Well-mannered, polite dogs

Sunday I went horseback riding with a friend, and when we got back we settled on her front porch for a bit of refreshment. Her 4 dogs were there to greet us.

Usually, walking onto a porch with a crowd like that would mean 4 dogs, all pushing each other out of the way for attention, but these dogs don't behave that way.

First, Abbey came to greet me. She's the blind one, so she had to sniff a bit and make sure she remembered who I was. Abbey was one of a litter of pups who had been dumped in a ditch and found muddy, cold, and hungry. She was the only blind one of the litter, and as her foster mom, my friend found she couldn't part with her. Abbey does fine with her nose and her ears to guide her.

Next came Louie - the only boy in the household. He got up on the bench next to me and snuggled a bit. Experts say dogs don't like hugs, but they forgot to tell Louie. Louie was a rescue too, but his situation wasn't quite as dramatic as Abbey's or Tika's.

Tika is the girl with 3 legs. She was one tough rescue, forcing us to borrow a live trap to catch her after she'd been seen wandering around for a couple of weeks dragging a broken leg. It took days to trap her, even after the neighbors got around to letting us know about her.

But she's fine now, and you'd never convince her that there's anything wrong with the way she gets around.

Finally, ever the lady, Annie came to get some attention. She's my favorite, maybe because I've known her the longest, or maybe just because she's so darned sweet. My friends got her because one of their neighbors went snow shoeing and found her living by a travel trailer that had been abandoned when the snow got too deep that winter. She was a skinny, hungry pup, but that changed as soon as she got to my friend's house.

Unfortunately, the people had been gone too long - the rabbits and chickens left in their cages were all dead. But, a couple of weeks later another pup showed up, and he found a wonderful home.

I don't know how Sally taught her dogs such perfect manners, but it sure makes it a pleasure to visit with them.

Halloween for Dogs can be Spooky or a Treat

This is Christine Michaels from Blog Sisters writing as guest author at the invitation of my fellow writer Marte. Thanks Marte!

Well Halloween is exactly one week away. This holiday is not just for children anymore. Adults and parents now enthrall in the spirit of masquerades and disguises and bobbing for beer bottles if it's an adults-only party. Even pets are part of the festivities. Just like a new home is full of booby traps for new born babies, the traditions and rituals of Halloween can spell treachery or treat time for pets. Careful planning will ensure the entire family has fun.

Doing some homework is always a good step. The ASPCA offers these 10 Easy Ways to Keep your Pets Safe on Halloween.

Now my little dog, Mon Cherie (a white maltese) has grown up with costumes since she was one year old. One year we even dressed as Thee Little Mermaid and Sebastian the Crab (I was the mermaid and she was the crab with a custom made costume). For Mon Cherie, she knows it's treat time--as in it's a treat for her to go out with mommy. She loves to go anywhere with me --shopping, to work, traveling within Florida--as long as she's with mommy, even it means wearing some dogg'on costume. One year all three of my pets, the dog and two cats were ducklings. The kids loved it! My home is considered "the Halloween best" (yes I live in a condo) because we don't just hand out the good candy (chocolate candy bars, not acorn candy), but we decorate the front entrance and I get dressed up in a costume along with the pets.

It's a great way to nurture neighborship.

If you need ideas for pet costumes, visit Alicia's Blog (my Blog Sister) for some funny and creative costumes.

Have a Safe & Fun Halloween!!!

Christine Michaels for BLOG SISTERS

Good news for military dogs

My friend Ken just forwarded me the link to this story...I think you'll like it:


Military Hospital Opens for Dogs Wounded in War

Patience...

Here's my first try at this blog thing.. I have a dog named sam he is a sheppard, collie, husky mix.. but this dog deserves a medal for the patience she has and could teach many of us a lesson or two..See I am a animal lover at heart doesn't matter what kind ( of course dogs are my favs.. ) and I tend to bring in many different animals in my home that need shelter or rescue.. and needless to say the new guys get most of my attention .. while Sam takes a step back to let me do my work. She will come to check them out to make sure they are ok and then goes back to sitting patiently. Rabbits have run around her, stepped on her head, stolen her bed, kittens have bitten her ears nose, tail, other dogs have stolen her food treats or favorite chair and yet Sam stays patiently waiting.. Just like in this pic as she waits to have her bed back.. lucky the rabbit was making her nest and had her babies in her bed ...

I would also love to take this opportunity to thank Marte .. recently she took some of her time to help me write a letter that we so needed. We our opening a much needed shelter here in our small community and when I sent her an email she never hesitated and immediately helped. Thank you Marte... we need more people like you !!!

Smart dog - relieved humans

Our local newspaper ran a story yesterday that I have to share...

It seems that Abby's family was going on vacation and her usual dog sitter was also going to be away, so her family took her to the home of a relative. While they were out for an evening, Abby decided to go out too - out under a gate and away.

For 15 days her family - and both sets of sitters - searched high and low, driving the streets and the side-streets, calling and hunting. And then, her sitter opened her front door to find Abby sitting on the porch. She said she had to check the ID tags twice because she just couldn't believe that Abby had made the 9 miles, through traffic, to find her house. (Her "real" family lives another 20 o 30 miles farther, so Abby took the smart alternative and went to her sitter first!)

As an animal rescuer, tales of dogs and their human families being reunited always warm my heart.. and that reminds me:

For everyone who has been following the tale of the Iraq soldier who wanted to bring her dog home... Here's more good news.

Hurrah for dogs and the humans who love them!
Marte

Freestyle dancing - dog style

Hey there! If you're lucky enough to have a good internet connection, check out this video... http://www.familytiez.com/video/gin.htm

My Hughes Net satellite connection is too slow to get to see it except in little chunks, but if you have high speed and can watch videos, you'll love it!

Some Dogs just need to dig...

Deprive a dog of a place to dig and what does he do? This one found an oversized planter!

So why do they do that? For some, it's just fun. They're the ones who destroy your flower beds. For others there's a purpose. My old Harry Dog was constantly on the trail of those underground critters. It drove him nuts to see one dive into a hole - and he would dig until all we could see was his back end sticking out. Alas - he never could dig fast enough to catch one.

Some, being of a conservative nature, want to put something away for a rainy day. They're the ones burying bones for later retrieval.

Other dogs, such as my friend's Husky, are hard-wired to create a den for themselves. They want that hole to lay in!

And of course, there are dogs who simply don't want to be contained, so dig a hole under the fence as an escape route.

I have never learned a good way to keep dogs from digging ... so if you have, do share!

Border Collies

You mustn't believe everything you read...

Tonight I read that the Border Collie is among the 10 most intelligent breeds - She shares the top 10 round-up with Poodles, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinchers, Shetland Sheepdogs, Labrador Retrievers, Papillons, Rottweillers, and Australian Cattle dogs.

Hmmm... They're right about the Border Collies. Suzie is especially smart. However, the only Golden Retrievers I know are very loving and kind, but intelligent? Not especially.

Then I came across another list - and the Border Collie was listed among those breeds who hate cats and should not be left alone with them. Guess I'd better tell Suzie and Tiger they can't be friends any more.

I also learned that Border Collies are type A dogs for type B humans, and that they make great jogging companions. I don't know about jogging, but Suzie makes a great "go feed the horses" companion.

Border Collie's are also listed as one of the ten clumsiest dogs... maybe because they move so quickly? I think I won't tell Suzie about this, because she'd be insulted. She thinks she's a graceful, beautiful princess... and she is!

Here's to happy critters,
Marte

A great book for dog lovers

As you've noticed, I've been reading a cool book called "Planet Dog" by Sandra Choron.

I just checked and it's available through Buy.com for under $10 - and I paid $14.95 at the store. Just goes to show that buying on line can save a lot of money, especially when you can get free shipping.

Planet Dog is filled with tips, trivia, facts, and fun. For instance, I just learned that an estimated 1 million dogs in the United States have been named the primary beneficiary in their owner's will!

This is a fun book - get a copy for every dog lover on your list this Christmas and they'll get hours of enjoyment from it. That's a whole lot better than a sweater that's the wrong color or a kitchen appliance that means more work!

Just click below, and your Christmas gift giving will be off to a roaring start!


Planet Dog: A Doglopedia

A Dog Creation Theory

1. On the first day of creation, God created the dog.
2. On the second day, God created man to serve the dog.
3. On the third day,God created all the animals of the earth to serve as potential food for the dog.
4. On the fourth day, God created honest toil so that man could labor for the good of the dog.
5. On the fifth day, God created the tennis ball so that the dog might or might not retrieve it.
6. On the sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep the dog healthy and the man broke.
7. On the seventh day, God tried to rest, but He had to walk the dog.

From Planet Dog by Sandra and Harry Choron

Dogs and Cats - Love or Hate?

Do your dogs pick on your cats? Or is it the other way around?

I have a big yellow cat who loves to terrorize my dogs as much as they love to chew on him and pull his hair out all over the living room carpet. When I tell them to "leave it" they go lay down, but then he hides behind a chair and waits until one of them moves so he can jump out on them.

Do they hate each other? No, not at all. I think they're quite fond of each other.

Years ago I had Harry Dog and a cat named Snodgrass. They would wrestle and chase each other - tumbling around just like my dogs do with each other now. Then when they got tired, they'd flop down together for a nap.

I had a "yard sale cookie jar" in a window sill. It had no lid, and it was filled with small dog biscuits. Snodgrass would jump up there and throw down 2 biscuits - one for him and one for Harry - and they'd eat them together. Theirs was a partnership like few humans ever enjoy.

How about your critters? Do your dogs and cats love or hate each other?

By the way, the critters pictured here aren't mine - this is a photo I got in an email and couldn't resist sharing...

Here's to happy furballs,
Marte

How do dogs get themselves in such trouble?

This week-end I started noticing blood on the floor in the kitchen - and more blood on the floor by the bathtub. Since my dog pepper is the only one who likes to sleep in the bathroom, I knew it had to be coming from him, but why?

I checked his feet - no cuts. And then I made him stand up, and there right on the part of his backside that hits the floor when he sits, was a glob of bloody hair.

With the help of my clippers, I discovered a cut about an inch long - not deep enough to warrant stiches, thank goodness. I treated it with ointment and applied a bandage, which stayed on for perhaps all of 5 minutes.

But why? How does a dog get a cut on his "sitter-down" parts? We don't keep knives embedded in our floors, there are no barb wire fences that he can't run under without hitting the wires, we don't live in an area filled with sharp rocks - I can see nothing here to put a gash in a dog's hind-end.

I guess I'll never know the answer. I'll just be glad the gash wasn't deep and aside from wincing when he sits down, Pepper is none the worse for wear.

Keeping shelter dogs warm and cozy

Yesterday I talked to a woman who has taken it upon herself to provide blankets to dogs living in California shelters. It seems that when the dogs are more comfortable, and thus happier, they're adopted faster.

Who'd have thought that a blanket would help get a critter a home?

I thought you might like to read about her work...

Woman keeps shelter animals blanketed with puppy love - LA Daily News


CNN Headline News story.

A Plug for Priest River Animal Rescue

Off to the right you'll see a new addition - a contest in which some animal shelter will win $10,000.

I voted for Priest River Animal Shelter because I helped start it about 6 years ago, and because our small town has a great need for more spay and neuter funding.

So, unless you have a favorite of your own, please go vote for PRAR by November 1.

Thanks,
Marte

Ever hear of "Bedbug dogs?"

Our local newspaper ran a story this week that proves once again that dogs are "Man's best friend."

It seems that America is experiencing a resurgence of bedbugs. Yeah - those icky little creatures that live in your bedding and come out during the night to bite you!

When I was a kid they were associated with people who didn't bathe - or wash their bedding. Now they're showing up all over the place. In upscale hotels and even in hospitals.

The article didn't say why, but it did say what some people are doing about it. They're hiring "Bedbug dogs" to sniff them out so they can be eradicated.

Just like drug sniffing dogs can alert on a suitcase or a car fender, these highly trained canines can go into a room and find the little insects where they're hiding.

So, to those idiots who starve, abuse, and abandon dogs and then say "It's just a dog," we can once again reply: "Idiot."

Here's to the dogs!
Marte