Feel the Burn

Gracie is a master at interval training.  From what I understand about it, this form of training involves doing some things at a fast place, other things at a slower pace.  Walking with Gracie also improves your coordination as you try to come to a complete stop in two seconds after running full tilt, simply because a smell caught her nose.

We all know that walking our buddies is an excellent form of exercise.  I found an article on the Whole Dog Journal website that provides great information about turning those walks into a great way to get into shape:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/16_4/features/Fitness-together_20728-1.html?pg=1

Heaven knows we have all put on a few pounds over the winter and could use the exercise!  I hope you find some useful information.  Lace up those sneakers and start walking!

Rescue Mommy

Training Small Dogs

Throughout my life, I have been surrounded, for the most part, by medium-sized dogs.  They weighed from 50 to 65 pounds, excluding my father’s huge Rottie.    When my beloved Dino passed away, I decided I wanted a smaller dog with a large dog personality.  Gracie perfectly fits that description.

Training a small dog is different from a large dog.  I really wish I had the training article for which I provide a link below much sooner.  It has a lot of tips that I should have realized, yet did not.  Even if you do not have a small dog, you might pick up a few tricks.  Enjoy!

Rescue Mommy

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_12/features/Training-Tiny-Dogs_20654-1.html

Needle Mouth

Puppies have needles for teeth. Angel is killing us!

We found an article about bite inhibition on the Whole Dog Journal website:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_6/features/Bite-Inhibition_16232-1.html

We look forward to trying some of these tips with Angel. She is shredding all of us!

Rescue Mommy

Mystery Wrapped in a Bundle of Fur

I have always said that a rescued pet is a mystery wrapped in a bundle of fur. You will spend the rest of your buddy’s life discovering all the wonderful (and sometimes not-so-wonderful) parts of his or her personality.

I recently read a great article in the Whole Dog Journal. I thought you might like to take a look:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_01/features/Dog-Adoption-Stories_20437-1.html

I especially like the story about Scooter, the dog who seemed to have a housetraining problem. Whenever someone asks me for advice about a behavior problem, my first tip is to take the pet to the vet. Scooter’s story affirms that, sometimes, an underlying medical condition is the problem, not your buddy being difficult.

Rescue Mommy

Interceptor and Sentinel Production Suspended

I received an alert from Whole Dog Journal stating that Novartis has suspended production of its heartworm medicines, Interceptor and Sentinel. Here is a link to the post:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/Novartis-Canine-Heartworm-Medication-Shortages-20448-1.html

A few days ago, it was announced that certain human painkillers could have been compromised. I guess this issue stems from the same problems that caused that issue.

Be sure to read the comments that follow the blog post too.

Rescue Mommy

Wet Dog Food

For years, I thought that wet (or canned) dog food was higher in fat than and not as nutritious as dry food for dogs. I recently learned that is not the case.

In its latest issue, Whole Dog Journal reviewed a number of wet dog food manufacturers and posted a list of recommendations. If you are a subscriber, you can view the list on their website http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/.

If you are not a subscriber, take a look at the following article:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/news/How-Canned-Dog-Food-Is-Manufactured-20393-1.html

The article describes how wet dog food is made. Once you learn a little about the process, you can make more informed choices about what brand to buy for your dog. I have also found that an independent pet supply store is a great resource. They often carry a bigger selection of holistic foods than the national stores do.

Just as we must watch what we put in our mouths, it is important to be careful about what we feed our furry friends. The pet food nightmare of 2007 definitely taught us that! Fortunately, you can find lots of information on the Internet. Good luck with your search!

Rescue Mommy

P.S. We feed Gracie wet and dry food made by Castor & Pollux. It is organic and contains ingredients we can pronounce. Since switching to this brand, her skin issues have all but disappeared, and she rarely has tummy troubles. It is available at our local PetSmart as well as independent pet supply stores and online.

Heat Stroke Prevention Tips

Well, the weather forecast this week calls for continued heat and no real rain chances. It is even more miserable in other parts of the country.

Last week, I posted a link to an article about heat stroke from the Whole Dog Journal website. They have added more information about preventing heat stroke:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_8/features/Avoiding-Canine-Heatstroke_20330-1.html

Remember, in a few months, we will all be complaining about the cold!

Rescue Mommy

The Whole Dog Journal

While cruising around on the Internet, I found the following website:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/

It has some interesting articles about selecting good dog food, training, and other dog-related issues. Some of the articles are free. You must be subscriber to access other articles. The annual subscription rate is $20. Take a peek when you get a chance.

Rescue Mommy