PICKING UP AFTER YOUR PET

My favourite  daily rant  is "Why don't people pick up when their dog has done a poo on the pavement, in the park or anywhere that is an open space?"  They come to a park, they can see children playing and groups of people sitting on the grass enjoying the open air and still they will walk away from picking up their dog's mess.

Every day I start my day by getting iritated at my many smartly dressed neighbours  near my home, walking their dogs named Augusta and Titus (oh! sorry, thats the names of their children), on the pavements every day and every single time they will look around  furtively and then leave the steaming pile and walk on.  On many occasions I have said "Here, take a bag," pulling one out of my pocket and  handing it to them. You know full well that they will wait for you to turn the corner and then leave it where it, is or worse, hang it on the park railings. And these are supposedly middle class, well brought up, educated people who would be highly offended if you called them  anything else. When challenged they look at you in an astonished way as if to say "You mean I have to pick THAT up? That's what we pay road sweepers for isnt it?"

The situation is even worse in the many open spaces and London parks. You will see all these smart cars disgorging dogs of all sizes who are set free to run around. Of course the first instinct for any dog is to do a dump. What does the owner do? There they stand,  eyes glazed, bellowing into a mobile phone clamped to their ear, totally ignoring the fact that the dog has done its business. And when you interrupt them to point out what the dog is doing or has done, they glare at you for stopping them from having that all important call that had to be made the moment they stepped out of their car. Yes! Im talking about you, the women who shout loudly into their phones or the Range Rover man who is far too posh to pick up, let alone greet his fellow dog owners.  The joggers are the worst, they leave their big dogs running behind, totally oblivious  to the steaming pile they have left for others to tread in.

Listen up Peeps! its not rocket science to come to the  realisation that if you have a dog, it makes good sense to always have a poo bag somewhere on your person. Bins  to dispose of the mess are plentiful. So what is stopping you?  Its no good saying "Well! I always have every good intention but ....."  That's not a good enough reason for being idle and inconsiderate. If you can't afford to buy a bag of dog poo bags, then grab a handful of supermarket bags. They are free and perfect as a means of picking up after your pet.

There is nothing more irritating than to arrive at a beautiful park on a bright, sunny day ready to enjoy a soothing walk with your happy dog and then to step in a pile of doggy poo left by some inconsiderate idiot, too lazy to pick it up and drop it in the bin.

I am not alone in my rant since all responsible dog owners ask the same question "Why don't they ever pick up after them?"

I have now become one of those fearless women who bellow through cupped hands "Oy You, pick up your dog mess. You! yes, you."  They turn around looking incredulous and say "Was that my dog? Oh sorry!" Pretty soon habitual offenders will get fed up of being challenged and will decide to visit the park in the  dead of night or go elsewhere! Good!

There is a rumour that many of the Greater London open spaces will have a new ruling that will give them powers to issue on-the-spot fines to anyone who allows their dog to make a mess if they are caught and reported. No longer can a culprit who is challenged by another dog owner, sarcastically respond with "You just go ahead and take care of your own dog," or "Prove that it was my dog."
The Dog Stasi will have a field day! We will all have our cameras at the ready for catching the persistent offenders. I cant wait!

Of course the maddening thing about all those non-poop- picker -uppers is that they will spoil it for the rest of us who are responsible and considerate. The authorities will get so fed up of complaints that  they will bring in legislation insisting that all dogs have to be on leads.  No longer will it be possible to let your dog have a free range range run.  And for that we can thank the army of bone idle, inconsiderate, selfish oiks who inhabit this earth.

It  would be a  great shame if that were to happen.


And  now for something completely different to make you chuckle, here's a clip that proves you should never jump to conclusions!

            

Have a good week and enjoy any warm days that may come along.

                                                                      Dawn ("")

THE DICTIONARY OF DOGLISH! (As explained by a dog)A dictionary of dog language compiled with the help of  all our doggy friends so that you can understand your dog's behaviour.

Leash A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your person where you want him/her to go.

Dog bed any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

Drool Is what you do when your person has food and you would like some. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad and let the drool fall to the floor, or better yet, on their laps.

Sniff A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply, repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop.

Rubbish bin A container with a lid that stands in the kitch and tests your ingenuity. You must stand on your hind legs and try to push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right you are rewarded with margarine wrappers to shred, beef and chicken bones to consume and mouldy crusts of bread.

Bicycles Two-wheeled exercise machines ridden by humans, invented for dogs, to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a few yards; the person then swerves and falls into the bushes, and you prance away feigning no responsibility. People who hate cyclists praise you and sometimes give you treats.

Deafness This is a condition which affects dogs when their persons want them in and they want to stay out. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, walking very slowly then running in the opposite direction, or lying down. Can be used selectively.

Joggers Use the same method for bicycles but nip them on the ankles as well. You sometimes get rewards to stop you doing this.

Thunder This is a signal that the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling uncontrollably, panting, rolling your eyes wildly, and following at their heels. You can include howling if required.

Fireworks These sound like thunder but the behaviour pattern you use is to dig up carpets and squeeze yourself under furniture. Trembling and heavy panting works wonders to get you maximum attention and sometimes a special treat of being allowed to share their bed for the night.

Tissues These are delicate, soft white bits of paper that can be shredded and left all over the room. It can take your owner quite a while to clear it up. Such good fun!

Wastebasket This is a dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old sweet wrappers. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your person comes home.

Rolling This is heaven, especially if you are lucky enough to come across a patch of bird poo, cow poo/fox poo or a something that no one knows what it is. The smelliest, gives you the highest  rating in the dog fraternity as they all want to find it and use it.

Sofas Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating, it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe your whiskers or body clean.

Bath This is a process by which your person drenches the floor, walls and themselves. You can do the same by shaking vigorously and frequently then rushing away and drying off on any clean white fabric i.e sofa, carpet or the pile of laundry waiting to be ironed.

Lean Every good dog's response to the command "sit!" especially if your person is dressed for an evening out. Incredibly effective for leaving hairs on  dark clothes worn by guests. 

Bump The best way to get your human's attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of hot coffee or tea.

Goose bump A manoeuvre to use as a last resort when the Regular Bump doesn't get the attention you require – especially effective when combined with The Sniff in the crotch area. See above.

Love Is a feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. The best way you can show your love is to wag your tail. If you're lucky, a human will love you in return.

Picnics These are open air events when people will insist on sitting on wet grass and spreading food around. Works best if you rush in at full speed, snatch some food and if you have time pee on something as well.. Embarrasses your owner and makes everyone very angry.

Muddy puddles  Invented by God to give a dog maximum enjoyment on a walk. Slosh through making sure your lower end is covered in mud then slurp up some of the water before you are dragged out.

Newspapers Always use the one that the paperboy leaves on the mat by the front door. That's what they trained you to use when you were a puppy..

Visitors Quickly determine which guest is afraid of dogs. Charge across the room, barking loudly and leap playfully on this person. If the human falls down on the floor and starts crying, lick its face and growl gently to show your concern.

Barking Because you are a dog, you are expected to bark. So bark a lot. Your owners will be very happy to hear you protecting their house. Especially late at night while they are sleeping safely in their beds. There is no more secure feeling for a human than to keep waking up in the middle of the night and hearing your protective bark, bark, bark.



Licking Always take a BIG drink from your water dish immediately before licking your human. Humans prefer clean tongues. Be ready to fetch your human a towel. 

 

Football games Played by hairy men in shorts.  Rush in, grab the ball and run as fast as you can. The more they chase you, the faster you can run as that's the idea of the game

Jumping up to say Hello. Most effective if you see a stranger wearing light coloured clothes. They will appreciate your friendliness.

Here is a clip that has nothing to do with the subject of dogs. I just thought  you would enjoy seeing this very talented bird.

                          
                                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ht0a2-OnA 

That's it for this week and keep reading the blog.
Dawn (") 

This week's topic is THE DREADED KENNEL COUGH

Another problem caused by government funding cuts to the Royal Parks!



THE DREADED KENNEL COUGH

Your dog has suddenly started coughing with a dry,  "goose honking", hacking, raspy sound that makes you think  that he may have been secretly puffing 40 a day for  many years and hanging out with the wrong crowd. He looks frighteningly ill.  He wont move, he won't eat and he is very listless. And  he may look and act like the dog in this picture.


What he/she probably has is, kennel cough - doggy bronchitis - caused by a highly contagious virus that is easily passed around from dog to dog. (Cat owners will be relieved to know that cats dont suffer from this). It goes without saying that if your dog is coughing and loses its appetite then you must take it to the vet right away.


Here's a simple test used by vets for distinguishing a harmless harump from a possible serious infection like kennel cough.


If you press gently on the front of the dog's throat, just above the collar,  and they go into a coughing fit, this is the sign of kennel cough. The virus irritates the lining of the trachea and any pressure on it, brings on coughing.  If your dog doesnt have kennel cough, however, any gentle pressure on the throat probably won't have any effect.


Kennel cough gets its name from the past when dogs stayed in kennels that exposed them to germs from other dogs that had a touch of the disease. Thankfully, most kennels these days, request that dogs are immunised by a vaccine, before checking in for their holidays.  But in the real world, kennel cough can be caught where there are a lot of dogs, ie the park. It only takes one sniff by an infected dog to pass on kennel cough.


Should your dog get kennel cough, its best to keep it at home for a few days.  It takes 7-10 days for kennel cough to go through the system and in some cases can be very harmful to puppies and elderly dogs so it is advisable to keep away from other dogs until the dog recovers.


The vet will give your dog a course of antibiotics but until they click in, your dog will feel and act very poorly. It will have a hacking cough, dull eyes, look in real pain and not want to move.


Here are some home remedies to make life as comfortable as possible for your dog.  This is what I have found works especially well:  A good 'at home' cough remedy:

NATURAL COUGH SYRUP. Lemon and honey can soothe any sore throat.   Mix 2 tbsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of water. Give it to your dog twice daily, 1 tbsp for an average sized (50 lb) dog, 1tsp for a cat . Homeopathic cough syrups are also very effective. I use pedriatric Benylin as it contains no codein, paracetamol or aspirin and is used on babies and therefore safe to use on dogs.


Buy a bottle of pediatric Benylin and using a syringe (without the needle) that you can get from your vet or the pharmicist, dose the dog according to its weight. Or using a teaspoon, the dosage is 2 teaspoons to a dog weighing 20 Iilos and over, 1 teaspoon to a 10 -kilo dog and 1/2 a teaspoon to a smaller dog. Check with your vet to make sure these doses are right for your pet.  if poochie is coughing more than once an hour than give it  baby Benylin as often as you feel it will help to ease the congestion and let it get some sleep. As with all coughs and colds, night time is bad and this is when the Benylin comes in very handy for giving instant relief. Keep giving Benylin over the days until the cough becomes a heerramph rather than a wheezing honk.


If you have a small electric fan, let it blow on the dog at night as this will stop it getting congested and help it to breathe. Think of how you feel when you have a very bad cold. Dont you sleep better when there is air blowing around you?   If the room is hot and in some cases smoky, this will set off a coughing fit and keep your dog in pain. Let the dog sleep in a cool room with some air coming in.


Take off the collar as this can sometimes make the dog cough even more because its air waves are being restricted.


When your dog is coughing a lot and seems to be very congested, take it for a slow walk outside as fresh air will help to clear the airways, but dont drag them for a a long walk and  over tire them. I watched a woman  one morning in the park, dragging her coughing dog, who looked in obvious discomfort. When I remarked that her dog didnt look well, she replied. "he's a lazy so-and-so who just doesnt want to walk." When the poor animal collapsed she panicked and went into hysterics.  There is no acounting for brainless people! Don't they ever learn to read the dog's body language?  It lives with you 24/7. An animal will always show you that something is wrong with it and its not rocket science reading the body language.


I am a great believer in the power of homeopathy and when my 18 year old blind dachshund caught kennel cough last September from travelling in communal kennels on the ferry from Barcelona to Palma. (You can imagine how many thousands of un-vaccinated dogs had travelled in those kennels.) She was very.very poorly and we really thought we were going to lose her but I dosed her up on Bryonia 6c three times a day for one week.  It interacted very well with the Synulox given by the vet and certainly stopped her coughing at night. 

                              Here's the canine equivalent of "na na na na nah"!

See you next week and hold this thought ....

"You can say any stupid thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're so RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'"






Dawn ("-")

DO DOGS SUFFER FROM ACNE?

                                                If your dog gets this expression on its face, 
                                         its definitely time to think about giving up driving.

Yup! Pets get acne too. It's for sure you won't find your dog staring moodily into the mirror with a tube of Clearisil in its paws. Your Basset won't decide to cancel a walk in the park or refuse to eat chocolate because of skin eruptions. But dogs can develop acne that can be unsightly and uncomfortable as it is to any human teenager. Acne can occur in dogs of any age, although it does tend to be most common in the teenage set. For some reason it's the big breeds - Bassetts, mastiffs, Great Danes and their jumbo mates - that seem to suffer the most.

 I can hear the collective laughter and sniggers as you say "What are you on about now? Acne in a pet? Whoever heard of that? 

I'm afraid not many people have thought to lift up their dog's jowls and have a quick look when they have noticed their dog constantly rubbing both sides of its face on the carpet.

The signs of canine acne are rubbing their faces on the carpet, a smell from the mouth area, (it's a different smell to bad breath),  slight red swelling and pimple like bumps that are located on the base of your dog’s mouth and sometimes on the edge of the flaps of the mouth. They also look like blackheads or crusty sores on the lower lip and sometimes a swollen chin.

The causes can be air borne allergies such as grass pollen or house dust, or trapped food that makes them itch. They scratch and this can make the hair follicles  get inflamed and infected that gives them bumps, hormone imbalance, infected skin glands from poor grooming or in the case of jowly dogs like Basset hounds, food residue that has dried on the flaps of the face. 

Who knew all that?

Slobbery dogs  tend to suffer from it and the best solution is to wipe the area with a baby wipe or a wet flannel soaked in a mild disinfectant solution to clear up the infection.

A warm compress used daily after eating will help to remove infection and keep the area free of infection. Think of it as wiping your baby's mouth after meals.

Dogs don't complain that their acne is a social liability as it does for humans, but it can make them feel very uncomfortable. So the next time you tell your dog "Phwoar! you stink!" check out under the flappy bits for acne as your dog will probably not say "'ere Mum, I think I've got acne as my mouth is a bit itchy. Take a look will ya!"

One of my favourite remedies is aloe vera gel rubbed on the pimples to ease the itching and redness and it is not harmful to the dog. If you have an Aloe Vera plant, you  can break off a bit of the leaf and squeeze out the gel or you can buy a tube of it from the chemist. It's magic stuff not only for acne but for other cuts and grazes.

Best to look at the big picture and find out what is causing your dog to suffer the indignity of acne. It will stick around for a few days and then disappear, but if it is recurring, then it may be something in your home environment - household cleaner, fleas, dust, that is causing the problem. Then it's a visit to the vet for antibiotics to help clear up any infection.

Here is an enchanting clip of  Jerry, a dachsie (or Doxies as they call them in the USA) entertaining himself.

See you next week but before you go, keep this thought in mind .....

 If you think dogs can't count,
 try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket
 then giving Deefer only two of them.

Dawn ("-")

WHY DO DOGS CHOMP ON GRASS AND THEN THROW UP?

This week's topic is about the mysteries of dogs eating grass but first I would like to send a special message to Carlo and Hugo. We hope you enjoy your new home in Dubai. With the very efficient help of Shelle Easton of PBS Freight International Pet Travel Specialists, 01293 606903, who worked tirelessly, despite all the holdups from the Dubai end, to make sure they got on their flight, we checked them into Virgin Airlines Cargo at terminal 4 Heathrow at 7.00 pm yesterday.  They were enticed into their sky kennels with tempting treats and then whisked off to Security in readiness for a 10.00 pm take off. The house feels empty without them but they need to be with their rightful owner who is looking forward to seeing them.  Wish that we could have kept them but ......... never mind, we will have many other wonderful dogs that will come to stay and each will be just as loved and given a good time with us.

We invited their best buddies, Alfie and Herbie Molloy for a sleep-over on Monday night and they played non stop on Tuesday until the moment they were put into their sky kennels. This meant they were pre-occupied and didnt have time to follow me around with soulful eyes! But they all knew that something was happening as they went very quiet.

Here is a lovely letter that says it for all of us. The Park will be a very quiet place without you.

 Dear Dawn
Alfie and Herbie have spent the last few hours composing the attached to be read to Carlo and Hugo…

Dear Friends
We are so sorry you are going so far away to live (also slightly jealous of your great adventure).   What we want to say is that walks in Regents Park will not be the same without you (although I look forward to not being the victim of your advances, Huggie: no offence but… Herbie) and we will miss you more than we can say.  We hope that the bones are fully up to speed  and would like to hear your views on camel as they look, from the time we have spent watching Laurence of Arabia on TV, as though the size of a bone from one of them would keep a family of Norfolk terriers in clover for about a week.
We hope very much that your airconditioned garden turns out to be large and luxurious and that everyone who meets you loves you as much as we do and that you make many new doggie friends swiftly.  Please send bulletins to Dawn and Richard (who will miss you even more than we do) and don’t forget your old friends in the Regent’s Park Posse.  We for our part will make sure that the beastly Akita gets the welcome it deserves if it returns from Monaco, and will do our best to keep everyone’s spirits up in your absence.
With love, good wishes, and the promise of a many-boned and biscuited reunion at some point in the future…
Your friends
Alfie and Herbie             

Why do dogs eat grass?

Are you worried when your dog or cat eats grass, then throws up afterwards? You'll probably feel relieved to know that pets eat grass because their bodies need it. Why does my dog eat grass? Is there something wrong with him? These are frequently asked questions and although there are several theories why dogs eat grass, veterinary experts agree that it's just normal canine behavior.


Dogs and cats have been eating grass for a long time. In fact, grass is so popular among dogs that one species, dog grass, is named after them. Dog grass is also known as couch grass, and it grows just about everywhere.


Think of grass as an herbal medicine. It acts as an internal cleanser, expelling excess mucus, bile, and other impurities. It also cleanses the bowels and expels worms. Cereal grasses contain enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Grass also contains chlorophyll, which was used for relieving pain, treating infections, ulcers, skin diseases, and anemia prior to the use of antibiotics. You didn't know that, did you?


Some pet owners grow grass specifically to give to their pets to prevent or treat diarrhea, anemia, cataracts, fleas, tumors excessive shedding, and other pet health problems. Pets that are fed grass on a regular basis are less likely to crave outdoor grass. So, if you don't feel comfortable with your pet eating the grass in your lawn, you may want to grow your own grass for them to eat. Pet shops usually sell small trays that need to be watered to make the grass grow. If you are lucky you might even be able to buy a miniature lawn mower!  Only kidding!
 

There are two schools of thought on this reasons why dogs eat grass. Some people say their dog isn’t feeling well when it chomps on grass but others say, its just their way of eating salad to cleanse their systems.  The reasons are not clearly known but both sick and healthy dogs will  indulge in grass-eating behaviour. Either way, it makes them throw up, usually all over the carpet.

As Marie Antoinette said: “Let them eat cake.” Well! eating grass does them no harm so let them eat grass when they feel like it. Chances are that you may never actually get a complete answer to this, and your pet’s grass-eating habits will remain one of life’s unexplained mysteries. Springtime is popular as that’s when the grass is young and tender and tastes sweet. I know because I've tried it out of curiousity.

Some people think dogs eat grass when they have an upset stomach. Since grass is not very digestible, many dogs do vomit after eating it, but this is not always the case. Some canine grazers show no sign of gastric distress before or after eating grass, while other dogs always vomit after munching on grass. Do those dogs eat grass because they already have an upset stomach and they want to vomit, or do they vomit simply because the grass upsets their stomachs? That's a question with no clear answer.

Another common explanation is that dogs eat grass to make up for a vitamin deficiency or a lack of roughage in their regular diet. It's unlikely that eating grass will actually add any essential nutrients to a dogs diet, and many healthy dogs who always eat a perfectly balanced diet also eat grass.

Most veterinarians agree that dogs eat grass simply because they like the taste, especially the tender young shoots in Spring. Eating grass is not a sign of illness. If, however, there are signs of ill health such as excessive vomiting, vomiting not associated with grass eating, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, lack of energy, or any other symptoms of illness - call your veterinarian.

Never allow dogs to eat grass that has been treated with fertilizer, weed killers or pesticides and don't let them eat grass where mushrooms might also be growing.

But... As long as your lawn is mushroom free and has not been treated with harmful chemicals, don't  be concerned if your dog occasionally munches on a few blades of grass. It really is common canine behavior.

And now for something cute and very high on the "Aaah" factor!

See you next week


...... and remember, handle every stressful situation like a dog. if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away!

Dawn (."".)

Dogs on heat (sounds like a spoof film title!)

Say goodbye to Carlo the bassett and Hugo, the chichuahua who are packing up their chews, toys and luggage to fly off to Dubai this week to start  a new life in the sand, sunshine and scorching heat.  They were real characters and will be missed by us and by all who met them every day in the park for the past 3 years.
                           

This week's topic  is about coming on heat. Several people have  discussed the subject with me, and have been tearing out their hair at the number of male dogs that have  followed them around  with dogged persistence (pardon the pun)! 

DOGS ON HEAT – (Sounds like a spoof film title!)

Many puzzled owners are unsure of when their pet is coming on heat. The average bitch has its first cycle at about six months of age. Some start earlier and a few as late as 14 months.

People often ask “how can I tell when my dog is coming on heat?” The signs start with a lot of licking of the genital area and it becomes swollen. There is also blood spotting which later becomes clear. Some bitches lick this away to keep clean, so if she is licking herself too much then investigate. 

The ten most asked question about dogs in heat.

1. What exactly is heat?

Heat is more properly called the "oestrous cycle". It is during this cycle that female dogs are most likely to get pregnant.

2. What are the symptoms?

The first symptom is a lot of licking of the vulva and increased peeing. Don’t expect bleeding to be like a human menstruation. You will stop the occasional drop of blood but she will lick furiously to clean herself. The most noticeable sign will be your sudden popularity in the neighbourhood and the trail of eager, salivating male dogs that follow you and your pet around the streets and the park.

How long does the heat last?

 

The cycle lasts for 3 weeks (bad luck). In some cases its two weeks but generally is 21 days from start to finish. If you haven’t had your dog spayed, then she will have two heat cycles a year.

How many times will she come into heat?

Most female dogs have regular cycles every six to eight months. It is quite typical to be in heat twice a year.

Can she get pregnant during her first cycle?

Oh! Yes! Definitely! Pregnancy only occurs when the dog is on heat and this is the time when any male can mount her. Her manners and taste in men will go by the board and she will be anybody’s. Females don’t ever accept a male if they are not on heat no matter how hard the male dog tries.

Can I take her on walkies during this cycle?

Not a good idea to take her out where there is a chance of many male dogs roaming. Walkies will be a stressful duty because during this time you will be like a  magnet for every male dog in the neighbourhood. It’s a better idea to put her in the car and take her somewhere for a walk that doesn’t have any dogs for miles around. Unfortunately, walking around the block and then back to your front door will attract stray males because her urine and vaginal discharge will blaze a trail to your home. It will be an invisible placard saying “Hello! Boys, come up and see me anytime”, (with apologies to Mae West - who? she was an actress in the 40s.  Oh! never mind, you'll get the gist). 

When can I have her spayed?

It’s a good idea to talk to your vet about spaying your dog unless you are planning to breed from her. Your vet can tell you about the benefits and disadvantages of having an unsprayed dog. Ok! So she will be “Miss-never-Had-it” but she wont experience all those little problems that occur as she gets older.

*Tip

Buy a can of ‘Antimate’ from the pet shop and spray this along the back end of your dog. It has a strong eucyalptus scent that makes humans ask "Phew! what's that stink?"
It is  even more effective on male dogs as it makes them sneeze enough to realize that “she just isn’t worth all the hassle.”

You can also get little nappies that are held on by a special thong from http://www.petplanet.co.uk, the vet or the pet shop.  The dog doesnt seem to mind wearing them and its for sure you wont hear them asking  the phrase  "Does my bum look big in this?" as they step out of the door!


Seeing nappies on a dog,  makes people helpless with laughter for some unknown reason.  I know it seems an indignity to put your dog through but it does deter amorous males.  When used in the house it will stop spotting on carpets and furniture.

Another good tip for keeping the randy males at bay is to rub a blob of Vick’s Vapour Rub onto your hands and then smooth it over your dog’s fur  - along the tail and on the lower back. Another good remedy is Olbas Oil on some cotton wool rubbed along the lower back fur but not on the skin. This can be pretty off putting for any male since it will make them sneeze the moment they get within range of the female. “Strewth! Im outta here” will be their first instinct.

I have found two videos on the internet that show how caring dogs can be towards other dogs.  Thankfully animals are not governed by petty  'Elf and Safety rules and always act on instinct. Very heart warming and certainly puts humans to shame. 

That's it for this week.  Thank you for all your nice emails. Why not leave a comment in the box?  Incidentally I came across this site offering presents for dog owners, www.personalisedgiftstoremember.com.  If you mention my name Dawn21 when ordering an item, they will give you a special 20% discount.

Enjoy your week.


Dawn   (.".")

GARBAGE GUT

Garbage  has been on my mind all week.

Several people I met in the park this week, have  complained about  their dogs suffering from garbage gut. Carlo, my bassett scoffed a bag of left over chicken bones, ham sandwiches and other rubbbish  that was discarded by a so-called "naice" person. They were obviously too tired to walk 5 yards to the rubbish bin.   I  suffered from a sleepless night  and so did the bassett hound, who spent most of his time throwing up and having the "runs".   After two days, I have, at last got him stabalised by giving him two  tablets, twice a day, of the wonderful homeopathic remedy, Arsen-Alb 30c. (Weleda brand).

Warm sunny days brings out the picnics.  At the end of each day the bins in the parks and on the streets start over flowing with left over  picnic food that consists of tubs of hummous, pork pies, bread and the dreaded chicken and lamb bones, plus all the other detritius that well brought up, tidy minded folk have  stuffed into the bins before they go home. By the end of the day, the bins are so full, that bags are piled on the ground.

The sight of an overflowing rubbish bin first thing on a sunny morning makes every dog owners' heart sink, because we all know that you have to be extra alert and have the quick reflexes of Superman to stop your dog from scoffing all the bits that are strewn around.  The strewing around is first done by the urban foxes at night, who tear open plastic bags and cherry pick what they want. The rest is left scattered around for the pampered pooches to feast on.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not implying that the park bins are never emptied but merely pointing out that early in the morning, dogs  can suss out food that is left lying around.  It doesnt just have to be the bin areas, they can sniff out a discarded sandwich at 500 paces. Have you ever heard a dog say "No thanks, I cant eat that. Ive had a gastric band fitted?"


Non-dog owners are puzzled by the reactions of near-hysterical dog owners who are trying to wrestle food out of their dog's mouth.  They wonder what all the fuss is about. I'll tell you why we get fussed folks!

We know that the moment the dog slurps up rancid taramasalata, hummous, chicken bones and pork pies, they will go home and start throwing up on the living room carpet, possibly have a chicken bone stuck in the gullet, followed  at 3.00 am by a chronic case of "garbage gut" or diarrhoea, keeping you up all night and an expensive visit to the vet the next day. The result is 24 hours of worry and expense and a very miserable dog.  Im afraid dogs never  think "Uh oh! maybe I shouldn't have eaten that lot, but what can I do, it was there begging me to try it out."

My short term remedy for easing the dog's discomfort is to give it a small bowl of  plain yoghurt or one of those probiotic drinks to settle their queasy stomachs.  Take up the water because the more water they drink, the more they vomit.  After 24 hours the dog may feel better.  But if it is acting  very dull and listless,  still off its breakfast,  then its a visit to the vet.

Dogs in the wild were conditioned to eating anything on offer to survive, but modern day dogs dont have the same constitution for eating garbage and  usually end up with a chronic bout of "Garbage gut."

Dog owners also despair of the dear old but lonely, well meaning ladies and gents, who carry copious bags laden with bread, nuts, cakes and other stale stuff to dispense to the birds and wildlife in the parks.  A dog that eats bread can end up with painful bloat and need a visit to the vet.  Trying to talk these people  out of throwing it around is uselesss as they are convinced that without their daily help, all the birds and smaller animals will die.   They are the park equivalent of those street "Pigeon ladies" who leave piles of bread and nuts on street corners to attract the pigeons.

For many years we had an elderly neighbour living next door to us, who fed all the neighbourhood cats, pigeons, rats, mice and foxes and it was quite unpleasant for those of us who lived on either side of her house. We nicknamed her house  "Pigeon Palace".  Environmental Health officers issued her with  several warning letters  but right up to the day she passed away, she refused to stop feeding everything on two and four legs.  Her house was infested with fleas and one room was being used as a den by a family of foxes, pigeons were nesting everywhere, mice and rats were in abundance and there must have been over 35 mangy moggies wandering around. The stench was over powering and at night we could hear sounds of  scrabbling, scratching and running around with the occasional yowl. At dawn, the noise from cooing pigeons was so loud that the only way to reduce the noise was to wake yourself up at 5 am and bang on windows to make them fly off.  This went on for years.

So forgive me if I get ratty when meeting an old dear hurling handsful of bread, biscuits and nuts into the wind because I know that my dog eating nuts can choke on it or the bread and cake can give him severe  and painful bloat with flatuence. There is also the added attraction of rolling in fresh bird poo near where the food was thrown.

That's it for this week but I thought you would love  to see this video sent to me by David Evans (www.dwmanagement.co.uk), friend of mine and super agent for makeup artists and stylists.  His pug, Albert and another named Dexter, (belonging to restauranteur, Tim Mason), are both exactly like the one in the video. 

                                       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQEbqKmuDzM
                                                (Don't you just love the snoring! )


Enjoy!

It would be nice to hear from you,  please feel free to leave a comment in the box  at the end of this page then I will know for sure that you are reading my blog.

Keep warm, dig out the wellies (some terrific dog patterned ones on the Joules site, (www.Joules.com/wellies). I noticed they also had some lovely dog patterned sweaters and tee-shirts.

Until next week's blog,

Cheers,

Dawn    ('-')