Big little Louie

If there was ever a dog who looked good in clothes, big little Louie is it.

I visited my friend Julie not long ago while she was dogsitting Louie for her parents. Louie is the biggest little Dachsund I’ve ever met and thanks to Julie, the most stylish as well.

When she brought Louie out in the stately sweater she’d purchased for him, I just had to get out the video camera to share the moment with all of you. See the video below.

Julie reports that her parents aren’t crazy about the sweater.

“But I swear, it’s just perfect for him. He looks so good in it!” she said, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Julie is one of the most stylish friends I have and it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she managed to pick out the perfect outfit for a Dachsund too.


Now, there is a reason I’m calling the dog big little Louie. Obviously, he’s a small breed dog. Very small. But he’s pretty big for his breed.

Louie has a bit of a weight issue and he’s far from alone. The headline for an article published recently by MSNBC sums up the issue pretty well: “Great. Now our pets are fat, too.”

The article quotes CDC statistics that 34.2 percent of Americans older than age 20 were overweight in 2008 and 33.8 percent of that age group was obese. Our pets statistics are even worse: in 2009, 45 percent of dogs and 58 percent of cats were overweight or obese.

If my mother had her way, my dog would be part of that “overweight or obese” category. And most people are like my mother — they can’t eat in front of a dog without feeling guilty, or they over-treat a dog to make it happy, or they worry that the dog is hungry and since the dog can’t talk, they just assume it is hungry and continue to feed it.

Little dogs are even tougher to manage — we tend to give out treats often, and for a little dog, that can be dangerous. Especially if you’re keeping junk food treats in the cookie jar.

Human food is the biggest sin. That tiny corner of your sandwich is loaded with calories and carbs your dog doesn’t need. Table scraps are terrible.

But, human food can also be our savior in terms of slimming down our dogs. You just have to use the right human foods.

As someone who does positive reward training on a regular basis with my dog, Sensi gets treat overload when we go to work. For a long time, I tried to purchase small, low-fat dog treats to use during these sessions.

But I found something he likes much better and something that’s much healthier for him — vegetables.

Green beans and carrots are his favorite. He goes nuts for some frozen green beans. Potatoes, bananas, other varieties of beans, squash and even pumpkin — oh yes, this means Sensi loves Halloween — are good for your dogs.

And this is how I balance the feelings my parents have about feeding my dog with the beliefs I have about feeding my dog.

“Here, give ‘em some carrots,” I say, and then they can’t scold me for withholding human food goodness from him.

Sure, some dogs — you know, the ones who have grown up sampling McDonald’s until they refuse to eat kibble — won’t be interested. Most dogs will enjoy vegetables, though, and I encourage all of you to give it a shot.

Use them for treats. Use them for training. Use them when your dog is giving you those begging eyes for a bite of your sandwich. Use them when you can’t help yourself from assuming your dog is hungry and you must feed him to make him happy. Use them to take away the guilt you feel and replace that guilt with the feeling that you’re actually doing something healthy for your dog while providing him with food enjoyment.

If your dog is not a regular vegetable eater, though, start small. Big changes to a dog’s diet can cause some really messy digestion issues. Perhaps include a small portion of chopped veggies with his breakfast or dinner to help his tummy get adjusted to healthy foods.

And, never forget that there are lots of human foods — vegetables and beyond — that can be poisonous to your dog. Grapes and apple cores fall into the category. Check out a good long list of things not to feed your dog here.

Obesity can cause some very major health problems for dogs. Many overweight dogs will have to deal back problems, hip problems, arthritis, breathing issues and more.

One last tip: Let’s stop thinking we have to feed our dogs treats and table scraps to make them happy and instead, think of our dog’s happiness in terms of its health.

Ypsilanti Twp. considering pit bull spay/neuter law

So often, local governments faced with a dog problem turn directly to breed bans to solve it.

I don’t and never will support breed bans. A moronic and irresponsible owner can turn any dog into a dangerous one, so my position is that breed bans are shortsighted and don’t do enough to protect people from all dangerous dogs, regardless of breed. Breed bans are ineffective at everything except discriminating against dogs and that’s all it really is — a type of discrimination that gives people a false sense of safety.

Ypsilanti Twp. appears to be thinking outside the box, however, and I fully support the ordinance they’re considering.

The ordinance would require all pit bulls to be spayed or neutered by Jan. 1, 2011. It would allow animal control officers to impound pit bulls who are not spayed or neutered and would be a criminal misdemeanor for the dog owner, punishable by a fine of not more than $500 and/or 90 days in jail.

Here’s what I like about it:
1) It is not a breed ban.
2) Neutering a dog gives it less reason to roam, as intact male dogs will often find a way out of their yards to pursue a mate.
3) Spaying and neutering dogs can also cut down on aggressive behaviors.
4) Spaying and neutering dogs cuts down their chances of getting certain types of cancers substantially.
5) It limits backyard-breeding. Backyard breeders are often people who care little about ensuring the parent dogs are of good breeding quality. A quality breeder will show you health tests proving their dogs don’t have health issues common for that breed. And with pit bulls, it’s incredibly important to get a puppy from a breeder who is specifically breeding for solid, friendly temperaments. Many backyard breeders are just looking to make a quick buck and with pit bulls especially, it can be a dangerous thing. Many backyard breeders of pit bulls are not very scrupulous folks and may even be breeding specifically for aggression and other unsavory characteristics, making things like the dog’s physique a higher priority than its temperament.

If there’s a pit bull breeder in the township who is producing champion show dogs, I’m sorry for their misfortune. And certainly, no breeders of champion pit bulls will be relocating to the township. But the fact of the matter is, there’s probably very few if any quality breeders like that in the township. So, this new ordinance will have little impact on serious breeders but will go a long ways towards stamping out backyard breeders — which I don’t think is a bad thing.

The Ypsilanti Courier published some evidence local officials are using to make their case for such an ordinance even stronger.

The township has a pit bull overpopulation problem and here are the numbers to prove it:
According to data provided by the Humane Society of Huron Valley, in 2009, 49.2 percent of all dog intakes in Ypsilanti Township were pit bulls. In 2009, the breed accounted for 50 percent of all euthanasia performed at the Humane Society of Huron Valley. For the top ten breeds taken in by the Human Society in Ypsilanti Township in 2009, 237 of the 432 were pit bulls.

(information from The Ypsilanti Courier)

The Courier is also reporting that the Humane Society of Huron Valley has a grant which will allow for free spaying and neutering of pit bulls in the township for at least the next year and a half.

This means the ordinance doesn’t have to create a financial hardship for anyone — even better.

Some residents are concerned the ordinance is a bit of a slippery slope, just one step away from a breed ban. But I don’t think that’s fair. I can’t think of one community that enacted a spay/neuter rule, period.

I can think of a lot of communities that went straight for breed bans, but none that considered a law like this.

I’ve weighed out the pros and cons of this and what’s the outcome? Five pros and just one con, which is the affect on quality breeders of champion show dogs — and like I said, there’s probably few if any of those folks in the township.

And last but not least, who really wants to defend the decision not to spay or neuter? Unless you are a quality breeder, there's no excuse. It is, in my opinion, an indefensible decision to not spay or neuter your dog.

I’ve got to give kudos to Ypsilanti Township for looking at a law that has so many positives for the pit bull community and so few negatives.

For those of you who disagree with my stance on this, here's an anti-BSL website to visit that is also writing about this ordinance being considered by Ypsilanti Township. I understand their points, but I'll maintain my position that this ordinance is a refreshing way to solve what statistics show is a pit bull overpopulation problem in that community.

Adopt me!

I stopped by the Oakland Pet Adoption Center earlier this week — always a heart breaking venture.

Of course, I went straight for the big dog cages to check out who was available. A giant black dog listed as a stray picked up in Wixom stood quietly and calmly behind the bars. He was older, no doubt, and black, and large — that's three strikes against him. Three things most people don't want in an adoptable dog. As he smiled and gently wagged his tail when I got closer to his cage, I just felt so sad. Here was this stray, this even-keeled, friendly old man of a dog and what are the chances he might actually get adopted? Pretty slim. I wanted to cry. I've been thinking about him ever since.

And then there were the two hound dogs — I bet they'll go quick. Young, energetic, beautifully colored dogs. I keep thinking about them too.

There were a couple pit mixes and a Rottweiler. Will anyone adopt these guys? I don't know, and I guess that's what haunts me at night.

We can't adopt a dog right now. Sensi has made it clear that while he enjoys having dog friends, he doesn't want a live-in dog friend. He doesn't want to share us and now, especially with him being in his golden years, I don't want to make his life miserable.

But Brent and I have both decided that when the day comes that we say our final goodbye to Sensi, we'll head to the shelters to pick out a large and friendly dog. That's the only criteria. Large and friendly.

And so, I just can't get that old black dog out of my head. Please, somebody, adopt these dogs.

Here's video of all the big dogs that were at the Oakland Pet Adoption Center on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The center is located at 1700 Brown Road in Auburn Hills. Call 248-391-4101.

If you do adopt one of these dogs, let me know!

Wishes for Wishbone: Vote for a local dog to win Purina Pro Plan’s ‘Doing More for Pets’ Rescue Stories Contest

A skinny dog was dragging around a tow chain from his neck, his skin red and hair falling out, and yet he was still walking — dazed and dehydrated, but searching for water.
The sickly dog spotted a water bottle in the hand of a man standing near a truck and cautiously, he approached the man, his eyes fixed on the water bottle.
This is how Wishbone was found.
The man holding the water bottle poured the water into the dog’s mouth. Wishbone was emaciated and covered in blood and scabs. The man couldn’t turn away from the dog and instead, put him in his truck and drove home.
A trip to the veterinarian’s office confirmed that Wishbone had sarcoptic mange, an awful skin condition that is difficult to treat. It causes the dog to scratch profusely, ripping out hair and creating open wounds.
To treat the condition, the dog has to receive “dips” often, sometimes more than once a day depending on the severity. A dip basically means the dog is bathed in a deep bath full of medicine. The treatment is time consuming and expensive.
The man with the water bottle sought help from rescues, making several calls to rescues in the Tennessee area where the dog was found. Nobody could help.
As a last resort, he reached out to a friend in Michigan who runs PupeLuv Rescue, Inc. The man offered to drive the dog to Michigan if the group could take him, and they agreed to do so.
“We were shocked at the condition of the dog that had nothing but love and kisses to give us humans,” wrote the group. “What monster could let this happen to such a beautiful soul?”
They coined the dog Wishbone, got him the veterinary care he needed to make a full recovery and even got him a very special foster home with a woman who was seeking a dog that would give her a purpose; a dog who needed more than just your average rescue.
Wishbone fit in so well at the Oakland County woman’s home that she decided to formally adopt him. Now, he’s healthy, fit and living it up with his new family
He’s even getting a little national attention.
Wishbone’s story was selected as one of ten finalists in the Purina Pro Plan “Doing More for Pets” Rescue Stories Contest. In order to win, though, he needs votes.
His story (plus a video about him) and the stories of nine other rescued pets are posted online at the Rally to Rescue website and clicking on the "Vote for your favorite rescue story!" link along the top. Voting is open through Oct. 1.
Wishbone is currently ranked number 7 out of the 10 rescue stories, so he needs lots of votes to move up to number 1!
A win for Wishbone would be a win not just for him, but for his owner and PupeLuv Rescue, Inc.
If he wins, an ambassador for the rescue group that took him in, Wishbone himself and his new owner will be awarded a trip to the National Dog Show presented by Purina in Philadelphia this November. PupeLuv Rescue, Inc. would also receive $5,000 in Purina Pro Plan brand pet food coupons.
Voting is easy. Just click here to be taken to the webpage, find Wishbone’s entry and check the box next to it.

The Lions let me down

I like watching football, but I usually don't expect much from our Lions. And I wasn't expecting much of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles either, but I was hoping with every bit of my heart that they'd pull out a win against the Eagles.

It was Michael Vick's first time as a starting quarterback since he was suspended from the league due to the dog fighting conviction.

Had the Lions beat Vick upon his return as a starter, it would've been such a sweet little victory for me.

Sure, Vick had his punishment. And sure, Vick is a talented football player. Lots of people just want to forget about this dog fighting blemish in his history and let him move back into the NFL starlight. And it appears that's exactly what will happen. His performance yesterday was good and the announcers were even predicating that at some point, Vick will be back in a permanent starting position with some team.

But I just can't get over what he did to those dogs. I can't help but think of how poor Rose suffered, her internal organs slowly seeping out because someone had kicked her in the stomach hard enough to break her body cavity. And how she suffered and suffered, the pain increasing over time until she could no longer walk. The poor dog suffered alone, no one there to stroke her or care for until the very last moments of her life.

I can't help but think of the dogs were hung, drowned or shot because they weren't game enough. I can't help but think of the female who had all her teeth removed so she didn't attack the males she was forced to mate with. And I can't forget all the dogs who were found to be not aggressive, but just scared — so scared they could barely bring themselves to move, frozen in fear of a world they'd never seen before.

One of the announcer's said Michael Vick was redeeming himself with how well he played football yesterday. Really? What is he being redeemed for? Nobody ever said Michael Vick was bad at playing football. But certainly, he was bad at owning dogs. In fact, I can hardly think of a worse dog owner in the NFL's history.

I don't want to hear about Michael Vick's redemption. Not when some of his dogs are still out there, still trying to overcome the intense fear Vick caused them to live with.

I can accept that Vick was punished, he's served his time and now he gets a second chance.

But that doesn't mean I have to forget about what he did. And certainly, I'd have jumped for joy if the Lions had crushed Vick's attempt to "redeem himself."

Of all the times the Lions have let us down by losing games, yesterday's loss was a bigger let down for me than the others.

Learn more about what happened to Michael Vick's dogs:
Want to receive a free copy of Jim Gorant's The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption? Email me (karen@oakpress.com) with your name, address and phone number by Wednesday, September 29. One winner will be selected at random on September 30 and the book will be shipped to the winner's address.

Also, check out last week's review of this fantastic book — featuring videos of the rescued dogs and a photo of Rose, the dog mentioned above. Click here: Review of Lost Dogs book

The dog who hates rain

I know I've written about this before: my dog hates the rain.
And snow, but he hates rain more.
Here's some examples of how much he hates and tries to avoid rain:

1) His potty area used to be just off a concrete patio flush with the ground that had a deck overhead, stopping much of the rainfall. Sensi would walk to the edge of the concrete patio, securely under the overhang and point himself toward the grass, lifting a leg to pee off the porch. He would not go past the overhang.

2) Sensi no longer has the above set-up, but it doesn't mean he'll brave the rain. If we force him to go outside, he'll stand on the edge of our front porch looking out, but he won't take a step off it. In fact, we can leave our front doors wide open while it's raining — Sensi won't even go into the foyer.

This morning, Sensi woke up, jumped down from the bed and looked out the window. I swear to you, he had this "Oh crap" look on his face. I know he was thinking about how bad he had to go to the bathroom and the fact that he couldn't go because it was raining.

But he had to go. I know he had can hold it like a pro, but not for eight hours. And with me on my way to work for the day, that's at least how long he'd have to wait.

So I came up with an idea: Use one umbrella for myself and another to hold over the dog. I totally realize how strange that is, so I thought I'd videotape us trying to figure it out for your amusement.

Enjoy!

New book tells the tale of the Michael Vick pit bulls

*Read to the end and find an offer for a contest where you can win a copy of this book for free!

I remember the day the story broke; watching images from a news' helicopter hovering over the property of one of the NFL's superstar quarterbacks, Michael Vick.

I had this sense of pure disbelief at first. Professional dog fighting just doesn't happen anymore — or at least not often, or not well funded. And it was equally as difficult to believe that a man with such a high grossing career and so much at stake would be so stupid as to risk all that for what has got to be one of the cruelest and stupidest past-times mankind has ever conjured up.

The more the story developed, the more my blood boiled.

One of my husband's friends' fiercely defended Vick.

“He might've owned the property, but there's no way he was involved,” he said.

But as the situation unraveled, it became clear Vick was indeed involved — in fact, intimately involved — in the operation. He admitted his guilt and was suspended from the NFL indefinitely (though he now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles).

He also paid almost $1 million dollars in restitution and incredibly, the money was assigned to the care and rehabilitation of the 47 pit bulls rescued from his property.

The story might've shocked me to begin with, but the announcement that this money would go toward saving his pit bulls was the real jaw-dropping moment.

“Oh my God, did they just say what I think they said?” I asked my husband. “There's no way; most shelters euthanize pit bulls automatically, regardless of temperament. And pit bulls involved in dog fighting are always killed, always.”

I realized then that the Michael Vick case would be a pivotal moment for pit bulls — already, people had seen the dogs as victims, not monsters. And now, these dogs would give the world a chance to see that even pit bulls involved in dog fighting can become good dogs again.

I watched the TV program about the dogs that went to Best Friends Animal Society. It was a great program and fantastic to see how well the dogs were doing, but after that, it seemed like all news about the dogs had dropped off. There were no more follow-ups, no updates or where-are-they-nows.

So when I heard about Jim Gorant's book, The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption, I knew I had to read it. And I did — in less than 24 hours, in fact.

The story begins before you even open the book. A stout little brown dog sits on the front cover, one ear cocked goofily to the side and incredibly human-like eyes peering up in such a manner that you can't help but wonder what she's looking at.

Then you begin reading the first chapter, which starts off with “A brown dog sits in a field.” On the second page, Gorant describes this dog in greater detail, adding that one of the dog's ears folds differently from the other, so it makes “her look as if she's eternally asking a question.”

Reaching that sentence, I flipped back to the dog on the cover, studying her one ear sticking out to the side.

“That's got to be her,” I thought, and I stared into her eyes. “And he's right, she does look like she's full of questions.”

The book follows this dog, Sweet Jasmine, through all she experienced, and she's not the only one. Several dogs are profiled, starting at the Vick property and following them through kennel life, adjusting to foster homes and finally, enjoying a family of their own.



With no less than a touch of genius, Gorant weaves the story of the men involved in unraveling this case and all the obstacles they overcame to find the truth and successfully prosecute those responsible, the incredible efforts of those who fought to save, protect and rehabilitate the Vick dogs and not least of all, the lives of the dogs themselves.

Only two dogs ended up being euthanized because they were too aggressive, but Gorant does not stray from the gritty details nor hide the tears that were involved with rehabilitating the dogs. And that's the beauty of having a journalist — Gorant is a senior editor at Sports Illustrated — write a novel like this; Gorant tells the tale truthfully.

It is often a heartbreaking tale, but an uplifting and inspirational one as well. Take, for instance, the tale of Rose, a sweet pit bull whose injuries were too great to save. Before Rose was humanely euthanized, she nestled into a blanket and took a nap in a sunspot — probably her first time experiencing such comfort. A photo of Rose was taken as she napped with a look of great content on her sweet, sunshine-laden face. And that photo (included to your right, courtesy of Animal Farm Foundation) is just one of many included on eight glossy pages inside the book.

As I read through the book, I couldn't help but flip back to the cover of the book and peer into Sweet Jasmine's eyes, or flip to the photo section and find the dog I was reading about.

The book was fantastic. It was hard to set it down for even a moment and when I finished the book, I just wanted to thank Jim Gorant for writing it and writing it beautifully nonetheless.

Pit bulls continue to make bad headlines and as long as there are bad and irresponsible dog owners out there, they likely always will. But stories like this show that pit bulls can be great; even those who come from such terrible circumstances.

The title is entirely appropriate — the novel is truly a tale of 47 four-legged victims, their rescue and redemption.

Thank you, Jim Gorant.

Get a copy of this book for free
Want to receive a free copy of Jim Gorant's The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption? Email me (karen@oakpress.com) with your name, address and phone number by Wednesday, September 29. One winner will be selected at random on September 30 and the book will be shipped to the winner's address.

Buy it now
Can't wait until September 30th to find out if you won a copy of the book? I don't blame you one bit. The hardcover cost is $26. Click here to be taken to the official website. On the left hand side, find a bunch of buttons linking you to multiple websites selling the book (Amazon.com, Borders, etc.) so you can shop around and get the best deal.

Oakland County: Gone to the dogs

Oakland County dog owner Mitchell Brown emailed me this morning to say thanks for the heads-up on the dog swims at county water parks this past weekend.
Mitchell said he took his dog, a yellow lab mix named Mellow, to the Red Oaks waterpark and said "We had a blast."
He added: "How about a shout-out to the event organizers, who did a great job at making it a big success?"
Sure thing, Mitchell.
I have to give kudos to Oakland County Parks and Recreation for all their dog-friendly events. From the most outstanding dog park I've ever been to (Orion Oaks on Joslyn Road in Orion Township) to a seemingly never-ending list of dogcentric events and outings, it really seems like Oakland County has gone to the dogs — in a good way, of course.
Even as fall descends on us, the events are not slowing down.
There's a rattlesnake recognition for dog owners coming up at Lyon Oaks dog park on Oct. 2, an MSU-UM game day tailgating party at all three dog parks on Oct. 9 and of course, a Halloween bash at Lyon Oaks on Oct. 16.
The events are all hosted by Oakland County, which also opened a third dog park at Red Oaks in Madison Heights earlier this year.
The county certainly seems to have caught on that residents love their dogs, love dog parks and love excuses to get out and about with their dogs.
Kudos, kudos, kudos.
Now, enjoy this photo of Mitchell's dog Mellow looking absolutely slap-happy while at the Orion Oaks dog park. (and thank you, Mitchell, for sending along this great photo. It made my morning!)

Dog Days: fall fun for your dog

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Waterford Twp. — Register now to ensure your dog gets a spot at the annual Bow Wow Dog Swim held at Waterford Oaks Waterpark, 1702 Scott Lake Road. Only 75 dogs per slot will be admitted and there are a total of five slots, including two for large dogs and two for medium-sized dogs, and one for really small dogs. Pre-register for $10 — which includes an owner t-shirt, parking, entry, one 55-minute swim session and contest entry — by clicking here, or register for $15 at the event. Registration must be postmarked by September 6. Dogs that are 70 lbs. and larger can swim from noon to 12:55 p.m. or 3 to 3:55 p.m. and dogs between 31 lbs. and 69 lbs. can swim from 1 to 1:55 p.m. or 4 to 4:55 p.m. Dogs 30 lbs. and smaller can swim from 2 to 2:55 p.m. Only dogs will be allowed to swim. A contest for best wet look and best swimsuit will be held. Contact 248-858-4929 for more information, or email stasiakl@oakgov.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Madison Heights — Oakland County will host its second Bow Wow Dog Swim at the Red Oaks Waterpark, 1455 E. 13 Mile Road. Only 75 dogs per slot will be admitted and there are a total of five slots, including two for large dogs and two for medium-sized dogs, and one for really small dogs. Pre-register for $10 — which includes an owner t-shirt, parking, entry, one 55-minute swim session and contest entry — by clicking here, or register for $15 at the event. Registration must be postmarked by September 6. Dogs that are 70 lbs. and larger can swim from noon to 12:55 p.m. or 3 to 3:55 p.m. and dogs between 31 lbs. and 69 lbs. can swim from 1 to 1:55 p.m. or 4 to 4:55 p.m. Dogs 30 lbs. and smaller can swim from 2 to 2:55 p.m. Only dogs will be allowed to swim. A contest for best wet look and best swimsuit will be held. Contact 248-858-4929 for more information, or email stasiakl@oakgov.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Madison Heights — The 5th annual Pet Expo and Adoption Event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Madison Place, 876 Horace Brown Drive. Contests, raffles, vendors, kids games and more will be available, as will several local animal rescues with pets available for adoption. The Madison Heights Police Department will also give demonstrations with its K-9 officers. All attendants will receive a $5 PETCO coupon and can “adopt” a stuffed animal for $5, which will be donated to area shelters. For more information, go online to www.guardiansforanimalspetexpo.org.
Orion Twp. — Volunteers are sought to help clean up the Orion Oaks Dog Park dock area and Lake Sixteen, where dogs visiting the park can swim. The clean up will be from 10 a.m. to noon and volunteers are asked to meet in the Lake Sixteen parking lot off Joslyn Road just south of Clarkston Road. Kayaks will be available for registered volunteers and people are also welcome to bring their own non-motorized watercraft. The Clinton River Watershed Council will provide bags and gloves. Donations of tennis balls are also sought. To participate, call Kathleen Dougherty at 248-858-0704 or email doughertyk@oakgov.com.
Waterford Twp. — Take your dog on a one-mile walk and help raise money for cancer research at the same time during the Waterford Fire Department Relay for Life team’s “Bark for Life” mini-relay. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at Waterford Parks and Recreation, 2303 Crescent Lake Road. The cost is $20 for the first dog and $10 for each additional dog. The group is also seeking donations to fill doggie goodie bags, which they hope to give away to all canine participants. All dogs must be on a six-foot-leash. The walk begins at noon and a best dressed pet contest will be at 1 p.m. Other games, contests, prizes and more will follow. Contact Melissa at 248-318-4664 or email m_hackney@comcast.net, Holly Soranno at 248-663-3452, or go online to www.relayforlife.org/waterfordmi.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Madison Heights — Enjoy an ice cream social with your dog from noon to 3 p.m. at The Pet Beastro, 27637 John R. Road. Canines can sample Yoghund frozen yogurt made for dogs will humans will be served regular ice cream. Caricature artist Rick Powell will be available for drawings and pet food samples will also be given away. Call 248-548-3448 or go online to www.facebook.com/thepetbeastro.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
Wixom — Learn how to identify dangerous snakes and what to do to keep your dog safe during “Rattlesnake Recognition for Dog Owners” from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Lyon Oaks Dog Park, 52221 Pontiac Trail. Live snakes and displays will teach owners to recognize the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Michigan’s only venomous snake. For details, call 248-858-0704 or email doughertyk@oakgov.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9
Orion Twp., Wixom and Madison Heights — Take your dog tailgating from 10 to 11 a.m. at one of the county’s three dog parks (Orion Oaks, Lyon Oaks and Red Oaks) and be sure to your colors. Held to celebrate the MSU/UM football game day, the event will feature contests for the Best Furry Fan, the Best Furry Fan and Owner team as well as football-themed activities, contests and giveaways. Admission is free with park entry. Call Laurie Stasiak at 248-858-4929 or email stasiakl@oakgov.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16
Wixom — Celebrate “Howl-O-Ween” with your four-legged friend from noon to 4 p.m. at the Lyon Oaks Dog Park, 52221 Pontiac Trail. Contests, activities for dogs, pet demonstrations, adoptions, vendors and more will be available. Attendants can also get special keepsake photos with their pooches. Admission is free with park entry. Call Laurie Stasiak at 248-858-4929 or email stasiakl@oakgov.com

Not a campground dog

I’m not a spontaneous person, but my husband is. I try to remember that a little spontaneity in life can be good and so, when the circumstances arose that allowed us to take a spur of the moment camping trip, I agreed to go, even despite my worries about incomplete packing, etc.
We were going to take the dog. How in the world can you find a dog sitter at a moment’s notice?
But then, the campground sounded like it would be packed and the lady sternly warned us that “barking dogs would not be tolerated” (which turned out to be a total lie; there were plenty of barking dogs) so we decided to see if my mother — also not a spontaneous person — would be available to dog sit. We were both surprised and happy to find out she was, so we left the dog at home.
We missed Sensi terribly. All the other campers brought their dogs. We felt so incomplete without him.
We got home yesterday and after a couple hours with our dog, it struck me that it probably would’ve been a bit selfish to bring Sensi if we had. As he flipped over and carefully arranged the throw pillows on the couch into a comfy little spot and nestled in for a nap, I realized he is not cut out for camping — at least not in cold, rainy weather.
Sensi doesn’t mind sitting or lying on the ground when it’s hot and he’s looking to cool down, but when it’s not hot, you won’t catch his butt near the bare earth. Even if he gets tired of standing, he’ll crouch into a sit position but hover his butt a couple inches above the cool ground.
He doesn’t like rain in the least bit. He’d rather hold his pee for hours on end than allow raindrops to fall on his head.
Sensi is the king of comfort and a glutton for warmth. He hates being cold; he dislikes being dirty; he doesn’t like sitting on dirt or even non-sod grass and he absolutely despises rain.
So it would not have been a good weekend for him — it rained every day except Sunday and was incredibly cold (temps in the 50s all weekend) for Labor Day weekend.
There is no doubt in my mind that while Brent and I sat beside our firepit with layers of clothing to keep us warm and umbrellas over our heads to protect us from the rain, Sensi would’ve begged to go inside the tent — curling up on his bed as close to the portable heater as possible.
“You did this to him,” Brent said to me last night. “You spoiled him rotten and now he’s like a little baby.”
When it comes to comfort, the dog is spoiled. There’s no ifs ands or buts about that.
But I do have one defense.
“He’s a good dog and I’ve never rewarded bad behavior, so I don’t care if he’s a little spoiled. At least he’s a good boy,” I say.
But that’s about all I can say, because he is one heck of a spoiled dog.

Bathing tips

Having gone through periods with my dog where he needed to be bathed on a weekly, sometimes bi-weekly, basis, I've got the bath thing down pat.
Sensi is so good for his baths. He doesn't like them, but does what I ask with sad, obliging eyes. The poor dude even pushes his head into me, trying to bury himself and seek comfort in the arms of the very woman who is forcing this awful bath on him.
Here's 10 tips to improve your dog's bathing experience. I guarantee that making the bath better for your dog will make the whole experience better for you as well.

1) Nix the outdoor hose idea unless your dog is caked in mud or something. If it's a normal bath, use a bathtub, lukewarm water and purchase a hose attachment for the faucet.

2) Buy a cheap mat for the bottom of the bathtub. Sensi really hates the sensation of sliding around on the slippery bathtub bottom, so a cheap plastic bath mat made a world of difference in his comfort level.

3) When asking the dog to enter the bathtub, drape a folded towel over the ledge — especially if your dog is older or has a hip or arthritis issues. The towel simply gives them some traction as they enter the tub. Once he's in, I take it away and save to use for drying him.

4) Don't wash the head. Dogs hate having water sprayed on their face and ears and the sensation is usually what prompts them to shake all that water off (bad for the person giving the bath). Plus, you don't want to get water into the ear canal and you don't want any soap getting into their eyes, nose or mouth. Wash the dog up to the back of his ears and wash from the chest as far up under the mouth as you can without getting soap on your dog's bottom lips. To rinse, simply hold the sprayer directly on or about a half-inch away from the dog's fur — this ensures the water doesn't spray up around the mouth but rinses specifically the areas you applied the soap to. (If you have a really small dog, that technique won't work.)

5) Do wash in between your dog's toes, both on the front and on the back. These are the dirtiest places on your dog's body and you must do them justice. I drip soap inbetween the toes, lift the paw and scrub with one finger between each toe. Then I put soap on two fingers, relift the paw and scrub between the toes on the underside too. Make sure the dog is positioned securely on the mat when lifting the back paws for cleaning; he'll appreciate having the extra traction as you take one of his leg supports away for a moment to wash.

6) Do seek out a good shampoo that does not irritate your dog. If the shampoo turns your dog's skin red during the bath, seek a gentler or hypoallergenic shampoo. Prescription shampoos and conditioners are available from your veterinarian, but a quality oatmeal shampoo is a gentle way to clean a sensitive dog too. Always use products made for dogs. Their skin's PH is different than a human's skin and they have different needs from shampoo and conditioning products because of it.

7) Do try to create a shake routine. For Sensi, as soon as I drop the spray wand, I quickly pull the see-through shower curtain closed and tell him "OK, shake it off." At first, he'd just stand there looking really sad and confused. Wait for it. You know the dog will eventually shake. After he does, praise him, pull back the curtain and get to towel-drying. Nowadays, Sensi knows the routine so well that it goes like clockwork. I turn the water off, pull the curtain closed, he shakes, I open the curtain, towel dry him and off he goes.

8) Do help your dog use towels after the bath. If your dog is like most dogs, he'll want to roll around and rub on stuff after the bath is over. Why not turn those behaviors into a drying routine by encouraging him to roll and rub on towels?
(Check out Sensi's dry-off routine in the video below)


9) Do bathe your dog regularly starting from a young age, and do touch your dog's paws often starting from a young age. The more you can get your dog accustomed to taking baths, the less stressful it will be for him. And one day, you may reach a point where, like me, you can point at the tub and tell your dog to get in and he just does — no coercing, no carrying, no spastic attempts to avoid the tub. Touching your dog's paws is important too, not just because you need your dog to let you touch them at length in order to wash them, but also because you need to be touching them for regular nail clippings too. So make a habit of just reaching out and massaging or holding your dog's paws a couple times a day.

10) Do reward your dog after the bath. I've used plain old treats, new toys or just games of fetch or tug to reward Sensi after a bath. I do the same thing for nail clippings — another procedure he really hates, but goes through with flying colors despite his complete Eeyore attitude. It's just getting your dog to realize that sometimes, experiences they hate are worth enduring because it ends with an experience they really, really love.

(Photo credit: My friend's Brittany, Ruger, peers into a mirror while he gets dried off after a bath.)

Hi mom, can I have dinner now?

As I mentioned in Monday's post, I was out of the office for a few days this week. I took a short business trip and so, I was away from home and my dog as well.
I was expecting Sensi to welcome me home yesterday the way he normally does whenever we leave him — he does his best to hold back his excitement to see us, but licks and wiggles and wags and sniffs for a few minutes anyhow, and then sulks away to let us know he's not happy with us.
Perhaps sulk isn't the right word. But either way, after that initial greeting, he turns away from us as if he's turning his nose up at us. "I don't need you either, guys," he seems to say. "How do you like it?"
He seems to ignore us for a little while, but by the night's end, he's curled up on the couch soaking in all the attention he can get. He forgives easily.
It was just me traveling this time, though, while he stayed home with Brent. Apparently, it was like I'd never left.
When I got home yesterday, the first time I'd seen my dog in three days, what did he do? He asked for dinner.
Sure, I got the regular wiggle-butt and tail wags, but nothing more than usual. And after a good sniff of my pant leg, he did his little dinner circle dance and wound-up in a play-bow facing his food bowl. There was no mistaking what he wanted — just dinner.
No "I miss you" or even the usual "I miss you but I'm mad at you so I'm trying to hide it."
Nope, just "Hi Mom, can I have dinner now?"
This must be what it's like to have kids.

Mark the end of summer with your dog

All right folks, I'm going to be out of the office for a bit this week so bear with me if I don't post as much as normal. But don't worry — I'm not leaving you empty handed.

I finally updated my dog events calendar today, excluding only those events that are taking place in October. Can you believe fall is here already? Getting these fall press releases is always a bummer this time of year, reminding me summer is once again coming to a close.

And once again, I never did buy one of those kiddie pools for Sensi. I'm so disappointed in myself.

I am, however, looking forward to getting back out into the nitty gritty backwoods of our state parks again. I tend to avoid the wilderness trails in the dead heat of summer, when the biting flies are usually too voracious to make a walk worth your while. The fall can be a bit sketchy too because many of the places we visit allow hunting, but I always take caution to wear my orange vest and yes, Sensi has his own orange vest as well.

But enough about the fall. Here are some of the summer's last dog-related events.

As a side note, the Paws in the Park event in Canton looks like it'll be awesome. I know it's a drive, but some of the coolest doggie sports will be taking place and in many cases, you and your dog will even get a chance to give some of the sports a try too. I don't know about you, but I get stuck on ESPN every time I see a lab or chessie splash into a big pool for the dock diving event. Would your dog do that? If not, perhaps skip the drive to Canton and just take your dog for a swim at one of the county parks to mark the end of summer. Dogs in a pool ... how cool is that?

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28-SUNDAY, AUGUST 29
Canton — Oakland County residents up for a bit of drive may want to check out the second annual Paws in the Park event held at Heritage Park, 1150 S. Canton Center Road. The two-day event is brimming with a variety of activities, contests, entertainment, adoptable pets and more. For a $15 donation, attendants can take part in the one-mile Paw Walk Saturday morning. Paw Walkers are encouraged to dress up and even create floats to be eligible for a six-month supply of dog food from Canidae Pet Foods. Dogs and their trainers will also put on a ‘Rock n’ Roll K9s” event featuring a 45-minute agility show choreographed to music. Attendants can also have their dogs give a shot at the Ultimate Air Dog Competition, where dogs run and jump off a dock into a 30-feet-long pool — the longest jump wins (this always looks like a ton of fun!). There will also be fastest dog competitions, look-a-like contests, pet trick contests, wiener dog races and more. Lots of dog-related vendors, both local and national, will also be on site — including Davisburg dog trainer Shelli Kizner of ClearMark Clicker Training. See the full schedule of events by hour online by clicking here. Cost to attend is $4 in advance or $5 at the door, with children ages 10 and younger getting free admission. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.

THROUGH AUGUST 31
Warren — Donations of pet food will be accepted from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays at Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical, 2200 E. 11 Mile Road. Donations will benefit the Michigan Humane Society and can also be brought to the MHS location in Rochester Hills at 3600 W. Auburn Road.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31
Northville — The “Pints & Pups” fundraiser to benefit The Detroit Bulldog Rescue will be from 7 to 10 p.m. at Poole’s Tavern. Tickets cost $10 at the door and the event is dog-friendly and open to all breeds, as well as people who do not have dogs. Dogs must be leashed and socialized. A silent auction and Bully Bakesale featuring chef-prepared wheat-free dog treats will be available, as will a variety of fun games. Call 248-739-9199.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Waterford Twp. — Register now to ensure your dog gets a spot at the annual Bow Wow Dog Swim held at Waterford Oaks Waterpark, 1702 Scott Lake Road. Only 75 dogs per slot will be admitted and there are a total of five slots, including two for large dogs and two for medium-sized dogs, and one for really small dogs. Pre-register for $10 — which includes an owner t-shirt, parking, entry, one 55-minute swim session and contest entry — by clicking here, or register for $15 at the event. Registration must be postmarked by September 6. Dogs that are 70 lbs. and larger can swim from noon to 12:55 p.m. or 3 to 3:55 p.m. and dogs between 31 lbs. and 69 lbs. can swim from 1 to 1:55 p.m. or 4 to 4:55 p.m. Dogs 30 lbs. and smaller can swim from 2 to 2:55 p.m. Only dogs will be allowed to swim. A contest for best wet look and best swimsuit will be held. Contact 248-858-4929 for more information, or email stasiakl@oakgov.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Madison Heights — Oakland County will host its second Bow Wow Dog Swim at the Red Oaks Waterpark, 1455 E. 13 Mile Road. Only 75 dogs per slot will be admitted and there are a total of five slots, including two for large dogs and two for medium-sized dogs, and one for really small dogs. Pre-register for $10 — which includes an owner t-shirt, parking, entry, one 55-minute swim session and contest entry — by clicking here, or register for $15 at the event. Registration must be postmarked by September 6. Dogs that are 70 lbs. and larger can swim from noon to 12:55 p.m. or 3 to 3:55 p.m. and dogs between 31 lbs. and 69 lbs. can swim from 1 to 1:55 p.m. or 4 to 4:55 p.m. Dogs 30 lbs. and smaller can swim from 2 to 2:55 p.m. Only dogs will be allowed to swim. A contest for best wet look and best swimsuit will be held. Contact 248-858-4929 for more information, or email stasiakl@oakgov.com.

Dogs days — event this Sunday!

I've been busy today and wasn't able to get a full calendar together, but here's a couple events — including one taking place this Sunday. It sounds like there will be a lot to do at the first ever "Paws in the Park" event!

SUNDAY, AUG. 22
Independence Twp. — A “Paws in the Park” event will be from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, in the Lakeview Picnic Pavilion at Independence Oaks County Park, 9501 Sashabaw Road. A picnic lunch, half-mile dog walk and fun activities for dogs, kids and adults will be available. Activities for dogs include bobbing for milkbones, paw art, a kiss your owner contest, a just-for-fun agility course and massages. Several games for people, from face painting to horseshoes, volleyball, raffles and more, will also be available. The event will also offer $10 microchipping for the first 24 dogs who register at the event, nail clipping and a limited number of canine breed identification test kids. Animals will also be available for adoption. The event costs $10 per adult and is free for dogs and children younger than 13. All proceeds benefit the Troy-based Paws for Life Rescue and Adoption. Email info@pawsforliferescue.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31
Northville — The “Pints & Pups” fundraiser to benefit The Detroit Bulldog Rescue will be from 7 to 10 p.m. at Poole’s Tavern. Tickets cost $10 at the door and the event is dog-friendly and open to all breeds, as well as people who do not have dogs. Dogs must be leashed and socialized. A silent auction and Bully Bakesale featuring chef-prepared wheat-free dog treats will be available, as will a variety of fun games. Call 248-739-9199.

My new dog is aggressive to my other dogs; what do I do?

A reader e-mailed me a tough question today:
She rescued a 13-month-old female American Bulldog from a living situation where the dog was kept mostly in a cage throughout her vital socialization stage. The problem is, the new female is behaving aggressively toward her other two male dogs, one of which is also a bulldog. She’s having to keep the dogs separated, meaning the female bulldog is back to spending a lot of time in a cage.
“We want it to work so bad,” she writes. “Do you have any suggestions?”

Indeed I do. I’m posting what I wrote back to her and I hope it’ll help others dealing with similar situations too:

One thing you've got working in your favor is that she is a girl and the other two are boys. I do highly recommend seeing a behaviorist or a trainer who is experienced in canine behavior. This should help you determine if the aggression she is displaying is dog-on-dog aggression, or if it's motivated by fear because of her limited experiences with the world due to her previous living situation. Either way, it's a dangerous situation. But if it's fear that's motivating her behaviors, it might be easier to get her to overcome it. Keep in mind, though, that her extremely limited socialization during her first year may always be a handicap for her in a variety of ways. Just think of it this way: anything she was not exposed to in her previous living situation may cause her to react badly, even aggressively (generally motivated by fear). It's another reason to get her working with a professional now, while she is still young, so you can really get to work on turning her around.

One thing you can do on your own is make sure you have the right equipment to handle the dogs physically. Once you have all that in order, then you can start working on them with walks. This can make a huge improvement, but having the right equipment is absolutely necessary considering the breeds you are working with.

If any of the three dogs pull on the leash, I recommend investing in gentle leaders. I'd get a Halti for the female because it has an extra strap that tightens around the mouth when the dog pulls, acting as a muzzle. My pit never goes on a leash without his Halti, though I use it more for its natural anti-pull effect than the muzzle. If I'm introducing him to a new dog and I'm not sure how well it's going to go, I put a mesh muzzle on him first and then put the Halti over top. You can never have too much insurance that those teeth won't get out! I'd recommend using both on her to start.

Gentle leaders work exactly the same way as the muzzle, except without the extra mouth strap. Depending on your level of comfort with the male bulldog (if she lunged at him, might he bite back in his defense? Not that it'd be wrong for him to do so, but it'd definitely make a bad situation a million times worse) I'd go with either the Halti or the regular gentle leader.

The next step is for you and your boyfriend to start walking all three dogs daily. One of you walks with the boys — keep both boys at your side. These walks are not for sniffing around and peeing on bushes! The other walks with the girl behind the boys; keep the girl at your side too. If you have to start out with a lot of distance between the two groups, then that's just what you have to do. But you want to gradually decrease the distance. The goal is to have her get many good whiffs of their butt scent. You want to see her nose start working. In fact, I'd take treats with you and if you're walking her 4 to 2 feet behind the boys and you see her nose start sniffing without any aggressive body posturing, reward her for the sniff. Dogs sniff eachother; aggressive dogs generally don't. So you want to start reminding her that she is a dog and they are dogs too. At some point, give the boys a little time behind her so they can smell too, but you'll otherwise want to keep her behind them.

Whenever I introduce my pit to a dog I'm not sure how he'll react to, the walk comes first. I have a lot of control of my dog with the Halti and can feel comfortable about the situation with the muzzle on him, so I'll take him in one hand and the other dog in another and we'll walk until they're tired. Then I keep the muzzle on him and let them have some off-leash time so neither feels cornered. The goal for you would be to eventually be able to have just one person capable of walking all three dogs; with their gear on, of course.

The hope is that a walk will show her that all of you are a family, a pack, make her feel like she is part of it and hopefully, make her want to become more involved with the other dogs and show her that the other dogs are not a threat. It’s a bonding thing. Like I said before, if her aggression is motivated by fear, it will be much easier than if it's dog-dog aggression.

Walks alone will not be enough to make your living situation a happy one, so here's my recommendations for trainers:

1) Theresa DePorter, animal behaviorist at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Bloomfield Hills. DePorter is an educated, degreed professional and those can be rare to find.

2) Herr Pet Training, Nicole and Brian Herr. The married couple focuses on solving behavioral problems and have the same philosophy about training as DePorter. They've dealt with a lot of harry situations and are very capable, experienced trainers. They do individual sessions focused on solving your dog's behavior problem.

Lastly, I recommend reading Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. I call it my canine behavior bible. It's very easy to read, even fun, and will give you an insight into dog behavior that is beyond invaluable.

No bones for Sensi

Sensi has food allergies. I’ve been blogging about this all year; his allergies exploded in late December and we’ve been dealing with getting him healthy again ever since.
Part of getting him healthy means going through food trials, a process of elimination used to find out what he is allergic to. He is on a very strict, prescription diet. One week, we add a novel protein like chicken or beef, to his meals. The next week we take it away and watch for symptoms, then start all over again.
We’ve gotten through chicken, salmon and pork with no allergies. Last Wednesday, I started the test for beef — a product he tested allergic to years ago when we went through food trials.
I was hoping for a miracle; hoping that his allergy might’ve magically gone away after all these years that we’ve starved him of bones, rawhides and beef-flavored anything.
I didn’t get a miracle. Sensi is still very, very allergic — proven by his severe reaction to the beef test.
We started the test on Wednesday. By Friday, he seemed very sensitive to petting; hardly a pat on the belly would get that back leg thumping. He was itchy.
The sensitivity continued on Saturday, but he wasn’t scratching or licking himself too badly, so we continued.
On Sunday, he was scratching and licking persistently. Then, the dreaded head shake began at about 4 p.m. What’s so bad about a head shake? It indicates a problem in the ear, usually an infection.
We stopped the food trial promptly, bathed him in a prescription shampoo designed to kill any bad stuff living on the dog’s skin and used an anti-itch leave-in conditioner. He then got some Claritin and later, I applied some hydrocortisone cream on some scratches under his armpit.
By Monday morning, only one armpit looked bad still, but it did look considerably worse. The scratches were puffy and swollen like a Staph infection had moved in. More hydrocortisone, more Claritin and off to work I went.
I got home at 10:30 last night and promptly sat down to look at Sensi. I was mortified at what I saw — a cherry red lesion had spread above his armpit, down his foreleg and on to his chest. Swollen, circular red spots were extending further on to his chest and belly like a rash. It looked painfully red and covered an area about six inches in length and four inches in width.
Luckily, we had leftovers of all his medications from earlier this year on hand. I pulled out the peanut butter and gave him a variety of pills — cephalexin, prednisone, ketaconazole and more Claritin. He looked better this morning, but I gave him another round of pills — minus the ketaconazole, he’ll get that tonight — before I took off to work.
And I took video too.
Take a look and remind yourself that a food allergy can wreak this type of havoc on a dog.

What is with dogs and vacuums?

If you asked someone, off the top of their heads, to name a few things all dogs in general seem to be afraid of, I bet most people would quickly answer, “the vacuum!”
I’m not sure what a dog thinks about the vacuum. I’m sure the noise coupled with the movement is what triggers most fears. And you’ve really got to try to get in the mindframe of a dog to understand where I’m coming from with this one, but honestly, I think the dog sees that human plus vacuum creates some super monster. They don’t see you — their loving human and pack member — and then the vacuum as separate things; they see both you and the vacuum combined as some huge and noisy beast.
Hence why most dogs are OK with vacuums when they’re sitting idle, unplugged and lonely with no human nearby.
It’s kind of like how a dog really thinks his toy comes alive when you pick it up in your hand. Same thing with the vacuum, except when you touch the vacuum and it comes alive, it scares the living daylights out of your pooch.
When Sensi was younger, he tried barking and biting at the vacuum — no doubt behaviors he rolled out in attempt to stop the human-vacuum monster and make it go dormant again.
That was a pain in the butt, so we yelled, “No! Bad dog!” and would make him move away from the vacuum.
Ever since we conquered the vacuum attack, the fear that drove those behaviors became readily apparent. As soon as I pull the vacuum out of the closet, Sensi jumps back like someone just snuck up on him. He’ll walk into another room, trying to keep an eye on the vacuum while trying to stay out of its path too.
When the vacuum moves away from him, he’ll cautiously walk in closer — his body trembling a bit and crouched down too. As soon as I turn the vacuum around, though, he’ll run away like he really believes the vacuum is going to chase him down and bite him.
It’s a tiring routine and one I’m not very proud of.
This is, after all, a dog who has been taught how to play pool. He can learn something complex like that, but yet he’s still afraid of the darn vacuum?
On Saturday, I put my foot down and decided I was ready to conquer my dog’s fear of the vacuum.
I got out a little purse, filled it with kibble and strapped it around my shoulders.
As I vacuumed with one hand, I used the other hand to toss pieces of kibble at him. Even though he was in a different room and reasonably far away from the area I was vacuuming, he was still so scared that he wouldn’t even eat the kibble.
After the fourth or fifth piece I tossed his way, he finally dipped his head down to start eating the kibble. And the games began.
He then started watching me to see if I’d throw another piece, and when I did, he’d try to catch it or race after it. His tail became relaxed, he un-crouched his body and he definitely became focused on the kibble-toss rather than the vacuum monster.
By the time I was finished, he was wagging his tail and coming within four or five feet of the moving, noise-making vacuum, but staying focused entirely on the kibble.
It was a total success, and a fast one at that.
Of course, he’ll still jump the next time I take the vacuum out of the closet and he’ll still be afraid. One time is never enough. This will have to become a routine for quite a while yet, but eventually, he’ll learn that human plus vacuum equals good things for dog.
And that is the goal.
I read a blog recently that said behind every good dog is a lot of work. It’s true, but the work doesn’t have to be arduous or miserable. There’s nothing difficult about tossing treats to your dog while you vacuum — it’s a minor inconvenience for a huge pay off, and when you really think about it, you’re helping your dog be happier and healthier too.

Animal uprising: sensationalism at its most entertaining

Animal Planet first aired its hour-long program, “The Uprising” on Sunday, but my husband and I caught it on TV last night.
I was flipping through the channels when I came across images of dogs viciously attacking something. Generally speaking, any image of a dog on TV will make me stop on that channel.
At first, I was shocked at what the program was reporting — that packs of wild dogs are turning against humans, attacking them not just for food, but out of aggression alone. The wild dog segment of the program profiled an elderly couple believed to be killed by a pack of wild dogs and talked about the growing wild dog problem across the globe — even mentioning a giant pack of dogs in some remote country that targeted a small village and went on a rampage, killing nine people.
The segment also mentioned Detroit’s wild dog problem, which there most definitely is one. My husband works in the neighborhood streets of downtown Detroit every day and many of the guys in his crew keep bags of dog food in their trucks, throwing it out to those feral dogs that look sickly and emaciated.
The program went on to profile a number of incredible attacks launched by animals on humans — from New Dehli monkeys killing the city’s deputy mayor after he stepped out on a second floor balcony to the python problem in Florida’s everglades and perhaps most interesting, the growing coyote population of inner-city Chicago.
The coyote segment was perhaps when I realized just how far this show was taking rare instances and trying to turn them into a pattern.
A female singer was killed by a pack of coyotes in recent years. It happened somewhere out west and let’s be clear, this is an incredibly, incredibly rare incident. The show did disclose that no one really knows what happened to the young woman — whether she was somehow injured or had fallen prior to the attack — and that it’s only the second human death resulting from a coyote attack to ever have been recorded.
The show then turned to Chicago, where coyotes are adapting to the urban environment. Their inner-city population is increasing, yet in keeping with coyotes’ nature, they’re rarely seen.
I found the show to be captivating, but very sensational. They highlighted specific instances of extreme animal behavior from around the globe and mixed it in with some real problems, like invasive species of snakes invading Florida, and wrapped it all up in one big conclusion that animals are turning against humans because we’re taking up too much space.
The conclusion is the sensational part that I have a problem with. Animals are not forming some sort of animal army, communicating across their species and across the world to plot how they will eliminate humans. That’s just foolish.
And it’s foolish to make people terrified of coyotes or even wild dogs.
Coyotes are small animals who hunt alone except for in very rare circumstances. They naturally want to stay away from humans and I’ve heard wildlife officials say the scent of urine from a large lab is enough to keep a coyote at bay. Conversely, they do pose a threat to smaller dogs and cats and they definitely are here in Oakland County. (Read more about coyotes in Oakland County)
To make people think that coyotes might just gang up in a pack and set about killing humans on a regular basis is just sensationalism, though.
Same with wild dogs. Dogs do not revert to being hunters of wild game just because they’ve been abandoned. They’re far more likely to survive in an urban setting, where they can scavenge for food in garbage cans and outside residents, than in a rural environment. (Read an earlier post about dogs being abandoned in the wild)
Wild dogs can carry diseases, become territorial and behave aggressively in a myriad of situations, however. I recommend people stay away from feral dogs. You just don’t know how the dog will react to any sort of advances.
And while a growing wild dog population certainly is a problem, I don’t think it’s the type of problem this program chalked it up to be. There’s lots of reasons to worry about wild dogs, but the idea that our household pets might desert us and join up with a gang of wild dogs to exact revenge on us is not one of them.
Having said all that, I found the show absolutely fascinating despite it’s sensationalism.
Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

Do dogs go to heaven?

Apparently, the answer to that question all depends on your religion.
Two churches of different faiths argued the point on their message boards. What resulted is one of the funniest exchanges I've ever seen, and definitely one of the funniest email forwards I've ever gotten.
I got this email about a year ago now, but was reminded of it during a conversation I had with my mom a little while ago.
Even if you've seen it before, enjoy another look.

Here's the photos:

Oh, beef

Think, just for a moment, what your dog’s life would be like if he couldn’t have any beef products.
No beef food? That can’t be too difficult; just pick up a bag of chicken or lamb kibble, right? Wrong. You’ll spend a half hour or more reading through the ingredient list of every commercial dog food looking for one that does not have animal byproducts. Because think about it — what is an animal byproduct? Other than the fact that it’s from an animal, you really don’t know. And if your dog can’t have beef, you can’t risk feeding him something with animal byproducts because those byproducts might just come from a cow. So, good luck finding a commercial dog food.
What about bones? Well, most bones come from cows. Same goes for rawhides. Your dog’s favorite treats have just officially gone out the window. Good luck satisfying his urge to chew now.
You’ll just buy some of those durable Nylabone chew toys, right? Think again. It can be difficult to find Nylabones that aren’t flavored with beef. Even many rope toys and other toys are now flavored with beef too, so you must be careful about selecting non-flavored toys.
How about treats? Most treats are beef-flavored or, like commercial dog foods, contain undisclosed animal byproducts. Luckily, there is a wide variety of non-beef treats on the market right now and this is one of the easier hurdles to overcome.
It doesn’t stop there. Dogs that can’t have beef, due to allergies, may also have issues with leather. This, thankfully, is also not such a big deal. It just means using nylon collars and leashes rather than leather ones, which most people already use anyway.
All things considered, though, a dog who can’t have beef certainly is a challenge, and it makes you kind of sad for your dog too. How would you feel if you could never give your dog a tasty bone to chew on again?
I started testing Sensi this morning to see if he is still allergic to beef. This is the second time in his life that we’re doing food trials to determine what he is allergic to — though admittedly, if we’d done a more thorough job the first time around, we probably wouldn’t be doing it all over again.
A food trial is when you limit the dog’s access to anything other than his veterinarian-approved diet and water until the dog has no symptoms of allergies, then you add a specific food item to his diet daily for one week and watch for symptoms of the allergy to return. The week that follows, you return to his veterinarian-approved diet only and continue monitoring the dog for symptoms of allergies. The next week, you start over with a different food item. It’s a process of elimination way to determine what foods your dog is allergic to.
We’ve already tested Sensi for chicken, pork and salmon — all of which seem to be OK for him.
I’m nervous about the beef test because I feel pretty confident that he will react.
If, by some miracle, he does not, you can bet I’ll be going out and buying him the biggest bone I can find. The poor dog hasn’t had a bone in almost five years!