Remembering Your "Other" Family Member.

As you know, Christmas is coming. This is a time for rejoicing and being with family. If you are like I am, my dog, Chance, is a big part of my family. My step-son is 18 now and Christmas is really for little children, so, we will spend on Chance. My step-son just wants money so he can pick out what he wants. I saw a great article in the paper on Nov. 18Th about a boutique called Ooh LaLa in Westmoreland. I had heard about this shop from a lady that had her little poodle, Cubby, in the same obedience class as Chance at Timbral Pet Services. I haven't been to this boutique myself, but I plan to now that I have seen this article. They carry luxury items such as Juicy Couture and Ed Hardy. But, they also have outfits that fit dogs from teacup size to 100 pounds. Other items include playpens, which are great for the toy breeds, collars, stairs for the pet that isn't as spry as they used to be, and much more. If you get a chance, take a trip to Westmoreland and check them out. Remember, when buying treats, rawhide treats are O.K., but they can cause gastric problems, such as blockage, bloating, and they can cause the gums to bleed if you let your dog chew for long periods. Let your dog chew for awhile, and then take the treat and put it up, substituting with a toy. Also, any stuffed toys need careful supervision. Your dog may be a chewer/tearer and will get the stuffing out of the toy and possibly ingest it. I have a friend that had to have surgery on his German Shepherd because she decided she liked the inside better of her stuffie and tore it out and ate it. Her intestinal tract became blocked, resulting in surgery. Keeping your pet happy and healthy is so important. Remember, dogs and cats have feelings. Dogs, more than cats, actually feel left out. Dogs are pack animals, as cats are solitary creatures. But, that does not mean that they (cats) can't and don't feel left out, too. Have a great holiday and remember to give a little extra attention to your "other" family member(s).

New Toy Prissypants.

In May of this year, my sub-division at Frazier's Lane in Lesage, WV, had the community yard sale. One of my neighbors had a huge tub full of dog toys. I bought them and have given most of them to my dog and my neighbor's dog, Eli. (his picture is on this blog; the little Australian Shepherd). The others I am taking to Little Victories when I have my next meeting with Sue. Have you ever noticed how your dog acts when you give them a new toy? My dog, Chance, gets the "prissypants," as I call it. He got to get his last toy out of the bag. He rooted around, actually threw a couple out of the bag, searched around till he finally found the "right" one. He took off toward the bedroom like he had turned on his after-burner. He got on the bed and then jumped off and actually prissed through the hallway into the living room. And, when he gets a new toy, he carries it everywhere. He will even pee holding it in his mouth. It is so funny. Just thought I would share that little story. If you have a funny story, leave it as a post and I will post it.

Dog Toys.

Toys, Toys, Toys.

Dogs are a lot like children.
They love toys. They love things to play with. Dogs grow older but they never really do grow up do they? And they will always get enjoyment out of having their own toys to play with. There are so many different varieties of toys on the market for dogs that it can often be quite difficult to know what to buy. All dogs love to chew, and you'll find that most dogs' toys are chewable. Toys are essential if your dog is going to be left on it's own for extended periods of time as they can become bored quite easily. A good toy can keep a dog amused for hours when they are younger
and as they grow older they will have learned to spend time on their own without fretting or getting into mischief. Many dogs also like to have their own possessions and a good toy is ideal to keep them satisfied. The best places to look at a wide selection of toys for dogs are the online pet stores that have all you could dream of and ready to be delivered to your door overnight. Take a look and see what you think will keep your dog amused.

Toys

Any toy is great. Although the stuffed toys can be hazardous. When giving a stuffy, as we call them, monitor the dogs reaction with the toy. If your baby starts to pull at a part of the toy, take the toy away and tell the dog "no tear", and give it back. If your dog is persistent with the pulling, he/she is likely to continue to tear it up. Take the toy away and substitute a hard toy or pull toy. Even with the pull toys, if you buy one of the braided ones, you still need to monitor your pet. But, if your dog stops the pulling/tearing, praise the dog and give a small treat. Also, make sure that you sew any part that has a tear. Any tear is tempting to your dog to continue the destruction. A dog that ingests stuffing, will likely have to be taken to the vet and have the stuffing surgically removed. Nasty business. All toys are great. Just choose one that will compliment your pet. If possible, take your dog to the pet stores that allow dogs to visit, and let your dog pick out their own toy. This gives your dog a sense of "finding" a toy on their own. Mental challenges are wonderful for your dog.

March 27, 2007 8:41 AM