We have continued to be in contact with Jack the Jack Russell terrier’s foster Mommy. As you may remember, Jack was the puppy who stayed with us recently. It did not work out with Gracie. We knew he would make a great dog for someone, though.
He is with a family who has an eleven-acre farm and other dogs. So far, things are going great. We are keeping our fingers crossed. We will let you know when the little fellow has been adopted.
Rescue Mommy and Daddy
Monday, November 1, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
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?
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.
- 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
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.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
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
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
Monday, October 25, 2010
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
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
Friday, October 22, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
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
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
Monday, October 18, 2010
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
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
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