The Danger of Coyotes

Do you have coyotes wandering the forests near your home? We do, and sometimes they come a bit closer than I like. After all, I have a cat who loves to go outside, and I don't want him to wind up as "lunch."

Coyotes are dangerous for dogs too. Smaller dogs are most at risk, but even a large dog can get in trouble facing a whole pack of coyotes.

Generally, one coyote will come in close and try to lure a dog away from the house - where the whole pack is waiting to attack. Sometimes the only way to chase them away is a gunshot or other loud noise. (I keep a package of firecrackers in the cupboard by my back door, just for this purpose.)

This week one lone coyote decided to come exploring without the pack - and he was sorry. Ralph isn't huge, but he weighs about 80 pounds and most coyotes are barely half that size.

Ralph was laying on the edge of the hill, behaving like the King - and master of all he surveyed - when that coyote got brave and trotted right up almost into Ralph's yard. We might not have noticed, but Suzie saw something going on and went to the window, so we followed her gaze.

And there was Ralph - thoroughly beating up a coyote! My husband opened the door and hollered and Ralph let go of him, but when he tried to run off, Ralph was right back on him. The second time he let go and came back to the house, while the coyote made an escape.

I doubt if he'll come back to our yard real soon - at least not by himself!

I have to admit, I like hearing them howl and yip at night - but only if they sound like they're not too near. When they get loud, I start checking to make sure both cats are in the house and safe.

A poem that bears repeating: Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can get going without pep pills,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then you are probably the family dog!

Dogs - Creatures of habit

My dogs! Sometimes they're just goofy...

Last night my husband sat down to eat and as usual said "It's hot in here" and pulled the slider open a few inches so the cold air from outside would blow in on him.

After dinner, also as usual, I fed the dogs, but forgot to go close the slider. While I was cleaning up the kitchen I noticed the door open further and knew that Ralph, the big dog in the family, had gone on outside. That's fine, he does that.

It really was a little warm in the house, so I left the door open and sat down to listen to the end of whatever news show my husband was watching. In a few minutes Susie came and asked to go out. I told her the door was open, and to go ahead and go.

She just stood there. Then she pawed at me again to go let her out. I sighed and said "Susie, the door is open. Go." Nope, she couldn't do that. So I got up and went to the open door and said "See - it's open. Go out."

Nope... wrong door. She went to the other door and stood there waiting. Of course, I opened the correct door and let her and Pepper both out. When Ralph was ready, he came back in the slider, and Susie and Pepper stood at the other door and barked for me to let them in.

Apparently, it really matters which door you use.

Give the dog a bone

Do you buy bones for your dogs? Our grocery store meat shop sells knuckle bones labeled "soup bones" and our dogs love them. Unfortunately I have one dog who can't have them often because she eats the whole thing and it turns her innards to concrete. I let her chew for a little while, then take the bone away.

So what about those rawhide bones? My three dogs each have a different approach. Ralphie eats his right away - the whole thing. Pepper chews and chews and chews... working on it for hours. And then there's Suzie. I think she doesn't really like them, but she's not willing to share. So she carries hers around and guards it all day.

Once a few years ago, before Pepper came to live with us, she and Ralph each had a rawhide chewy. Ralph went right to work eating his and Suzie laid down beneath a tree with hers between her feet. When Ralph was finished he went over and asked her to play - no way. She had to stay and guard that chewy. Several times that afternoon he tried to get her to leave it and play with him, but she refused.

That evening when we all went into the house I took it away from her and put it up for the night. Then she went to Ralph and wanted to play. He just looked at her and turned his back - we could almost hear him saying to he-- with you! He was miffed and made no bones about it!

It took a couple of days before the two of them started acting like friends again.

It's pretty funny when dogs behave like immature humans.

Too cold for dogs and cats

For the past several days we've been busy keeping warm! Hauling in more wood than usual to keep the fire burning brightly when the high for the day is a blistering twelve. Overnight low was minus 12.

But - we're OK. No ice storms, no roofs caved in, no power outages. Other people are having a tough time - we're just chilly if we go out.

The dogs, who generally want to go out and spend 20 minutes 2 or 3 times during the evening, now rush out, do what they need to do, and come barking at the door. Even the Tiger - that big yellow ball of feline fur - wants back in almost as soon as he goes out.

Since my house has lots of glass, and since the cold has done something funky to my sliding door - the one right next to my desk - I used push pins to hang a comforter over the door. Looks pretty low-rent, but helps keep the cold out and the warm in.

Today I heard one of the pins pop out - which isn't too strange since they don't push in very far. Then in a minute, another one popped, so I turned to look and saw the comforter moving around. In the next instant the whole thing came down - right on top of a Pepper dog who then could not figure out which way was out of there!

Since the sun was shining at that moment I didn't hurry to put it back up - and in a few minutes, there was Pepper, comfortably curled on top of his "new bed." Hmmm... did he deliberately take that down so he could have a comfy spot near my desk? You never know with a Pepper dog. He does like to be comfortable.

Unfortunately, not all dogs have such privileges. I heard about one yesterday who is living in a van because his people moved in to town and the landlord doesn't allow dogs. They're going out into the country once a day to feed him. I wonder if they're remembering warm water. Once a day isn't sufficient, but is definitely better than the poor thing trying to hydrate his body with snow.

I hope he's the same dog I got an email about this afternoon - one who is now living in a foster home and looking for a permanent home.

When we had a dog whose bathroom habits dictated that she live outdoors, we had a heated water bowl that sat next to her dog house with its heated bed. I just wish all dogs could be so loved.

Cats need water too - so if you have outdoor cats (or dogs,) remember to set a bowl of warm water out a few times a day- or get a heated bowl and keep it full. And remember to thump the hood of your car every time before starting it. Many a cat has lost life or limb from crawling up in the engine compartment to get warm. We rescued one once who had just a bloody stump for a tail...

A friend of mine has an outdoor cat that isn't really much of a "people kitty." But she managed to get her into the laundry room night before last. Turns out that cat preferred the cold to the house - she was NOT happy. And my friend wasn't happy with the mess she made. So her sheltered bed is filled with woolen blankets to cozy down into.

Stay warm...

The size of the dog in the fight?

This came in my email tonight and I had to share. Talk about knowing the value of intimidation!

That Mothering Instinct

Sometimes humans just don't give animals enough credit. And sometimes I think our 4 legged friends, or our feathered friends, are a lot better people than people. I think Andy Rooney said that, and I agree.

When I was a kid we had a mutt - D.D. was a black dog who looked kind of like a Cocker Spaniel but had a beautiful flowing feathered tail. For about 2 or 3 years there was a barn cat who had her kittens in a manger in the barn, and D.D. guarded them so well that sometimes mama had trouble getting in. You can bet that the other dogs around did NOT get near those babies.

We hear stories all the time about different species caring for young of other species - like the one that 's been around the internet for a while about the giant turtle and the baby hippo.

Well, today a friend sent me another one, and although it has nothing to do with dogs, it was so heart warming that I posted it on a page on my "Do you love dogs" site.

If you love more animals than just dogs, go here to have a look.

A tribute to the family dog

This has been around a while, but when a friend sent it to me again yesterday, I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

Now, if we could all start behaving a little more like the family dog...

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

...Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

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

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.