Holy Hot Tamale Batman!

For my fans across the U.S., here’s a little update. I live in Texas and the summer weather is hotter than a Texas tamale. I’m always befuddled (word of the day) as to why humans go swimming during the hot months of the year but they don’t think about what dogs want and need to cool off in the heat.

Dogs love to romp in a cool pool just like humans. In fact my buddies in the video below love to slide down waterslides before leaping into the pool.


Now, maybe your humans are thinking it’s too expensive to put a swimming pool in the yard and the public pools aren’t so keen on dogs visiting the premises so where is a dog to go for some swimming fun? I’ve got just the solution: a pool designed just for us created by: One Dog One Bone. Look at the photos below and you’ll understand why I’m so excited about this spiffy swimming pool.

So, here’s my lesson of the day… Summer isn’t just fun for humans. It’s also fun for us. On the other hand the heat is tough to take without plenty of water (for drinking) and downright unbearable without a recreational water source. It costs so little to make us so happy and while playing in our keen ‘bone’ swimming pool, we promise to keep you entertained too.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Cisco who asked: My pal Alley (yes it’s spelled that way) and I love to eat but we hate our food so my mom and dad promised to buy new food. We’re thrilled but is there anything they should know first?

Dear Cisco:

Don’t suddenly switch foods. It can really piss off your stomach. (I guess it’s okay to say piss off in my blog.) What they say is to use ¾ of your old food and ¼ of your new food. Do this for two days. Then ½ and ½ of each food for two days; then ¼ of the old and ¾ of the new for two days. That should do it and you should be able to avoid any stomach problems from switching to a new food too fast.


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Flower Power

My foster mom Jet digs flowers. She says they are the color commentary in life, cost almost nothing and tending to them makes a human feel useful. If you ask me, humans only need to take care of us dogs to be useful. – She didn’t ask me.

Flowers do have a sense of power of the dog kind. There’s nothing scientific to share with you about the power. It’s just a sense of happiness that fills a moment when you’re surrounded by all the smells that plunge into the air when you enter a garden. It’s flower power.

Jet said something about flower power being a hip term used in the ‘60s. Not so sure about the value of something so old. In any case, as much as we love flowers, it’s important to remember that some of the beautiful petals are dangerous to dogs. If we consume these flowers, they can kill us. A list of some of these flowers are below.

1. Clematis
2. Crocus
3. Death Camas
4. Azalea
5. Daffodil
6. Day lily, tiger lily, Easter lily , trumpet lily and lily of the valley
7. Narcissus
8. Rhododendron
9. Foxglove
10. Morning Glory

Here’s another source for more information on poisonous flowers and plants:

http://landscaping.about.com/od/poisonouslandscapeplants/Poisonous_Plants_for_Cats_Dogs_Humans.htm

So, here’s my lesson of the day… Despite our love of flowers, it’s good to remember that some are poisonous to dogs so be sure to know what flowers to keep out of the garden (and our chew level).

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Boo who asked: Trashcans fascinate me. I like to dig in the trash and since trash is going to be disposed of anyway, why shouldn’t my mom and dad let me experience going through the trash before it goes to the curb?

Dear Boo:

Trash, though disposable (something humans want to get rid of) is still somehow so sacred to them that they want to bury it in a special place. I agree it makes no sense but it’s the way humans think. Since trash is unimportant, yet special, you need to leave it alone.


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WHAT TIME IS IT?

Why are humans so obsessed with the time? They ‘race against the clock’, they’re always doing stuff ‘in the nick of time’, or if humans get mad, ‘it’s time to hit the road’. I just don’t get that last one.

I decided that humans need to ‘get a clue’ about time related issues that really matter (and make more sense) from a dog’s perspective of course.

For example, it’s adoption time. Millions of us (dogs and cats) desperately need loving homes.

It’s time to play. Seriously, can you think of a better way to ‘spend your time’ than playing with someone that loves you more than your family at home and your boss at work?

It’s time to ‘stick to your guns’ and to quote Stephen Stills, “love the one you’re with.” Now if this is hard for you to understand, my foster mom Jet explains it like this: stop pining (word of the day) for what you don’t have like another person, friend, mate or four-legged companion somewhere else because you think they are going to be better than the one you have. Maybe people have what they really need and just don’t realize it. Now from a dog’s view this is key because so many people adopt good dogs (and cats) only to bail on them for the dumbest reasons.

Listen to my good friend in the video below and you’ll appreciate my point. She shares the two most common reasons why people dump their dogs. One of which is: “Well I have to give up my pet because the apartment I’m moving in to won’t accept them.” My response: So – MORON – move to an apartment that will take them! … And people call animals dumb.



So, my lesson of the day is… adoption of a pet is a lifetime commitment like marriage. Okay, scratch that since the U.S. census bureau estimates that 40% to 43% of all marriages fail. Adoption is like a GOOD marriage.

If you dump a human then that is awful but most humans can (eventually) take care of themselves. Dogs and cats are too vulnerable to dump and if you listened to the video above you’ll realize that if your priorities are clear, then you will NEVER dump a beloved pet.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Stitch who asked: I’m hyper. Mom says I’m an A.D.D. like her so I must get LOTS of exercise but my mom works so much that it’s hard to get enough playtime in for me. Thoughts?

Dear Stitch:

One of the easiest ways to get lots of exercise (and it’s inexpensive too) is to go to a doggie park at least four times a week. – Daily if possible. You will have MANY pals to play with all at once which will wear you out with fun-driven exhaustive maneuvers in no time.


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THE SKINNY ON SUMMER & SKIN

I’m always surprised at how much humans and dogs have in common. For example, humans wear dog tags; dogs wear dog tags. How cool is that? Did you know that humans and dogs both have skin problems? Seriously, what are the odds? It’s true though and Jet, my foster mom, says it is essential for humans and dogs to take care of their skin.

When Jet rescued me, no one would give me a hug. I had no hair. It fell out because of a certain type of mange called Demodicosis. My skin was brilliant red and hurt all the time. If you haven’t seen this type of affliction (word of the day), here’s a photo of a little guy with Demodicosis:

PetPlace.com explains Demodicosis as red mange or "demodex". It’s a common skin disease of dogs caused by a microscopic mite called demodex canis. These mites are part of the normal flora of the skin, and are present in small numbers, so the disease is not contagious. As soon as Jet found this out, she hugged me a lot. I can’t tell you how good it felt to be loved on after living on the streets for so long.

Red mange is usually caused because a dog has either been ill, under a great deal of stress or recently experienced a stressful event. I can honestly tell you that living on the streets was very stressful.

Now, my fur is back and I’m so happy and healthy. First, the vet gave Jet some very special medicated shampoo for me. In one treatment, I was a new dog. The pain, swelling and redness virtually disappeared. The other treatment can take longer (months sometimes) but at least the discomfort was gone and my hair started growing back. (Take a look at my new fur in the photo below.)

Now lets talk about human skin problems. There’s this pinkish stuff called Rosacea that some of your parents may have to deal with, there’s also red skin from burns and brown spots from age. – Hard to believe humans can have all these colors on one body.

Jet says that most humans can protect or prevent these problems with special treatments and good sunscreen EVERY day, all day. She says this is REALLY important year round but humans must be especially careful in the summer when they spend more time outdoors. My foster mom is also pretty keen on a magical cream she discovered called Recovery Cream by Hanna Isul.

http://www.hannaisul.com/ec/detail.php?pid=5&db_cid=0&db_ctname=&db_ccname=&db_csname=&page=1

Never in her life has she found anything with such power to keep skin healthier and younger. Jet says she wished she owned stock in the cream company. I thought stock was for ranches where horses live so I’m a little confused by her statement but since she has such good skin, the sunscreen and recovery cream she uses must really be good.

This brings me to the lesson of the day… We appreciate it when humans take care of our skin. And, we get more hugs when you do and nothing is better than a hug from someone who loves you. On the other hand, humans need to take better care of their own skin so both dog and parent can look great and be healthy together.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Etch who asked: I want to be a famous writer like you. I’m a gifted poet (see evidence below) and I was wondering if you could advise me on how to perhaps get my own column or publish my first book. Intellectually, I’m smarter than most of my kind so I find humans much more interesting. I’m sure you understand. Therefore my targeted reader will be humans, not dogs. One of my best poems below… Please advise at your earliest convenience.

Roses are red.
Violets are blue
Dogs really dig me
I know you will too.

Dear Etch:

Since you have such an amazing capacity to learn and use big words, I have a new one for you: narcissist. I think that’s all I’m going to say in response to your note. As for your poem, my foster mom Jet has always been loving but blunt. I’ll give it a try but forgive me if I don’t quite measure up to Jet’s standards. Okay, here it goes: “You have no talent.”


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Caged, Courage & Confidence

Nokona (spelled Nocona by some) my foster mom’s latest rescue was a puppy mill dog. I was a dog abandoned by my owners to the streets. Jet (our foster mom) helped to rescue me too.

My situation was different than Nokona’s but we both had to deal with cages. Nokona says that he learned a big lesson from Jet about being in a cage. She told him that though his entire life was spent behind bars, he had the greatest disposition. She told him that she was very proud of him because he was and is incessantly (word of the day) happy. She said it was partially because he was so young, but mostly because he could see beyond the bars to better things. His head had no cage around it so his spirit wasn’t trapped even when he was.

As for me, I had no cage. - Far from it. I had streets. It was just as bad as Nokona’s situation but different. Jet says that my cage was the fence around my heart when she rescued me. I was afraid of many things. It’s kind of like when Nokona plays on the bed and hides his head in the pillowcase until Jet “finds him”. I wanted to hide all the time.

In both cases, Jet says Nokona and I overcame our cages with courage and in time, with confidence.

This brings me to the lesson of the day... People live in cages sometimes. (I’m not referring to the jail kind). The cage is around their heart or head. They can’t get out of the ruts in their life so in a way even though they are free to walk around, they are caged. Sometimes you can’t see the cages around you (like humans) and sometimes you have to overcome the cages that trap you (like puppy mill dogs). If you will be courageous, you will eventually be just like Nokona and I and have the confidence to be adventurous, happy and outgoing again.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Daisy who asked: My human is about to have a birthday. I was thinking of giving him a big bone I’ve had buried in the backyard. It’s my favorite.

Dear Daisy:

You are incredibly thoughtful to offer your best bone to your human. However, you should know that humans appear not to appreciate a good bone like dogs do so my suggestion is that you simply offer your unconditional love for another year since I believe this is the best gift we give humans.


To send in your pet's question, photos and videos, click here.

Lost and Found

Forest Gump liked to quote his mom who told him, “Life is like a box of chocolates because you never know what you’re going to get inside.” I understand what he means. Life is full of surprises. On the other hand, I think life is more like a lost and found club. Let me explain in a way that you humans can understand.

My foster mom, Jet, lost her hair in 2007. She got cancer. It’s kind of like heartworms for dogs and eats up your insides. Ick. In any case, the meds that helped her stole her hair. On the other hand she found more time to do other things because she didn’t need to use her morning hours for washing, drying and styling her hair and if the wind started to blow, she found there was no hair to mess up.

In 2009, Jet lost her Shasta. The tiny rat terrier mix was her best friend for 13 years. They moved together, traveled together, celebrated together… You get the idea. Shasta was a huge loss for her. During the days following this loss, Jet found some things: clarity that nothing really mattered but the ones you love.

Later the same year, Jet lost a company and all her worldly belongings. She even lost a lot of pounds on something called the depression diet. Wow, it really worked because she looks great. Yet while losing all that she had, she found she had all she needed: her faith.

Jet has a friend who lost her job after 17 years. When no one else would hire her, she started her own business. She found it was the best job she ever had and gave her more joy (despite the lousy salary) than she had felt in many years. Another friend lost his house and the evil house grabbers made him lose his cats too. He was devastated. He had to move to a new city so in a way he lost two homes. On the other hand, he found a best friend and new clients.

This leads me to my lesson of the day… Life isn’t always easy. Anyone who says it is, is either delirious or they’re taking triple doses of Xanex (so says Jet). Life’s hard times are almost always due to losses. However, if you’ll look at loss as one side of a coin and flip it over, you’ll find something amazing on the other side. – Maybe something you really need.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Shimmy who asked: My human and I are really sad because we lost our best friend Jax. He’s a runt of a little mutt and we love him. Can you help us find him?

Dear Shimmy:

I am so sorry you have lost Jax. Let’s see if I can help. First, check with your local pound EVERY DAY. Take a picture to the pound. Second, contact area rescue groups and No-Kill rescue centers. You can find them in the Yellow Pages or online. Third, go to the Internet Lost and Found sites like this one: http://www.found-pets.org/lostdogs.html. (Be sure to Google for others.) The Internet is like having millions of pet rescuers at your fingertips (or pawtips).

Good luck for a happy ending!

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The Benefits of Weeding

Over the last few years when my foster mom Jet was trying to rebuild her company, she had to find things to do that were low cost, physically fulfilling and good for her spirit. Now my first thought turned to cooking because I love food but Jet didn’t go for it. Instead, she started to garden. She says she has a green thumb but it looks perfectly normal to me so I’m not clear what she means.

In any case, her garden is quite beautiful. If you don’t believe me, I included some photos below. It’s small but special and soon the Crepe Myrtles will bloom and the tiny backyard will be living color lovely.

One day I sauntered outside to watch Jet in the garden. She was on her hands and knees picking stuff out of the ground. I asked her why she was pulling out her flowers but she corrected me and said she was only pulling weeds.

What’s wrong with weeds in the garden I asked?

Jet says that weeds are not attractive and they outgrow the flowers and strangle their roots of her pretty blooms. Get rid of them!

Toxic (word of the day) people that strangle your spirit should be weeded right out of your life too. Jet got rid of a very bad business ‘friend’ that was strangling the financial strength of her company. One of her colleagues left a job that made him feel stressed ALL the time. Now that her toxic pal and his bad job are weeded out of their lives, she’s happier and he smiles a lot more.

Which brings me to today’s lesson. Pulling weeds is important in the garden but I’d say it’s a good practice in all areas of a human’s life.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Cash who asked: I am so confused. I thought a Panda was a bear. My neighbor (a weird cat named Denji) says that a Panda is a dog.

Dear Cash:

You’re both right. A Panda is a bear but now there are also Panda dogs. I provided a video of both critters below to help you and your cat friend know the difference.



Now, compare the Panda dog to a real panda. Put the videos side-by-side. I swear it’s like a true Frankenstein (dogenstein) success story.




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KILLER ON THE LOSE

Jet (my foster mom) was buzzing around like a hornet the other day. I inquired about her anxious energy and she said it was all about a killer on the loose. I was intrigued. Was she referring to a TV murder mystery? (Other than dog programs, I just love cop shows.) Perhaps Jet was referring to a new whodunit story to share with me?

Boy was I wrong.

It turns out that the ‘bad guy’ Jet was referring to is the number one killer of women. Nope, it’s not cancer. No, it’s not strokes. No, it’s not diabetes. It’s heart attacks. (Who’d a thunk?)

Jet says that she is so frustrated that most women (and men) don’t realize how deadly heart disease is for girl humans. She’s on a rampage to attack the disease with a special project. A women’s group called WE (Women Entrepreneurs) is going to help. They are telling the nation (very big job) about this problem and trying to make sure that female humans are aware that signs of a heart attack for them are completely different than signs of a heart attack for men.

For example, one seemingly odd sign of a heart attack for women is shortness of breath. Jet is short of breath after working out so who would think this is a sign of a heart attack? You think that’s surprising, look at the other warning signs for women experiencing a heart attack:

The women's major symptoms prior to their heart attack included: (Source: National Institutes of Health)

• Unusual fatigue - 70%

• Sleep disturbance - 48%

• Shortness of breath - 42%

• Indigestion - 39%

• Anxiety - 35%

The WE group has a friend who makes little human hearts for women to buy and carry on their keychain. (No, they are not real.) These tiny hearts are called Aspirinpods™. I asked Jet if this was anything like an iPod. She assured me it was not but instead it’s a tiny pouch to hold Aspirin (thus the name).

Why you must be asking would someone carry around an Aspirinpod™. In many cases, if a heart attack appears imminent (word of the day) then you dissolve an aspirin in your mouth to help prevent the attack and/or reduce the damage to the heart if the human does have a heart attack. It seems every grown up human (which Jet says excludes her ex-husband) is not walking around with one of these nifty lifesavers. Heck, I could even wear one on my collar. In case one of my readers is less in-the-know than me, I put a link and graphic of the Aspirinpod™ below. Seriously dogs, this is the must-have gift for your human mothers.

Did you realize that dogs (male and female) are also in danger of having their heart attacked? Yep! Our hearts are attacked by heartworms. These vicious killers (yes-they can kill dogs) live inside our heart until it fails. Look at the diagram below. Have you ever seen such a disgusting picture in your life? It makes me wonder how humans eat spaghetti.

Diagram of heart worm heart: try to use something like these photos

This brings me to the lesson of the day. Killers aren’t just bad guys on cop shows. Sometimes they are every day events or diseases that make our hearts die. The good news is that humans can defend themselves against this type of bad guy by recognizing when a heart attack is imminent. Dogs can defend themselves by making sure they take heartworm prevention medicine – YEAR ROUND.




Okay, here’s the question of the day from T-Bone who asked: My human is running around the house moving everything I can reach. This includes some of pantry items I like to get in to off and on. Why is she limiting what I can snag?

Dear T-Bone:

Cool name dude. Here’s the drill. Just as there are things (like heart attacks) that can kill humans, there are things that can kill dogs (like heart worms). My guess is your human is doing ‘spring cleaning’ (which Jet says people should do year round) and in doing so is ridding the house of things that are poisonous or harmful to you. Give your human a big lick on the face for making sure you’re safe.

In case you decide to help instead of complain, I have a list below of common items that dude’s like you often die from because you ingest them.
(See list at link: http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/top-10-dog-poisons?ecd=wnl_pet_051910. Share this list (all three pages) with your human and dog pals to keep them safe. You’ve seen some of these before but make sure your humans memorize all items on this list.

Top 10 Dog Poisons

Dog poison No. 1: Medications for people. Drugs that might be beneficial, or even life-saving, for people can have the opposite effect in pets. And it doesn’t always take a large dose to do major damage.

Some of the most common and harmful medications that poison dogs include:

- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers or kidney failure.

- Antidepressants, which may cause vomiting and, in more serious instances, serotonin syndrome - a dangerous condition that raises temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and may cause seizures.

- Isoniazid, a tuberculosis drug, is difficult for dogs to process. Even one tablet can cause problems in a small dog. Signs of poisoning include seizures and coma.

Dog poison No. 2: Flea and tick products. You may think you’re doing your dog a favor when you apply products marketed to fight fleas and ticks, but thousands of animals are unintentionally poisoned by these products every year. Problems can occur if dogs accidentally ingest these products or if small dogs receive excessive amounts.

Dog poison No. 3: People food. Your canine companion may look so cute as he sits there begging for a bite of your chocolate cake or a chip covered in guacamole, but not giving him what he wants could save his life. Animals have different metabolisms than people. Some foods and beverages that are perfectly safe for people can be dangerous, and sometimes fatal, for dogs.

- Chocolate. Though not harmful to people, chocolate products contain substances called methylxanthines that can cause vomiting in small doses, and death if ingested in larger quantities. Darker chocolate contains more of these dangerous substances than do white or milk chocolate. The amount of chocolate that could result in death depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. For smaller breeds, just half an ounce of baking chocolate can be fatal, while a larger dog might survive eating 4 to 8 ounces. Coffee and caffeine have similarly dangerous chemicals.

- Alcohol. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in animals are similar to those in people, and may include vomiting, breathing problems, coma and, in severe cases, death.

- Avocado. You might think of them as healthy, but avocadoes have a substance called persin that can act as a dog poison, causing vomiting and diarrhea.

- Macadamia nuts. Dogs may suffer from a series of symptoms, including weakness, overheating, and vomiting, after consumption of macadamia nuts.

- Grapes and raisins. Experts aren’t sure why, but these fruits can induce kidney failure in dogs. Even a small number may cause problems in some dogs.

Xylitol. This sweetener is found in many products, including sugar-free gum and candy. It causes a rapid drop in blood sugar, resulting in weakness and seizures. Liver failure also has been reported in some dogs.


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Wisdom of the Rolling Stones

Nokona, my new sidekick, is an interesting little fella. He recently experienced… the unfairness of life. More mature humans and dogs know it but young pups like him… Not so much.
So he’s outside recently and discovers the ultimate chase critter: squirrels.

First, he’s perplexed, then intrigued, then downright teed off because the squirrel is too high for him to reach.

He’s desperate to get closer to chase the squirrel away and prove to him who is boss. So he gets the bright idea to jump onto the flower box.

He is closer to the squirrel and feeling like Mr. Bad to the Bone when he realizes he his STILL not close enough to grab the little critter. I look up a few minutes later and the little dude is in the birdbath. (Thank goodness it was empty.

It didn’t take him long to realize, he’s not going to get close enough to yank that squirrel off the ledge. (Not that he would know what to do with the darn critter if he was successful.)



I visited with Nokona later that day and asked him what he learned from the experience. He opined: “As the great philosopher Mick Jagger (of the Rolling Stones) would say, ‘You can’t always get what you want.”










Okay, here’s the question of the day from Preacher who asked: My best pal Screecher is bumping in to stuff. I know he’s old but what’s up with hitting the furniture around the house?

Dear Preacher:

My mom said when she was in junior high they were studying how the body ages. Several volunteers in the class were ‘afflicted’ with a different type of problem common to old folks. Jet had to put on a pair of glasses smeared with Vaseline to experience how it feels to lose a lot of your sight as you age.

I’m not sure how to duplicate this exercise on a dog so just try to understand that your friend’s eyesight is no longer as clear as yours. Sounds like you care about him so try wrestling with your pal with your eyes closed and even up he odds a bit.


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Look Both Ways

One of my greatest pleasures is the long walks I have with my foster mom Jet. At the end of every street, Jet has taught me to stop – “stay” – so she can look both ways for cars before we cross the street.

It seems simple but it’s tricky in some situations. Why? Some streets are one-way so it seems you only need to look in one direction. The one time I thought this was a good idea we nearly got run over by a kid on a 10-speed.

On another day, we came up to an alley. It looked like a wide sidewalk so there seemed no need to stop at all. Bam! - We nearly got hit by a car. I could FEEL Jet’s heart racing from the close call.

It’s the same with people sometimes. They set a perfectly acceptable goal and then get so caught up in racing in one direction to achieve it that they get blindsided from something else charging in from another direction. My Jet did this one time.

She was running her own company but racing to sell a really cool product for another company. Jet was always promoting the gadget for the other firm, failing to look the other direction. Bam! – Her own business suffers terrible financial losses. She is so busy looking one direction (for the gadget company) that she was negligent in seeing the directional needs of her company.

Which brings me to the lesson of the day…

Human or dog, it’s best to always look both ways before heading across a street. It’s also a great idea to make sure you’re going the RIGHT direction. And, once you choose one way, be sure to check the rearview mirror every once in awhile to make sure some yahoo, coming from the other direction, isn’t going to nail you.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Lincoln who asked: It’s time for a road trip. Any advice on what to do for my sidekick Zinger and I when our humans take us with them?

Dear Lincoln:

You bet I do. Humans pack certain things for road trips and pets should do the same. If you’re all thumbs, shove this to-do list in front of your humans to use as a guide of what to do for you two before going on vacation. It was created by Janet Winter, a mom human, just for this type of occasion. Have a great trip!

1. Bedding such as towels or blankets for the car or crate that Fido has curled up on for a few days - Familiar smells are comforting.

2. Favorite food and water bowls - This will encourage a normal eating routine. Just as people often have problems with a foreign diet, the same thing can happen to your pet. This isn't the time to try the free sample from the pet store.

3. A few bottles of water from your home faucet - This makes the transition to a new taste more gradual and acceptable.

4. Toys that Fido plays with most - But, it's okay to introduce your canine companion to a new sport, like chasing a frisbee on the beach.5. A doggie life jacket - If you're going to be around water, even in a boat, this one item could literally be a life saver.

6. A travel bed or crate mat - This may be easier to transport and may fit in your vehicle better than your dog's regular bed. Have Fido nap on this rather than his regular bed for several days before the trip, and don't forget to put a favorite blanket or towel on top that is packed in your vehicle along with the choice of travel bed.

Miss Janet provides more pet travel tips at:
http://www.dogenews.com/info/Travel---Lodging/A-Packing-List-For-Your-Dog-s-Vacation.html



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Leave the Baggage; Keep the Memento

There are so many things about humans I don’t understand. For instance, taking pictures of things right in front of them. Jet, my foster mom, is always taking photos of Nokona and I.

Now why do you want to put our image on a piece of paper (something Nokona would rather eat) than just enjoy looking at us? Jet says that people like to carry things with them. Sometimes it’s baggage that they should dump (hmmm?), sometimes it’s luggage they need for a trip and sometimes it is a special memento (keepsake or photo) they need to make them smile.

In my opinion if you’re going to take photos of us, take GOOD photos. Pet photographer Bill Landau has some great tips for getting great photographs of your four-legged companions. Instead of squeaky, loud toys, he recommends you surprise us with softer sounds that we are inclined to try and figure out. It could be rubbing two pieces of paper together. The results are phenomenal. Evidence is in the super snapshots featured below. Be sure to view all 17 photos.

There are humans that get paid a lot of money to photograph dogs. One such human is a guy named William Wegman. He's famous for his photographs of his beloved Weimaraners posed in an array of costumes. You can view some of his famous works at: http://www.wegmanworld.com/gallery/works.html.

Other humans have a “photographic” memory and carry the darn images of their dogs inside their head. This makes a lot more sense to me than the paper kind but humans are weird like that sometimes.

This brings me to the lesson of the day… whether in your head or on a piece of paper, take a few pictures TODAY while those you love are still with you. Even better, be more in the moment - like a dog - and you'll be able to remember special events (human and critter kind) as if they are a clear picture in your head because they will be imbedded in your heart.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Zsa Zsa who asked: Can you please help my foster dad? He means well and has given me such a nice home (thank goodness) but he yells at the TV and it upsets me. It looks like he’s yelling at humans in a white a blue uniform with a “C” on it and they hit little white balls with a stick.

Dear Zsa Zsa:

Don’t fret. Your foster dad is not mad at you. He’s mad at the Cubs (assume this to be so due to their performance history) and not you. So when he yells, go get him a cold brew, sit in his lap and sooth his anxiety away.

To send in your pet's question, photos and videos, click here.

Expiration Dates

First, I heard a lot of noise and then I got hammered with a lot of smells all at one time. I followed my ears and nose to the source: the kitchen. Jet, my foster mom was pitching all sorts of things out of the refrigerator into the trash. It was a bit confusing.

She would read something on the container and then either put the item back or throw it in the trashcan. She was interrupted by a phone call. While yakking, I heard her tell the person on the phone what she was doing.

Apparently, food dies at a certain age according to something called an expiration date. Once it dies, you can’t eat it. (Although I’m sure Nokona, who will ingest anything, would be glad to eat what Jet thinks should be thrown away.)

I asked Jet if food was the only thing that expired because of a date. She looked me straight in my puppy dog eyes and said that many things have an end date. Jet says one of the most important things with an expiration date is the time humans have to fulfill their calling.

Here’s what I understand from the entire episode. Humans are born to do something special. It’s their calling. They may choose not to do it or be too afraid to pursue it. If they don’t fulfill their calling, they feel… regret. Humans, unlike dogs, think they have all the time in the world to do what they are meant to do. They don’t. This is why dogs make every moment a great moment.

So here’s the lesson of the day: everything has an expiration date, says Jet. (- Except for roaches, which appear to outlive anything.) There’s a die date on your calling, when you can’t go back and fulfill it, contribute to it, or own it. My advice: open the refrigerator and dump the dangerous dead food but don’t forget to check the expiration date on the important milestones in your life. How much time do you have left to use what you have?

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Micah who asked: I like the plastic bottles my dad buys. They hold water. (This doesn’t make much sense because water is right in front of him. (It comes out of the long pipe over the sink.) Anyway, after he drinks the water out of the bottle, he pitches it to me with a treat inside. After awhile, I work the treat out. Try it. It’s super fun. Or, it was. He put a funny metal thing on his faucet and now he drinks ‘special water’ right out of the pipe instead of buying plastic bottles.

Poop!

Dear Micah:

Yea for your dad! He’s practicing earth love. Let me explain. Plastic doesn’t have much of an expiration date. It seems to live FOREVER (like cock-roaches) so when it is thrown away, it stacks up to make a big, messy pile on earth. Your dad has a water filter to make special water out of his sink so no more bottles. Jump in his lap and give him lots of praise with a bunch of licks on the face and find something else to play with that won’t hurt earth.


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Snails, Slugs and Sidewalks

I was sitting outside yesterday morning when I noticed something on all the sidewalks. Everywhere you look… trails of wet goo. (My foster mom calls it slime). It turns out that the trails are made from snails and slugs. - Busy little guys at night.

The other thing I noticed is that the snails and slugs that survived the night (as evidenced by the slime trail) are the ones that left the grass and traveled across the sidewalk and then turned back to the grass before sunrise. The snails that didn’t survive (as evidenced by the fried snail on the sidewalk) left the safety of the grass, traveled too far away and dried out in the morning sun. Joining them were the fried earthworms. Just as an aside, Nokona likes to eat them. Some dogs will eat ANYTHING.

Now I know I’m just a dog but it seems to me the snails need an oasis (the grass) but they like traveling across the desert (the sidewalk). However, if they don’t stay close to the oasis, they are pretty much like humans and die of thirst. Snails have eyes (I checked) so why can’t they see they are traveling too far away from the moist grass? I asked Jet about this and, as always, she had an interesting retort, which I’ll paraphrase below.

Snails are like people. Sometimes, they make dumb mistakes. Like snails, humans can see what they need (good health for example) but they are attracted to the mystery of the desert (extra portions of food and two helpings of dessert). The outcome: 40 extra pounds and a heart too tired to tick.

Which leads me to the lesson of the day… Adventuring to new places, beyond your oasis, your familiar safe zones, can be fun. Dogs, humans and even snails like adventuring. The key is to know how far to go.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from BJ who asked: We are visiting the family lake house. It’s my first trip at the joint and I REALLY like it. Lots of playtime, water to swim in… Life is good. One thing though, my tummy is feeling funny after I drink the water.

Dear BJ:

Remind your humans that the water is different at the lake house than it is at home. You should be drinking half home water and half local water for the first few days. Bet it helps.


To send in your pet's question, photos and videos, click here.

What Thumper and the Pastor Know…

It’s been a long time but as I recall, all the critters from the forest gathered around Bambi (in the Disney flick) after he was born. Thumper had a tendency to speak his mind and began to talk about what a klutz Bambi. He rambled on and on until his mother corrected him. Thumper had to recite his mom’s rule: “If you can’t say nothin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.”

It seems to me that Pastor Graham (he talks behind the big log at my foster mom’s church) was saying about the same thing on Sunday. To sum it up, he was saying it’s okay to have your own opinion (in fact I’ve noticed humans tend to have a lot of them) but it isn’t okay to change the facts. When you start messing with the facts (usually to back up your own opinion) you begin to judge others against your opinion rather than simply express your opinion. Humans seem to think posturing and judging is often more important than communicating and inspiring. Maybe that’s because they bark before they think.

Pastor Graham seems to share my opinion (just had to say it) because he gave all of us a simple… acronym that even a dog can remember:

T: Is what you want to say TRUE?
H: Is what you want to say HELPFUL?
I: Is what you want to say INSPIRING?
N: Is what you want to say NECESSARY?
K: Is what you want to say KIND?

Now I know I’m just a dog, albeit a really smart one, but I just can’t figure out why such a simple, sound concept is so hard for humans to honor. Seriously, imagine what the world would be like if you humans would simply think before they barked.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Nova who asked: I like paper. - I like chewing on it. I like chewing it up. I like eating it. Why is mom and dad giving their friend “Shredder” all the paper to chew up instead of giving it to me?

Dear Nova:

You seem to be confused a little. “Shredder” is not your parents’ friend; it’s a machine. The machine makes big paper into little paper. (Don’t ask. It’s a human thing.) So, if it makes you feel better, it’s not like the paper is going to someone they love more than you. Chew on bones. They’re better for your teeth.


To send in your pet's question, photos and videos, click here.

ASPCA TOOLS FOR YOU

I don’t know why but safety seems to be on my mind these days. Perhaps it’s because people and dogs are a lot more active in the spring and summer and accidents seem more common.

My foster mom (Jet) says her papa “rehearsed” for disasters. For example, her dad had all the kids in the house practice getting out of their bedroom window if a fire blocked the exit of their house via the door. Have your parents done the same thing with your family? Hopefully so but it’s equally important that they rehearse safety practices for you, their beloved pets, by preparing for potential disasters that also impact you.

Most humans don’t know it but the ASPCA has some great tools to help them ensure the safety of their four-legged companions. Humans! If you aren’t using these tools, your pets’ health and life could be jeopardized. I realize humans are too busy to look for these wonderful tools so I’ve provided them for you:

The ASPCA Disaster Preparation Brochure: Safety Steps

Post a Rescue Alert Sticker in Window

Post a pet Rescue Alert Sticker in the windows of your home or camper to ensure firefighters, animal recovery volunteers and others know that you have a pet inside. You can order a free sticker by filling out a form at this link: http://www.aspca.org/about-us/free-aspca-stuff/free-pet-safety-pack.html.

So here’s today’s lesson: follow these simple safety practices and everyone you love will be safe throughout the spring and summer.













Okay, here’s the question of the day from Jingle who asked: I’m a dog. We rule. You said so. We like squeaky toys and fetching. This makes sense to me. Why do cats (there are two in my house) think a paper sack is a toy? This does not make sense to me.

Dear Jingle:

Look at this graphic and read the message at the bottom. This is my answer. I view cats, like men view women, too complicated to understand.

"And thus, dear students, we have arrived at the formula for understanding women".


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Baby Boot Camp

I love springtime. The fat baby birds, rabbits, calves and all sorts of critters are everywhere

We took a quick trip recently and my foster mom was pulling out the camera taking pictures of all the baby animals. It appeared that most of the babies had one thing in common: they are exceptionally… plump. (Okay, they’re FAT but I was trying to be polite.) This includes domesticated (word of the day) animals (dogs and cats) as well as many wild animals. For example:

Baby seals

Baby owls

Now that I think of it, the new human my neighbors brought home is a little on the heavy side. Jet, my foster mom, says Body fat in human babies provides three forms of insurance for brain development that are not available to other land-based species:

(1) a large fuel store in the form of fatty acids in triglycerides - Storage fats

(2) the fatty acid precursors to ketone bodies which are key substrates for brain lipid synthesis - Ketogenesis

(3) a store of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid, needed for normal brain development. Phospholipids & Fats & The Brain

Jet also says that although plump babies can be cute, it is important for pets and humans to remember that staying heavy is not healthy.

Which brings me to the lesson of the day.

In general, babies don’t need a boot camp to get fit. Adults do. Humans and animals need to be active. Riding a Roomba versus pushing a vacuum sweeper doesn’t count as exercise. If you’re not sure what I mean, note lazy cat video below.



Monitor how much you and your critters eat and be careful of what they eat.

Parents, listen up! Kids will eat just about anything and always seem to be hungry. Set a good example and serve up healthy snacks and meals.

Jet used to teach aerobics and kickboxing as well as provide healthy eating ideas easy for busy executives to prepare. Her advice about food was:

The longer the shelf life of the food you eat, the shorter your shelf life; the shorter the shelf life of the food you eat, the longer your shelf life.

Makes sense.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Ajax who asked: Why does dad yell at me when I eat stuff he leaves on the floor? I especially like leather belts, rubber bands and paper. If it isn’t supposed to be eaten, why leave it out for me?
Dear Ajax:


A bit of trivia for you: One of the most common items consumed (eaten) by dogs: socks. It’s amazing what we can ingest (eat). – Sorry, practicing the use of my new words. If you don’t believe me, take a look at these X-rays of items that dogs have managed to swallow.

I’ll never understand why big humans insist that pets and kids pick up their toys but they don’t have to pick up their stuff. Seems unfair. Look, if the human doesn’t call it a toy, leave it alone. And for heavens sake, don’t swallow anything but food. The objects you see in the X-rays (above) eventually have to come out, one way or another. Think about it Ajax.





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Rescues and Reunions

Last night was a great adventure. Nokona and my foster mom (Jet) was out for an evening walk when they were flagged down by our neighbor Sam. Sam had a forlorn little dog next to him.

It turns out the dog’s name is Miss Ellie. Her dog tag said so. Her dog tag didn’t say much else so Sam couldn’t find her humans. Jet went around the neighborhood with Sam but alas, no humans claimed Miss Ellie.

Miss Ellie spent the night at our house. Jet is such a sucker for animals.

The next day, Miss Ellie and my mom went to the pound but no one had yet asked for her. Mom doesn’t like pounds (the kind she measures on the scales) because she says they inflate her hips or the kind that locks up animals because they measure an animal’s value in a five-day life cycle.

Don’t worry though because Miss Ellie’s rescue ended well. It turns out her mom posted a lost and found photo on the mailbox with a phone number. Miss Ellie was reunited with her owner. We celebrated with happy photo moment.

This brings me to the lessons of the day. One, avoid pounds (the dog kind and the human kind). Two, there’s only one thing better than rescuing a pet and that's reuniting the pet with its human.











Okay, here’s the question of the day from Burger who asked: Why is it that just because my name is ‘Burger’ everyone I meet makes hamburger jokes?

Dear Burger:
I’ve got a quick joke for you.
How did the jury find the hamburger?
Grill-ty as charred!
Get it?
LOL.

Sorry Burger but your name does lend itself to a quick joke. Look, why not enjoy your name? I’ve got a friend called Gonzo. Everyone treats him like he’s dumb because his name makes him sound like a dummy. Your name makes you sound… cool. And, if you’re lucky you might become famous like Meatloaf. He’s got a beef name and he turned in to a rock star.


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Chasing Tail

Did I get your attention with my catchy title? It’s a little play-on-words to lure you into my blog.

My reference is not to human males chasing down girls. Instead, I’m referring to how dogs end up spinning around and around in a circle because they’re obsessed with chasing their own tail. A vivid (word of the day) demonstration of this problem can be viewed in the video below.


Dog Chasing Tail

Now, there is a human correlation to my ‘chasing tail’ reference but you need to hear my story first.

I was eavesdropping today when my foster mom (Jet) was on the phone. She was talking to some business guy who (as it sounded) wasn’t getting anywhere because he was chasing everywhere. – Chasing tail so to speak.

Humans, especially busy boomers and aspiring Gen Xer and Millennial types, become obsessed with doing rather than achieving. Jet says, you can always tell the difference between a do-er and an achiever because an achiever talks about the results of their work (rather than about what they do and all they know), and (she adds) achievers are very focused, clear about priorities and therefore know when to say ‘no’ to new “opportunities.” Achievers jump at the newest, greatest thing and are easily distracted by what appears to be the most alluring or ‘looks’ better to other people.

She’s right.

Which brings me back to chasing tail.

These are pretty tough economic times. Even dogs know this since there is a 22% increase in dumps of my four-legged buddies on the streets by people that can’t pay to take care of us anymore.

It seems to me that instead of being obsessed with dumping your dog, what humans really need to do is dump what isn’t important. Wouldn’t each moment be – richer, each day - more productive, each year – more abundant if you focused on achieving rather than doing? Wouldn’t you end up with a life filled with more laughter and love; with a business legacy that will outlast the next four generations of your gene pool?

It was a (long) rhetorical question.

“So,” I ask, “Why not live your life this way instead of chasing tail”?

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Samson and Delilah who asked: Why? Why? Why? We have several questions: Why do humans give us dry treats without any sign of water? Why do humans speak to us in baby talk?

Dear Samson and Delilah:

First, very cool names. You’re practically famous in the big B-I-B-L-E. Seriously, how cool is that? - Not many dogs are named by Bible celebrities.

Sorry, I digress.

Okay you two (and all my readers), I don’t know how old you are but once you’ve been on the streets awhile (remember, I’m an abandoned dog), you will realize that humans are awesome and also… not so bright sometimes. This is the best answer I have for why they would serve you dry treats and no water with which to wash down the yummies. Having said that, you can always do what my buddy Nokona does when he’s thirsty. He puts his nose by the water dish if mom is running about. If she’s lying in bed watching TV (and drinking from her water bottle) then he puts his nose against the bottle.

As for the baby talk… What I’ve learned is that all humans (with few exceptions) have A GIANT SPECIAL PLACE in their heart for babies. So, as annoying as it may be, enjoy the baby talk because it’s just a human’s goofy way of saying you are REALLY, REALLY special.


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TORNADO TIPS FOR FAMILY TRIPS

WOW! It’s tornado time.

Jet, my foster mom, just took my buddy Nokona to Oklahoma. One day earlier the plains and cities of Oklahoma were hit by tornados scampering across buildings, cars and such. Tornadoes are common in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma this time of year. They are seriously dangerous.

For those of you unaware of how deadly these turbulent beasts are (worse than the most terrible attack dog), please see the tornado footage in the link below.



In the last couple of years, two dogs have been sucked up by a tornado – and lived! Such amazing stories give me hope but I prefer preparation.

Humans, we depend on you to take care of us so you need to know what to do if a tornado is imminent (new word of the day). FEMA has a cool “What to do…” chart that your parents must review with all the family. (See below.) Family pets should also be in attendance.

If you are in:	Then:
A structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building)	Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.
A vehicle, trailer, or mobile home	Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.
The outside with no shelter	Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

Which brings me to my lesson today.

Life is full of storms. Sometimes they come in the form of a giant, black funnel that takes you away to places like OZ. Other times, they come in the form of a car accident or lost job or, if you’re a dog, a lost bone. My advice is to huddle up with your family in a safe place (in all storms).

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Ajax who asked: I asked my mom and dad for a tornado and they looked at me like I had too much of that human happy juice my old auntie calls vodka.


Dear Ajax:
I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s a cool toy called Dog Tornado. Dog pals, check it out at the link and photo below. First, you have to move the bones and then move the revolving sections to get to… the treats! It’s a pet puzzle with benefits.

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