Wow! I wish this weather would make up it's mind! (if you live in a warmer climate this probably doesn't apply to you) It is making my dogs nuts. One day they want to go out and stay out, the next it's so cold they look at me like I'm crazy when I suggest a potty break outdoors. Really it is quite exhausting, especially if you have small breed dogs which have to get dressed before venturing out into the cold. I am reminded of when my children were small and it took fifteen minutes to get them ready to go out (we won't mention that someone always had the inevitable urge to pee as soon as everyone was dressed and ready to go because it doesn't apply here.) Of course in this weather if I am getting the Chihuahuas ready for a car ride, I have to remember the car blankets as well.
Hmm, thinking about dogs and car rides brings me to a pet peeve of mine, unsecured dogs in vehicles. How many times have you been driving along and you see a pickup truck pass you with a dog running around in the truck bed unsecured? This is extremely dangerous for the dog, but yet we see it all the time. Don't these owners realize (or care) that going over one big bump in the road could be enough to throw their pet right out of the truck bed and onto the road in the middle of traffic?
I know we have all seen cars passing by with dog heads sticking out the window. Let's face it, dogs love the breeze in their face, but is this really safe? Quite frankly, the answer is NO. If your window is rolled down enough for your dog to stick their entire head and neck out the window, the window is open too far for safety. While the dogs in this picture look like they are having a great time if one gets a little too enthusiastic about hanging out the window he could end up on the road trying to dodge traffic. A breeze through the car is great for the dog but roll those windows up high enough that your dog can't get out through them.
Humans wear seatbelts while riding in cars (well at least the law says they are supposed to and if they have half a brain they do) but will place their dog in the car unrestrained. The idea of wearing a seatbelt is to prevent you from being thrown around the inside of your vehicle should an accident occur. Doesn't it make sense to restrain your dog in some way to prevent them from being thrown around the vehicle should an accident occur? We place our babies in car seats, doesn't it make sense that our dogs should be restrained in a similar manner? There are both carseats and seatbelt harnesses available for dogs these days, perhaps it might be prudent to purchase one or the other to keep your pet safe while traveling in the car?
I use an old baby car seat, but there are commercial car seats available made specially for dogs. When I don't have the car seat in my car I make sure my dogs are safely restrained using a harness and short leash hooked to the car's seat belt. This allows my dogs to look out the windows but prevents them from being thrown about should we stop suddenly or get into an accident.
If you are anything like me and many of my friends, then ensuring your pet is safe when you travel is important to you. Right now some of you may be saying "my dog is little, I just hold her on my lap, she's safe in my arms." But you would be wrong. Ninety percent of cars on the road today contain airbags as a safety device. In the event of a car accident these airbags shoot out of your front dash at the equivalent of something ridiculous like two hundred miles an hour. We have seen some pretty horrible injuries caused by airbags. So just think about that for a minute, then tell me again about how your little dog is safe in your arms....yeah, I thought that might make you rethink things. If you get into an accident sitting in the front seat of a vehicle with a dog in your arms, that dog is going to bear the full force of that airbag. That force could kill a small breed dog. So perhaps your lap while comfy for Fido, is not the best place for him to travel.
So before your next roadtrip re-evaluate how your dog travels in your vehicle, maybe you could be traveling just a little bit safer, and as we all know, it is always better to be safe than sorry!
Hey everybody! Sorry I haven't written in a bit but the big bad flu bug got me down and I am just now beginning to recover. I may be a little late with this post but they do say better late than never! First I want you to watch this video clip, then we are going to discuss why it was a really dumb idea on the part of this girls parents to film this: (we didn't shoot this footage)
Okay, so we have a four year old girl feeding six allegedly male pit bulls. I get that her parents were trying to show how "normal" pit bulls are, but in making this video they made several serious errors that could have lead to an all out blood bath no matter WHAT breed of dog this child was feeding.
Firstly, no trainer or behaviorist I have worked with would ever feed dogs in this manner. This is a seriously dangerous way to feed a pack of dogs of any breed. One of the main triggers for dogs is food. That is why when feeding multiple dogs it is best to separate them and feed each one in it's own space with it's own bowl of food. Feeding dogs from a pile of food on the floor does not ensure each is getting the nutrition they need, it also makes fighting over food much more likely. In this case should a fight break out over food, a four year old child is caught in the middle of six large breed dogs. Using a child in this manner to prove pit bulls are just like other dogs is risky business no matter how much control you think you have over your dogs.
Secondly, after she pours the food on the floor we see the child touching the dogs while they are eating, this is also a dangerous prospect. As I mentioned before food can very quickly become a trigger for ANY dog regardless of breed. Allowing a child to move amongst dogs that are eating is bad enough allowing her to touch them as she goes could very easily become a recipe for disaster.
This video is NOT impressive, but it does perfectly illustrate how people cause situations that in turn cause dog bite incidents. The woman in this video that can be heard speaking filmed this clip with the intention of showing the world what peaceful creatures pit bulls are, she just broke every rule we trainers teach parents while doing so.
Believe me I get the need of pit bull owners to try to combat the "demon dog" label that pit bull haters have placed on these dogs. I understand the need to show the world what good dogs pit bulls can be, but I can not condone putting your four year old child into a dangerous situation to do so.
At our house, we have a large pack of dogs of all shapes and sizes. We also have strict rules for mealtimes, and I am about to share those rules with you for safety sake.
Everydogsmom's mealtime rules:
1.) make sure all dog bowls are freshly washed even if you feed kibble.
2.) make sure you have a separate food bowl for each dog in your pack.
3.) crate any dogs that have displayed food guarding in the past (four of our dogs are crated for mealtime)
4.) place proper portions for each dog in a separate food bowl.
5.) feed dogs taking care to ensure that each has a large area of "personal" space around them when eating.
6.) as each dog finishes their bowl of food make sure to remove the empty bowl so that it is not a trigger when dogs are released from mealtime.
7.) you have now responsibly fed multiple dogs.
I know the mother in this video never thought she was putting her child in danger, but to be frank the average dog owner does not understand what triggers can affect their pet. Be safe instead of sorry and let a responsible adult handle feeding time!
As for the theory that pit bulls are "just like other dogs" they can be, but this demonstration would have been just as dangerous if this child were feeding a pack of beagles. It is never a good idea to tempt fate.
As a pet owner, I belong to quite a few Facebook groups which are dog related. Within these groups (which can sometimes grow to contain thousands of people) I am seeing a few very alarming trends. Firstly, what I call the "breeding advice" trend. People within these groups will ask questions such as "how old does my dog have to be before I can breed her?" or "I want to breed my female but my stud is no good anymore, does anyone in my area have a stud I can breed her with?" or "I have puppies for sale if anyone is interested." This trend is alarming because it is clearly backyard breeders finding yet another way to sell their puppies online. No legitimate breeder would find a stud by trolling a Facebook group, if that's the way you find a stud for your dog you are a backyard breeder and you have no business breeding your dog. If you have to ask how old your dog has to be before breeding her, you are a backyard breeder and have no business breeding your dog. If you are selling puppies through ads in groups on Facebook you are a backyard breeder and have no business breeding your dog. The fact that these people are gathering in groups to teach each other how to exploit the family pet is pathetic and at the same time highly alarming. Secondly, what I call the "medical advice' trend which usually consists of pet owners trying to avoid a vet bill asking questions in the group such as "my dog won't eat has no energy and isn't breathing right what would you suggest I give him to help him?" or "my dog has blood in his pee somebody said cranberries would make it stop is this true?" and other equally ridiculous questions to which the answer is usually "see your vet." This trend is alarming because some pets may not receive proper medical care if people listen to medical advice given over the internet by people with no qualifications. Now don't get me wrong it is great that people are getting together to share their dog ownership experiences with others. We can all help one another to learn and discuss our own experiences with the illnesses of our pets but every pet is different so that is never a substitute for taking a sick pet to the vet.
Some mornings I just don't want to get out of bed, today was one of them. My Chihuahuas however, had other ideas, they wanted me to get up and Mickey let me know it in no uncertain terms by burrowing to the end of my bed under the covers and biting my big toe! Now before you go off half cocked thinking my baby boy is aggressive let me explain something to you. I suffer from clinical depression, and my Chihuahuas Mickey and Minnie are my therapy dogs. It is their job to get my butt out of bed in the morning, and to get me moving so I will not allow the depression to take hold and stay in bed all day.
Many people scoff at the idea of two pint sized Chihuahuas as therapy dogs but they have done me a world of good. While there are still some days that I stay in my PJs all day (it's okay I work from home most of the time) for the most part I have been much better since adding these two little furry doctors to my pack. Some days they are literally the only reason I get out of bed in the morning. Just having them in my life has changed things immensely. There was a time I would have shied away from being so open and honest about who I am and what I do for fear of criticism. I no longer feel that way, and the credit goes to my Chihuahuas, two little dogs whose previous owners didn't think they were worth much. When I look into those trusting eyes I know I am loved, and that is something that is worth more to me than my weight in gold.
I had never had Chihuahuas in my pack until Minnie came along. Truth be told, most of the Chihuahuas I had encountered before Minnie were snarly snappy little beasts, and I always thought it was a breed trait. I was wrong, it was a lack of training thing. Chihuahuas are the most loving little dogs you have ever met when raised properly. Our Mickey hardly ever barks and when he does you know there is a reason.
I am not sure why two little Chihuahuas are able to keep my depression at bay. Perhaps it is their quirky funny personalities, always doing things that have me laughing hysterically. It's hard to be depressed when you can't stop laughing. Or perhaps it is the way they look up at me with love and loyalty in their eyes almost as if they are saying "Don't worry Mom, we're right here with you." Whatever the reason, I know (and I am sure my husband would gladly tell you) that their presence has changed me. My moods don't swing in the same large arch they used to, I am more balanced more predictable, and I hardly ever burst into tears over nothing anymore.
Why am I telling you all of this? Firstly, because we as a society don't want to talk about mental illness, we would rather sweep it under the rug and pretend it doesn't happen. We would rather millions of people suffer in silence than talk about something that affects people regardless of race, religion, or social status. We prefer people to think that depression is something that only affects the poverty stricken, or the homeless. We act as if people with decent jobs and no money troubles never become depressed, and that simply isn't true. Depression can affect anyone, I am just fortunate to have found a way to deal with it.
Secondly, I handle my depression by staying close to my two little therapy dogs. While this is not a solution that will work for everyone, it will work for many. So, why are we as a society not trying to implement this solution on a larger scale? Therapy dogs of all sizes can be taught to help people with many different medical issues. Not all working dogs have to be large breed, although that is what we are lead to believe. Naturally for some jobs a dog's size is important, but small breed dogs can do the job just as well in some cases. Not all working dogs have to be pure breds either, although many agencies which train dogs to work with human insist they have to breed their own stock. This is a fallacy as many of the dogs bred by these agencies don't make the cut and end up as rescues themselves.
So that brings me to the question; why do we not seek dogs for therapy training at shelters or rescue groups? Many people involved in the training of these dogs will tell you it is because therapy dogs must be trained for their jobs from the time they are a puppy. Again a fallacy, there are many dogs in rescue that would fare very well in training as therapy dogs. I know this because not only are my Chihuahuas therapy dogs, but both are rescues!
Wow, some days are awesome, and others just suck big time no matter how you look at them. I could find no silver lining in the cloud that descended upon me today when I heard of the death of a dog I had never met, yet felt connected to because I was Co-hosting the radio show that got the news on air when this dog was returned to her owner after being stolen, and I couldn’t stop the tears that poured down my cheeks and blurred my vision every time I thought about how life can sometimes be so unfair.
Mya being stolen was tragic enough for her owner Stephany, gone a week many of us were starting to lose hope that Mya would ever be seen again, then while on air and talking about the recent rash of dog thefts in the Quad Cities Area, and the possibility that these dogs were being stolen as bait dogs for fight rings, we heard news from Stephany that Mya had been “found” and returned to her. We were joyous over the fact that an entire community of people had set out to bring home one dog and it had worked, live on air I cried tears of joy for Mya and Stephany.
And then in the past few days the news, Mya was sick, very sick. She was having seizures unless kept heavily sedated. We all prayed for a miracle, but Mya died yesterday, and when I got the news I cried like a baby because screaming “life is unfair” would have made my dogs bark, but mostly because Mya was a fun loving well controlled loyal well cared for pet and those psychopathic DBO Colleen Lynn worshipping ignorant backwoods morons couldn’t keep their nasty anti pit bull crap out of a condolence thread on Facebook. So yeah I guess my life today is a rant of anger against idiots, morons, and assholes, and an expression of sadness at the death of a dog who drew attention to dog fighting activity in the Quad Cities area.
Anger and sadness are what I am feeling today. Angry that even in death Mya was the target of persecution by people too ignorant about the breed they vilify to allow her owner to grieve in peace. Sad because many dogs like Mya receive the same treatment just because they had the unfortunate luck to be born a pit bull. Mya's death has saddened me, but it has also doubled my resolve to fight BSL wherever it exists.
Today I will hold my dogs a little closer, just because I can, and because I have been where Mya's owner is right now, and I know that the death of a beloved pet causes a physical pain only someone who has experienced can possibly understand. Today my heart is with Stephany, because I know how she feels.
RIP Mya and know you were loved by many people whose lives you touched on your journey.
This morning I was awakened by the sound of my small dogs howling. There is someone at my door and true to habit they are letting me know about this invader of our space. Sometimes I wonder what this must sound like from outside the house, six dogs howling as if they were running from the hounds of hell is quite a reception for the mailman, or anyone else who finds themselves in the position of knocking on my door. We have tried to curb this behavior but it is proving impossible as these little guys seem to think the way to pay us back for rescuing them is to protect our home and our belongings from anyone who dares to knock on our door.
We did have it under control at one time, then along came Mickey the Chihuahua, our little rescue from Mexico. Apparently as far as his little Mexican mind is concerned everyone that comes to our door must be perceived as a danger to us all and he must howl to let them know this house is guarded by a squadron of small rescued dogs who take guarding their home seriously! Mickey usually starts the howler alarm but the others are just as quick to chime in. My Husband now calls the small dogs in our pack "Mickey and the Wailers."
So as I was saying, I was rudely awakened by Mickey and the Wailers, and came downstairs to find a very startled mailman at my door with a package. I signed for the package and as soon as I closed the door the howling stopped immediately, apparently whatever danger the mail man might have been I had taken care of it by closing the door and returning to the living room in one piece. Ah silence! But not for long.
It's payday but nobody has left the house yet to go get anything and we are out of cream and milk. My husband wonderful man that he is brings me a coffee, but when the dogs hear his work truck pull into the drive they think the evil mailman has returned and the howling starts again. I go out and grab my coffee from my husband on the front porch and he says "I see that Mickey and the Wailers" are in fine form today." I scowl at him. "Sure it's funny when you're not the one that has to try to calm them down!" I say. But my husband is not the one who now has to deal with six overly excited ankle biters. In fact he never has to deal with this problem because it is something the dogs only do when I am home alone with them. In their brains when Dad is home no one would dare mess with their Mom, but when Dad's away...Mom must be protected from everything!
Shortly Dad will be back with milk and cream, so that I can sustain my coffee habit throughout the rest of the day, and when they hear that truck pull into the drive, our ears will be assaulted by the high pitched tones of "Mickey and the Wailers" once again. We're okay with that, we can handle it, as long as Mickey doesn't start demanding pay for each performance.
