IS YOUR PET A COUCH POTATO?

You feel sure you are getting pudgy in all the wrong places. And the dog ...well? is he/she beginning to look quite porky too? If you happen to see your dog getting into a rut, laying around, nervous or edgy - DO SOMETHING WITH ’EM.  If you have the dog you want - don't take it for granted- keep it vibrant and happy with plenty of worthwhile physical and mental exercise. Your dog’s exercise needs  no seasons.

Forget joining the gym. Save yourself a fortune.  Its cheaper to have a brisk walk twice a day and  within a few weeks you will shed the muffin tops, thunder thighs, tummy bloat and breathlessness, simply by getting up early and going for a walk with the dog. Whisking them for just a quick walk around the block for a sniff and a pee does not constitute exercise for both of you. Nor is it kind to simply lock it out in the garden for half an hour a day.

Many people say "Oh! but he won't go for a walk so I don't force him. He is happiest sniffing the lamp post outside the door!"  Hmm! that reeks of laziness on your part and this attitude can be picked up by your dog.  All dogs will walk - even if they dig in their heels for the first few times - if you start off with 10 minutes a day letting them read pee-mails, leave their own blogs and generally take their time, this stimulates their senses and soon the need to go out becomes exciting.

However, when the weather is wet and cold, then no one feels like braving the elements. Here are some in- door ways to excite and make them get exercise at the same time.

The Tug of War

The Tug is a terrific invention because all that yanking and pulling is akin to making your dog do pull ups on a bar. However, you need to be aware of the risk. It's a game that brings out the predator in your dog and can be unhealthy for your relationship if you don't have trust and respect to begin with. You need to have control over your dog's power and instincts before you can engage in a healthy game of tug of war with them.  After 10 minutes of pretend growling, vigorously shaking the tug, toy or towel, and pulling as hard as it can,  your dog gives itself a nice work out.

Throwing a ball with a chucker

Another simple but great idea, thought up by someone who obviously had a lightbulb moment after getting arm ache from throwing the ball for the dog to catch.  The vets dislike this gizmo as it can cause injuries to ligaments and joints when dogs throw themselves about, but the chucker  does make the ball go a long way and this makes the dog run faster to retrieve it.  After 20 minutes, the dog should be panting heavily.  That's the signs of a good aerobic work out.

Make your your dog run up and down the stairs

Using the stairs is a great way to tire out your dog. The steps add an additional challenge to a dog’s workout, as they engage different muscles than those used on a regular walk or run and add an extra level of difficulty with the change in elevation. Stand at the top of the stairs and throw a toy down to your dog. When your dog grabs the toy, call his name and have him bring the toy to you. After several rounds of this, he’ll be panting.

Frisbee throwing

This flat disc was first used in the 60s by american college kids,  and has since been universally high jacked by dog owners as the perfect way to exercise the dogs.

Light, durable and almost chew-proof, this is a wonderful way to get your dog flying through the air with the greatest of ease, and gives your dog a chance to show off its athlethic abilities when it  has to run fast, jump high and catch the frisbee.

Indoor Hide-and-Seek

Regular games of indoor hide-and-seek can be one of the most enjoyable activities you can do with your dog.
Hide somewhere, call the dog's name and wait for him/her to start looking for you. Leaping out and shouting "Boo" startles and excites them and they want to play tag with you.  This is one of my favourite indoor games that can be played at anytime of the day or night, in any season.

If none of these methods of exercise for your pooch appeal to you, then I would suggest you cajole a mechanically minded, creative friend to devise a ball throwing machine such as the one shown in this video.  Problem solved and you need never step out of the house.

Doggy joke!

Little Harold was practicing the 
violin in the living room while his 
father was trying to read in the den.

The family dog was lying in the den, and as
 the screeching sounds of little Harold's violin
 reached his ears, he began to howl loudly.

The father listened to the dog and the 
violin as long as he could. Then he jumped up,
 slammed his paper to the floor and yelled above the noise, 
"For pity's sake, can't you play something the dog doesn't know?"

Did you know ...... contrary to popular belief, one dog year is not equal to seven human years. A one- year- old- puppy has reached approximately the same stage of development as a 15-year old human. A 2-year-old-puppy is roughly equivalent in development to a 24 four-year-old human. After that, each dog year equals four human years. These numbers differ between breeds.  (One of those interesting but stupid  and utterly confusing facts!)

Until the next blog, enjoy whatever you plan on doing.
Dawn (.".")

                                                     CANINE DEPRESSION

Do dogs suffer from depression? You bet they do! This is one of those- morning- walk topics of discussions that arise every so often. People will say "Oh! Ditzy is a bit depressed today and I don't know why?"

 I can hear you saying “Don’t be ridiculous! That’s not possible! How can a dog get depressed when it has a five -star life style with  every wish taken care of by an adoring and indulgent owner?”

 

It is not uncommon for pets to get the blues once in a while. Just as humans get depressed, dogs can be affected  by winter blues, same old kibble, illness, change of atmosphere in the home, moving furniture around, loss of someone they love. All these things can make a dog feel insecure and depressed. Don’t worry! Its usually short term. The pouty, mopey, lethargic behaviour doesn’t go on for very long, so no need to start re-naming your pet Gloomy.

The classic  symptoms to look out for are tail between its legs, following you around, off food, not interested treats or in a walk, ( even if you rattle its lead in front of it), doleful looks to make you worry and feel guilty, sleeping more than usual and no bounce. Nothing is of interest and they behave like they have given up on living.

*Tip

Talk to your dog in a gentle  cheerful voice while stroking it. Then give it a cuddle but don’t reward the moping.  Take five minutes and have a little game by tickling your dog and lots of laughing. Once you are up beat, the dog will find this infectious and will think “Oh! OK then, life isn’t so bad after all.” Put the fun back into its life. Leave the radio on when you go out then the dog doesn’t feel alone all day. Dogs are pack animals and being left on its own is like punishment for some dogs. I always organise a 'play date' at my house for any depressed or sad dogs. Just being with other dogs perks them up no end.

Change the routine a little by going on different walks so that they can get stimulus from new blog sites and pee mails. Change its food for a few days – introduce yummy things like chicken or tinned sardines - we all get bored of eating the same thing day in and day out. (I know I get bored of eating the same thing every day!)

One drop of Bach Flower Rescue Remedy twice a day  for a couple of days, given in the side of its mouth, or in the food, is a miracle worker  because this perks up the dog, brings back its confidence and  immediately changes its attitude. (By the way dont listen to people who say its not good because it has alcohol in it. You would have to pour 1000 little phials of the stuff into the dog's mouth to cause drunkenness.)

The other good depression-lifter is a product called Zyklene. This is dried mother's milk that is often prescribed by vets because it is a good calming agent for nervous, depressed, aggressive and frightened dogs. You can get it from the vet or on the internet from MedicAnimal.com.

Enjoy your week, here's a  cute little video clip to make you chuckle.

 

Thought for the week
"Anyone who has never tasted shampoo, has obviously never given a dog a bath"

Dawn (")

Its flea time in the city ....

IT'S FLEA TIME IN THE CITY .........

Sign in a Chinese Pet Store: "Buy one dog, get one flea."

The first signs of fleas on your dog is constant scratching behind the ears, biting the base of the spine and furiously playing the banjo under the armpits. Other signs are little bits of black grit on the body which feel like coal dust. In extreme cases, red patches and coat loss. Flea bites are painless and by themselves aren’t always itchy but these days cats and dogs are sometimes allergic to flea saliva. One bite can trigger a scratching frenzy that makes their skin raw and infectious. Fleas live in nice, warm places, especially carpeted centrally-heated homes. When a dog walks by their vibrations activate the fleas who probably yell “Dinner” in flea-speak as they hitch a ride. 

Everyone says the same thing "But I put Program and Advantage on them regularly so how can he get fleas?"  During warm sunny days, the fleas lurk in grass or carpets and the moment they sense a warm body going past, upsa-a-daisy and on they jump. They then lurk along the skirting boards and corners of every room that the dog visits.  

*Tip

Vacuum the house from top to bottom; wash the pet’s bedding and run oil of lavender or anything with citronella along the skirting boards and in the pet bed.  I find that putting anti flea powder dribbled along the skirting boards and gently brushing it in helps to keep the eggs from hatching.  Oil of Olbas also works brilliantly as it is eucalyptus based and quite strong smelling. It’s always good to run some oil of lavender along the dog’s back. It’s quite soothing and the smell calms the dog down enough to stop the scratching.

Then buy a special flea repellent shampoo from the pet shop and give your dog a thorough dousing. That usually kills off the flea eggs and flushes them down the plug hole but you haven’t won the battle yet. This can go on for 3 weeks or more.

Drive off the fleas by feeding your pet garlic tablets and Brewer’s yeast in their food. This makes their skin repellent to a high flying flea.

Spotting a flea?

Fleas are parasitic insects. They are very small but can be observed with the naked eye; once they reach adulthood they are usually 1.5 to 3.3mm (1/16 – 1/8”) long. They are brownish black color, with no wings. They serve no purpose in the food chain except to cause their hosts — your cat or dog — as much discomfort, illness, and worms as possible.

Fleas cannot fly, but they can leap incredible distances for such a small insect. In fact they are the world’s best leapers according to their size. They can make vertical leaps of seven inches (18 cm) and thirteen inches (33 cm) horizontally. A flea can sense a warm body as soon as it comes into jumping distance and if there isn’t a dog around, a juicy human ankle will do just as well.

Inspection time. 

Part the fur with your fingers and you may spot  a little black creature scurrying fast through the fur, that's the enemy.  And if your fingers feel a sand -like texture on the dog's skin, that's the eggs  resembling black grit.  Stand the dog on a white cloth or piece of paper and then run the comb through the fur.  The cloth or paper will have bits of black grit on it. (See pic above). These are flea eggs. Crush one and it goes red. That's blood!  Put them into a bowl of clean water and they turn red. That's blood!  These are signals for  the speedy eviction of fleas and its unborn offspring. (Bet you're feeling quite squeamish and itchy now about the whole idea of fleas on your dog!)

Shampooing the dog is a must, followed by washing all the dog’s blankets, cloths, bean bags and dusting out the basket outside the house. Then give the home a thorough vacuuming. I’m afraid getting rid of fleas takes a few days and needs a strict and disciplined hygiene regime of Hoovering the rooms every single day for at least 10 days.

I keep up a maintenance programme in my house by running flea powder along the skirting boards, edges of carpeted steps and along furniture legs. So far, touch wood,I have been a no-flea zone. Fingers crossed!

Nothing to do with fleas ........but here is the saddest video ever. Get a box of tissues ready because you wont be able to stop the tears at the end. It's heart warming when strangers take the time to show kindness to an animal.

"Friendship isn't about who you have known the longest.
It's about those who came and never left your side ........."

Ta ta until the next blog!
Dawn (")

DON'T LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR ON A HOT SUNNY DAY

Here's a salutary warning from one dog who survived to tell the tale.
(First hand advice given by Maggie Johnson Lane of NW6 London (dictated to Dawn)

My name is Maggie Johnson Lane. I am 16 years of age and I have the maturity and first hand experience of a situation to be able to tell you my story with authority. I am a rescue pup second time around. My present owners, Dawn and Richard adopted me after a tragic accident in France ten years ago that left me near death's door. My previous owners were elderly and through a stroke of bad luck, my friend, Scamp and I got locked in the car in France for four hours, in temperatures of 86 degrees
It was hell! I honestly thought that I was going to die in those microwave conditions. I tore off all my nails by frantically trying to scratch my way out of that steambox and the more desperate I became, the hotter the temperature was.  In the end, the french break down service smashed the window and got me and my Scamp out.  I can tell you we were both very poorly, very dehyderated and at death's door. The memory of that experience will haunt me for a very long time.  I  still get panic attacks if I am left alone in the car for more than 20 minutes.

After that fateful day I sort of went looney. I would walk around in circles; I became so bloated that Dawn said I looked fit to burst; my fur fell out in big chunks and left me patchy and looking quite unappealing.  It was decided that the kindest thing to do was to euthanise me.  But my angels were watching over me, because Dawn came to the rescue (she's a healer you know), and she offered to adopt me and make me better. During the months that followed she gave me daily reiki sessions and acupressure.  Those were so relaxing. I slept for hours and each day I became mentally and physically stronger.  I started to appreciate my food and although I couldn't see properly because the trauma had made me  partially lose my sight, Dawn perservered with homeopathy,  large doses of tender, loving care and good food to help me get back to normal.
I am now totally blind but my life isnt so bad as long as I am in familiar territory. I have everything I want. I have my own trolley that the vet calls "the ambulance" because I sometimes have to share it with other old ladies when we visit him.  But the trolley gets a lot of attention in the park from humans and dogs. The humans coo and pet me and the boy dogs pay homage by lifting their legs on it! Its a good way to take the air and make new friends.

My favourite past times these days are eating, sleeping, eating, (in that order), listening to music. My taste is varied and according to my mood, I enjoy a little soothing Poocini, or some rock music - Bone Jovi, Bonio, Meatabix, Muttilica, Macflea and Snoop Dogg Dogg are my particuar favourites. When I had my eye sight, I used to watch a choice of dvds. My collection included Top Bone, Hound of Music, Lady and the Tramp, or the Beagle Has Landed, and occasionally Pup Fiction (too violent for me now). My all-time favourite was The Dog Father.  I could never watch enough of Dogtor Who on telly. I do miss all of that! Occasionally my owner logs onto sites like Pawsnet and Talk to the Paw just to find out what is happening in the canine world and she will read out interesting bits to me.

Keith Butt, my vet at Kynance Veterinary Clinic 0208 589 2019 said I had become morbidly obese due to the trauma of the accident and Dawn tried every different type of food to control my weight and allergies.  If you showed me a tin of dog food I  would gain 5 kilos! Mind you, even if they  had fitted me with a gastric band, I would never have had the will power to say "No thanks but Ive had a gastric band fitted" and will happily hoover up anything edible.  I can honestly say, paw on heart, that my life has changed. I am happier, more secure and the trauma of that accident is a distant memory.

I get showered with gifts  and treats and my latest acquisition is a pink Chewnel bag for all my grooming gear. For special occasions I wear a lovely Sniffany collar and matching lead.  I am also on a sheet of Royal Mail stamps.  When a stamp goes on a letter, Dawn always writes on the envelope "Maggie filling in for the Queen".  I get plenty of cuddles. All in all, I have a lot to be thankful for.

The whole point of my tale is to warn you about the dangers of leaving dogs in cars on a hot and sunny day. I cannot stress enough about how uncomfortable a hot car can be if you are wearing a fur coat. It may only read  2 degrees inside the car but to us dogs it feels like 100 degrees. That's when I start panting heavily, dribbling and getting anxious. Leaving a window open half an inch does no good at all, Im afraid.  If you park the car under a shady tree the sun moves around and within minutes the rays will be beating down onto the tin roof generating heat like a sauna.
I had a friend named Tansy, a little rescue Jack Russell, who died a horrible death from being locked in the car. Her owner did all the right things - big bowls of water, under a shady tree, windows open a little but by the end of the afternoon, the sun moved around and the heat in the car boiled poor Tansy to death. Her distraught owner came back to see her bleeding from every orifice. It was horrible.
So, please ask your friends and relatives not to leave their dogs in a hot car for even 5 minutes because invariably that becomes 20 minutes.
If you see an unattended dog  in a car, in full sunshine, panting heavily, call the Police.  Don't feel bad about being called a stalinist snitch for reporting the owners, that action could save a dog's life.
Lots of licks,
Maggie

Hot, sunny days are forecast for the next few days so enjoy for as long as it lasts, and until the next blog..... enjoy this video of a dog who prefers his pool to be indoors.


Dawn (")

HONEY AS A HOME REMEDY

Is surprising to see how many well trained 'experts'  are dismissive about  complementary and alternative veterinary medicine. Luckily I have several veterinarian friends who  are open minded and encourage home remedies and alternative ways of treating an animal.

Possibly this is partly due to lack of education around holistic remedies. When I first started being a 'medicine woman' 35 years ago I received virtually no training or instruction around complementary veterinary medicine and everything that I know, has been self taught and through instinct and trial,  and used when everything else has failed. 

Luckily these days, many veterinarians are open to alternative medicine and home remedies, but lack of time, and fear of governing bodies not condoning these 'unproven' methods prevents many vets from really utilizing these treatments for their clients. Many of the vets I know are happy to try new things to help a dog get better especially if it works in tandem with conventional medicine.

Let's use the example of something in your kitchen cabinet being used as an alternative to cure an ailment... its not a 'hippy dippy' treatment but one that has proven to work.

Honey. Many people swear by Manuka honey because of its purity but not all of us can or will fork out nearly £10 for a jar of honey to use on the dog, no matter how much we love them. Ordinary honey is just as effective although its best to look for one that isnt a mixture of honeys. 

 

Honey contains many components, and it is very rich in nutrients. Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the qualities, along with copper, iodine, and zinc exist in it in small quantities.

Due to its natural anti-inflammatory effect, it will help to heal the wounds more quickly. It also has different phytochemicals--chemicals found in plants and different foods--that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus making it a good substitute for wound dressings.

Honey is a natural antiseptic. Raw honey, for example, contains small amounts of the same resins found in propolis. Propolis, sometimes called "bee glue," is actually a complex mixture of resins and other substances that honeybees use to seal the hive and make it safe from bacteria and other micro-organisms.

In veterinary medicine,  honey is used for  a multitude of ailments, but for your own pets, good old household honey is the top remedy for wounds, wound healing, upset tummy, eczema, itchy skin, eye infections, coughs, and allergies such as hayfever  caused by grass pollen or house dust.

Honey to heal wounds
Any wound that has been cleaned can have honey applied to it- typically this would be for speeding up closure of an open wound. It goes without saying that putting a bandage over the wound will stop the honey being licked off!

Honey for Cough
I mix one teaspoon of honey with 1 teaspoon of water and give it to a coughing dog via a needle-less syringe or a dropper. It helps to soothe the dog's cough and give it some relief. I can assure you that it works as I give it to my elderly dog who gets a cough when the weather changes.

Honey for allergies and hayfever.
Honey contains very tiny amounts of pollen. These tiny amounts of pollen are not enough to trigger the allergic reaction in your pet when they ingest the local honey. Each time you dose your pet on the honey, he or she begins to build up a tolerance to the pollen. Eventually, your allergic pet is able to tolerate the amount of pollen usually present in the environment.

You can give your dog or cat 1 teaspoon per 10lbs daily. Do this for 7 days to test the effectiveness. Your dog won't spit it out like it would a pill and will happily lick the honey off a spoon or syringe.

So that's your useful tip for the week.......... in the meantime, enjoy this video. We have all been through this scenario many times?!

Until the next blog, have a nice week.

Dawn (")

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 (")