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 ("")
 

HOW DO YOU SHOW YOUR DOG THAT YOU ARE THE TOP DOG AND NOT HIM?

All that screeching of "Come here".... "stop doing that ".... "what are you eating"......"stop pulling" ....."stop barking" - and- the phrase that sets my teeth on edge "be nice" are habits that shows that an owner has no control whatsoever on their animal.  They misbehave because in their mind you are a push over and he/she is top dog in your relationship.

You get to be top dog by acting exactly as a dog does, challenging your dog and making sure that you win. You know those moments when they won't come back when you call;  races off to join a group or chase birds and you are screaming at the top of your voice to get them back. Your methods of challenging them is a bit different though. Where as two dogs will challenge each other by stiff-legged standoffs or fighting, you use a series of very effective situations that are set up so that you know for sure that you will win.  I know, I know, you are stacking the decks against your dog. By making sure that you will win, because you won't accept anything else less than your dog's complete acceptance that you are boss. Your job is to progress through an entire series of challenges and win every one of them. The process is called obedience training. It teaches your dog that in every situation they must do what you say, even though they may not have done things that way if left to his/her own choices.

What happens when a dog fully accepts you as top dog? A huge burden is removed from their mind. They have trusted you in all sorts of ways, and in each one you made sure that they did what you said, whether they agreed with you or not. They know that you are trustworthy, smarter and stronger and will make good decisions. they will then relax and simply do what you tell them or what you allow. They don't have to be constantly vigilant for danger outside the pack; you, as pack leader will do that. All they has to do is obey your commands. It is reassuring to them and makes them a calmer animal.

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

By the way,
Happy Valencakes Day
For the first time in 73 years, Pancake Day and Valentine's Day happen to fall consecutively on the 13th and 14th February. I think this calls for a big cakey love blowout, along with a brand new holiday - Valencakes Day.

......and the times they are a-changing.   Only 42 days to putting your clocks forward. Sunday March 25 is the day to fiddle with all the clocks and watches in your house so if you want to be on time for work/gardening/sitting around in your pyjamas watching re-runs of Midsomer Murder, then you might want to consider changing them. Just thought I would remind you! Oh! You're more than welcome!

       Now here's a well trained dog who brings home the cat after a night out on the tiles!


                                                                 Dawn ("") xx

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Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs with Arthritis

May 13, 2016/0 Comments/in Uncategorized /by kdgbalmer

Many pet owners prefer not to treat a dog’s arthritis pain with prescription drugs for fear of common side effects or worsening symptoms.  Instead, there are a number of natural or holistic treatments available, with one being coconut oil.  In recent years, coconut oil has had a surge in popularity for multiple reasons.  Not only are there numerous health benefits when added to food, but coconut oil has hundreds of uses around the house, as well.  In particular, coconut oil has been found to help relieve joint pain among canine arthritis sufferers, which is welcome news for many pet owners.
What is coconut oil?
Coconut oil is produced from fresh coconut meat that has been dried and expeller pressed.  Unlike other dietary oils, such as olive or canola, coconut oil is approximately 90% saturated fat.  Although saturated fat typically is considered “bad,” the saturated fat in coconut oil has a different makeup than most other bad fats.  Coconut oil consists mostly of medium-chain triglycerides, which have been touted recently for their important health benefits.  In comparison to long chain fatty acids, medium chain triglycerides have been suggested to improve metabolism, support the immune system, and boost collagen production.
What are the benefits of coconut oil for dogs with arthritis?
Feeding your arthritic dog coconut oil daily can improve his or her mobility and lessen pain.  The medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil include caprylic, decanoic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids.  Some of these acids have been suggested to help reverse the ligament damage that aggravates arthritis symptoms.
What are the additional benefits to my dog?
Besides providing relief to bones and joints, coconut oil can also help your pet lose weight and regulate thyroid function.  If your pet has skin allergies, the acids in coconut oil can help soothe red, itchy skin, and can also aid digestion.  Dogs will dull coats will get a boost from the medium chain triglycerides found in the oil, leading to a stronger, shinier fur.
How much coconut oil should I give my dog?
When first administering coconut oil to your dog, you should start with a small amount until he or she adapts.  Initially, provide ¼ teaspoon to small dogs, and up to one teaspoon for large dogs daily.  Gradually increase the amount to one tablespoon coconut oil per 30 lbs of weight.  Also beware that there are a number of types of coconut oil on the market.  Extra virigin coconut oil (i.e. unrefined) provides maximal health benefits.
Are there any side effects of coconut oil?
In general, few side effects exist when giving your dog coconut oil.  For dogs with sensitive stomachs, they may experience loose or greasy stools if too much oil is given at once.  In this case, decrease the amount given.  Otherwise, dogs may gain weight from the addition of the oil to their diet.  If this happens, decrease the amount of food or treats that are provided, or add an extra 5 – 10 minutes to your dog’s daily walk.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT RESOURCE GUARDING IS?

   
Ever had a dog who growls, snarls and bares its teeth and won't give you *his/her bone, chew or toy if you try to take it from them? Or one who gets uncomfortable or growls if you get close to him/her when he's or she is eating their dog food? Or snaps at you if he's/she's on the sofa and you want him/her off? Or lifts his/her lip in a snarl if your friend tries to get close to you?

Answer yes to any of the above, and you've successfully diagnosed your dog as having a guarding issue. The catch-all, technical term is "resource-guarding," and can include guarding of dog food bowls (or food), place (dog crate, dog bed, sofa, etc.) items (rawhide, bones, balls, tissues, and anything else) and less commonly, people.(* Im being politically correct in case some snowflake accuses me of being sexist)!!!        

Resource-guarding simply means that a dog gets uncomfortable when we (or other humans) are around him when he has "his stuff." He's nervous that we're going to take it away, so he/she tries to warn us off in a variety of ways, ranging from simply consuming his/her food faster, to an all-out bite.

During resource-guarding, dogs exhibit signs of ritualized aggression. That is, they have a fairly explicit range of warnings - accelerated eating, cessation of eating or "freezing up," glassy/hard eyes, growling, lip lifting, snapping, biting - that they'll run through to get a competitor (YOU!) to back away from what they have. They're nervous that you're there and don't want to share.

Trainers and behaviorists take these warnings and apply a rating scale, ranging from reactions that pose no risk to humans to those that are extremely serious. A rough eight-level guide is useful for owners and trainers to assess the situation but some dogs don't follow such a neat pattern.  A dog can move from a growl to a serious bite in a matter of seconds and this can be a danger to smaller dogs or children who can get bitten badly.

Trainers often hear the cry, "he/she bit without warning!" More often than not, there was a warning, somewhere, sometime - you just missed it.

What should you do about this behaviour?  First off, the overall idea is to approach *him/her while he has the valuable object and to give him/her good things. So offer a treat and while his/her attention is distracted, you can take away the thing that he was so fiercely guarding.  The most important thing is not to punish the dog for growling as he/she was warning you. If you punish them, they stop warning you and go straight for the attack.        

Trivia.............           
January. The month equivalent of the toffee at the bottom of the Quality Street tin. Slightly too long, nobody's favourite and all those bills thudding onto the doormat makes you feel a bit sick after Christmas. Nobody needs January blues in their life Now that we've got Christmas and New Year out of the way, you can pack up the decorations that always seem to look tatty on the 26th December, toss out the shedding tree, stop your drinking and throw away the green turkey bits and ham, and bundle up the cards and drop them into the bins at Boots, Tesco and Sainsburys stores. It all goes to charity.  Its time to embrace 2018, be optimistic and now look forward to good things.

Here's a nice heart warming video to start off the New Year.

Until the next blog, have a good January and do some good deeds for family, friends and strangers.

                                                             Dawn ("")

Now that Halloween has been and gone, it's officially okay to talk about Christmas as recognised by the British Society of Widely Acknowledged Unspoken Rules. Brace yourself for mince pies with every meal, "Driving Home for Christmas" blasting out of every stereo and chocolate bars so small you accidentally inhale three without even noticing. Only 50 days to go. Plenty of time to stock up on shower gel gift sets and novelty Justin Bieber calendars for your loved ones. Lucky, lucky loved ones. It is also the time when bored animals left alone at home get up to mischief.






Aaaaargh! my dog has eaten something and needs to go to the vet! 
The Chair Leg… The Rubbish bin… Your New Shoes!

Sometimes, an adult dog who has never done anything wrong may suddenly surprise you with an oral foray into the forbidden and when it does, anything it finds is fair game.
This may be a stress response to something environmental happening in your absence, such as a burglar trying to break into your home, loud equipment working in the street in front of your house, or stray foxes screeching, yipping and romping through your back garden and the dog can't get to chase them. Sometimes even something like a compelling need to urinate or defecate can stress a well-trained dog into inappropriate chewing. By telling them off for chewing your prized Jimmy Choos or leaving a gigantic puddle in the middle of the floor merely makes them more stressed.  Its hard, I know, not to bellow "Look what you've done? You wicked dog." You have to glare at them and not utter a cross word but dogs are intuitive and they can sense your disapproval.  Will it stop them? Nah! they will do it again when you least expect them to! 

If you can determine the nature of what is stressing him, you can perhaps control or remove the cause, and maybe your dog will quickly revert to his prior good behavior. That's easier said than done because I know of a 6 year old dog who will suddenly decide to munch on something inappropriate. His last munch was a pack of 21 tea lights left on top of a chair in the hall. We went out and said the usual phrase: "Now you be good and look after the house. We'll be back soon." When we got back 2 hours later, the floor was littered with little metal pins and containers but no tea lights. A panic call - half an hour before closing time on a Bank Holiday weekend - we whisked him to the vet who gave him a shot to make him throw up. The urgency for medical attention on this particular occasion was because, as the vet explained, is that when wax softens in the bowel it forms a sausage then can't go around the U bend in the gut. When that happens -without urgent medical attention- it is instant doom for the dog.
A return to inappropriate chewing may be a result of inactivity and pent-up energy. I see many dogs going out with a walker in the afternoon but I often see these people sitting on a bench making long telephone calls while the poor, frustrated dogs are sitting patiently under the bench. There are a good number of these people in the parks who get paid but don't actually walk the dogs. That restrained energy has to go somewhere - and for some dogs, it goes right to their jaws. The solution here is a renewed commitment to provide adequate exercise, with the addition, perhaps, of mental exercise into your dog's daily routine.
On the other hand, some dogs simply get a buzz from ripping out the innards from soft toys, eating socks, tissue paper and anything else that comes near the mouth. It just feels soooooooo good at the time. 
The best solution of course, is for you to put away all your prized possessions and make sure that there is nothing that looks interesting enough to chew.  A big tripe bone or a Kong toy stuffed with goodies helps until its time for a zzzzzzzz.

PUP TRIVIA....................................................................................................................................
Each day in the park, groups of middle eastern people scream, dodge and get agitated when they approach dogs going about their own business. Muslim reticence concerning dogs is perhaps due to the fact that rabies has always been endemic in the Middle East and they consider dogs to be dirty animals.

Now here's something you didn't know. The shape of a dog’s face suggests how long it will live. Dogs with sharp, pointed faces that look more like wolves typically live longer. Dogs with very flat faces, such as bulldogs, often have shorter lives.

                            Here's a nice heart warming video of animals hugging humans.                                                    
                                   

                                                                 
                                                                 You wanna hug?  


That's it until the next blog. Wrap yourself up warm, put fleece on all your tender plants and get ready for winter.

                                                                Dawn (''')

 DOES YOUR DOGGIE SUFFER FROM BOOGERS?
 

"Boogers" is one of those slang words for eye gunge that collects around your dog's eyes every morning. The technical name for boogers is Rheum but since none of us go around saying "My dog's got Rheum!" we use terms such as yukky eyes, sleep, gunge, snoort and boogers.

Eye mucus in dogs is normal and can be caused by a number of things ranging from dust, viruses or allergies and apart from looking dirty and unsightly, is not harmful to the dog. However, excessive discharge (especially when it's yellow or yellow-green) could be a sign of an infection, glaucoma or other eye problems — and in the worst case scenario, it could mean a brain or nerve injury.

The most effective and easiest way to clean your dog's boogers is by using baby wipes every morning. This stops the gunk from congealing and becoming a hard crust at the corners of the eyes.  Sometimes if you leave it too long, it becomes hard and can be painful for the dog when you start using your finger to pick it off.  Warm water and cotton wool is the least painful way to get it off. 

Another way to keep your eyes clean is by smearing a light coating of Vaseline under the eyes and this stops the boogers from congealing into a hard crust.

Daily boogers are not harmful and since dogs are not kitted out with sun glasses, it simply means that the dog is picking up dust and other pollutants on its daily walk.

********************************************************************************
Pup yap trivia.................

The hot weather brings out all things jumping and itchy.  Creatures nearest to the ground, of course, are dogs, so fleas and ticks can sense a nice warm body passing by and hitch a lift.  Make sure you have dabbed Advantage or other flea repellents on your dog to not only kill off the fleas but the eggs too.  A good holistic way to repel ticks and fleas is by dabbing lavender oil along your dog's back down to the top of the tail.

Did you know that one of the best ways of removing a tick is to put a drop of lavender oil on it. It detaches itself off the body and moves away fast. Its probably the fastest you will ever see a tick move! That way you  don't run the risk of pulling it off and leaving the mouth still attached. Another good method is to put a blob of cooking oil on the tick. This suffocates it and it drops off but the risk is that you don't know where it ends up and you could find a squashy bloodied mess somewhere.

                                                     Something to make you chuckle!

If you enjoyed reading my blog, pass it onto other doggy people. Meanwhile stay fresh and cool! I'll be back with the next blog in August.

                                                        Dawn ("..")

ISN'T IT HEARTBREAKING WATCHING YOUR BELOVED PET GETTING OLDER AND OLDER AND DEAFER BY THE DAY?

   
If we're lucky enough to have them live to old age, there comes a point when most of our canine companions begin to lose their hearing and may eventually become deaf. It's painful to watch a beloved dog become less and less responsive to their environment because they are unaware of what's going on around them, and even more so when it limits your ability to communicate with them. The thought of a hearing-impaired dog wandering off and not being able to hear your calls is frightening and frustrating. I speak from experience as I am the owner of a 16 year old profoundly deaf and now going blind Cocker Spaniel. She frequently follows the first pair of legs that crosses her eye line and then goes after them at some speed. I then have to run as fast as I can to catch up with her and guide her back on the lead.

Here are some things you can do if your dog's hearing and sight isn't what it used to be:

Use hand signals. Now that my dog has reached the old-age-can't-hear stage I appreciate having taught her basic hand signals as well as verbal cues. Since dogs communicate primarily through body language, hand signals are easy to teach, especially if you do it when your dog can still hear well. As your dog ages, it's a great opportunity to expand your visual cue vocabulary.And, of course, a pocketful of treats goes a long way in the training session.

One of the more common sense ways to make sure they don't lose sight of you is by
carrying a little flashing light. I am currently carrying a flashing red light - the type that is used on a bicycle. It works a treat and the dog can spot me in a crowd of people.

Keeping them on a long extendable lead will stop them from wandering off and gives them the freedom and stimulus to sniff out and read those all important dog blogs and pee mails.

Run interference at home.
This is all about management. If you have a multi-dog household, one or more of your other dogs may get irritated when your geriatric pal doesn't respond quickly enough because they don't hear them, and therefore don't look and notice the other dogs' body language.

Try and prevent encounters that cause tension due to this lack of hearing and subsequent lack of response. This also includes keeping potential problem dogs separated when you are not at home. Like toddlers they can fight and squabble. They pick on the old one and it all ends in tears!

Food
Elderly dogs often get beaten up by fitter dogs at meal times. They will intimidate an older dog by  standing near by and staring intensely at them, making the old dog back away from their dish of food. This gives the other dogs a chance to gobble the food.  Separate the elderly dog from the others at meal times to give them a fair chance of getting something to eat.

Tender loving care
I don't need to spell this out but some TLC goes a long way in making your geriatric dog's twilight years as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
 

Trivia..........belated Happy Birthday, HRH Queen Liz! (from the author of this blog).
 
There are lots of things to love about the Queen. 91 years, in fact. Which is a pretty lucky considering that last week on 21st April, she celebrated her 91st birthday. You can read the full list of her admirable qualities in all the newspapers and magazines but these are my personal highlights:
She always dresses like she's ready to crash a wedding
She's great at opening bridges and cutting ribbons
She has an excellent grumpy face
She can punish people for eating swans
She loves a good flutter on the gee gees
Tell me of any 91 year old who goes horse riding

This is especially for all those cat lovers out there who complain that I never post anything about cats!

Have an enjoyable April/May and if you are going on holiday, have a wonderful time.

                                                                 Dawn (...)