What is a zoomie?

WHAT IS A "ZOOMIE?"        

"Zoomie" seems to be an American word that a lot of people are using to describe their dog's behaviour.         
It is a delightfully descriptive term used to describe your dog having a mad moment when it decides to zoom around the park, your garden or your living room.  I call it a "wheeee" moment when your dog feels and shows that life is wonderful.

Of course, there is always somebody who has to get all pedantic and put a real name to the zoomies… They call it FRAPs (Frenetic Random Activity Periods). Or maybe it was a FRAP before it was a zoomie, but never the less, Zoomies is a more descriptive term and sums up the behaviour perfectly.

Are the Zoomies a Bad Thing?

Depends on the degree to which your dog acts it out. Most dogs just tuck in their bottoms and do the crazy running and circling at full speed, in which case, the zoomies are not a bad thing… actually somewhat fun and entertaining to watch! However, some dogs will get destructive during the zoomies, i.e., nipping, bouncing off  furniture or people, tug-of-war with household items, in which case the zoomies can be bad. Also, large dogs who go into a zoomies tailspin can unintentionally be destructive and in some cases, dangerous. Although there is one school of thought that suggests the zoomies may be rooted in a behavioural issue, provoked by anxiety, stress, or other emotional discord, most believe it to be normal conduct in dogs at some point in their lives.

As far as I am concerned, the Zoomies is a form of happiness proving that your dog is enjoying life and having a great time. The reality is that this explosion of intense energy appears to be truly a happy, exhilarating undertaking for your dog. There is excitement, a twinkling in the eyes, tail held high, and what’s that – a smile on the face? Did I hear a woo-hoo?!? After a zoomie, your pup is content and relaxed… Satisfied and ready to cuddle. That can’t be all bad, right? You can't ask for more than that and I, for one, will never try and stop it.

                                             .........some trivia .......

Try not to panic but only 23 days of frenetic activity to reach the 25th December and here are the tacit rules that everyone seems to abide by to make it through the month.
.. Little choccies must be hidden behind numbered doors.
.. All bells are legally required to jingle.
.. Halls must be decked.
.. TV ads are acceptable small chat topics.
.. The end of the Sellotape will be impossible to find.
.. Michael Buble will appear on every chat show on TV.
.. Everyone must talk about a white Christmas although it never happens.
.. Fa must be followed by 8 Las.
.. The Argos catalogue becomes a must read.
.. The song "Driving Home for  Christmas"will follow you everywhere. 
.. You are legally required to say "only 3 more weeks then the evenings get lighter."             

     

                 Here's a heartwarming video of a dog named Stella having a wonderful zoomie.

                                    Have a very jolly holly and I will send out the next blog in January.
                                    If you have enjoyed reading it, please pass it on to other dog owning 
                                    friends.

                                                                         Dawn (''')

What Does Appropriate Dog Play Look Like?
   
Every day I have watched dogs having a wonderful game and along comes the owner who stops the game.

Owners often have difficulty distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate play. Some may think that perfectly acceptable play behavior is bullying because it involves growling, biting, and apparently pinning the playmate to the ground. Appropriate play can, in fact, look and sound quite ferocious.

The difference is in the response of the playmate. If both dogs appear to be having a good time and no one's getting hurt, it's usually fine to allow the play to continue. Putting a stop to your dog's need to play every time he engages with another dog, even if it's rough play, can lead to other behavioural problems. You frustrate their need for some gambolling and the dog gets bored and starts eating grass, sticks and anything else it can find to chew to curb their exuberance.  Its a bit like stopping children play.

With a bully, the playmate clearly does not enjoy the interaction. The softer dog may offer multiple appeasement and deference signals that are largely or totally ignored by the canine bully. The harassment continues, or escalates.

Any time one play partner is obviously not having a good time and that means showing fear, squawking or submission, it's wise to intervene. Put your dog on the lead and walk away. A traumatic play experience can damage the softer dog's confidence and potentially induce a life-long fear of aggression or "Reactive Rover" response - definitely not a good thing!

Some bullies seem to spring from the box full blown, meaning there could be a genetic element behind this type of personality. However, there can certainly be a learned component of any bullying behavior. the act of harassing a "non-consenting dog" is in and of itself reinforcing for bullies.

So the next time your dog engages in play with lots of teeth gnashing, "aaargurghrr" noises and rough and tumble, let them. That's a good game. The time to stop a game is when your dog looks away, stays still and crouches down. This is submission and a sign that it doesn't want to play. That's the time to walk away and your dog will follow.

Trivia...............................        

THINGS THAT CAUSE STRESS AND ANXIETY
1. No internet service
2.  Cancelled public transport
3. "We're out of "aioli" because no one can spell it
4. Cold calls from India
5. Low battery
6. Pigeons with no sense of personal space
7. “There’s a £5 minimum on card”
8. Shopping centres on a Saturday
9. “I’ll just put you on hold”accompanied by tinkly sounds of Four Seasons.
10. Anything with more than 4 legs
11. When your boss says “Can I have a word?”
12. Manspreading on public transport
13. Baking Shows on tv
14. Joining the slowest queue anywhere.
 15. “Unexpected item in bagging area”
16.  The robotic thuggery of a self pay machine at supermarkets
17. Only 49 days to Christmas
18, Shouting "WHAT" many times a day from different rooms to your partner
19. His response "You keep mumbling"!
20. Operatives who say "I'll call you back in 10 minutes" and still no word 2 days later

 
                                           Compilation of smiling dogs to cheer up your days!

                                                       Next blog will be in December

                                                              Dawn ("")

GOOD REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NOT PAT A DOG ON TOP OF THE HEAD.

Do you like to be patted on the head by a stranger? I'll bet you would cower or cringe. Having someone reach out and pat you on the head, no matter how lovingly, is not something most of us enjoy. It’s annoying at best and sometimes painful. And we really don’t want the hands of strangers reaching towards our face. If someone were to stretch their hand toward your face, I sense your reaction would be to pull your head back and lean away, and get a little tense about the invasion of personal space. Yet most humans think that dogs like being patted on the head. The reality is that while many dogs will put up with this if it’s someone they know and trust, most dogs don’t enjoy it. You may notice that even the loving family dog might lean away slightly when you reach for their face to pet them. Most dogs will let you because you’re the boss, but they don't really like it. It’s a personal space issue for dogs just as much as it is for us. That's why responsible parents should teach their children to gently pet a dog’s back or rear, but don’t pat, and definitely don’t go for the dog's face. If you really want to reward your dog for being wonderful, don’t bang on their head, but give them a rub on their rear end right by the tail. They will be pleased by that.

So many times I see dog looking anxious because a well meaning stranger has lunged at them to give them a pat on the head. To a dog this movement makes them think you are going to harm then so they will either cringe, pull away, snarl or even snap at you.

The best way to approach a dog is to first hold out your hand with an open palm towards the dog's face. This gives them the opportunity to sniff you and decide if you are friend or foe. The dog will respond by wagging and if it likes you, it will give you a little lick.  Then you can tickle it under its chin - they love being touched on the chest - or you can give it a pat -pat on the head or a tickle on the rump. Dogs love it when a human gets down to their level and makes a fuss of them.

I always tell children to let the dog smell their hand first before touching them.  A child who has not been educated in dog handling will rush up to a dog, all guns blazing to try and give it a pat and this action results in a snarl and a nip and parents who screech "Your dog bit my child. Look what it's done. It should be wearing a muzzle! It's a dangerous dog!"

Many times, in crowded places, a child will pull a dog's tail or try and pat it from the back thus startling the dog into a defensive action. Result - kid screams in fright, dog barks, idiot parents start yelling at the dog owner and pandemonium ensues.

So, don't stand over a dog and try and pat them on the head. Stand besides the dog to appear less threatening. If I were a dog (oh! alright bitch then), I would think you were a giant about to step on my head and possibly hurt me.

This 'n that .....................just some little known facts.
Animal names are confusing things. In fact, to foreigners, the English language is confusing. Dragonflies don't breathe fire, I don't know of any Bulldogs, who, hate the colour red, and Ladybirds aren't birds. Some aren't even ladies.  In this age of gender neutral, some are lady men.  Even more confusing is computer-speak. My husband has put me right on the acronym HTML. I always thought it meant "Horse's Tails Make Lemonade." It translates into something very boring. So now you know!

                                    Yaay! cat gets its revenge on two dogs who are hassling it.

                                  That's it for this month's blog. Next one will be in November.

                                                                    Dawn ("")

WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CARE FOR YOUR DOG'S GNASHERS.

Is your dog known as Phwoar-Stinko in the doggy playground because of his chronic halitosis? Do other dogs shun him at playtime?  Do humans flap their hands in front of their faces when they bend down to stroke your dog? These are all classic signs that your dog is suffering from poor dental hygiene and urgently needs attention by your vet.

The good news for dogs is that they don't get cavities as human beings do. But despite the old conventional wisdom that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a humans, dogs can still develop problems like tartar, plaque build up, and gingivitis. But it’s not just chronic stinky breath and yellow teeth that you have to worry about, its the life-threatening infections and issues including heart, liver, and kidney disease that happen if you don't care for your dog's smile.

Most dogs hate having their teeth forcibly brushed with toothpaste so the best solution is to squeeze a blob of doggie liver flavoured toothpaste in their food. The saliva spreads the toothpaste onto their gums and teeth and that helps to keep the plaque off the teeth. Many pet shops sell tasty dog toothpastes.

Another good product for long term treatment is Plaque Off. Sprinkled in their food twice a day, it does really keep their teeth clean and their breath smelling fresh. You can get this from Fetch, pet shops or other internet sites for all things doggy.

If you think that Plaque Off is expensive, then do what I do. I buy sheets of dried sea weed called Wakame or Nori from the Japanese section of the supermarket, crumble it and mix into your dog's food. Because it tastes salty, dogs love eating it.

There is a wonderful homeopathic remedy, Fragari 6c, available from Ainsworth's or Nelson's Pharmacies, either in person or by mail order.  Two pillules twice a day in food makes the plaque fall off.

Be good to your little fur baby and look after their teeth.
*********************************************************************************
This 'n that .....................................
scuffing through the leaves
We're thirteen days into September, more commonly known as Christmas Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve. Here are a few handy tips to help ease yourself into the festive spirit a few months early:
Suggest a warm-up game of Scrabble. If you start now it should be finished by Pancake Day.
Eat chocolate every time you open a door. Mull everything. Buy a tub of nuts which is physically impossible to finish because the moment you get to Christmas week, you are sick of them and couldn't face another nut.
Try on some paper hats.  Decide on the one that looks great.
Curl up next to a roaring fire. Or a roaring microwave depending on your situation.
Play "Coming home for Christmas" but by the time it gets to Christmas, you will be sick of it because all the radio stations will have it on ad nauseum.

                                                    Enjoy this clip of skateboarding animals.


                                                        That's it until the next blog. Dawn ("")

                                          




WHY DOES MY DOG SNARL AND ATTACK OTHER DOGS WHEN ITS ON THE LEAD
   
If you hang around with other dog owners, you've no doubt heard the same comment I have, over and over again: "My dog is fine with other dogs when he's off-leash; he's only dog-aggressive when his leash is on." You may have even said it yourself.

The reason it's an often-heard comment is that it's a common behavior: A lot of dogs who are fine with other dogs when left to their own devices become aggressive if they are leashed when they meet other dogs.

We know that aggression is caused by stress. Clearly, there is something about being on a leash that a lot of dogs find stressful enough that it prompts aggressive behavior. There are several reasons for this. Let's take a look at one of them.

Leash Interference with Normal Social Interaction
Picture in your mind two dogs meeting and greeting, off-leash. They engage in a social dance - advancing, retreating, moving around each other, sniffing various body parts, giving body language signals intended to keep the interaction civil. Sometimes the movements are slow; sometimes they are quick. If one dog is cautious or fearful of the other, he can retreat as he wishes, using social distance to keep himself safe.

Now picture those same two dogs meeting on-leash. The dance is stilted, inhibited by the restraint of the leash. One dog tries to circle the other, and the leash tangles around his legs. The cautious dog would like to retreat to safety, but knows the leash restricts his movement, and elects to act out his second option to increase distance - a growl and a snap to signal to the other dog to move away - who cannot, because he is leashed. The fight is on.

In the future, the cautious dog will offer a growl and snap before he's close enough for the other dog to make contact. The best defense is a good offense. Alarmed, owners move away from each other, and the fearful dog's aggression is reinforced by the increased distance. Behaviors that are reinforced repeat and increase, and the cautious dog's aggression escalates as he realizes that it's a successful behavior strategy for him - it keeps other scary dogs away. You now have a leash-aggressive dog. Absent the leash, he still chooses to move away from the other dog - his first behavior choice.

Trivia.................................
the orange side of the moon
Ah, the moon. The big white golf ball in the sky. Sometimes it's a perfect circle, other times it looks like a left-over pizza crust. Other times it looks like guyere cheese full of holes. On the moon you weigh six times less, your small steps are turned into giant leaps and the ground tastes great in a pickle sandwich. The moon is pretty magical on a normal night, but it'll be pulling out all the stops this evening by turning from bright white to a deep orange (think Dracula with a spray tan). 

Here are some clever things you can say during tonight's lunar eclipse:
ooh look......
aah......
woah that's quite something .....
Jupiter has 79 moons, which seems excessive.....
wow.....

                                              Who said donkeys were stupid?


Until the next blog, keep safe and enjoy the cooler weather that is on its way. Ha!

                                                            Dawn ("")

WHY DOES MY DOG LOVE SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND SEEMS TO DISLIKE OTHERS?

Your Dog Can Hold A Grudge Against Those Who Have Done You Wrong or have been nasty behind your back.

While we’d all like to believe that our dogs would stand up for us if we were physically attacked by somebody, new research shows that our dogs will at least remember anybody who has been mean to us  or they think is not a nice character. Maybe they sense – so much so that they will refuse to take treats from the “mean” person!

I have noticed that my chirpy, friendly little dog will suddenly take against someone for no reason. Dogs remember those who ill treated them as puppies or those who bellowed at them when no one else was around.  How often have you said "I don't know why my dog doesn't like that person." Dogs are intuitive and they can sense it when someone is a hypocrite.

There are people who are unfriendly to me when I am with the dog and others who will greet me like an old mate. My dog watches and when the nice person hands them a treat they will happily take it but when the mean person hands them a treat they will ignore them and back away.

 This would seem to indicate that dogs remember who is isn’t nice and they hold it against them.
So the next time your dog decides they don’t like somebody, it might be worth listening to them! Your best friend is just looking out for you.

Trivia.........................................................
My goodness! How tempus does fugit? Suddenly its April,  and the house  has begun to look dusty and crammed with junk. I decided it was time for a good spring clean. Shaking off the winter inertia, I rolled up my sleeves, and Operation Declutter got underway. I turfed out all sorts of things I'd forgotten about - two rusty fencing epees, a fencing suit that would have fitted a stick insect (I can't believe I was ever that size), two navy captain hats (from those days when we had a gleaming, white gin palace of a boat), a Fred Astaire pop up top hat and cane, and so many wooden vegetable steamers that I must have gone mad buying them in different sizes in chinese supermarkets. Better still,  the linen cupboard had a bunch of abandoned towels that Dog's Trust and Mayhew Homes were only too happy to use. Second hand is great. Second paw is even better! So if you have any threadbare towels hanging around, donate them to a dog charity. They will thank you for them.

                                                         **************************
How tender and caring is this man in making sure his dog stays dry in the rain?An elderly man in the Philippines truly loves and cares for his dog as he takes extra time to make sure the dog is prepared for a bicycle ride in the rain. I love how simple an act of kindness this is for the dog and how much the dog seems to appreciate having his human care for him. Filmed at the Agdao Market in Davao City by Alilee Shalom Galilee.

                                           https://biggeekdad.com/2018/02/dog-in-the-rain/

That's it for this month. See you in May when I send out the next blog relating to dogs.

                                                        Dawn ("")

GOODBYE TO CANDY, OUR DIVA DOG WHO WENT TO RAINBOW BRIDGE ON TUESDAY AGED 17 YEARS and 7 MONTHS.

She was a much loved rescue Cocker spaniel who entered our lives 9 years ago in not very good shape. We thought she would last 1 year but she proved us all wrong.  She completely ruled the household. She had baskets on every floor of the house, was fussy about what she wanted to eat, loved pottering around her garden, could hear the rustle of a toffee paper even when fast asleep and would take your hand off when offered a treat. She loved going for rides in the car. As for giving back affection? "Meh! I don't go in for that sort of sentimental rubbish" was her mantra.

See you in Rainbow Bridge little doggie!

Making that heart breaking decision to let your dog go to Rainbow Bridge is the hardest one to make, but there comes a time when you have to let them go and not prolong the suffering by constantly trying to save them with medication and more medication. You can cure one problem but then a week later something else will show up and so it goes on. A dog will tell you that it wants to leave this earth but many owners would rather throw thousands of pounds in vet's bills just to keep the dog hanging on by a thread. In truth you are keeping the dog alive for your own benefit. Reading the signs means letting go. Believe me you will know when the time is right.

Trivia ............

March 1st heralds the first day of Spring but in reality is is on the 21oth of March that Spring officially begins. You don't care! Don't blame you especially when you are knee deep in snow and slush! The cheering thing is that the daffs are poking their yellow heads though it all.

Until the next blog, this clip will have you smiling from ear to ear. It is the cutest little dachshund ever!

                                                           Dawn ("")