We have the flu! We will update the blog as soon as possible. Rest assured, Gracie, Kiki, and Maddy are all competing to take care of us. We have lots of stories.
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Run for the Paws
If you live in the Asheville, NC area, I have an event for you. The 2nd annual Run for the Paws 5K and 1 mile dog walk will be held Sunday, April 3. The event will benefit Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, our favorite animal rescue group.
In addition to the walk, they have a wellness fair, live music, pet games, and a pet vender expo. They will also have pets there who are available for adoption.
For full details, go to bwar.org. It should be a fun event for all.
Rescue Daddy
In addition to the walk, they have a wellness fair, live music, pet games, and a pet vender expo. They will also have pets there who are available for adoption.
For full details, go to bwar.org. It should be a fun event for all.
Rescue Daddy
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Fighting Like Cats and Dogs
Gracie and Kiki have not been getting along well lately. I suspect jealousy is to blame.
I admit that I am partial to dogs. I try very hard, though, to give equal time to Gracie, Kiki, and Maddy. I suspect my version of “equal time” sometimes differs from theirs.
Gracie has become increasingly jealous of Kiki. She will bark at her if Kiki is sitting in my lap. She will stand between Kiki and me if Kiki approaches.
She does not exhibit these behaviors with Maddy. I have a feeling there is a little power struggle for Top Pet going on between Kiki and Gracie. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them!
Rescue Mommy
I admit that I am partial to dogs. I try very hard, though, to give equal time to Gracie, Kiki, and Maddy. I suspect my version of “equal time” sometimes differs from theirs.
Gracie has become increasingly jealous of Kiki. She will bark at her if Kiki is sitting in my lap. She will stand between Kiki and me if Kiki approaches.
She does not exhibit these behaviors with Maddy. I have a feeling there is a little power struggle for Top Pet going on between Kiki and Gracie. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them!
Rescue Mommy
Monday, February 21, 2011
Dental Care for Your Pets
As you have probably read from her blog post, Gracie had a dental cleaning last week. February is apparently Pet Dental Health month. Our vet offered a 20 percent discount on cleanings, so we decided to have Gracie’s teeth cleaned sooner rather than later.
At about 4 years of age, she had accumulated some tartar on her teeth. It was not severe, though. Her teeth are shiny and white post cleaning. Now, we plan to begin a cleaning regimen since we have a clean slate.
Some people laugh when you mention that you had your pet’s teeth cleaned. It is no laughing matter. As with humans, dental health is extremely important in both dogs and cats. We saw some rather gruesome pictures of dogs whose teeth had been neglected.
We encourage you to do a little research into the matter. If you can afford to have your pet’s teeth cleaned, we recommend that you do it. If not, at least try to brush his or her teeth. Do not use human toothpaste. You can find several reasonably-priced pet toothpastes at your local pet supply store. Good luck!
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
At about 4 years of age, she had accumulated some tartar on her teeth. It was not severe, though. Her teeth are shiny and white post cleaning. Now, we plan to begin a cleaning regimen since we have a clean slate.
Some people laugh when you mention that you had your pet’s teeth cleaned. It is no laughing matter. As with humans, dental health is extremely important in both dogs and cats. We saw some rather gruesome pictures of dogs whose teeth had been neglected.
We encourage you to do a little research into the matter. If you can afford to have your pet’s teeth cleaned, we recommend that you do it. If not, at least try to brush his or her teeth. Do not use human toothpaste. You can find several reasonably-priced pet toothpastes at your local pet supply store. Good luck!
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
Friday, February 18, 2011
Book Review: GETTING IN TTOUCH WITH YOUR DOG, Linda Tellington-Jones
Book Review: Getting in TTouch with Your Dog, Linda Tellington-Jones, 1999.
I am eager to find something that will alleviate Gracie’s anxiety about riding in the car. The TTouch method has been around for a very long time. I had a vague idea about the concept and wanted to explore it further. (In case you are unaware, TTouch is basically therapeutic massage.)
The book is very informative. It offers recommendations for specific touches for certain problems. Each touch is thoroughly explained. Illustrations show exactly what parts of your hand should be used.
Keep in mind that TTouch is not just for problem dogs. Some of the touches shown in the book help with physical issues as well.
I tried the Ear Touch with Gracie when I took her for a couple of car rides over the weekend. I also massaged her shoulders and rubbed her back. Usually, she shakes and pants almost the entire trip; she tosses in a few whimpers for good measure. This time, though, the shaking and panting stopped after about 10 minutes.
Now, was it the TTouch massage? Was it the ThunderShirt, which I decided to give another try? Was it both? I do not know for sure but am willing to explore TTouch further to find out. If you too are looking for new ways to help your pet, I suggest picking up a copy of this book. Don’t let the copyright discourage you. The book has been reprinted several times, so you should not have any troubles finding it.
Rescue Mommy
I am eager to find something that will alleviate Gracie’s anxiety about riding in the car. The TTouch method has been around for a very long time. I had a vague idea about the concept and wanted to explore it further. (In case you are unaware, TTouch is basically therapeutic massage.)
The book is very informative. It offers recommendations for specific touches for certain problems. Each touch is thoroughly explained. Illustrations show exactly what parts of your hand should be used.
Keep in mind that TTouch is not just for problem dogs. Some of the touches shown in the book help with physical issues as well.
I tried the Ear Touch with Gracie when I took her for a couple of car rides over the weekend. I also massaged her shoulders and rubbed her back. Usually, she shakes and pants almost the entire trip; she tosses in a few whimpers for good measure. This time, though, the shaking and panting stopped after about 10 minutes.
Now, was it the TTouch massage? Was it the ThunderShirt, which I decided to give another try? Was it both? I do not know for sure but am willing to explore TTouch further to find out. If you too are looking for new ways to help your pet, I suggest picking up a copy of this book. Don’t let the copyright discourage you. The book has been reprinted several times, so you should not have any troubles finding it.
Rescue Mommy
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Book Review: THE CAUTIOUS CANINE, by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D
Book Review: The Cautious Canine (Second Edition); Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D; 2005.
Calling this item a book is a bit of stretch. I was supremely disappointed when it arrived. It is nothing more than a 30-page booklet. For six bucks. Yeah.
It does not offer any fresh information. I have found the same advice, explored more thoroughly, in other training and behavior books. Avoid this “book.” Take a look at some of the other books recommended on this and other sites instead.
Rescue Mommy
Calling this item a book is a bit of stretch. I was supremely disappointed when it arrived. It is nothing more than a 30-page booklet. For six bucks. Yeah.
It does not offer any fresh information. I have found the same advice, explored more thoroughly, in other training and behavior books. Avoid this “book.” Take a look at some of the other books recommended on this and other sites instead.
Rescue Mommy
Monday, February 14, 2011
Book Review: WHY DOES MY DOG DO THAT? by Sophie Collins
Book Review: Why Does My Dog Do That? By Sophie Collins, 2008.
This is the sort of book I like to keep by the bedside, for those nights when I do not want to become too intrigued in a book. The book poses over 50 questions about various dog behaviors. Questions range from “Why does my dog ignore me when I shout at her?” to “Why has my puppy begun to guard her food so fiercely? “
The answers to each question are short and sweet, so I will keep this review short too. Buy this book. It is a great little book to have around for times when you just want little information, not a 400-page study of animal behavior. Plus, some of the answers are rather entertaining.
Happy reading!
Rescue Mommy
This is the sort of book I like to keep by the bedside, for those nights when I do not want to become too intrigued in a book. The book poses over 50 questions about various dog behaviors. Questions range from “Why does my dog ignore me when I shout at her?” to “Why has my puppy begun to guard her food so fiercely? “
The answers to each question are short and sweet, so I will keep this review short too. Buy this book. It is a great little book to have around for times when you just want little information, not a 400-page study of animal behavior. Plus, some of the answers are rather entertaining.
Happy reading!
Rescue Mommy
Friday, February 11, 2011
Safe Pet Toys - THEBARK.COM
I read an interesting article about pet toys on their website. Here is the link:
http://www.thebark.com/content/choosing-safe-dog-toys
Be sure to read the comments at the end. Folks offer interesting tips for finding safe toys.
Rescue Mommy
http://www.thebark.com/content/choosing-safe-dog-toys
Be sure to read the comments at the end. Folks offer interesting tips for finding safe toys.
Rescue Mommy
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
BARK magazine, February/March 2011 issue
The new issue arrived in the mail on Saturday. If you have a senior pet, you should definitely pick up a copy. It contains several articles about dealing with older dogs.
It also has an interesting article about fearful dogs. I ordered a couple of the books mentioned in the article. I will let you know if they offer any useful tips.
The magazine has a website, thebark.com. Some of the articles from the magazine are located there too. (If you are patient, they add more articles from past issues later.) Happy reading!
Rescue Mommy
It also has an interesting article about fearful dogs. I ordered a couple of the books mentioned in the article. I will let you know if they offer any useful tips.
The magazine has a website, thebark.com. Some of the articles from the magazine are located there too. (If you are patient, they add more articles from past issues later.) Happy reading!
Rescue Mommy
Monday, February 7, 2011
Puppy Bowl VII on Animal Planet
Why watch the Super Bowl when you can watch the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet? Every year, the Animal Planet network airs a two-hour long show featuring puppies playing on a miniature football field. It begins mid-afternoon and repeats all night during the Super Bowl.
They use puppies from shelters and rescue groups, which is great. According to an article I read on cnn.com, all of the puppies except Big Red were adopted prior to the show’s airing.
If you missed it, you can watch highlights here:
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/
Also, if you want even more cuteness, check out:
www.subaru.com/dogs
Subaru, who has long been a supporter of the ASPCA, aired its series of “Dog Approved” commercials during the Puppy Bowl. You can watch the commercials on their website. (The two dogs featured in the ads are both rescues; good for you, Subaru.)
Enjoy!
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
They use puppies from shelters and rescue groups, which is great. According to an article I read on cnn.com, all of the puppies except Big Red were adopted prior to the show’s airing.
If you missed it, you can watch highlights here:
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/
Also, if you want even more cuteness, check out:
www.subaru.com/dogs
Subaru, who has long been a supporter of the ASPCA, aired its series of “Dog Approved” commercials during the Puppy Bowl. You can watch the commercials on their website. (The two dogs featured in the ads are both rescues; good for you, Subaru.)
Enjoy!
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
Friday, February 4, 2011
Stop Tugging!
Gracie tugs on the leash whenever she first starts her walk or sees something of extreme interest (rabbits, squirrels, moving cars, other dogs, et cetera). In a previous post, I mentioned the Wacky Walkr leash. It is very effective. I like to use it whenever we go on little outings.
I do not use it on our daily walks, though. Why? Well, I am lazy. I like having long, leisurely walks where we can spend time with each other. I do not want to spend the entire walk fighting with her.
Last weekend, we watched “It’s Me or the Dog” on Animal Planet. Victoria Stilwell is the trainer on the show. On this particular episode, she was addressing issues a family had with their pit bull. One of the issues was tugging on the leash during a walk.
Whenever the dog tugged, she recommended stopping the dog and retreating a few steps in the opposite direction. Then, turn and restart the walk. If the dog tugs again, repeat the process. The idea is to reward the dog for positive behavior (no tugging) by continuing the walk (positive reward).
On our next walk, I tried the trick with Gracie. She is a very smart dog. It only took two tries for her to figure it out. I like this approach much better for our daily walks. You might try it with your dog if you too are trying to stop the tug of war.
Rescue Mommy
I do not use it on our daily walks, though. Why? Well, I am lazy. I like having long, leisurely walks where we can spend time with each other. I do not want to spend the entire walk fighting with her.
Last weekend, we watched “It’s Me or the Dog” on Animal Planet. Victoria Stilwell is the trainer on the show. On this particular episode, she was addressing issues a family had with their pit bull. One of the issues was tugging on the leash during a walk.
Whenever the dog tugged, she recommended stopping the dog and retreating a few steps in the opposite direction. Then, turn and restart the walk. If the dog tugs again, repeat the process. The idea is to reward the dog for positive behavior (no tugging) by continuing the walk (positive reward).
On our next walk, I tried the trick with Gracie. She is a very smart dog. It only took two tries for her to figure it out. I like this approach much better for our daily walks. You might try it with your dog if you too are trying to stop the tug of war.
Rescue Mommy
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Human Medications and Your Pet
I read an interesting article in our local paper on Sunday. It stated that human medications are at the top of the ASPCA’s list of top 10 toxins. I found a link for the article:
http://www.wtae.com/r/26653580/detail.html
It is definitely worth reading.
Rescue Mommy
http://www.wtae.com/r/26653580/detail.html
It is definitely worth reading.
Rescue Mommy
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