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Archive for the 'About Dogs' Category
Jack Russell Terrier
These dogs are loving, loyal, and very smart. But when they’re bored they can be destructive. It is very important that a potential dog owner understand the nature of this breed before they decide to bring it into their home. The Jack Russell is a working terrier, with lots of energy and tenacity. They have high energy, dig, bark, and chew. So they need structure and daily physical and mental exercise.
Many unsuspecting people expected an adorable, low-key and well-mannered small dog (17 lbs.) like Eddie on the TV show “Frasier.” What they don’t know is that Eddie had a full-time trainer.
So, why are these dogs so popular? When they live with people who understand them, who keep their minds and bodies exercised, who train them and work then constantly and set limits, the Jack Russell is an outstanding companion.
This information is provided by www.barkingmart.com
The temperament of the Golden Retriever is a hallmark of the breed and is described as “kindly, friendly and confident.” They are not “one man dogs” and are generally equally amiable with both strangers and those familiar to them Their trusting, gentle disposition, therefore ,makes them a poor guard dog.
The typical Golden Retriever is calm, naturally intelligent with an exceptional eagerness to please.
This information is provided by barkingmart.com
We love our pets. Americans will spend $43.4 billion on our pets in 2008, a 5 1/2% growth from 2007, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. That’s more than double what pet owners spent more than a decade ago, the group noted.
Contributing to that growth are high-end products and services such as pet spas, day care, and luxury gifts for pets. Another fast-growing area is pet insurance according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. “Pet owners want to protect themselves and their pets against unexpected medical expenses,” says Bob Vetere, president of the association. More than 2 million pet owners currently subscribe to pet insurance. By 2010, APPMA estimates that 5 to 7 % of all pet owners will carry a pet insurance card.
The aging baby boomer population is filling their houses with pets as grown children move out, and this is also contributing to the change in the pet industry, Bob Vetere says. “For empty-nesters, pets are filling a void in their lives, and they’re showing their appreciation to their pets,” he said.
Despite concerns of an economic slowdown as Americans spend more cautiously, the pet industry appears somewhat insulated from recession talk, the association said. “Pet owners and the companies providing pet products and services show no sign of letting up,” Vetere said.
This information is provided by barkingmart.com.
• Keep Your Pet Fit and Trim
To help your pet maintain a normal weight(you should be able to feel ribs), measure its food, keep treats to a minimum, and exercise your pet daily.
• Learn to Do Things Yourself
Learn to handle pet grooming at home, from brushing to bathing to nail trims. Learn to brush your pet’s teeth to save money for expensive cleanings at your vet’s.
• Minimize Risk from Accidents
Keep dogs in an enclosed area and always walk them on a leash. Keep cats indoors to prevent injuries and disease.
• Work with Your Vet to Cut Costs
Ask your vet if he/she offers discounts for senior citizens, multiple pets, and promotions such as Dental Health Month.
• Shop Smart for Pets
Buy in bulk. Choose largest bag of food or litter. Split food purchases with a pet-owning friend.
• Trade Goods and Services
You can provide one service such as tax prepartion for another, such as pet sitting or pet supplies.
We need to make sure that our homes and yards are pet friendly. Here are some important tips.
In the Home:
Household environmental toxins can be a major concern to our pets. According to a report from EWG (Environmental Working Group), industrial chemicals show up in our pets at even higher rates than those of the average person. The chemicals most detected are stain and grease proof coatings and flame retardants used in furniture and flooring.
It stands to reason that if our homes are safe for our pets, they will also be safe for humans.
For sofa loving pets, hemp mixed with raw silk or wool are often the best fabrics. Because pets are sensitive to chemicals in products, cat scratch posts made from polyester carpeting or pet beds of polyester batting should be discouraged.
Household Toxins:
• Fabric softener sheets • Ibuprofen • Most cleaners and detergents
In the Garden:
Aside from not using toxic fertilizers and plants in gardens, there are other pet friendly approaches. Create pathways of hardscape along the pathways where your pet naturally walks. Plant durable foliage like grasses that can withstand a dog chasing a ball or toy.
Toxic Plants and Substances:
• Azaleas • Geraniums • Lilies • Mistletoe • Mushrooms • Oleander • Snail & Slug baits • Weed killers • Fertilizers • Cocoa mulch
This informatiion is provided by barkingmart.com
Pawcatuck River Labrador Retriever Club
Thursday & Friday
September 18 - 19
North Stonington Agricultural Fairgrounds
Wyassup Road, North Stonington, Connecticut 06359
The Labrador Retriever is medium in size, strong, athletic, and well balanced. They are friendly, outgoing, and possess an extremely sweet personality. There are two types of Labrador: The American, which is tall and lanky, and the English, which is more thick and heavy. This sporting breed is adept at hunting and retrieving. Labrador Retrievers are revered as companions and highly respected for their loving nature. They make excellent family pets.
This information is provided by barkingmart.com
This is an excellent new book about keeping our dogs healthy.
Speaking for Spot was a labor of love for Dr. Nancy Kay, fueled by her passion to teach people how to be effective medical advocates for their four-legged best friends. Gone are the days of simply following doc’s orders-today’s dog lovers are confronted with health-care decision-making on many levels. Perhaps you’ve wondered:
• How do I find a vet that feels just right for me and my dog?
• How will I be able to afford my dog’s health care? Is pet insurance the way to go?
• Does my dog truly need all those vaccines listed on the reminder postcard?
• What are the important questions I should be asking my vet?
• Does my dog really need the surgery or procedure that has been recommended?
• Are there other options I should be considering?
• When is it appropriate to get a second opinion? Where should I go to get one and how can I avoid offending my vet?
• Should I take my dog to see a specialist?
• Should I consider treating my dog’s cancer?
• Am I doing the right thing? Am I doing this for him or for me?
• Is my dog ready to say goodbye? Am I ready to let him go? What are my choices when it comes to the euthanasia process?
If you’ve struggled with these questions, you’ve come to just the right place! Dr. Kay and Speaking for Spot will help you answer all of these questions and many more. With warmth, candor, and humor cultivated over 20-plus years of working with dogs and their human companions Dr. Kay provides an insider’s guide to navigating the potentially overwhelming, confusing, and expensive world of veterinary medicine. The result is everything you need to know in one fabulous, fully illustrated book. Speaking for Spot is the consummate guide on how to be your best friend’s medical advocate!
Check out the Speaking for Spot website for more information.
This information is provided by barkingmart.com
Pets can pull you out of a depression, they can help distract you from pain, and they can get you up and moving when you didn’t think you could walk another step.
Pets can provide support in ways that people can’t because they offer love and companionship without judgment.
Pets can also keep secrets, enjoy silence, and they can be great snugglers.
Petting a dog or even watching fish swim in an aquarium has shown to decrease spikes in blood pressure caused by stress and tension. A UCLA study showed that men were less likely to be depressed if they owned a pet. Pet ownership also decreases the need for medical care among the elderly and has been associated with improved health among people with disabilities.
For children, animals can be a best friend that teaches responsibility, compassion and nurturing behavior. They are a source for learning about life, and are often a child’s important first experience with death.
Let’s protect our special pets with warm clothes.
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.” Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life –like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The
six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog were the teacher you would learn things like:
· When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
· Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
· Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
· Take naps.
· Stretch before rising.
· Run, romp, and play daily.
· Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
· Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
· On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
· On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
· When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
· Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
· Be loyal.
· Never pretend to be something you’re not.
· If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
· When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
This was provided by www.barkingmart.com
Excerpt from a Dog’s Diary:
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
Excerpt from a Cat’s Diary:
• Day 983 of my captivity.
• My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
• They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
• The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
• Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am. Bastards.
• There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.
• Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.
• I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
• The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now………
This is provided by www.barkingmart.com