as possible. Hernia’s usually occur where the spay surgery stitches were and sometimes in the groin or the navel on puppies. Dogs get breast cancer too! Spaying before a dogs first heat cycle generally prevents it.
Rear...Yes I know, nobody likes to think about this area but it’s important. Lift up your dogs tail, there shouldn’t be anything stuck to the hair back there. If there is, gently clean it off or cut the hair around the rectum. I’ve seen dogs get “diaper rash” from having feces that has been stuck to the dog for days! Keep the area under your dogs tail CLEAN! Now that you have the tail up, do you notice anything that resembles grains of rice stuck in the hair? That could be tapeworm. Tapeworm is caused by fleas. Fleas are ingested and the tapeworm eggs grow inside your dog and parts of it come out the rectum. Groomers find tapeworms often in dogs. Once again a visit to your vet will take care of tapeworms, fleas or other parasites that are living on or in your dog.
Does your dog scoot on its’ rear? Lick under its’ tail? That could be an anal sac problem. Small dogs seem to have anal sac issues regularly. Your vet and some groomers will express the anal sacs for you and that should take care of the problem for a while. Many times a high fiber diet helps to prevent this problem.
Hair...Feel hair for matts. Matted hair pulls on the skin and hurts! If you can’t comb out the matts or remove them yourself, call your groomer or vet and make an appointment. Matted hair doesn’t dry well and traps bacteria under the hair and air can’t get to it. Hot spots, sores and ...gulp...even maggots have been found on matted dogs. Comb your dog out regularly to prevent matts. Your groomer will happily show you how to do it and what tools work best on your dog.
Grooming your dog keeps down shedding hair, keeps the skin and coat in good shape and makes for a cleaner, happier more pet-able pet!
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| | Apathy | | May 04,2007 |  | | | | There is a horrible type of abuse happening to pets everywhere. It is called "Apathy". Apathy is defined as
Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference.
Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness
This abuse takes form in many ways, oh not by starving a pet, or by beating it. This causes a much more subtle, slower and more painful death. Not many people see the pets who are victim to this abuse. Usually it´s a neighbor who also abuses the pet by not reporting it. They don´t want to get involved or cause a neighbor dispute.
Maybe you see those pets that are victims? Dogs tied outside on chains. No shelter. Maybe it´s just the "outside" dog that never gets petted but get food thrown at it daily. No it´s not starving for food. It is starving for affection though.
Maybe it´s that neighborhood cat that keeps hanging around having kittens. Nobody ever claims the cat as theirs..but they feed it just the same. They won´t spend any money on the cat or dog because ...it´s just a cat or it´s just a dog. Instead of spaying or neutering this stray or calling animal control to come take care of it, they continue letting it hang around, producing more cats and puppies that nobody wants and who will become feral (wild), or will suffer with flea infestation, worms, starvation or a host of any other ills, and grow up to produce even more of the same.
Perhaps it’s the dog who is full of matts and has owners who don´t know what a brush is. Did you know that matts get wet in winter and actually can cause hypothermia? Would you like to wear a wet blanket that never dries outside with the windchill below zero?
Dogs and cats that are neglected never get petted all over or get a bath. Tumors go unnoticed until it´s too late. Teeth rot in the pets mouth, but it still eats...it must to survive. Pets ears get infected or have mites, they shake their heads over and over and over, but nobody does anything, then the blood pools in the ear flaps and becomes a hematoma, thick blood-filled flesh. Then again...it´s JUST a dog.
Arthritis affects dogs just like people. How many arthritic people do you know of that live outside all the time in the winter but don´t take any pain killers? It´s JUST a dog . It doesn´t feel pain like people right? Wrong. Pets are stoic about pain. It´s survival of the fittest. If an animal shows the pain it´s in, other animals will think it´s weak and it might get eaten. At least that’s what your pet thinks. Believe me, pets feel pain. They feel physical pain as well as emotional pain.
Ever notice that the ignored dog still wags it´s tail when it sees you? Always holding out hope that you may give it some crumbs of affection. What if it were a child? Wouldn´t people be put in jail for ignoring their children and denying them medical attention?
Groomers and Vets see the victims of apathy daily. They belong to the owners who wait to have them groomed until winter and by then the pets are so horribly matted that the matts can´t be removed without shaving off all the hair, and then being left to freeze outside. Maybe they belong to owners who waits until the tumor is as big as their hand and bleeding before they bother taking it to the vet, who by then can´t do anything to help it.
Maybe it´s the owner of the old, sick and dying pet that isn´t humanely euthanized but instead they just wait for it to die on it´s own, so it suffers, a long, painful death.
Maybe it´s because they can´t "afford" to take it to the vet. Yet they somehow manage to eat out, buy "necessities" like beer and cigarettes and maybe some cool stuff from Walmart. They won´t give the pet up for adoption to someone else who would care for it better after all it is THEIR dog. They OWN it.
I so wish that apathetic people could just change places for ONE day with their pets. One day with food and water in a filthy dish, frozen water, no shelter. Maybe a chain around their neck too tight. How about all wounds would be left to fester, and a good case of fleas and ticks. How would you feel if you didn´t wash your hair for over a year or brush it. Think it would look good? How many sores would your scalp have on it? Then you´d have to live outside and get wet in the rain, wearing that matted mop. Don´t forget the fleas! Is your head itching yet?
Before you take home that puppy or kitten. Ask yourself if you can "afford" to take care of it for it´s lifetime. Ask yourself if you have time to dedicate DAILY to this pets upkeep and emotional well being. You are for all intents and purposes this pets "parent" and as a parent you have responsibilities to care for your pet. It doesn´t take money to play with your pet and brush it. While you are doing that if you run upon some medical issues, NOW is the time to take care of those things, don´t let them fester, grow and eventually kill your pet while you sit back waiting for it to go away and pretending it doesn´t exist. Would you avoid taking yourself or your child to the Dr. if you found huge festering sores and unexplainable lumps?
Apathy? No folks, it´s reality. I see it everyday. I see it with people who are well off financially and have prestigious jobs. It isn´t just happening to those who can´t afford to properly take care of their pet. Apathy crosses all financial, racial and ethnic barriers. Stop letting this abuse continue. I sincerely hope this wakes up some people and they can see how abusive they truly are to their pets. I hope that reading this makes you a better pet parent, and you start to think, really THINK about your pet and how you could improve your ways. Your pet will love you for it.
Sandy Blackburn
Your Pet Care Professional at
The Groom Room
Attica, IN 47918
(765) 764-4330
http://home.insightbb.com/~thegroomroom
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| | The Academy Award goes to . . . | | May 04,2007 |  | | | | The Academy Award goes to . . .
I have to say that most dogs that come into my shop are born actors. In fact I could mention several that would probably win an academy award for their performance. The owners are holding little "Foo Foo" in their arms and as they walk into the shop little Foo Foo turns into a quivering, cowering mass of jelly that doesn´t want Mommy or Daddy to leave them.
This dramatic performance naturally makes Mommy or Daddy very upset because their baby never does that at home. In fact the poor owner feels so bad, they second guess themselves at whether little Foo Foo REALLY needs to be groomed at all! "Oh, Foo Foo, my poor baby! Why just look at you shake! Are you cold? Are you scared? No baby, Mommy has to leave now . . . sniff."
Meanwhile the groomer stands there, waiting for little Foo Foo to come to her outstretched arms, and the dog clings to Mommy like Saran Wrap, clutching her shoulder with tiny little sharp claws that are digging into Mommy´s skin.
"Oh . . . could you make sure you trim his nails? ....Foo Foo! It´s ok baby! ...really . . . Mommy loves you!" So the groomer pries the little dog away from Mommy . . . and Mommy goes out the door feeling really guilty and listening to the pitiful whines, as she heads for her car.
Once Mommy is out of earshot . . . Foo Foo suddenly perks up! No quivering, no shaking, and his tail is going a mile a minute! Now THAT is worthy of an academy award! Why do dogs do this? Is it to give the groomer a complex? To make their owners nuts? No, actually the answer is dogs are just like kids. Remember when you first left your child at a sitter or daycare? Remember the tears, (yours too) and the guilt. Your kids learned at an early age how to pull those heart strings and your dog is no different.
People who have never had children or empty nesters are the ones who fall for this act the worst. They either never had to deal with kids or don´t remember the manipulation they had from their own children when they were young. In fact I know many people who treat their dog BETTER than they treated their own kids! They would NEVER have let their kids do some of the stuff their little Foo Foo is allowed to do! This may be why many adult children of empty nesters don´t necessarily "like" their new furry little brother or sister.
Now I´m not complaining about folks who treat their dog like a kid. Heck I do it too, at times. I would rather see a dog spoiled than neglected for sure! But I just want to reassure the anxious Mom or Dad that Groomers and Vets do not abuse little Foo Foo after you leave. If parents stay and watch, then the dogs’ act continues and makes it nearly impossible to groom them. That is why many Groomers request that the owner leave the dog and come back later. Just like leaving a child at daycare, the crying stops after parents leave and they generally have a good day.
I wish I was being videotaped so mom or dad could actually see the transformation of Foo Foo´s act from scared and whiney, to happy, wagging tail and cooperative. Don´t get me wrong, some dogs don´t care to be groomed at all. How many people have to spell B- A -T- H? How many dogs run and hide when they see you head for the sink with a towel in hand? My own dogs do that! Then I remind them that when it comes to necessary things such as baths, visits to the groomer or vet or any other less than pleasant procedure that our house is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship! The time comes when some things just need to be done. Dealing with reluctant dogs is no different than dealing with reluctant kids. How many 8-year-old boys like to take a bath? They don’t want to go in . . . then they won´t come out! What if we said to our kids "ok honey, I can see you don’t want a bath, it’s ok . . . I won’t make you take one" Never mind it’s been weeks . . . and the stench is overwhelming to all. No, somehow when we deal with kids we put the foot down and just make it happen. Well the furry little 4-legged kid is the same. You just have to be tough and say, "This isn’t Burger King, you can’t have it your way!"
By the same token, I do have a few dogs that come RUNNING into my shop to greet me and joyfully jump into the shower or onto my table wagging their tails and do it right in front of their owners! I wish they all would love being groomed as much! Believe me it surprises me as much as it does their owners! Maybe if I had the time to play with them, feed them, walk them and snuggle with them on my lap as much as their owners I would get a better greeting but alas . . . I have to get to work so they can go home soon and show off their new look! So I’ll try not to take it personally when a dog sees me and turns the other direction looking for a way out, We all only want what’s best for your dog. Luckily, dogs are so forgiving. I’m sure they’ll forgive the owners for bringing them to us and paying us to groom them!
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| | “But we want a puppy so our kids can grow up with it”. | | May 04,2007 |  | | | | “But we want a puppy so our kids can grow up with it”.
There is NOTHING in the world as wonderful as a puppy...I think puppy breath should be bottled and sold! Puppies are cute and cuddly and fun! But the reality is this: Most dogs are taken to pounds or shelters when the dog is between 8 months and 2 years old. That is the age of what I call the "terrible twos" of dog years when all dogs will assert their dominance in the pack, which is now your family, and if you don’t know how to speak "dog" you will find yourself at your wits end trying to endure the accidents, chewing, jumping, destroyed personal articles and general "bratty" behavior. Most people can’t deal with that, and sadly many dogs are given up and subsequently euthanized due to lack of room at the shelters. I choose not to have a puppy because I know I do not have the time to put into training it with my family, business and lifestyle. I prefer dogs that are adult in age, past the chewing stage, and a bit more mellow and easy to train.
I am a huge supporter of rescues. Here is a fact I’ll bet not many of you know. On http://www.petfinder.com/www.petfinder.com at any given time there are more than 110,000 dogs and more than 91,000 cats in the United States alone looking for homes. There are pets of all breeds, sizes and ages. There are also rescues organizations for everything from horses, llamas, and farm animals to rabbits, guinea pigs, pocket pets, and assorted reptiles. We live in a throw away society but what people fail to realize is that these animals are dependant on humans for survival. You can’t just toss out a cat and figure, "well it can catch mice and live" or "somebody will find him and take him in" when you are tired of dealing with your rambunctious Labrador and you take him for a "ride" out in the country. The vast number of animals abandoned die by automobiles or suffer a lingering death from starvation.
Honestly I was shocked to find out there are so many rescue organizations out there! There are several in Indiana and only a few are listed on www.petfinder.com. Pick a breed and look it up. There are hundreds of rescues out there that are currently fostering dogs and cats and other animals waiting for a forever home. When I heard about rescues, I assumed it was the humane society or local dog pound. I was very wrong. There are breed rescues that many of the pounds will call whenever they see a breed that they specialize in. For instance there is Sheltie Rescue of Greater Lafayette who specializes in the rescue and adoption of Shetland Sheepdogs, or Shelties as they are commonly called. This is the breed they work with almost exclusively because they know all about them and can match up potential adoptive families to the dog. Another wonderful thing about rescues is they can tell you all the quirks about a particular dog, whether or not it gets along with other animals or children and they have all the veterinary work taken care of before you adopt, spaying or neutering is already done and vaccines, heart worm test and medication and any dental or medical issues the pet may have will be addressed. Your adoption fee may be higher than the city dog pound or shelter but there are advantages to adopting this way. You can focus on a particular breed and you get a pet with the assurance of no unwanted pregnancy, and they have usually been fostered for a period of time and they know what behavioral issues if any, the pet has.
The other thing people fail to consider when they see that cute little puppy is what breed it is and what it was originally bred to do. If you don’t want holes dug in your backyard, do not get a terrier. They were bred to hunt for vermin underground. I had one client tell me that they purposely cut their dogs nails back to the quick so they bled and hurt so the dog would not dig up the yard. It was a Rat Terrier. They are bred to dig up rats. Was that fair to the dog? Not all dogs are perfect for all families. I have guinea pigs for pets. therefore I can’t have a terrier, that’s vermin to them and they focus intently on them. You can’t get their attention away from the cage and if given the opportunity they will kill them. If you are wanting a very obedient dog, you still have to remember that hounds will either follow their nose, or they could be a "sight hound" such as a Greyhound and if they see a squirrel or rabbit . . . all obedience training is out the window. You can’t fight nature. You have to be prepared for it.
Ask yourself a few questions before you look for your perfect dog. How large of a dog can I afford to feed, vet, exercise, groom or have groomed. Do I have time to care for a puppy? Would an older dog that has already been housetrained work out better? Do you have kids? What ages? Itty bitty dogs and itty bitty kids are not a good combination. Face it kids are rough on dogs, unintentionally of course but they are. And small dogs can be injured or killed by accidentally hugging the dog too hard. Some big dogs knock over little kids, again unintentionally. Good training helps solve that. I do what Cesar Millan "The Dog Whisperer" does. I go to peoples home, observe what is going on and show people how to be the leader of the pack and stop problem behaviors. Once you understand how to communicate with your dog, you will have the dog of your dreams! But first, you have to understand Dog Speak.
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| | I have a female Schnauzer and my new neighbor has a male Schnauzer, should we have a wedding? | | May 04,2007 |  | | | | I have a female Schnauzer and my new neighbor has a male Schnauzer, should we have a wedding?
Let me give you a few reasons why you should NOT.
Every spring, cats and dogs that have not been spayed or neutered give birth to countless puppies and kittens - overwhelming shelters all over the country with unwanted litters. As a result, there are always far more dogs and cats than there are homes. Each year in this country, more than 5,000,000 unwanted animals are euthanized. The only way to stop the needless deaths of 5,000,000 animals a year is to stop overpopulation. The only way to stop pet overpopulation is through spay/neuter.
On the North Shore Animal Leagues website, http://www.nsalamerica.org/feature/prevent-litter/
there is a chart that shows how many animals would be born if none of the offspring were ever “fixed.”
1 year: more than 12
2 years: more than 66
3 years: more than 375
4 years: more than 2,000
5 years: more than 11,000
6 years: more than 66,000
7 years: more than 370,000
8 years: more than 2,000,000
The numbers are staggering!
Cats can start mating as early as six months.
Even indoor-only house cats often find ways to get outdoors when the sexual urge hits them. Whether they disappear for good (due to panic, accidents, or enemies) or they return home, kittens are the result.
An unaltered male cat can father hundreds of kittens a year.
Statistically speaking, even if a person finds good homes for a litter of kittens, some of the kittens will grow up and produce litters of kittens.
Spaying a female before her first heat protects her from risks of uterine, ovarian, and mammary cancers.
Spaying also protects her from the stresses of pregnancy.
Spaying reduces her frantic interest in the outdoors and reduces the chances that she´ll wander far.
Spaying reduces the chances she´ll mark your home with urine when she´s in heat.
Unaltered cats have urges that make them irritable and anxious. They yowl or whine frequently, fight with other cats, and/or destroy objects in the house.
Neutering a male reduces his risk from numerous health problems.
Neutering lowers his urge to roam and to fight, and thus lowers chances of disease transmission and wounds.
Neutering also reduces his tendency to spray in the home.
And neutering eliminates the powerful odor of adult male cat urine.
It costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $2 billion each year to round up, house, kill, and dispose of homeless animals.
(From http://www.ddaf.org/spayday/why/overpopulation)
A spayed or neutered animal will live a longer, healthier life with decreased risk of developing ovarian, uterine or breast cancer (females) and prostate cancer or testicular tumors (males).
A spayed or neutered animal is better behaved and less aggressive.
Spaying and neutering will reduce the desire to roam, fight, and "mark" territory.
Neutering will make males more reliable and easier to train.
If you watch Animal Planet and have ever seen an episode of “Animal Cops” you’ve probably seen episodes that show people who are “collectors” This is a mental illness similar to people who hoard “things” only these are living things and they reproduce two to four times per year. They become overwhelmed and animal welfare organizations end up removing hundreds of cats and dogs in ONE household! It all starts with one male and one female. Many people with good intentions take in animals to feed yet they don’t consider spaying or neutering and they quickly become overwhelmed at the number of animals that are produced.
“But I can’t afford to have my pet neutered.” The truth is, you can’t afford NOT to get your pet neutered.
There are low cost spay/ neuter organizations in Indiana.
1. North Central Indiana Spay and Neuter Clinic in Battleground
$40 for cats, $75 female dogs, $50 male dogs.
North Centrals phone number is 765-497-3141 for appointments to spay/neuter.
Web: www.pleasespay.org
! FACE Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic
1505 E. Massachusetts Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46201
317-638-3223
Web: www.facespayneuter.org
Low cost spay/neuter, vaccinations, testing, and heartworm and flea medications. FACE stands for Foundation Against Companion Animal Euthanasia. Services for ferals and pets.
! Spay/Neuter Services of Indiana
Indianapolis and surrounding areas 317-788-6330
Web: www.spayneuterservices.org
! The Neuter Scooter
1-866-662-5838
A clinic in a van visits various locations in Indiana and Ohio and performs low cost spay/neuter for cats.
Web: www.neuterscooter.com
! SPAY/USA, a national program whose mission is to end the suffering of innocent dogs and cats by reducing the number of unwanted births, is announcing its partnership with Pets ALIVE Spay/Neuter Clinic. Pets ALIVE began partnering with SPAY/USA in December 2006 to create Indiana Spay Neuter Alliance.
Indiana Spay Neuter Alliance is a one stop referral service for low cost spay and neuter services throughout Indiana. Toll free number 1-866-957-7729
I also want to mention many local vets are willing to work with someone with financial need when it comes to spay and neuter. Call your vet and ask.
There is another website I highly encourage my readers to visit who may be thinking of breeding their pet. http://www.geocities.com/bluegracepwd/virtualbreeding.html. This is an interactive site that shows you all the ins and outs of breeding your dog and things that can and do go wrong. It will make you think twice.
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| | Dogs are just children with fur | | May 04,2007 |  | | | | January 25, 2007
Dogs are just children with fur
Some of you may have heard the expression “Dogs are just children with fur.” Well speaking from experience, I can tell you how true that really is! I see many people daily and usually they refer to their dog as their “baby.” But I really want you to know that dogs are just like a 2-year-old child, forever! No matter how old the dog is, or what breed they are basically all the same and are figuratively speaking, a 2- year-old child.
For instance, a 2-year-old child will pick stuff up off the floor and put it in their mouths. So will your dog. A 2-year-old child would never be left unattended outside, yet how many folks let their dog run loose? Would you let a child wander around outside without any supervision? Of course not, why? Because they could wander into the street and be killed, they could be kidnapped, they could get hurt! So can your dog.
2-year-old children can be hard to understand when they talk. So is your dog. How many times have you looked at your dog and said “what?” They give you “the look” but you don’t exactly know what “the look” means. Sometimes they bark . . . and bark . . . and bark . . . so you yell at them to be quiet, but WHAT are they trying to tell you? Are they hungry? Frustrated? Need to go out and potty? Is there someone snooping around the house? Intruders? The mailman? How many of us really pay attention to their signals?
2-year-old children need a routine and structure. So does your dog. You can put a 2-year-old child in a playpen or enclosed area to keep them safe, but you don’t leave them in it 24 hours a day and give them no attention at all, except for maybe food and water. A kennel outside is just that. A playpen but they never get out of it. They seldom get attention. If you want a well-behaved dog that is a member of your family, you need to treat it as a member. That means supervision, love, discipline, a routine, playtime, etc.
If your 2-year-old child wasn’t feeling well, and you didn’t know what was wrong, you’d be taking them to the doctor. Yet so many people don’t bother taking the family pet to the vet because they are hoping they “get over it.” Kids get vaccines, well child visits, etc. Dogs rarely see a vet until it’s an emergency then it’s a life or death case.
Don’t get me wrong, I see plenty of spoiled pooches that are treated WAY better than most children, that in itself can be an issue, just like children, if you give them everything they want whenever they want it, they become spoiled and have tantrums and turn into creatures nobody wants to be around . . . so can your dog.
If a two-year-old child is going thru potty training, and has an accident, you simply clean them up and start again, watching more carefully next time. Yet when a puppy or dog has an accident, they are smacked with a newspaper, or have their face rubbed into it. Would you do that to a child? I think not. In fact the best advice I can give someone when potty training a dog is if you find an accident on the floor, roll up a newspaper, and smack YOURSELF in the head and say “I should’ve been watching my puppy! I should’ve been watching my puppy!”
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| | I wouldn´t feed it to a dog! | | May 04,2007 |  | | | | I Wouldn’t Feed It To A Dog!
I’m sure you have all heard of the massive recall of many pet foods that are believed to be poisoning our pets. I get emails daily of the growing list of foods it includes and honestly, I am not surprised. In my opinion this was a ticking time-bomb. We´ve heard of "mad cow disease" and I´ve been waiting to hear of "mad dog disease.” I know I´m going to touch some nerves with this article but this HAS to be written.
I will not profess to being an expert on pet foods or ingredients as I learn more every day but what I do know is this: Most pet foods use ingredients that are not for human consumption because they are inexpensive as they are a waste product of human foods. Why throw it out when the pet food industry will buy it? Pace Dairy in Crawfordsville cuts and shreds and wraps cheese for Kroger. They do a wonderful job. I love the cheese. Manufacturing cheese is a job like most factories. Floors get dirty and cheese gets on the floor. At night when the machines are cleaned out there is cheese residue that gets cleaned out. I took a tour of Pace Dairy and saw huge bins labeled "INEDIBLE.” I asked what that was and told that is the stuff that is swept off the floor and cleaned out of the machines and the dog food companies buy it.
Meat packing plants do similar things. Parts that we don´t eat from a cow go to dog food companies. Remember there is NO waste. If we can´t eat it, a pet food company can buy it pretty cheap. Then there is "rendered" meat. Dead livestock is picked up by a meat rendering truck. Those animals aren´t buried or cremated. Think about it.
Last year Diamond dog food recalled its´ food due to aflatoxin in the corn. Have you ever seen corn sitting outside in huge piles because the grain bins were full? What happens to grain that it outside in rain? Is it any wonder why pets died? West Points’ grain elevator several years ago had a similar incident when several horses died after eating grain purchased there. There was mold in it. I had horses and I know how careful you need to be to avoid any mold in the hay or grain. Mold doesn´t need to be obvious in food in order for it to affect an animal.
For years I’ve fed a human-grade pet food that I became a distributor of after seeing the positive results on my own pets. I have recommended this food to my clients for their pets especially if their pets were having issues with itching, dry flaking skin or wheat allergies. My own dog Jasmine (in the photo above) has a wheat allergy and today I am thanking God for that! Wheat gluten seems to be the ingredient that is causing the kidney failure and killing pets around the world. Wheat gluten in itself isn’t a bad thing, but it’s tainted with melamine which is used as a pesticide. Honestly, they still are not 100% sure that is the entire issue. I don’t feed wheat or wheat gluten due to Jasmine’s allergies and I am relieved to have dodged this bullet!
I know that dogs eat nasty things. If you live in the country I’m sure your dog has found some really appetizing critters to bring home. I haven’t had to mop my floors since my sheltie arrived in October, I considered renaming him "Dyson" or "Kirby" or "Hoover" as there is not one crumb on my floor that gets by him! I know that if my cats’ litter box was lower my dogs would enjoy the "kitty crunchies" in it as treats! That being said, I would never purposely feed something to my pets that wasn’t fit for me to eat. I don’t eat dog kibble but after learning about ingredients in some pet foods compared to what I feed, and reading labels on human food, I know that it would be healthier for me to be pouring my milk on my dogs’ brand of food instead of the cereal I eat.
I don’t care if my pets are "just animals" and they can eat all kinds of things we humans can’t, or won’t. If I wouldn’t eat it, and would throw it away, I won’t give it to my dogs for garbage disposal. This is why it irks me to see the huge number of recalls from the big companies that spend big bucks on commercials to make the public THINK they are feeding nutritious food to their pets! Some are "Veterinarian Recommended." Normally that would make most people feel safe but the truth is the ingredients came from the same place! How can you trust pet food companies anymore?
You start by learning about what´s in your pets food by reading the label and doing some research. There is a wealth of information on the internet about ingredients and where they come from. I have checked out several websites but the one that like is the Animal Protection Institute http://www.api4animals.org/ there is a report on what’s really in pet food that is eye opening. Whole Dog Journal is a magazine with many informative articles on best and worst foods. I am in the process of making a binder with information I´ve received on pet nutrition and what is in pet food for my clients to read. Education is the best defense against potential poisoning of your pet.
Sadly, the more holistic pet foods that use human grade ingredients are not available in Attica. Buckles Feed Depot in Lafayette carries a few brands that I would recommend or approve of but I don’t drive to Lafayette that often, so it’s really inconvenient to buy those brands. This is why my pet food is delivered by UPS. I won’t give you the details of what brand I feed because I don’t want this to come off as a commercial for it, but feel free to contact me if you want information about it. My email is thegroomroom@insightbb.com. I wish there was a store in Attica that would stock only the best human grade foods available for pets. I sincerely hope that this tragedy will wake up consumers and the huge conglomerates that own pet food companies, such as Proctor & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and Nestle who have the lions share of dog food brands on the shelf at every store, and the pet food industry as a whole will do a complete change and quit feeding cast off garbage to our pets and thinking of the bottom line money, to remembering that our pets are family to us and we only want to give them decent food to nourish their bodies and keep them healthy and happy.
Until then stay updated on the recalls and please read your pet food labels, and treats, and anything you feed your pets. I personally know dogs and cats who have been affected by this recall. One has died that I know of. Many more either died or got sick before the recall actually happened. How many pets were buried that we thought just got sick, or died of natural causes before anyone knew about this? There are alternatives to pet foods such as feeding a raw diet or cooking for your pet but this isn’t practical for me at this point in my life. I rely on pet foods as most of you do to feed my pets, besides I’m not that impressed with our own food supply with the peanut butter recalls, salmonella scares and e-coli outbreaks. I don’t know all the answers, I wish I did. I hope this article helps you make a more educated decision about what to feed your pet so you aren´t swayed by the cute commercials, the "veterinarian recommended" tag lines or food that your pet really gobbles up because it´s so tasty to him. Price isn´t the only consideration. Many foods in the recall have a premium price. Be aware, be informed and be safe.
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