People Food Hazards

Halloween is Sunday, and the holidays are just around the corner. We all know that chocolate is highly toxic to pets. Did you know that these foods are toxic too?

• Coffee
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Avocado
• Macadamia Nuts
• Grapes and Raisins
• Yeast Dough
• Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs, and Bones
• Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
• Onions, Garlic, Chives
• Milk
• Salt

*Source: ASPCA website

If your pet eats any of these or other toxic items, call your vet immediately. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. They charge a consulting fee for the call, though.

Stay calm. Be sure to note what and how much your pet has consumed. If you are not sure what it is, grab whatever is left and take it with you when you head to the vet’s office.

Bluegrass Therapy

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Gracie displayed an affinity for bluegrass music when we visited a farmers market recently. It was a surprise. I decided to try a little experiment.

Gracie continues to be anxious about riding in a car. I am trying to help her conquer her fear by placing her in the car a few nights a week and just sitting in the driveway. I give her treats and lots of affection.

Now, I have added bluegrass music to the mix. She seems to relax a little bit sooner than normal. Her tail even appeared to wag to the beat of one song. She really seems to enjoy the music – as long as we stay in the driveway.

It is tough dealing with doggie anxiety. I will continue to experiment until I find something that works. Feel free to share any tips you have.

Rescue Mommy

Another Visit to an Adoption Fair

On Saturday, Gracie and I attended an adopt-a-thon sponsored by a local rescue group. Several other groups were there too. In fact, the shelter from whom we adopted Gracie was supposed to be there, but they did not show.

While we certainly looked for potential playmates, we were not hopeful that we will find a friend at an adoption fair. All the barking and mayhem makes Gracie anxious. It is hard to get a genuine reaction from her. Our main goal at these events is socialization.

Gracie is doing a little better in her encounters with other dogs. Sure, she still growls if the large dogs get a little too pushy. She is following standard doggie introduction protocol, which is a big improvement from her behavior a few months ago.

We will keep you posted about our search for a playmate. We have not found anyone yet who would be a suitable match. If you are looking too, good luck to you!

Rescue Mommy

What Are We Reading?

A few weeks ago, I reviewed Tamar Geller’s book, The Loved Dog. In that book, she offered a lot of great training advice. I like her style of motivating a dog with love rather than harsh discipline. I was glad to see that she finally wrote another book, Thirty Days to a Well-Mannered Dog.

The book was released about a week ago. So far, the book seems to be following the same track. I will give you a complete review in the future.

The next book on the list is A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. It is written from the prospective of a stray dog. I read a little sample and immediately began kicking myself for not thinking of the idea. It looks promising. I will keep you posted.

If you have any books you would like to recommend, please leave a comment. Happy reading!

Rescue Mommy

Jack Russell Terrier Epidemic

I have been regularly checking a local rescue group’s website as I search for a possible friend for Gracie. I have been surprised at the high rate of Jack Russell Terriers who are being found by or surrendered to the group. I checked another local group’s site and found a few there too. What is going on?

I suspect it is the classic problem that occurs with all breeds. People fall in love with the idea or look of a breed. Maybe a popular TV show or movie features a particular breed. So, they get a cute little puppy. Then, they quickly realize the cute image does not match the animal in their house.

Please research carefully before you bring any pet into your home. I confess that I did not believe a lot of the things I read about Dalmatians before I adopted mine many, many years ago. What a huge mistake! She drove me to tears on more than one occasion. I made a commitment, though, and stuck with it. She eventually calmed to normal dog level…when she was 10 years old. (In fact, she was still running until two weeks before she died.)

Before you begin your search for a pet, I recommend you first consider the qualities you want BEFORE you consider an actual breed. Make a list of all the things you enjoy doing. Decide how much time you are willing to give to a pet. Now that you have your list, you can search for breeds that are compatible with your lifestyle. Too often, people fall in love with the appearance of a breed, not the qualities of the breed.

After you have narrowed your list to a breed or particular set of breeds that might work for you, check out breed aficionado websites. Talk with your vet, who may have firsthand knowledge of the breed. Hang out at pet shops; you might meet someone who has the particular breed as a companion. Most pet owners will generally talk your ear off about their buddy.

Yes, I advocate adopting rescued pets. If you are patient, you can find a purebred dog through a rescue group. Do not overlook mutts, though. They are just as fabulous as purebred dogs. After all, you do not require that your friends descend from royalty, so why should it be different for your dog?

As for my opinion of Jack Russells, I would not recommend them to inexperienced pet owners. They are high energy and intelligent, which can be a dangerous combination. Gracie’s energy level does not bother me, though, because of my prior Dalmatian ownership. It is a bit much for others, though, particularly small children. Also, she is four years old so she does not have the boundless energy of a pup, which is another reason to consider adopting an older dog.

I knew going into the relationship that I would need to provide her with plenty of exercise. She gets at least two, thirty-minute walks/jogs a day. My motto is, “A tired Jack Russell is a HAPPY Jack Russell.” As long as she gets her daily walks and a good play session or two during the day, she is content.

So, when you start your search, please be honest with how much time, patience, and energy you can give your pet. You are not bringing home the highly-trained Lassie or Eddie from “Frasier.” As we have said many, many times, you are making a commitment that will last a pet’s lifetime. Good luck!

Rescue Mommy

Training Mistake

On Saturday, I decided to take Gracie on a little adventure. I sprayed D.A.P. on her Thundershirt in preparation for our trip. I wrestled her into the shirt. Then, I noticed she was trembling. She was terrified. I made a big mistake.

The only time Gracie smells D.A.P. or wears a Thundershirt is on car rides. She now associates those things with a car ride, which sends her into an anxious state. Things that were supposed to sooth her do the opposite.

My plan now is to use these items at home. She needs to become comfortable with them again and no longer associate them with a car ride. If your dog associates a particular item with the source of his or her anxiety, you must find a creative way to reverse that opinion. Keep my mistake in mind if you too are struggling with a training problem.

Rescue Mommy

Product Review: Omega Paw Portion Pacer Ball

Product Review: Omega Paw Portion Pacer

Cost: $12 (on sale) for medium-to-large dog size at PetSmart

Vacuums are nothing compared to a puppy. As I watched the little guy inhale half a cup of food in what seemed like seconds, I realized I needed to find something to slow the eating process.

It is not healthy for a dog to gulp food or water because it can lead to bloat. Some breeds are predisposed to bloat. I say better safe than sorry. Besides, how can you make a quick getaway if the dog eats everything in two seconds?

I had seen bowls with a raised dome in the center that claim to prevent gulping of food. Unfortunately, I could not find one at the pet store. I found the Portion Pacer instead and decided to give it a try.

The Portion Pacer is a weighted, stainless steel ball that has no seams. The premise is that the ball will slow the eating process because it blocks immediate access to some of the food. I bought the medium-to-large dog size ball because I still use the bowls that belonged to my dearly departed dogs, Perdy and Dino.

I tried it with the puppy first. It made very little difference. He still inhaled his food in seconds.

I tried it next with Gracie, who gobbled her food in fear the pup would steal it. Again, I saw no appreciable difference. Both the puppy and she quickly ate the food that was not blocked by the ball then nudged it out of the way to access the rest.

Since I have never used the bowls with the built-in, raised dome, I am not sure if they work better. I do know that the Portion Pacer ball did not work well for me. I most definitely would not buy another one.

Rescue Mommy

Hairball Season

Are you guys dealing with hairballs more than normal this year? Maddy is having a really tough time. We have tried the stuff in a tube that is supposed to help them pass the hairball. We have tried the “hairball control” food in the past. We bought a Furminator grooming tool which removes mounds of hair. Nothing seems to correct the situation. Do you guys have any tips?

I mentioned the barfing problem at the vet’s office on Saturday, when I was there with Gracie. I plan to take Maddy to the vet, just to make sure everything is okay. I will let you know if I learn anything from the visit.

We still have Dino’s clippers. Maybe we will shave Maddy….just kidding!

Rescue Mommy

What We Learned from the Puppy Experiment

Last week’s visit from the adorable puppy gave us some insights we would like to share with you. Hopefully, you will find them helpful if you too are considering the addition of a pet to your family. While we are discussing a dog, I am sure the same thought processes would be used if you were considering a cat.

We are incredibly grateful that the rescue group allowed us to bring the puppy home for a few days. When you adopt a pet, you are making a commitment that will last his or her lifetime. If you cannot provide the life he or she needs, you really should not adopt the pet. Tens of thousands of animals end up in shelters and with rescue groups every day because he or she was not the right fit for a family.

Since Gracie was a mother, we assumed she would be able to deal with the puppy. We thought she would know exactly what to do to correct the puppy and teach it what it needed to know. In hindsight, we realize how misguided that was. Let’s face it. Grandparents everywhere are happy to see their grandchildren. When the little kids leave with their parents, though, some grandparents are relieved to see them go because of the demands for attention and care. Why did we think that Gracie would be different?

In the excitement of having a puppy around the house, we found it a little difficult to assess Gracie’s reaction. Puppies are little whirlwinds. It is easy to spend more time watching the puppy (particularly one that is not housetrained) than paying attention to the other dog. We decided to use our camcorder to record their interactions. We watched the videos and closely analyzed Gracie’s behavior. It was apparent that, while she enjoyed playing for awhile, she could not cope with the constant need for play.

Gracie is much happier now that the puppy is not here. We are still debating whether or not to bring another dog into the house. However, we are looking at an older dog now. We still plan to do a trial visit before adoption. Ultimately, Gracie may tell us in her own way that she wants to be the only dog in the house. We are totally fine with that. After all, the whole experiment is about giving Gracie a better life.

Rescue Mommy & Daddy

A Decision

After closely tracking Gracie’s behavior for the last week, we decided that the puppy was not a good fit for her. Gracie would play for a time and then wanted to be left alone. Unfortunately, the puppy did not understand. Puppies have two speeds: play and sleep.

We had hoped that Gracie’s Jack Russell energy and maternal instincts would work with the puppy. It became clear over the last two days, though, that he was stressing her out. The tipping point came when we found her hiding from the puppy. She would run away and jump to the highest point on the sofa so that he could not get to her.

We returned him to his foster mom last night. She assured me that he would remain in foster care until he found a home. (The rescue group has its own shelter and uses foster homes too.) It is a comfort for us that another lady is very interested in adopting the puppy. She lost her 15-year old Jack Russell a few months ago so she knows the breed. She is a friend of the foster mom and had met him after he was “promised” to us. He will find a good home.

Next week, we will talk a bit more about what we have learned from this experience. Stay tuned!

Rescue Mommy and Daddy

P.S. When we handed the puppy to his foster mom, he could not stop wagging his tail and licking her face. He was overjoyed. She said they were fostering another puppy, so the little guy will have a blast.

Puppy Update

Things have been going very well with the puppy. Gracie regularly has been initiating play with the puppy. She still gives a few warning nips, but that is normal.

The puppy has some issues with housebreaking. He is very young. You cannot expect him to “hold it” for hours at a time as an adult dog can.

We said we would wait until Saturday to make a decision. We may make the decisions sooner, though, if things continue to go well. We will keep you posted.

Rescue Mommy

The Great Puppy Experiment

Well, this weekend did not go exactly as planned. The puppy arrived Thursday afternoon. Gracie and the puppy greeted each other by growling and snapping as if they wanted to rip apart each other’s throats. I had expected a little uneasiness from Gracie but was startled to see it from this little puppy.

Gracie exhibited some anxious behaviors over the last couple of days. By Sunday, though, they were playing a lot more. Gracie seems to be getting more comfortable with him.

I admit that I experienced some anxiety as well. It has been 14 years since Dino was a puppy and 18 years since Perdy was a hyperactive puppy. I had forgotten how diligent you must be with a pup. Everything goes in the mouth, like a toddler. He is particularly fond of rotten crabapples from a tree in my yard – and rabbit “caviar.”

He is fearless. He charges after Gracie at full speed and tries to climb everywhere she does. Ordinarily, this would not be a problem. However, we have to be extra careful since his little leg is still healing from the surgery.

We plan to keep him a few more days before we make a decision. We want Gracie to be comfortable. The good news is that a friend of the puppy’s foster mom wants the puppy if we do not. He will find a good home. We hope it is ours!

Rescue Mommy and Daddy

Puppy Slumber Party

This weekend is the big weekend! The rescue group said Jack the Jack Russell Terrier is coming for a slumber party at our house this weekend.

His foster mom reports that the muscle tone has improved in his damaged leg. Let’s hope his leg continues to improve and can be saved. We will let know how everything goes in next week’s posts. Fingers crossed, Gracie will love the little guy. As for the cats, well, that would take a miracle.

Rescue Mommy & Daddy